This blog post lists my experience with Raspberry Pi and Linux for content creation. In particular, we focus on the Raspberry Pi 3B in 2016 and 17, and the Raspberry Pi 4 from 2019 to 2021. I discuss my fascination with Raspberry Pi and ARM-based single board computers, emphasizing their form factor, functionality, supportive communities, and number of options of operating systems that make them suitable for everyday use.
Introduction
The post delves into my usage of Raspberry Pi 3B, including the trigger for the purchase, experimentation with different Linux distributions, and the feedback received. It then shifts focus to Raspberry Pi 4B, discussing the initial setup, changes in use case, and exploration of Linux distributions. The journey evolves from podcast recording to utilizing Raspberry Pi as a second desktop with dual monitors and eventually transforming it into a storage server with M.2 SATA and NVMe drives. The post concludes with reflections on the current idle state of Raspberry Pi, future possibilities, key takeaways, and lessons learned, while also providing relevant links and resources.
PopOs on Raspberry Pi4, October 2022
Backstory: Learning about the Raspberry Pi and Linux
I first learned about the Raspberry Pi in 2011 or 2012 when I was visiting my uncle. He was a self proclaimed technology geek,a young man of 65 years of age back then. The day I visited him, he was busy at his work desk, working on this little credit card size printed circuit board. He told me this is a Raspberry Pi. He was trying to set it up as a Wi-Fi router. Those were early days for the Raspberry Pi, and the community and support ecosystem weren’t as developed as they are today. As a result, my uncle had some trouble getting the Pi set up. He spent hours reading documentation and visiting websites and forums, but he was only able to achieve partial success. I was fascinated by the Raspberry Pi, even though I didn’t really understand what it was or what it could do. I remember sitting next to my uncle for hours, just watching him work on it. I was amazed by the possibilities that this little device seemed to offer.
2016 and the Beginning of gaathastory
In 2016, I started my podcasting journey with my startup, gaathastory. Those days I was using a Dell Latitude D520 laptop to record and edit my podcasts. The laptop was starting to show its age. I was worried that it would break down, so I started looking for a more reliable computer. That’s when I remembered the Raspberry Pi. I had done some more research on it since my uncle’s experiments, and I was even more impressed by its capabilities. It was small, affordable, and easy to use. It seemed like the perfect solution for my podcasting needs.
I ordered a Raspberry Pi, along with a power supply, case, and Micro SD card. Each item was ordered separately. When the packages arrived, I was excited to get started. The peripherals (microphone, HDMI cable, monitor, Keyboard and mouse) were available handily. I followed the instructions to install Raspbian, the official operating system for the Raspberry Pi. Then, I installed Audacity, the software I needed for podcast editing. Less than two hours after I had assembled the parts, I was up and running.
Early Experiments with the Raspberry Pi
2016-2017 my tests with podcast recording using an Arm based single board computer
I was excited to start using the Raspberry Pi for podcast production. I tested out a few different Linux distributions, including OpenSUSE, Manjaro, Ubuntu Mate, and Raspbian (now known as Raspberry Pi OS). I was impressed by the possibilities that the Pi offered. I was able to install Kodi and LibreELEC on the Pi, and I connected it to my TV. I was able to stream YouTube videos on the TV, and I was even able to play some games (hello, Minesweeper!).
Installing OpenSuse on Raspberry Pi3
I used OpenSUSE for a while and was very happy with it, especially the way installation went. There is a short installation video that I had created and published on YouTube. I was even able to use Audacity for editing and recording some of the podcast shows. But the one operating system I liked the most was Ubuntu Mate. It absolutely ran flawlessly on this little device. It was as if the ARM version of Ubuntu Mate was made keeping the Raspberry Pi 3B in mind.
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| Bitemarks by Buddy left at bottom right corner of the Raspberry Pi3 case |
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| Audio editing trial with Ardour DAW and VLC |
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| Screenshot of Ubuntu Mate 16.04 on Raspberry Pi 3B, picture taken in late 2016 |
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| Pi Powered Podcast Production Process |
A Memorable Moment
The very day I received the case for the Raspberry Pi in the mail, my dog Buddy decided to chew on the case. He left his teeth marks all over the hard plastic. He is the mascot of gaathastory, and I decided to use the case anyway as a reminder of this memorable moment.
Blast form the Past- Manjaro on Raspberry Pi 3B
Manjaro KDE on Raspberry pi 3 (video in Hindi) रासबेरी पाए पर माँजारो लिनक्स को चलाएँ
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Read my blog post on Medium “How to set up a podcast recording studio in under 150 US Dollars“ |
Macbook Pro and the end of the Pi 3B experiment
I purchased a MacBook Pro (early 2015 model) a few months later. The idea of using Raspberry Pi for podcast production and recording in the second half of 2016 did not materialize. By then, I had realized that podcasting involves not just audio recording and editing, but also creating the transcripts, artwork, social media promotions. New tools such as Canva were just coming into prominence to make a self starters’ journey easier. Using these tools required a computing device with higher horsepower, which indeed the MacBook Pro met with aplomb.
