[aggieheels]

New to Linux. Just installed Ubuntu on an old HP Laptop. Installed without any problems.


My home network has a Lacie Network hard drive with my entire digitized CD collection in WAV files and several in mp3 files.


The preinstalled Rhythmbox software easily recognizes all the music data on the Network hard drive and music can be cued up with one click instantly via my wireless connection. Right now I have the laptop hooked up via RCA cables to my receiver.


Questions:

1. Any external soundcards that are higher quality that I can use to improve my SQ and possibly give me an SPDIF connection to my receiver?


2. My Rhythmbox player will not play mp3 files. What is a good Plug-in to play these files? It plays WAV files without problem.


This computer will be used for media only.

 

[mythmaster]

For software, have you considered XBMC?


Do you not have a free PCI slot for a soundcard? EDIT: D'oh, laptop. forget this...


I haven't used any ext sound cards, maybe someone else here has...

 

[aggieheels]

I'll try XBMC tomorrow. Any problems with installation to expect?

 

[Rgb]

1. You want the Turtle Beach Micro Advantage USB stick sound card

http://www.google.com/products/catal...172#ps-sellers


According to reviews, it appears to work well in Linux for analog and SPDIF optical output
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Keywords=linux


You may want to buy locally with a return policy to ensure it works for you.


2. Go to System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager, enter your password (user account password), use the Search field to find ubuntu-restricted-extras. Click to install it for MP3 and other IP (Imaginary Property

)-restricted stuff.


If you can't find the ubuntu-restricted-extras, go to Setting->Repositories in Syanptic and be sure all the check boxes on the Ubuntu Software tab are checked (except source code, unless you want to compile something yourself

). You may need to reload/refresh Synaptic after checking the boxes.


While you're in Synaptic, you should install Lame (MP3 encoder) and Flac encoders (use Search) for ripping CD's in the future or converting your wavs to flac, which will ~double your disk space with no loss in quality- flac is "zip" compression for audio data. Any music player worth its salt plays flac files.


Then download and install Ruby Ripper- just download the .deb file and double click to install- best Linux CD ripper around, like EAC on Windows but simpler and cleaner-
http://www.getdeb.net/app/Rubyripper


While you're at getdeb.net, browse for other cool apps/utilities and games, all installable via point and click .deb files, the equivalent of .msi installers on Windows.



You may also want to try Amarok/Exaile and Banshee for music playback, also in Synaptic. For kickin' it old skool, try Audacious (Winamp 2.x clone)

or others

http://www.linux.com/feature/53118

http://www.smashingdownloads.com/200...your-favorite/

http://www.anewmorning.com/2008/05/2...audio-players/

http://fourforces.wordpress.com/2008...music-players/

http://lindesk.com/2008/03/top-10-linux-mp3-players/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...et.html?cat=15

 

[mythmaster]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aggieheels /forum/post/15514636


I'll try XBMC tomorrow. Any problems with installation to expect?

None. You'll love the interface. Also have a look at the Aeon skin for it --> http://www.aeonproject.com/


All of Rgb's recommendations are spot on, also.

 

[Rgb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mythmaster /forum/post/15516387


None. You'll love the interface. Also have a look at the Aeon skin for it --> http://www.aeonproject.com/


.

Has the slow menu response issue been addressed in recent XBMC builds?

 

[mythmaster]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rgb /forum/post/15517015


Has the slow menu response issue been addressed in recent XBMC builds?

That only happened to me once on first-run, then never again, so all I can say is that you'll just have to try it.

 

[Rgb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mythmaster /forum/post/15517080


That only happened to me once on first-run, then never again, so all I can say is that you'll just have to try it.

Do you recommend this PPA


deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-intrepid/ubuntu intrepid main



or the SVN daily build?


deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-svn/ubuntu intrepid main


For the newcomers, the XBMC install instructions are here

http://xbmc.org/forum/showpost.php?p...1&postcount=10


after you've added the above repositories (copy/paste) into System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software->Add


JUst copy/paste the "deb ..." line above, depeding on which one mythmaster recommends

 

[mythmaster]

I'd stick with the stable release as opposed to the SVN. I'll have a look at the commits to see what's going on, though.

 

[SeijiSensei]

Along with the other excellent suggestions you've received, I'd recommend installing smplayer , a well-designed front-end to mplayer. Installing smplayer with the restricted repositories enabled will also install mplayer and all its associated codecs.


You can install smplayer from the repositories using adept or synaptic.

