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Thread: Comprehensive Multimedia & Video Howto

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    Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

    Comprehensive Multimedia & Video Howto

    THIS TUTORIAL IS OUTDATED/ABANDONED AND INCLUDES REFERENCES TO REPOSITORIES THAT NO LONGER EXIST

    EDITED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2011


    --NEW VERSION--



    This howto was previously laid out in sections, but now I'm gonna keep it short and sweet. I've left the old howto below as it may still be useful.

    First of all, if you haven't already added the Medibuntu repo to your list of sources and enabled the Partner repo, copy and paste the following command into a terminal and execute it:

    Code:
    sudo -E wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && sudo sed -i "/^# deb .*partner/ s/^# //" /etc/apt/sources.list && sudo apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get -y --force-yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu && sudo apt-get update
    Note: Repeat the above command after upgrading from one Ubuntu version to another, or use a package manager to view and re-enable any software sources that were deactivated during the system upgrade. This includes any PPAs or other repos you added for specific third-party software. Edit and update the Ubuntu version in the repo's address if required as well.

    Next, add the Getdeb repo by installing the package from this page. You might also want to add the Playdeb repo if you're into gaming.

    Once you've got the Medibuntu, Partner and Getdeb repos all set up and ready to use, copy and paste one of the following commands into a terminal, then review (edit if you wish) and execute it:

    Ubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras non-free-codecs p7zip-rar acroread gimp inkscape blender smplayer vlc libdvdcss2 libdvdread4 faac faad audacious rubyripper cd-discid aacplusenc gtkpod lame cdrdao aacgain flac mp3gain normalize-audio vorbisgain arista soundconverter gnome-sushi exfalso winff devede openshot audacity cheese synaptic gconf-editor lsb-core
    Xubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install xubuntu-restricted-extras non-free-codecs p7zip-rar acroread gimp inkscape blender smplayer vlc libdvdcss2 libdvdread4 faac faad audacious rubyripper cd-discid aacplusenc gtkpod lame cdrdao aacgain normalize-audio vorbisgain arista soundconverter exfalso winff devede openshot audacity cheese synaptic gconf-editor lsb-core
    Kubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install kubuntu-restricted-extras non-free-codecs p7zip-rar acroread gimp inkscape blender smplayer vlc libdvdcss2 libdvdread4 faac faad audacious rubyripper cd-discid aacplusenc gtkpod lame cdrdao aacgain normalize-audio vorbisgain arista soundkonverter exfalso winff devede openshot audacity lsb-core
    Lubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install lubuntu-restricted-extras non-free-codecs p7zip-rar acroread gimp inkscape blender smplayer vlc libdvdcss2 libdvdread4 faac faad rubyripper cd-discid aacplusenc gtkpod lame cdrdao aacgain normalize-audio vorbisgain arista soundconverter exfalso winff devede openshot audacity chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra gconf-editor lsb-core
    Accept or reject any EULAs using the tab and enter keys. Once everything is installed, launch WinFF and then close it. Execute the following command to unrestrict WinFF and keep the presets updated/valid:

    Code:
    mv ~/.winff/presets.xml ~/.winff/presets-old.xml && sudo ln -s /usr/share/winff/presets-orig.xml ~/.winff/presets.xml
    You now have pretty much everything you need for encoding, decoding, converting, creating, drawing, etc. The old howto below may have information still helpful, but don't feel obliged to change something like the default browser plugin, or default DVD player unless you really have a need to.

    Reboot your system.

    Note: Preview files and folders in Nautilus with gnome-sushi by selecting them and pressing the space bar. If you'd like to know more about any other of the packages you've just installed, either search for them in the Software Centre (which contains reviews and often tips) or perform an internet search instead.


    --OLD VERSION--



    SECTIONS


    --PART 1/5, ESSENTIAL PACKAGES--
    --PART 2/5, AUDIO & VIDEO STREAMING--
    --PART 3/5, AUDIO & VIDEO CONVERSION--
    --PART 4/5, DVD PLAYBACK/RIPPING/BURNING--
    --PART 5/5, MISCELLANEOUS & TROUBLESHOOTING--


    INTRODUCTION


    Reason for Howto: This howto was written to help those who struggle to get streaming media, java, DVD playback (and so on) to work properly and those who are having general multimedia issues. Please keep in mind, however, that Ubuntu has a helpful feature, where if you click on a certain file, or try to view Flash videos, a dialog should pop-up and ask if you want to install proprietary packages that are neccessary to play those formats. This howto is for users who are still having issues, or simply want as many different formats working as possible with just a few commands.

    Please Note: Part 1 of this howto will be sufficient for some of you, so have a check after completing that section to see if you need more of my non-default recommenations. Also, you may notice a reaccurance of certain packages in different parts of this howto (Audio & Video Conversion for example), but don't worry, this is just to make certain that you have the necessary packages installed to enable whichever feature you're looking to have available to you on your system. Anything you already have installed will be skipped, it will not cause any problems.