Raspberry Pi 4 (2019-2022)
When I had purchased the Raspberry Pi 3B, I had ordered the different components separately. Cost was one factor, but I also wanted to customize the case, the SD card, and the charger.
In 2019, when I purchase the Raspberry Pi 4B as a ready-made kit from Pi Box. It came with a charger, the Pi itself, a case, two small heatsinks, one each for the GPU and the CPU, a micro SD card which had installation software pre-installed. Everything was pretty much plug and play. I nelive they did include the tiny adapter for connecting to HDMI cable. Though the Raspberry Pi comes with two micro HDMI outlets, they had given me one, which was good enough for starters.
With this major difference between the two purchasing experiences, let us take a look at how I ended up using it.
Different Times, Different Use Cases
Raspberry Pi’s value as an affordable secondary desktop.
My motivation for purchasing the Raspberry Pi 4B had changed significantly compared to the first time around. By now, I was looking for a second desktop. I still had the MacBook Pro 2015. By now I had two monitors and the Raspberry Pi 4 fit the bill perfectly with two HDMI outlets. I used this setup for some time, and it did help me with my productivity.
Towards the end of 2019, I decided to use the Raspberry Pi 4B for storage. By then, I had come to know that by a firmware upgrade, one could connect M.2 SATA drive to the USB port. One could also use a USB hub with an external power supply. The latter enabled booting the Raspberry Pi from an NVMe drive. The standard method of booting from the SD card was indeed slower. With the SSD drives, one could get really good speeds. I’m talking about hundreds of megabytes per second read and write speeds. One may not get the PCIe rated speeds for the NVMe, (which run into thousands of megabytes per second). But compared to the speeds one could get with the micro SD card, this was a huge upgrade.
So with this, I modified my setup from a standing desk configuration with dual monitors and using a USB interface with the ATR2100 microphone. I changed it to a storage server. I will add a note about how the firmware upgrade was made and what were the drive configurations that I use.
Specifications of Raspberry Pi 3 B and Raspberry Pi 4 B (4GB)
| Specification | Raspberry Pi 3 B | Raspberry Pi 4 B (4GB) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1.2GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 | 1.5GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 |
| GPU | Broadcom VideoCore IV | Broadcom VideoCore VI |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM | 4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM |
| WiFi | 2.4 Ghz 802.11n | 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz 802.11ac |
| Power Requirement | 5V, 2.5A | 5V, 3A |
| USB Ports | 4 x USB 2.0 | 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0 |
| HDMI Ports | 1 x HDMI | 2 x Micro HDMI |
| Storage Type | MicroSD | MicroSD |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| USB Boot | No | Yes (with firmware upgrade) |
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| SSD boot for Raspberry Pi4 running Ubuntu Mate 21.1, late 2020 |
 Thermal and stress Test of Raspberry Pi4 |
| Thermal and stress Test of Raspberry Pi4 |
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| Overclocking the Pi 4B |
 Installing Pop Os on Raspberry Pi 4B |
| Installing Pop Os on Raspberry Pi 4B |
Raspberry Pi as a Storage Server
I want to talk specifically about using the Raspberry Pi as a storage server, in which we will talk about the process of setting up the Raspberry Pi as a storage server, what are some of the power and heating challenges that are faced during this transformation, how I was able to utilize spare USB hard drives for storage and backup, and finally, I purchased a Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny desktop, and currently, that is performing the duties of a storage server, so how the Raspberry Pi was replaced with that server.
Alma Linux Installation on Raspberry Pi4
My way Forward with the Raspberry Pi
Looking forward to the next 2 to 3 years in the single-board computer market, the Raspberry Pi’s low power consumption and impressive features face competition from the increasing popularity of x86-based SBCs. Channels like ETA Prime, Jeff Geerling, and explainingcomputers.com highlight the rise of x86 devices that offer efficient power usage without compromising performance. This prompts a consideration of the Raspberry Pi’s role as a storage server or desktop solution, particularly given the need for external power supply when utilizing the NVMe or SATA SSDs.
The Raspberry Pi’s future relevance in this evolving landscape remains to be seen. While I still aim to make use of the Raspberry Pi if a suitable purpose emerges, I am open to the possibility of selling it by the end of October if no opportunity arises. This decision aligns with my overarching objective of reducing electronic items in my household, which includes considering the sale of devices like Coconics and potentially the desktop itself. This approach not only creates space and reduces electronic clutter but may also provide additional resources for upgrading the devices I actively use.
RaspBerry Pi for the Content Creator
Key takeaways and lessons learned from my experience
- The Raspberry Pi is a versatile and cost-effective alternative for computing needs that are not very intense, especially for content creation.
- The availability of multiple Linux distributions makes Raspberry Pi a flexible option, with Ubuntu MATE, Stock Debian, Manjaro, OpenSUSE, and others providing impressive functions and applications.
- Setting up portable recording studios with Raspberry Pi for podcast content creation could have been an effective solution during the COVID lockdown period.
- Challenges with Raspberry Pi include fragility, reliance on stable electrical supply, and unstable SD cards, but the option to boot from USB improves stability.
