Updated: MP3 files in Debian

A lot of new users move from Ubuntu to another Debian based distro to limit the ammount of change they experience. But often can be a bit daunted by the challenges that Ubuntu made easy for them. One such is music files in MP3 format.

Whilst I personally use Ogg Vorbis and would encourage all others to, I am realistic that a lot of people still want to use their MP3 files and even build up their collection.

*If you are unsure what the term "as root" means then simply add sudo before each command that requires root privileges, you will be required to enter your password as sudo is a powerful tool*

Playing MP3 files

For playing MP3 files, the quickest method is to download VLC player. This is available from the software repositories from the majority of distros. This can be installed very easily:

1. Open the terminal

2. As root type: apt-get install vlc

This now gives you a player.

Ripping CDs to MP3 format

Should you want to rip your CDs to MP3 format then we still have another few steps to take.

1. Open the terminal

2. As root type: apt-get install sound-juicer

This gives a program that will rip the music from a CD and save it onto the computer. We can load it up from the main menu (usually listed under the multimedia or sound and video), called Audio CD Extractor.





















If we open this up and click on edit and preferences we should be greeted by a window as shown below:





















Down near the bottom of the window we should see Output Format, this by default is set to CD Qua;ity, Lossy (.ogg type). At this point if we click on this it will not give us the option of MP3. We still have a few more things to do.

The package we need is not available in the Debian repos due to Debian's commitment to free software. But we can add this. We need to go back to our terminal.

3. As root type: nano /etc/apt/sources.list (if you are met with the message unknown command nano, then you can retype the command replacing nano with gedit)

4. Decide what repos you would like to add:

Stable: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org stable main non-free
Testing: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org testing main non-free
Unstable: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org sid main non-free

Add only one of the above choices, just type the part in bold to the end of document.

5. Exit the file by pressing Ctrl + X, it will then ask you if you wish to save press y and then hit return twice.

This will add the repos to our system, but we also need to have the keyring before the repos will work.

6. Download the Debian Multimedia keyring, as of Debian Wheezy (the current stable version) it is in the repos.  As root, type: apt-get update

7. Navigate to the directory and, as root, type: apt-get install debian-multimedia-keyring

8. as root, type: apt-get update

9. as root, type: apt-get install gstreamer0.10-lame gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

That's it.

To check it has worked open up Audio CD Extractor again, click on edit and preferences. This time when we click on Output Format, MP3 should be an option.

Enjoy your music.

A lot of new users move from Ubuntu to another Debian based distro to limit the ammount of change they experience. But often can be a bit daunted by the challenges that Ubuntu made easy for them. One such is music files in MP3 format.

Whilst I personally use Ogg Vorbis and would encourage all others to, I am realistic that a lot of people still want to use their MP3 files and even build up their collection.

*If you are unsure what the term "as root" means then simply add sudo before each command that requires root privileges, you will be required to enter your password as sudo is a powerful tool*

Playing MP3 files

For playing MP3 files, the quickest method is to download VLC player. This is available from the software repositories from the majority of distros. This can be installed very easily:

1. Open the terminal

2. As root type: apt-get install vlc

This now gives you a player.

Ripping CDs to MP3 format

Should you want to rip your CDs to MP3 format then we still have another few steps to take.

1. Open the terminal

2. As root type: apt-get install sound-juicer

This gives a program that will rip the music from a CD and save it onto the computer. We can load it up from the main menu (usually listed under the multimedia or sound and video), called Audio CD Extractor.





















If we open this up and click on edit and preferences we should be greeted by a window as shown below:





















Down near the bottom of the window we should see Output Format, this by default is set to CD Qua;ity, Lossy (.ogg type). At this point if we click on this it will not give us the option of MP3. We still have a few more things to do.

The package we need is not available in the Debian repos due to Debian's commitment to free software. But we can add this. We need to go back to our terminal.

3. As root type: nano /etc/apt/sources.list (if you are met with the message unknown command nano, then you can retype the command replacing nano with gedit)

4. Decide what repos you would like to add:

Stable: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org stable main non-free
Testing: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org testing main non-free
Unstable: deb ftp://ftp.deb-multimedia.org sid main non-free

Add only one of the above choices, just type the part in bold to the end of document.

5. Exit the file by pressing Ctrl + X, it will then ask you if you wish to save press y and then hit return twice.

This will add the repos to our system, but we also need to have the keyring before the repos will work.

6. Download the Debian Multimedia keyring, as of Debian Wheezy (the current stable version) it is in the repos.  As root, type: apt-get update

7. Navigate to the directory and, as root, type: apt-get install debian-multimedia-keyring

8. as root, type: apt-get update

9. as root, type: apt-get install gstreamer0.10-lame gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

That's it.

To check it has worked open up Audio CD Extractor again, click on edit and preferences. This time when we click on Output Format, MP3 should be an option.

Enjoy your music.

Updated: MP3 files in Debian

CCJam - Community podcast

It is with a sense of eager anticipation that I announce the news of a new community podcast: CCJam.

CCJam has been released as part of the Unseenstudio Podcast Network, but it is quite different to the other podcasts on the network in that it is non-techy, this is a music podcast.

The aim of CCJam is to promote independent artists/bands, but the major difference with this project is that it is to be community run, this is not simply another podcast featuring Kevie.  Each episode is made up of two music tracks with the talk being submitted by individual show hosts.  The talk doesn't have to be too lengthy, just introduce yourself and the band, then where the listeners can go to listen to more tracks or to find out some further information.  Your welcome to talk about anything else in the show, it's up to you.

In order to make this as easy as possible for everybody, I have broken it down into three steps:

1.  Find a band that you wish to promote.*

2. Record your talk about the artist (no need for anything fancy, this may even be on your smartphone)

3. Email me (ccjam at unseenstudio dot co dot uk) the file along with the links for the tracks

That's it!!! I'll do the rest. The show will be released on the Unseenstudio website and it will be added to the subscribers feed automatically.  In order to make the show accessible to as wide a range as possible it is available in both Ogg and MP3 format.

*If the band releases their music under a copyright license then please have a band member email me with permission that CCJam is allowed to play their music.

It is with a sense of eager anticipation that I announce the news of a new community podcast: CCJam.

CCJam has been released as part of the Unseenstudio Podcast Network, but it is quite different to the other podcasts on the network in that it is non-techy, this is a music podcast.

The aim of CCJam is to promote independent artists/bands, but the major difference with this project is that it is to be community run, this is not simply another podcast featuring Kevie.  Each episode is made up of two music tracks with the talk being submitted by individual show hosts.  The talk doesn't have to be too lengthy, just introduce yourself and the band, then where the listeners can go to listen to more tracks or to find out some further information.  Your welcome to talk about anything else in the show, it's up to you.

In order to make this as easy as possible for everybody, I have broken it down into three steps:

1.  Find a band that you wish to promote.*

2. Record your talk about the artist (no need for anything fancy, this may even be on your smartphone)

3. Email me (ccjam at unseenstudio dot co dot uk) the file along with the links for the tracks

That's it!!! I'll do the rest. The show will be released on the Unseenstudio website and it will be added to the subscribers feed automatically.  In order to make the show accessible to as wide a range as possible it is available in both Ogg and MP3 format.

*If the band releases their music under a copyright license then please have a band member email me with permission that CCJam is allowed to play their music.

CCJam - Community podcast