    --PART 1/5, ESSENTIAL PACKAGES--


    PREPARATION


    IMPORTANT: If you haven't already, you need to enable the Medibuntu repository. The first command below is compatible with any version of Ubuntu, but the manual instructions are aimed at Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala users, so if you are using a different version of Ubuntu, you will have to edit the sources accordingly. If you do have to edit the sources, you can do so by changing the word "karmic" to whatever version of Ubuntu you are running.

    Quick Method: Open the terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal or KMenu > System > Terminal Program (Konsole) in Kubuntu and Applications > System > Terminal in Xubuntu) and paste the following command into it:

    Code:
    sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/`lsb_release -cs`.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list; sudo apt-get -q update; sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring; sudo apt-get -q update
    Manual Method: If the above method didn't work, and you received an error, you will have to add the repository manually, which is actually quite easy. First of all, open the sources file with your default or favourite text editor (replace "gedit" with "kwrite" in Kubuntu and "mousepad" in Xubuntu):

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Add the following two lines to the bottom of the list, remembering to change the Ubuntu version accordingly:

    Code:
    deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ karmic free non-free
    deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ karmic free non-free
    Finally, close and save the sources file and install the Medibuntu key by copying and pasting the following command into the terminal:

    Code:
    wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update
    Ubuntu Users: It's also a good idea to make sure the Multiverse and Universe repositories are enabled, although they should be enabled by default in the latest versions of Ubuntu. To make sure they are, or to choose a local server for downloads, navigate to "System > Administration > Software Sources" and tick whichever sources you wish to use, perhaps including unofficial updates (backports) in the "Updates" tab, as that will enable you to receive newer versions of some applications. While you're there, you can also untick the CD/DVD-ROM source and choose a local server (both now default in current releases) instead of using the main server. There are two good reasons for this - first of all, you will be giving the main server a break because you're using a local mirror, and secondly, it will improve download speeds when updating the system, or when installing software and packages.

    Kubuntu Users: To enable Multiverse and Universe in Kubuntu, navigate to "KMenu > System > Adept" and launch it. On the menu of that application, navigate to "Adept > Manage Repositories" and enable the Multiverse and Universe repositories in the first tab. You might also want to enable unsupported (backports of newer software) updates in the "Updates" tab, disable the CD/DVD-ROM source, and choose a local server for all system-related downloads.

    Xubuntu Users: Navigate to "Applications > System > Software Properties" and make sure the Multiverse and Universe repositories are enabled by ticking the relevant boxes. As with Ubuntu and Kubuntu, you may want to enable unsupported (backports of newer software) updates for your system, disable the CD/DVD-ROM source, and choose a local server for all your system-related downloads.


    UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 HARDY HERON USERS ONLY


    A quick and easy way to install most of the packages you need (Flash, Java, codecs for playing/ripping/converting music and video etc) is to use the command line. If you would rather use a graphical application with descriptions of packages, you can either use Add/Remove, Synaptic in Ubuntu and Xubuntu ("System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager" in Ubuntu and "Applications > System > Synaptic Package Manager" in Xubuntu), and Adept in Kubuntu ("KMenu > System > Adept"). For the sake of speed, I suggest using the terminal for most of this howto. Open up the terminal, then copy and paste the relevant command for your particular Ubuntu variant and architecture into it:

    Note: Those of you installing Sun Java will be asked to accept an end-user license agreement (EULA) before the installation of the Sun Java packages begins. Press the tab key on your keyboard (above the caps lock key), followed by the enter key to accept the EULA and complete the installation.

    32-Bit Ubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gstreamer0.10-pitfdll liblame0 non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    32-Bit Kubunu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree libk3b2-extracodecs liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    32-Bit Xubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common icedtea-gcjwebplugin libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre-lib swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    64-Bit Ubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-gcjwebplugin liblame0 non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar
    64-Bit Kubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-gcjwebplugin libk3b2-extracodecs liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar
    64-Bit Xubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-gcjwebplugin liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs openjdk-6-jre unrar
    Note: Please refer to the errors section below if you're having installation problems with the packages above, or the troubleshooting section at the end of this howto if it's a performance-related problem that you're experiencing.


    DID YOU HAVE ERRORS?


    Note: You may have to perform "sudo apt-get update" twice after recovering from any of the errors below.

    COMMON ERRORS

    If you had errors while trying to do the above, one of these following commands may help. Did the terminal tell you to run "dpkg --configure -a"? All you have to do is add "sudo" to the front of that command, like so:

    Code:
    sudo dpkg --configure -a
    or if it was the install -f command:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install -f
    Then make sure your system is up to date:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
    NON-EXISTANT PACKAGES

    Do you keep getting messages that certain packages don't exist and can't be installed? First of all, make sure you have enabled the Medibuntu, Universe and Multiverse repositories. If you're certain that you have the necessary repositories enabled, then you may have a currupt apt list due to an interrupted "apt-get update", which would then make the package manager think certain packages don't exist on the server. Execute both of these commands in the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/*
    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    NEWLINE ERROR/PACKAGE ERROR

    An error which can prevent ANY system update/upgrade or package installation is the troublesome "final newline error", but there are also other errors and curruptions which can prevent upgrades and installations. If you notice the same package or application being mentioned when you're trying to upgrade or install something completely unrelated to it, take a note of which package the error is referring to, copy and paste the command below into the terminal, replace the "filename*" example with the name of the package that's giving you grief, then execute the edited command to remove the currupt file(s):

    Code:
    sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/filename*
    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    This doesn't mean the package has been removed, just the pre/post-install scripts, md5sums, and file lists related to it. You should reinstall the package - even if you plan to remove it, as those deleted and currupted files related to it will be replaced with non-currupted ones.