- Connecting peripherals may require augmenting the power supply, adding to the initial appeal of a low-powered computing device.
- Other micro-computers based on ARM architecture, newer Ryzen processors, and Intel CPUs offer similar power and versatility.
- Resources such as ETA Prime, Jeff Geerling, and Explaining Computers on YouTube provide extensive coverage of these devices.
- The utility of Raspberry Pi may diminish as use cases evolve, and its future purpose remains uncertain.
- The development community, reviewers, and tutorial writers deserve appreciation for enabling countless possibilities with such a tiny device.
Htop command on Raspberry PI 4
Links and Resources
- Raspberry Pi website
- Ubuntu MATE
- Debian for the Raspberry Pi
- Manjaro
- ARM
- Wikipedia page for single board computers
- Jeff Geerling’s YouTube channel
- Explaining Computers YouTube channel
- ETA Prime’s YouTube channel
- Linux on Raspberry Pi: Raspberrypi website
Additional resources: – Raspberry Pi Stack Exchange
To purchase Raspberry Pi and related accessories: – Pi Box – Where to purchase Raspberry Pi in India
सारांश (hindi)
Raspberry Pi के साथ यात्रा: ARM-Based सिंगल बोर्ड कंप्यूटरों की खोज
यह ब्लॉग पोस्ट लेखक की Raspberry Pi के साथ अनुभव की कहानी को दर्ज करती है, जिसे दो महत्वपूर्ण समयावधि में बांटा गया है: 2016-2017 के बीच Raspberry Pi 3B और 2019-2022 के बीच Raspberry Pi 4. इसमें लेखक की Raspberry Pi और ARM-Based सिंगल बोर्ड कंप्यूटरों के प्रति मोहकता उनके फॉर्म फैक्टर, और कार्यक्षमता की बात की जाती है. पोस्ट रैस्पबेरी पी 3B का उपयोग करने की ओर ध्यान केंद्रित करती है । लेखक ने खरीदने के पीछे कारण, विभिन्न Linux वितरणों के परीक्षण और पॉडकास्ट रिकॉर्डिंग और उत्पादन के लिए इसका उपयोग किया । इसके बाद, पोस्ट Raspberry Pi 4B पर केंद्रित होती है, जहां शुरुआती सेटअप कॉन्फ़िगरेशन, उपयोग में परिवर्तन और Linux वितरणों की खोज पर विचार किए जाते हैं। यात्रा पॉडकास्ट रिकॉर्डिंग से शुरू होती है, स्टोरेज सर्वर के रूप में Raspberry Pi के उपयोग तक पहुंचती है, और अंत में Raspberry Pi के भविष्य के बारे में चर्चा की जाती है।
रैस्पबेरी पाई 3बी के साथ जब मैंने यह खरीदा, तब इसमें 2GB रैम थी, और मैंने इसे सुसे लिनक्स, उबंटू मेट, और कुछ अन्य ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टमों को इंस्टॉल करने के लिए 16GB माइक्रोएसडी कार्ड का उपयोग किया था। तीन साल बाद, जब मैंने रैस्पबेरी पाई 4 खरीदी, तो उसमें 4GB रैम और प्रोसेसर स्पेसिफिकेशन थे। इसे भी मैंने विभिन्न ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टमों पर ट्राई किया।
विभिन्न ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टमों पर अनुभव करने के बाद यह स्पष्ट हो जाता है कि रैस्पबेरी पाई पर एक्सएफसी के साथ एक 256 जीबी यूएसबी ड्राइव का उपयोग सबसे अच्छा है। इसमें कम ब्लोट होता है, इसकी गति अधिक होती है |
सारांश (Marathi)
रॅस्पबेरी पायची अनुभवांची यात्रा: ARM-आधारित सिंगल बोर्ड कंप्यूटर्स
ह्या ब्लॉग पोस्टमध्ये लेखकाची रॅस्पबेरी पायसह अनुभवांची कथा सादर केली जाते, ज्या मध्ये ती 2016-2017 आणि 2019-2022 या दोन मुख्य कालावधीत विभाजली गेली | पोस्टमध्ये रॅस्पबेरी पाय 3 बी वर जातो, ज्यात लेखकाने तिचं खरेदी, विविध लिनक्स वितरणांचे प्रयोग आणि पॉडकास्ट उत्पादन केले. त्यानंतर, पोस्ट रॅस्पबेरी पाय 4 बी वर केंद्रित होतो, ज्यामध्ये प्रारंभिक सेटअप, कॉन्फिगरेशन, लिनक्स वितरणांची शोध आणि उपयोगांची चर्चा केली जाते. यात्रेत पॉडकास्ट नोंदवण्यापासून सुरु होते आणि अंत मध्ये स्टोरेज सर्वर म्हणून रॅस्पबेरी पाय वापरले जाते, आणि यच्या भविष्याबद्दल चर्चा केली जाते.
This post My Journey with Raspberry Pi and Linux was published in the category Computer Upgrades.For more posts in this category, please visit here. Some parts of this blog post have been re written using AI transcription and writing tools such as Otter.ai and frase.ai .
