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September
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AlternaGeek Episode 13: Crickets in the Codecs
Category: AlternaGeek Podcast, Podcasts
AlternaGeek.com Podcast, Episode 13 for the week of September 2nd, 2007
Featuring Linuxchic, Code Ninja and TechMonkey.
On this episode we talk about video and audio players and answer that burning question, “How do I listen to my MP3 files under Linux?”. That’s right, audio codecs. Why they are not found by default in most Linux distributions and how to find what you need for a full audio/visual experience. The main video and audio players covered are cross platform and can be enjoyed by users running Linux, Windows and OSX.
Click here to download this episode in .ogg format
NOTE: Fixed the above link for the .ogg version of the podcast!
Links:
- Amarok
- RhythmBox
- Songbird
- VLC
- Exaile
- BashPodder
- Banshee
- Fluendo: Legal proprietary codecs for gstreamer
- mplayer
- mplayer plugin for mozilla/firefox
Thanks for the mention!
You’re welcome. You’ve proven that sometimes the minimalist approach can be a very good one. As we stated in the show, we can see where this would be extremely useful for a streaming server setup where a graphical environment would not be available. Keep up the good work.
Great episode! Shows are getting better and better. I’m so glad you introduced me to Exaile, I installed it the other day and it is my favorite audio player by far for Gnome.
Thanks for listening! After Linuxchic pointed out that I originally sent her the link to Exaile, I thought I better check it out again. I have replaced my Rhythmbox with Exaile on both my home and work computers. Definitely a keeper!
Nice show, as usual. Also a good balance between too few and too much tech
== Licence ==
Regarding MP3 licenses - as far as I know you need only to pay license costs for ENCODING MP3’s (or better your encoder manufacturer does) NOT for just listening to them.
== OGG & MP3 ==
Seems its like the usual hen-egg problem. There are no (or few) players out there. Why ? To few listeners … It might be technically (and maybe ethically) better but as long as no big player manufacturers support them (having a player which can handle both) I dont see a chance. Also re-encoding MP3 into OGG means again a quality loss. One would have to start over with all his CD’s.
== Software ==
Somehow you missed iTunes
Who “invented” cover flow ?
Okay, just my two cents (or with this length maybe 5c).
Enjoy, Eol
Ah yes - nearly forgot:
Theres also another nice gui for mplayer:
SMPlayer - http://smplayer.sourceforge.net/en/index.php
That nice installation solved my “getting all those codecs to watch a DVD problem” on my feisty fawn.
Cheers,
Eol
Thanks for the clarification on the license. And on iTunes, holy cow how did we miss it? Could have been since we aren’t using it it just got overlooked as shameful as that is. I am sure I won’t be able to forget after the iPod Touch comes out as I am sure to get one!
Thanks so much for listening!
It is a crying shame about OGG since I think it is a better format but just like VHS vs Beta, LaserDisc vs. DVD, and more recently HDVD and Blu-Ray; there is always a format which will be more widely adopted and whichever that may be is the one that wins.
Last but not least, thanks so much for your comments. It’s really great to hear your input, suggestions, and yes, even the criticism.