    FORBIDDEN 403 ERROR

    Those of you receiving the "Forbidden 403" error should change your sources from "http" to "ftp". You can change it by opening the sources file with your default or favourite text editor (substitute "gedit" for "kwrite" in Kubuntu and "mousepad" in Xubuntu) from within the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Change all instances of "http" to "ftp", then close and save the changes made. You should now be able to update the list of available packages:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    Once your errors are fixed, try repeating the command to install the restricted packages for your particular Ubuntu variant.


    ...INSTALLATION CONTINUED


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 HARDY HERON USERS ONLY


    A quick and easy way to install most of the packages you need (Flash, Java, codecs for playing/ripping/converting music and video etc) is to use the command line. If you would rather use a graphical application with descriptions of packages, you can either use Add/Remove, Synaptic in Ubuntu and Xubuntu ("System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager" in Ubuntu and "Applications > System > Synaptic Package Manager" in Xubuntu), and Adept in Kubuntu ("KMenu > System > Adept"). For the sake of speed, I suggest using the terminal for most of this howto. Open up the terminal, then copy and paste the relevant command for your particular Ubuntu variant and architecture into it:

    Note: Those of you installing Sun Java will be asked to accept an end-user license agreement (EULA) before the installation of the Sun Java packages begins. Press the tab key on your keyboard (above the caps lock key), followed by the enter key to accept the EULA and complete the installation.

    32-Bit Ubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gstreamer0.10-pitfdll liblame0 non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    32-Bit Kubunu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree libk3b2-mp3 liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    32-Bit Xubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin unrar
    64-Bit Ubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree faad gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-java7-jre icedtea-java7-plugin liblame0 non-free-codecs unrar
    64-Bit Kubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-java7-jre icedtea-java7-plugin libk3b2-mp3 liblame0 libtunepimp5-mp3 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs unrar
    64-Bit Xubuntu Users

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove gnash gnash-common libflash-mozplugin libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install alsa-oss faac faad flashplugin-nonfree ia32-libs ia32-sun-java6-bin icedtea-java7-jre icedtea-java7-plugin liblame0 libxine1-ffmpeg non-free-codecs unrar
    Note: Please refer to the errors section below if you're having installation problems with the packages above, or the troubleshooting section at the end of this howto if it's a performance-related problem that you're experiencing.


    DID YOU HAVE ERRORS?


    Note: You may have to perform "sudo apt-get update" twice after recovering from any of the errors below.

    COMMON ERRORS

    If you had errors while trying to do the above, one of these following commands may help. Did the terminal tell you to run "dpkg --configure -a"? All you have to do is add "sudo" to the front of that command, like so:

    Code:
    sudo dpkg --configure -a
    or if it was the install -f command:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install -f
    Then make sure your system is up to date:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
    NON-EXISTANT PACKAGES

    Do you keep getting messages that certain packages don't exist and can't be installed? First of all, make sure you have enabled the Medibuntu, Universe and Multiverse repositories. If you're certain that you have the necessary repositories enabled, then you may have a currupt apt list due to an interrupted "apt-get update", which would then make the package manager think certain packages don't exist on the server. Execute both of these commands in the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/*
    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    NEWLINE ERROR/PACKAGE ERROR

    An error which can prevent ANY system update/upgrade or package installation is the troublesome "final newline error", but there are also other errors and curruptions which can prevent upgrades and installations. If you notice the same package or application being mentioned when you're trying to upgrade or install something completely unrelated to it, take a note of which package the error is referring to, copy and paste the command below into the terminal, replace the "filename*" example with the name of the package that's giving you grief, then execute the edited command to remove the currupt file(s):

    Code:
    sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/filename*
    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    This doesn't mean the package has been removed, just the pre/post-install scripts, md5sums, and file lists related to it. You should reinstall the package - even if you plan to remove it, as those deleted and currupted files related to it will be replaced with non-currupted ones.

    FORBIDDEN 403 ERROR

    Those of you receiving the "Forbidden 403" error should change your sources from "http" to "ftp". You can change it by opening the sources file with the default text editor (substitute "gedit" for "kwrite" in Kubuntu and "mousepad" in Xubuntu) from within the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Change all instances of "http" to "ftp", then close and save the changes made. You should now be able to update the list of available packages:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    Once your errors are fixed, try repeating the command to install the restricted packages for your particular Ubuntu variant.


