With this short multimedia tutorial we'll get you groovin' in no time, too. It's a snap, and as usual, everything is as easy as an

# apt-get install [cool-app]

I love using the command line. Of course, you can always use Synaptic after you've installed and have logged in to your desktop. Linux is known for "the choice is yours" and some of us appreciate that we are able to make these choices ourselves. I think you'll like having that sort of power on your own machine, too. Should be a given, I think, but some operating systems take this control out of your hands.

The first thing that I do when setting up my desktop's multimedia capabilities is to get my sound working. I do this when I'm installing Debian. In fact, I do this as root, from the command line right I've installed my hardware specific kernel image and rebooted! I set-up the video and codec stuff at this time, as well. When I log in (after the initial kernel install and reboot) I get alsa (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) on and configured straight away:

# apt-get install alsa-base alsa-utils alsa-oss

When it's in, I simply run alsa's configuration script # alsaconf

This only takes a second and it is probably all that you will need to do, as well. However, we all have different hardware, so it would probably behoove you to check out alsa's hardware support page.

Hey now, being the knowledge-thirsty hell-hound that you are, you may want more sound information. Read up a little on some other aspects of sound on Linux:

• OSS (Open_Sound_System)
• ESD(Enlightened_Sound_Daemon)

ESD isn't really a "sound system" like Alsa, read their Abstract:

"Esound (also referred to as ESD) is a small sound daemon for both Linux and UNIX. ESD was created to provide a consistent and simple interface to the audio device, so applications do not need to have different driver support written per architecture. It was also designed to enhance capabilities of audio devices such as allowing more than one application to share an open device. ESD accomplishes these things while remaining transparent to the application, meaning that the application developer can simply provide ESD support and let it do the rest. On top of this, the API is designed to be very similar to the current audio device API, making it easy to port to ESD."

Example, you may like to hear sounds for desktop actions while you're listening to your favorite Megadeath track.

Oh, just so you're aware, there is a "muting-bug" present in Alsa. You may not have any sound after setting up Alsa. If you would like to fix this immediately from the command-line, (and if you're this person then you probably know what to do anyway) simply run:

$ amixer set Master 100% unmute

$ amixer set PCM 100% unmute

Of course, you can wait until you have your desktop set up, go up in your menu bar, right-click on the volume-control widget and uncheck mute. Like I say, it's a known bug, but you may not be affected. Pfft!

With Etch you don't have to do much. Installing Rhythmbox will add enough of the gstreamer back-end that you can hear sounds from multiple sources concurrently. I can remember that in Sarge this could get a little tedious. However, that's relative anyway!

For example, I like to listen to my favorite local Jazz station in XMMS. In Etch I have nothing to do to ensure that while I'm groovin' on Mingus I can also get sound if I open another source. Who wants some "jackass" video on YouTube corrupting the sweet stirrings of Mingus? Not I.

Following your sound set up, it's time for video. This is just as simple and if you've installed Gnome instead of gnome-core you'll have the back-end that you need. Totem-xine gets installed and xine is a terrific back-end. You may be perfectly happy with the gstreamer back-end coupled with xine. If you like using the Multimedia Properties widget and/or aren't too fond of embedded media, count me in there, then Totem will make you happy. Some folks complain that Totem chokes on certain codecs -- I haven't noticed this. There may be limitations but I haven't seen them.

If you want to go the gstreamer route, then you'll need to install the w32codecs. You can find them in the Marillat repository. I use this mirror in my /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb http://mirror.home-dn.net/debian-multimedia/ etch main
deb-src http://mirror.home-dn.net/debian-multimedia/ etch main

Add the debian-multimedia key:

# aptitude install debian-multimedia-keyring

Check this page for a mirror closest to you. So, for the w32codecs we would do this:

# apt-get install w32codecs

Cake.

I happen to like Totem because I don't really like embedded media on web pages. I like to size what I'm watching and embedded media doesn't let me do that.

You don't mind embedded media? You like it? Well then, you can install Mplayer in addition to, or in place of, Totem. Mplayer will handle just about everything and there are some really cool things that you can do with Mplayer -- like record streams and rip/convert/re-size video. Now, take note of this: If, you're watching a wma file and you see an error about directshow, what can you do? You can install the w32codecs. Note that these codecs aren't essential for Mplayer. You will still see and hear your video just fine.

These days, for my video and plugin needs I simply install the following and I'm off -- wasting time:

# apt-get install mplayer mozplugger ffmpeg

That's it. I know, I hear you. "What about watching DVDs,?" Well, personally, I think watching movies on my computer(s), terrific monitors notwithstanding, seems kind of silly. Although sometimes it can be handy. I'm also pretty sick of buying movies from that cartel. Besides, our movie collection is big enough, thank you very much, and the space allocated for all of the back-up copies that I've made ( see: ripping DVDs ) is full. But that's me -- do what you feel.

To watch those DVD movies on your box, just install libdvdcss2. It is in the Marillat repository, as well.

# apt-get install libdvdcss2

That's it, you're done. All you need is a minute, like I wrote, and you only need to install a couple of things to get that sound working.

Cake: chocolate, and homemade from scratch, baby!

I also install flash because many sites are using it to display videos. The ads on web pages suck, but there are plenty of ways to block those. You can get it here. Close your browser after you've downloaded it, go to the directory where the downloaded file is, extract the files, move into the extracted directory and run:

$ ./flashplayer-installer

You'll be fine. I install flash after my desktop is finished and I'm logged in.

Some useful multimedia programs include:

• streamtuner
• xmms
• camstream
• VLC
• quodlibet
• sox (sound converter)
• geekcast
• gnump3d
• hotkeys

Realplayer is also in the Etch repos if you need that.

For those of you with nVIDIA cards, I guess this fits in with multimedia, as well -- check out our nVIDIA tutorial. 'Cos games are multimedia, right? I dig Nexuiz. I will frag yer ass! LOL

KDE has its own collection of multimedia apps as well, but KDE gives me a headache.

That's it -- enjoy the show.

Any trouble -- post it here

--machiner 12 Feb 2007
Edited By: Rob Hodgins

Feel free to add your comments below -- I may have forgotten something, as I only got 3 hours of sleep last night and I'm beat. Let me know below and I'll fix-up this guide right-quick ↓:

---

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (14)