 

[aggieheels]

I am literally brand new to Ubuntu. I have yet to install anything on Linux other than a plug-in and this is a new language.


It is not entirely clear what to install. I went to the ppa link and get a screen that has Parent Directory. I keep clicking and get more files in other directories.


I chose to use Linux because I have two old computers that are painfully slow with XP SP2. One computer is now used by my son along with Open Office he can use it for school and music. No Norton to further slow things down.


This laptop is solely for media.


Please tell me what to do with the links provided. I am used to the standard Download this program method.

 

[Rgb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aggieheels /forum/post/15537158



Please tell me what to do with the links provided. I am used to the standard Download this program method.

I assume you are referring to XBMC.


I recommend holding off on that until you get more comfortable with the base Linux install.


Just use SMplayer and VLC for video playback for now, and the music players we mentioned or linked to above.


Most are available point and click in System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager.


Once you are comfortable with the stuff in Synaptic, then you can learn how to add more software sources to Synaptic, which is what the PPA's do.

 

[mythmaster]



Quote:
Originally Posted by aggieheels /forum/post/15537158


Please tell me what to do with the links provided. I am used to the standard Download this program method.

It's easy:


* Open Synaptic Package Manager

* Select Settings | Repositories

* Click on the "Third Party Software" tab

* Click the "Add..." button

* Paste this in the "APT line" textbox (for Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid):
Code:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-intrepid/ubuntu intrepid main

* Click the "Add Source" button

* Click the "Close" button

* An alert will pop up telling you that you need to Reload. Click "Close"

* Click the "Reload" button

* In the "Quick Search" textbox, type "xbmc"

* "xbmc" will be the first package in the listing with the description "The full XBMC meta package"

* Right-click on it and select "Mark for installation"

* If it says it needs to install dependency packages (I don't remember if it does) then acknowledge

* Click on the "Apply" button


XBMC will then be downloaded and installed. See the post here for other helpful links --> http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?p=185738


XBMC should now be in your start menu somewhere

-- I use KDE, so it's in a different place than in Gnome.


Search though the XBMC forums if you run into configuration problems, but it's been my experience that everything is pretty easy to find, and the UI is easy to use.

 

[Rgb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mythmaster /forum/post/15538185


It's easy:



Search though the XBMC forums if you run into configuration problems, but it's been my experience that everything is pretty easy to find, and the UI is easy to use.

Thanks for writing up the detailed "GUI way" for the newcomers- I thought you were the commandline ninja

I recommended holding off on XBMC in my last post because I installed it last weekend, and while it is an amazing piece of work with a bright future, there are curently stability issues with basic video file playback and elsewhere. The current stable XBMC, built in November 2008, hard locked on me at least twice, requiring a hard reset of the PC. It hard locked while playing back a Myth analog cable recording (standard DVD MPEG2) and when I was in a config menu.


Plus, I'm waiting for easy Lirc setup to use XBMC with my Packard Bell Fastmedia remote and serial port receiver, which is working fine on Myth on the same box, which is Ubuntu 8.10 with all updates.


I'd rather have a noob to linux have a good experience with known working media playback software like SMplayer, VLC, Banshee, Audacious and others before trying the fancy, schmancy bleeding edge stuff

 

[mythmaster]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rgb /forum/post/15540685


Thanks for writing up the detailed "GUI way" for the newcomers- I thought you were the commandline ninja

I recommended holding off on XBMC in my last post because I installed it last weekend, and while it is an amazing piece of work with a bright future, there are curently stability issues with basic video file playback and elsewhere. The current stable XBMC, built in November 2008, hard locked on me at least twice, requiring a hard reset of the PC. It hard locked while playing back a Myth analog cable recording (standard DVD MPEG2) and when I was in a config menu.


Plus, I'm waiting for easy Lirc setup to use XBMC with my Packard Bell Fastmedia remote and serial port receiver, which is working fine on Myth on the same box, which is Ubuntu 8.10 with all updates.


I'd rather have a noob to linux have a good experience with known working media playback software like SMplayer, VLC, Banshee, Audacious and others before trying the fancy, schmancy bleeding edge stuff

I'm a man of many talents.

I've never had XBMC lock up on me except when I tried to play a vc-1 file, so I don't know what happened with you. For future reference, though, you don't have to reset the machine, just .


I've never tried to set up lirc, but I believe it involves editing an xml file. You may want to ask them about those things -- the freezing thing may have been fixed in SVN.