    --PART 2/5, AUDIO & VIDEO STREAMING--


    OPTION 1, GECKO MEDIA PLAYER


    Gecko Media Player is similar to mplayerplug-in, as it uses GNOME MPlayer to play virtually all formats, but works well without the need for adding any configuration options. Installation and setup is simple, just copy and paste the following commands into the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove kaffeine-mozilla mozilla-helix-player mozilla-mplayer mozilla-plugin-vlc totem-mozilla xine-plugin
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install gnome-mplayer gecko-mediaplayer
    or if you're running Kubuntu, you might want the KDE front-end for MPlayer/Xine:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install kmplayer gecko-mediaplayer
    Restart your web browser and test the plug-in here. If you have problems viewing the trailers, please refer to the troubleshooting section.

    Note: Please REBOOT if you are not carrying on with the rest of the howto, as you have made lot's of changes to your system and could have some strange problems until you start a fresh session. If you still have problems after rebooting, please read the troubleshooting section at the bottom.


    OPTION 2, MPLAYERPLUG-IN


    This plug-in will stream virtually all media formats, both audio and video, and is the best solution for older versions of Ubuntu. First of all, copy and paste the following commands into the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove kaffeine-mozilla mozilla-helix-player mozilla-plugin-vlc totem-mozilla xine-plugin
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install mplayer mozilla-mplayer
    or if you're running Kubuntu, you might want the KDE front-end for MPlayer/Xine:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install kmplayer mozilla-mplayer
    Please Note: New users of Ubuntu or MPlayer should open the main MPlayer application after installing it for the first time, this will then cause it to create it's default folder in your home directory. Also, please navigate to "Preferences > Audio" in MPlayer, and make sure the "Enable Software Mixer" option is ticked.

    Next, copy and paste either of these commands into the terminal:

    Code:
    gedit $HOME/.mplayer/mplayerplug-in.conf
    or if you have multiple users and want them all to use this method for streaming:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/mplayerplug-in.conf
    If you chose to edit the "/etc/" file, please remove the settings already present, and make sure that the "$HOME" version is blank or deleted in all user accounts. Now you need to paste the following settings into the configuraton file:

    Code:
    download=1
    cachesize=1024
    cache-percent=25
    keep-download=0
    dload-dir=$HOME
    noembed=0
    autoplay=1
    enable-wmp=1
    enable-qt=1
    enable-rm=1
    enable-gmp=1
    enable-dvx=1
    enable-mpeg=1
    enable-mp3=1
    enable-midi=0
    enable-pls=1
    enable-ogg=1
    enable-smil=1
    enable-helix=1
    nomediacache=0
    nopauseonhide=1
    black-background=1
    rtsp-use-http=0
    rtsp-use-tcp=0
    Close and save the file, then restart your web browser.

    Note: Firefox 2x users may need to execute the following command in the terminal:

    Code:
    rm $HOME/.mozilla/firefox/pluginreg.dat
    Restart Firefox. The above file has been deleted and recreated with the updated plug-in information. If the command didn't work for you, navigate to "Places > Home > View" and tick the "Show Hidden Files" option. Finally, navigate to "/.mozilla/firefox" in your home directory, then look for and delete the file named "pluginreg.dat". Restart Firefox.

    Please REBOOT if you are not carrying on with the rest of the howto, as you have made lot's of changes to your system and could have some strange problems until you start a fresh session. If you still have problems after rebooting, please read the troubleshooting section at the bottom.


    --PART 3/5, AUDIO & VIDEO CONVERSION--


    AUDIO CONVERSION


    It is not recommended to convert one group of compressed music files of a certain format to another type of compressed format. However, if you wish to do so, you can accomplish most tasks with Sound Converter, OggConvert or Sound Konverter. Some GNOME users prefer Sound Konverter, despite the fact it is a KDE application, due to it historically having better support for AAC audio, such as iTunes music files. Lastly, I've added the audio editing application Audacity to both install commands, as you may need it for some tasks.

    Ubuntu/Xubuntu users who wish to install Sound Converter to see if it suits their needs should execute the following command:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install soundconverter audacity oggconvert
    Those of you running Kubuntu, or Ubuntu/Xubuntu users who simply prefer Sound Konverter should execute this command instead:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install soundkonverter aacplusenc audacity alac-decoder cdparanoia ffmpeg flac lame vorbis-tools
    If you want to try and convert a large number of iTunes m4a files, and keep as much tag information as possible, please refer to this page.

    Tag editing can be done in various music applications, but if you want to try a dedicated tag editor, install Ex Falso:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install exfalso
    You may also want to try EasyTag:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install easytag easytag-aac
    Kubuntu users might want to install KID3 instead:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install kid3

    CD RIPPING


    For secure audio CD ripping, I recommend Rubyripper, as it's the best alternative to using EAC with WINE and it will ensure the rip is accurate. Install the application by going to Getdeb.net and firstly adding the Getdeb repository to your list of software sources. After that, search for Rubyripper on the site and click on the relevant link to install it. Also, please install the following packages for Rubyripper to use:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install cd-discid cdrdao
    Tips: If your rips take longer than you think they should, try running the CLI version of Rubyripper by entering the command "rrip-cli" into the terminal. It may sound like a pain, but using Rubyripper from the terminal is actually very easy. Also, if any disc refuses to be read properly and causes errors, eject it briefly, then go into the GUI version and disable metadata fetching in "Preferences > Freedb", just for that problem disc. After ripping it without all the useful tag info, use a tag editor to fetch the track and album information for you.

