10/15/2005

Ubuntu Breezy Badger - Multimedia Setup for Dummies

Okay, so you've heard all the buzz about Ubuntu Breezy Badger and either want to give it a try for the first time or want to upgrade... but then after installing, you get stuck configuring multimedia(audio/video) for hours and start to loose patience.... No, uh-huh~ Don't glimpse back at your Windows CD or old release, try the following easy steps (written by a dummy like myself so it's easy and most importantly, IT WORKS!):

  1. Open a terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal)
  2. Add extra repositories by editing the source list
    • sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup (create a backup)
    • sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list (edit the source list)
  3. Uncomment the lines to add software from the 'universe' repository
    • deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
    • deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
  4. Uncomment the lines to add software from the 'backports' repository
    • deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    • deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5. Save and close
  6. Update Ubuntu repositories
    • sudo apt-get update
  7. Get(download) and install various codecs from repositories
    • sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-plugins
    • sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-lame
    • sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-ffmpeg
    • sudo apt-get install libdivx4linux
    • sudo apt-get install lame
    • sudo apt-get install sox
    • sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
    • sudo apt-get install mjpegtools
    • sudo apt-get install vorbis-tools
  8. then download and install w32 codec from here
    • sudo dpkg -i w32codecs_20050412-0unofficialubuntu2_i386.deb
  9. Or download 'essential codecs' from www.mplayerhq.hu
  10. REGISTER codecs
    • gst-register-0.8
  11. Get and install xine
    • sudo apt-get install xine-ui
  12. Associate xine-ui to play multimedia files
    • gconftool-2 --type string --set /Desktop/gnome/volume_manager/autoplay_dvd_command "xine dvd://"
    • sudo rm -f /usr/share/applnk/Multimedia/xine.Desktop
    • sudo ln -fs /usr/share/xine/Desktop/xine.Desktop /usr/share/applications/
    • sudo cp /usr/share/applications/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list_backup
    • sudo sed -e 's/totem.Desktop/xine.Desktop/g' /usr/share/applications/defaults.list_backup > /tmp/defaults.list
    • sudo mv /tmp/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
  13. Refresh the panel
    • killall gnome-panel
  14. Refresh the desktop
    • killall nautilus
  15. Play your multimedia files with xine and enjoy!

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/
http://ubuntuguide.org/

posted by tim @ 10/15/2005 10:05:00 PM