Bench setup — build & flash (VS Code ESP-IDF extension)

How to get this firmware onto a Waveshare ESP32-P4-ETH for bench testing, using the official Espressif ESP-IDF extension for VS Code.

Why not Arduino IDE? This is a native ESP-IDF project. It depends on sdkconfig options the Arduino build can't provide — ESP_NETIF_L2_TAP and the PTP daemon config (for hardware-timestamped PTP), plus the components/ layout, managed components (mdns, esp-dsp, es8311) and the tuned sdkconfig.defaults. Arduino would drop exactly the timing features that make AES67 work on the P4. Use one of the ESP-IDF workflows instead.

0. What you need

Waveshare ESP32-P4-ETH board.
USB-C cable (data-capable — not charge-only) between the PC and the board's USB port used for flashing/console.
An Ethernet cable to a switch/router that hands out DHCP (the firmware waits for an IP before starting audio). For real interop testing, the same switch as your Dante/AES67 gear.
Windows 11 with VS Code.

Board USB port: the ESP32-P4 flashes over its built-in USB-Serial-JTAG. Use the USB-C port wired for that on the board — confirm the silkscreen / the board wiki if there is more than one connector. If the PC never enumerates a serial port, see Troubleshooting → download mode below.

1. Install the ESP-IDF extension (one time)

In VS Code: Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X) → search "ESP-IDF" (publisher Espressif Systems) → Install.
Open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) → ESP-IDF: Configure ESP-IDF Extension.
Choose Express install.
Select ESP-IDF v5.5 (or newer) — this project requires ≥ 5.5. Let it download the toolchain and tools (several minutes). ESP32-P4 is a RISC-V target; the installer pulls the right compiler automatically.
When it finishes you'll have an ESP-IDF Terminal and a row of icons in the VS Code status bar (target, port, build, flash, monitor…).

2. Open the project & set the target

File → Open Folder → d:\GIT_REPO\ESP32-P4_DANTE (the repo root — the folder containing the top-level CMakeLists.txt).
Set the chip target: command palette → ESP-IDF: Set Espressif Device Target → esp32p4 → choose the built-in USB-JTAG flash method when prompted.
- Status-bar equivalent: the chip icon.
First configure will apply sdkconfig.defaults (L2 TAP, PTP daemon, PSRAM, 32 MB flash, IRAM tuning) into a generated sdkconfig. That file is gitignored — it's your local build config.

3. (Optional) enable the Dante prototype features

By default the build comes up as an AES67 endpoint plus read-only Dante discovery (logs what Dante gear it sees). The Dante advertisement and CMC responder are gated OFF until validated. To turn them on:

Command palette → ESP-IDF: SDK Configuration Editor (menuconfig).
Search "Dante" and enable as needed:
- Browse for Dante devices on boot (DANTE_DISCOVERY_ON_BOOT) — on by default; leave it on, it's read-only and useful.
- Advertise this device over mDNS (Dante) (DANTE_ADVERTISE_ON_BOOT).
- Run the Dante CMC (device-announce) responder (DANTE_CMC_ON_BOOT).
Save.

These two are prototype / untested against hardware. Enable them when you're ready to watch what Dante Controller does with a device that answers CMC but not yet ARC — expect it to appear but not be fully routable.

4. Build

Command palette → ESP-IDF: Build your project (or the build/wrench icon).
First build compiles ESP-IDF + both components; it takes a while. Subsequent builds are incremental.
On success you'll see the app/partition sizes. If it fails, check Troubleshooting below — the most likely first-run issues are toolchain/IDF version and the managed-component download needing internet.

5. Flash & monitor

Plug the board in. Set the port: command palette → ESP-IDF: Select Port to Use → pick the board's COM port (status-bar plug icon).
ESP-IDF: Flash your project → choose UART/JTAG as offered for the built-in USB-JTAG.
ESP-IDF: Monitor your project (or the "Flash + Monitor" combined action). Monitor runs at 115200 baud.
- Exit the monitor with Ctrl+].

What a healthy boot looks like

Log tags to watch for, roughly in order:

I (…) main: LDO4 set to 3.3V
I (…) main: ethernet started
I (…) main: ethernet link up
I (…) main: waiting for IP address...
I (…) main: got IP: 10.x.x.x
I (…) main: PA enabled (GPIO53 high)
I (…) main: Ethernet RTP hook installed
I (…) main: ES8311 codec initialized (MCLK running)
I (…) main: node ready
I (…) dante_disc: discovery task started (interval=15000ms)
I (…) dante_disc: scan complete: N Dante service instance(s)

If you enabled the Dante servers you'll also see dante_cmc: CMC responder listening on udp/8800 and dante_adv: advertising as "ESP32P4-Dante-XXXXXX".

6. Bench test checklist

Work down this list; each step gates the next.

Boots & links — you reach node ready, Ethernet shows link up, and an IP is obtained. No boot loop.
Codec init OK — ES8311 codec initialized with no error. (If it fails, suspect I2S/I2C pins or the PA — cross-check main/board_config.h.)
PTP — with a PTP master / AES67 gear on the network, watch for the PTP lock log from the AES67 stack. Sync is required for clean audio.
AES67 receive — point a known AES67 source (or Dante gear in AES67 mode) at the network; the SAP auto-subscribe in main.c should pick up the first source (Auto-subscribing to "…"), and audio should come out the speaker.
Dante discovery — with Dante devices present, dante_disc should log their _netaudio-* services and channel formats.
Dante CMC / advertisement (if enabled) — open Dante Controller on a PC on the same network; the device should appear. It won't be fully routable until the ARC responder exists — that's expected.

Capture a packet trace (Wireshark, mirror port) during 5–6 — it's the ground truth for validating the clean-room Dante notes and fixing the "unknown" protocol fields.

7. Troubleshooting

No serial port appears / can't connect → download mode. Hold BOOT, tap RESET (EN), release BOOT, then flash. Some boards need this only if the app crashes early or USB re-enumeration fails.
Build can't find managed components (mdns, esp-dsp, es8311) — the IDF component manager needs internet on first build to fetch them into managed_components/.
Wrong flash size / boot loops — confirm the SDK config has 32 MB flash (from sdkconfig.defaults) and PSRAM enabled. Try ESP-IDF: Erase Flash, then flash again.
No IP — check the Ethernet link LED and that the switch does DHCP. The firmware blocks at waiting for IP address... until it gets one.
No audio but everything else is fine — check PTP lock first, then the amp: PA enable is GPIO53 (active high). Verify subscription actually happened in the log.
IDF version errors — this project needs v5.5+. Re-run Configure ESP-IDF Extension and select a 5.5 (or newer) release.

Alternatives (same project, other tools)

CLI: open the ESP-IDF Terminal, then idf.py set-target esp32p4 && idf.py build && idf.py -p <PORT> flash monitor.
PlatformIO: framework = espidf, board for the P4; add the components and point at sdkconfig.defaults.

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