    Finally, if Rubyripper reports quite a few "chunk" mismatches for a certain disc, remove the CD and give it a good clean, not forgetting the edges, then temporarily slow your optical drive down with the following command:

    Code:
    sudo setcd -x 2 /dev/scd0
    Rebooting will return the drive to it's default speed, but repeating the command again with the default speed, if you know it, would be more ideal. It's not necessary to keep the drive slow for all CD rips, despite what you might have read elsewhere.


    VIDEO CONVERSION


    UBUNTU FAMILY 9.04+ USERS ONLY


    To make converting, editing and extracting audio from videos easy, install the following packages:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install avidemux ffmpeg winff
    WinFF is probably the most user-friendly tool for converting videos and extracting audio from videos in Ubuntu. Avidemux is a popular and useful video editing application, which makes it quite simple to cut and crop videos to your liking - and much more.

    Tip: When creating a video for a mobile phone in WinFF, you may need to change the file extension from ".3g2" to ".3gp" when the video is complete. To increase the audio quality of the video, click on "Options" within WinFF, and in the option labelled "Audio Bitrate", type "96000" (default is 64000, which is 64kbps). However, your phone may not play it properly with the audio at 96kbps, depends really. Test it yourself.


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 9.04 USERS ONLY


    For video conversion and editing capabilities, you will first need to add a new repository to your software sources, as it will enable you to install the very useful WinFF, which is a GUI front-end for the command-line video conversion tool, FFmpeg. The command I want you to copy and paste for adding the actual repository is intended for Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex, so if you're using a different version of Ubuntu, you will need to edit the "intrepid" part accordingly, then move the cursor back to where it was before executing the edited command.

    Copy and paste the following command into the terminal to add the new WinFF repository:

    Code:
    echo "deb http://winff.org/ubuntu intrepid universe" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winff.list
    This second command will merely install something called a GPG Key, so will not need editing by anyone:

    Code:
    wget --quiet --output-document=- "http://winff.org/ubuntu/AAFE086A.gpg" | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update[/noparse]
    Finally, execute the command below to install the applications needed for video conversion and editing:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install avidemux ffmpeg winff
    WinFF is probably the most user-friendly tool for converting videos and extracting audio from videos in Ubuntu. Avidemux is a popular and useful video editing application, which makes it quite simple to cut and crop videos to your liking, and much more.

    Tip: When creating a video for a mobile phone in WinFF, you may need to change the file extension from ".3g2" to ".3gp" when the video is complete. To increase the audio quality of the video, click on "Options" within WinFF, and in the option labelled "Audio Bitrate", type "96000" (default is 64000, which is 64kbps). However, your phone may not play it properly with the audio at 96kbps, depends really. Test it yourself.


    --PART 4/5, DVD PLAYBACK/RIPPING/BURNING--


    DVD PLAYBACK


    UBUNTU FAMILY 9.04+ USERS ONLY


    Note: I recommend disabling the CD/DVD-ROM source before completing this section, as you will receive numerous prompts if you need to run the "install-css.sh" command. If you're not sure whether it's disabled or not, take a look at the preparation instructions in Part 1.

    For the best DVD playback in Ubuntu, including menu support, install the following packages:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 libdvdread4 libdvdnav4 vlc
    You can also use the Xine engine in Ubuntu (the default engine in Kubuntu) for video/DVD playback. This can be done without having to change the back-end of Totem - just install an alternative GNOME front-end for Xine called Gxine (this is optional, VLC will do just fine):

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install gxine libxine1-ffmpeg
    Now you can test a DVD with VLC, Kaffeine, Gxine or whatever your favourite media player is. Enable deinterlacing ("VLC > Video > Deinterlacing > Blend") if playback is choppy or if you notice artifacts.

    Note: Those of you still having DVD playback issues after installing the above packages should try the solutions in the troubleshooting section, which you can find at the end of this howto.


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 9.04 USERS ONLY


    Note: I recommend disabling the CD/DVD-ROM source before completing this section, as you will receive numerous prompts if you need to run the "install-css.sh" command. If you're not sure whether it's disabled or not, take a look at the preparation instructions in Part 1.

    For the best DVD playback in Ubuntu, including menu support, install the following packages:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 libdvdread3 libdvdnav4 vlc
    You can also use the Xine engine in Ubuntu (the default engine in Kubuntu) for video/DVD playback. This can be done without having to change the back-end of Totem - just install an alternative GNOME front-end for Xine called Gxine (this is optional, VLC will do just fine):

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install gxine libxine1-ffmpeg
    Now you can test a DVD with VLC, Kaffeine, Gxine or whatever your favourite media player is. Enable deinterlacing ("VLC > Video > Deinterlacing > Blend") if playback is choppy or if you notice artifacts.

    Note: Those of you still having DVD playback issues after installing the above packages should try the solutions in the troubleshooting section, which you can find at the end of this howto.


    DEFAULT DVD PLAYER


    UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04+ USERS ONLY


    To change the default DVD player to VLC (not Kubuntu, possible issues with Xubuntu), copy and paste this command into the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/gnome/defaults.list
    Press Ctrl+f and search for "x-content/video", then change the "totem.desktop" entries to "vlc.desktop". Close and save. Next, navigate to "Places > Computer > Edit > Preferences > Media > DVD Video", and make sure VLC is selected, then test whether automatic launch and playback with VLC works for you by inserting a DVD. If playback doesn't work properly, navigate to "Video > Deinterlace" within VLC and select mode "Blend". If that still doesn't solve your issue, or you just want more features enabled upon launch (such as fullscreen upon launch), follow the intructions in the next paragraph.

    Right-click on "Applications" in the top panel and select "Edit Menus" to open the default menu editor. Navigate down to "Sound & Video" in the left pane and click on it to show all those applications in the pane to the right. Scroll down the list of applications displayed until you see "VLC media player", right-click on it, then click on "Properties" in the context menu to open "Launcher Properties", and change the launch command from "wxvlc %F" to:

    Code:
    vlc --volume 512 %m
    or to have DVD playback automatically launch in fullscreen:

    Code:
    vlc --volume 512 --fullscreen %m
    Close the VLC properties dialog and exit the menu editor.

    Note: Remember to enable deinterlacing in "VLC > Video > Deinterlace" if you see any artifacts during playback, or if playback doesn't work correctly (the same is true with some AVI files also). To exit and enter fullscreen in VLC, just press the "f" key.


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 USERS ONLY


    To set VLC as your default DVD player in a pre-Hardy Heron (not Kubuntu) system, navigate to "System > Preferences > Removable Drives and Media > Multimedia" ("Applications > Settings > Settings Manager > Removable Drives and Media" in Xubuntu) and replace the existing “Video DVD Discs” command ("totem %m" by default in Ubuntu) with:

    Code:
    vlc --volume 512 %m
    or to have DVD playback automatically launch in fullscreen:

    Code:
    vlc --volume 512 --fullscreen %m
    You can now close the window as the process is now complete.

    Note: Remember to enable deinterlacing in "VLC > Video > Deinterlace" if you see any artifacts during playback, or if playback doesn't work correctly (the same is true with some AVI files also). To exit and enter fullscreen in VLC, just press the "f" key.


    DVD RIPPING


    You can rip a standard disc image by right-clicking on the disc icon and then selecting the "Write to Disk" option in the context menu. Alternatively, you can open it with your file browser and drag the ISO image to your desktop. For more advanced options, give dvd::rip a try:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install dvdrip
    Kubuntu users might be interested in this application instead:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install k9copy
    Note: Please refer to the troubleshooting section if you are having trouble ripping and backing up foreign and/or commercial DVDs.


    DVD BURNING


    Basic burning of DVDs can be accomplished by right-clicking on an ISO image and then selecting the "Write to Disc" option in the context menu. If you want to author and burn DVDs for use in standard DVD players, then your best bet is to install Tovid, DeVeDe, and Avidemux. Tovid is an all-in-one video authoring suite with a GUI in early devolopement, DeVeDe is another popular DVD authoring application, and Avidemux is a very useful video editing application. Experiment with both video authoring applications to see which suits your needs the most:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install avidemux devede todiscgui tovidgui
    Those of you still using Gutsy should go to the Tovid Wiki, download the deb file, then just double or single-click to install, or use the right-click context menu. Type your password when prompted. Also, read this guide on using the Tovid GUI and another guide on the basics of using Tovid.


    --PART 5/5, MISCELLANEOUS & TROUBLESHOOTING--


    VARIOUS TIPS & TRICKS


    UBUNTU FAMILY 8.10+ USERS ONLY


    LAPTOP TOUCHPAD

    Using a laptop? If your cursor shoots off all over the place when you type and seemingly clicks on things without your consent, have no fear, you can disable it's click function while typing in a few simple steps. First of all, execute the following command in the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/hal/fdi/policy/shmconfig.fdi
    Next, copy and paste the following text into the empty document:

    Code:
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
    <deviceinfo version="0.2">
     <device>
      <match key="input.x11_driver" string="synaptics">
       <merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig" type="string">True</merge>
      </match>
     </device>
    </deviceinfo>
    Ubuntu/Xubuntu Users: Navigate to "System > Preferences > Sessions" ("Applications > Settings > Autostart Applications" in Xubuntu) and click on "Add". Name it something like "Touchpad Syndaemon", the description can be "Disables touchpad while typing", and the all important command you need is "syndaemon -i 1 -d -t -K". For it to take effect, either logout or reboot.

    Kubuntu Users: Create a text document in your home directory called "syndaemon", then open it with a text editor and add the following lines to it:

    Code:
    #!/bin/sh
    Code:
    syndaemon -i 1 -d -t -K
    Close and save the file, then move it to the autostart folder with:

    Code:
    mv syndaemon ~/.kde/Autostart
    Finally, make the file an executable script with the following command:

    Code:
    chmod u+x ~/.kde/Autostart/syndaemon
    Why isn't it enabled by default for laptop users? Well, it's insecure and accesses root areas of the system.

    SCREEN RESOLUTION

    To enable the correct display resolution in Ubuntu, you have several options. First of all, there is the fairly useless tool in "System > Preferences", the soon-to-be-dead (unavailable for 8.10+) displayconfig-gtk tool, and finally, RandR - the newest method. There will be a graphical front-end (GUI) for RandR soon (keep an eye out for it in "System > Administration"), but for now you will need to use the command line. Let's say you wanted to change your resolution to 1280x800, you would need to execute the following command:

    Code:
    sudo xrandr -s 1280x800
    If that fails, bring up a list of "supported" resolutions with this command:

    Code:
    sudo xrandr -q
    Use the first command again and set the highest resolution that RandR claims is supported. Once that is set, try setting the resolution you know is correct, as it may now accept that resolution.

    If you're still having issues, and you're not running an 8.10+ version of Ubuntu, press Alt+F2 and type "gksudo displayconfig-gtk" (without "gtk" in Kubuntu), type your password and execute, then select the resolution you want from the list. Some of you may have to select a different screen/monitor in the list before you can successfully change the resolution. Reboot or logout if necessary.

    Go to Launchpad and report a bug if you've struggled to set your screen resolution, as it should be automatically detected.


    --TROUBLESHOOTING--


    ADOBE FLASH PLAYER


    On occasion, installing Adobe Flash Player and/or watching online Flash streams successfully isn't as simple as it might ordinarily be. If you have tried installing it already, and are having issues, read on. First of all, please disable any ad-blocking Firefox extensions you have installed, such as Adblock Plus, as they can sometimes interfere with the Flash content you actually want to see. If you are still having issues after disabling the extension(s), you should now completely purge Adobe Flash Player from your system, along with any other packages which may be interfering with it, reinstall only Adobe Flash Player, restart your web browser, and then test Flash performance again. Will both 32-bit and 64-bit users copy and paste this command into the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get purge adobe-flashplugin flashplugin-nonfree gnash gnash-common libflashsupport mozilla-plugin-gnash nspluginwrapper swfdec-mozilla && sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
    Still no joy? I would suggest following the instructions below for your particular Ubuntu version and architecture.


    UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04+ USERS ONLY


    Note: You can safely install the Ubuntu package (flashplugin-nonfree), or a Deb archive over the top of the Tar installation method at a later date - I've tested it several times. There's absolutely no need to remove any of the manually installed files, as they will simply be overwritten.

    First of all, copy and paste the following command into the terminal and remove the package installed by Ubuntu:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get purge flashplugin-nonfree
    32-Bit Users Only: Those of you running the 32-bit version of Ubuntu can install the Flash Player plug-in by selecting and downloading the Deb archive in the drop-down menu on this page of Adobe's site, then executing it and entering your root password when prompted.

    32/64-bit Users: Alternatively, 32-bit users can download the Tar archive from the same link provided above and follow my instructions below. If you're a 64-bit Ubuntu user, download the Tar archive of the 64-bit Flash Player plug-in from the bottom of this page to your desktop.

    Once downloaded, simply open the Tar archive, look for a file named "libflashplayer.so", copy that file to your desktop, then both 32-bit and 64-bit users execute the following command in the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo mkdir /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree && sudo cp -f ~/Desktop/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/ && sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so /etc/alternatives/firefox-flashplugin && sudo ln -sf /etc/alternatives/firefox-flashplugin /usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins/flashplayer-alternative.so
    You may now restart your web browser and use the plugin.


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 USERS ONLY


    Note: You can safely install the Ubuntu package (flashplugin-nonfree), or a Deb archive over the top of the Tar installation method at a later date - I've tested it several times. There's absolutely no need to remove any of the manually installed files, as they will simply be overwritten.

    First of all, copy and paste the following command into the terminal and remove the package installed by Ubuntu:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get purge flashplugin-nonfree
    Install the Flash Player plug-in manually by selecting and downloading the Tar archive in the drop-down menu on this page of Adobe's site if you're a 32-bit Ubuntu user, and from the bottom of this page if you're a 64-bit Ubuntu user.

    Once downloaded, simply open the Tar archive, look for a file named "libflashplayer.so", copy that file to your desktop, then execute the following command in the terminal:

    Code:
    sudo mkdir /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree && sudo cp -f ~/Desktop/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/ && sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/firefox/plugins/libflashplayer.so
    You may now restart your web browser and use the plugin.

    NO SOUND

    If you're running an earlier version of Ubuntu and Firefox (pre-Hardy and Firefox 2x), and you don't have any sound in Flash videos, or you notice strange random behaviour by Firefox, you should try this next solution. Make sure you have the package "alsa-oss" from Part 1 and then paste this command into the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/firefox/firefoxrc
    Edit the line "FIREFOX_DSP=”none”" and change "none" to "aoss". Then close and save the file. Restart Firefox.


    DVD PLAYBACK


    ZERO DVD PLAYBACK

    Installed the necessary applications and packages but still cannot play/rip commercial DVDs? Perhaps you should make sure the DVD drive has been set to the correct region. If you have never successfully played DVDs in Ubuntu or Windows, install the following command line based application:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install regionset
    Please be aware that most drives limit you to about 5 changes (regionset should tell you how many you have left), so if you plan to watch foreign DVDs, it would be best to have a secondary external DVD drive, and have it set to a different region to the one in your machine. To set or change your DVD drives region, put any disc into your drive, and type "sudo regionset" into the terminal, then simply select the relevant region code. Here is the list of region codes and which countries they cover:

    RC1 = North America (USA and Canada)
    RC2 = Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Japan
    RC3 = Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Korea
    RC4 = Latin America, Australia, New Zealand
    RC5 = Former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, etc.), rest of Africa, India
    RC6 = China

    For those of you who previously played DVDs in GNU/Linux or Windows, but for some reason are unable to now, it could be related to faulty leads/connectors, but give this one last software-related method a try:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install build-essential debhelper fakeroot
    then:

    Code:
    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh
    or if you get an error with that command:

    Code:
    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh
    SOME DVD PLAYBACK

    If unlike above you have followed Part 4 of my howto and most DVDs play fine, but you're having trouble with some newer DVDs, please refer to this link, and concentrate on the solution for VLC (this bug was apparently fixed in February 2008).


    GECKO MEDIA PLAYER/MPLAYERPLUG-IN


    Note: If you're experiencing audio or video problems with ALL streams, please refer to the GNOME Mplayer/MPlayer section.

    APPLE TRAILERS

    For those of you recieving the message "Get the latest Quicktime", when you try to view some trailers (or other non-apple.com Quicktime videos), navigate to "Places > Home", then in the file browser menu, navigate to "View > Show Hidden Files", and tick that option. Within your home directory, navigate to ".mozilla > firefox > ??????.default" and find the file named "pluginreg.dat". Right-click on that file and then choose to open it with a text editor. Alternatively, you could open the terminal and enter a command like the following:

    Code:
    gedit ~/.mozilla/firefox/??????.default/plugingreg.dat
    Note: Make sure you replace "??????.default" with the exact name of that folder.

    Once you have opened that file with a text editor, search for "QuickTime Plug-in 6.0 / 7:$", then copy and paste "QuickTime Plug-in 7.0 / 7:$" directly above it, but without the quotation marks of course. Close and save, then restart your web browser.

    BUFFERING...

    Sometimes it looks like the stream is about to start playing, but it does not. Try pressing the play, pause, and stop buttons, perhaps reload the page also, but don't just give up and navigate away too soon. The BBC's Windows Media radio streams take longer to start playing, the Real Media streams start quicker and sound better. Also, make absolutely sure you don't have other plug-ins interfering with Gecko Media Player or MPlayerplug-in, and that you don't have these two plug-ins installed together either. Finally, ask other users of Gecko Media Player or MPlayerplug-in if the stream works for them.

    DEFAULT ACTIONS

    Now and then you will click on a audio or video link and Firefox will ask if you want to download it or open it with a certain application. Many times though, you will want to play or open it with a different application to the one offered, or you may have expected it to open with the browser plugin. Click to choose your own application, then navigate to "/usr/bin", and you will find your audio and video apps there, or navigate to "Firefox > Edit > Preferences > Applications", and select the application or browser plug-in you want Firefox to use for whatever file extension it was.

    PLUG-IN REQUIRED

    If Firefox 2x doesn't recognise that you have changed your plug-ins and says "Plug-in Required", or something like that, then you need to:

    Code:
    rm $HOME/.mozilla/firefox/pluginreg.dat
    Restart Firefox. The above file has been deleted and recreated with the updated plug-in information. If the command didn't work for you, navigate to "Places > Home > View", and tick the "Show Hidden Files" option. Finally, navigate to "/.mozilla/firefox" in your home directory, then look for and delete the file named "pluginreg.dat". Restart Firefox.

    Note: Are you using a non-default web browser? You may need to link your plug-ins folder to that browser. To create a symbolic link, you need to do something like this "sudo ln -s /usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins /full/path/to/browser". Rename or delete the plug-ins folder it already has, or use the "ln -sf" symlink command as it forces the link to replace whatever plug-ins folder is already present.


    GNOME MPLAYER/MPLAYER

    VIDEO

    Those of you who are having general issues with video playback being blank with just sound, either don't have the right codecs installed (see Part 1), or have graphics driver issues. Some of you may be able to solve it by disabling desktop effects in "System > Preferences > Appearance > Effects". If you're one of those who wants to keep desktop effects active at the expense of video quality, you may want to do the following:

    Open GNOME MPlayer and navigate to "Edit > Preferences > Player > Video Output", then select "x11" from the list and close. MPlayer users should launch the application, then right-click on the video window, navigate to "Preferences > Video", and select the "x11" driver there. You may now close MPlayer.

    Have you not enabled desktop effects, but still can't use the "xv" (Xvideo) driver despite your best efforts? See if the "gl" (OpenGL) video driver works well for you in GNOME MPlayer/MPlayer, at least it's accelerated.

    Please Note: If you are having trouble using the "xv" video driver, you should search the forums and Google, as it's highly unlikely that your card doesn't support it. Some users have to make a few changes to get it working.

    SOUND

    Common sound issues with GNOME MPlayer/MPlayer can be solved by enabling the software mixer in both their preferences. In GNOME MPlayer, navigate to "Edit > Preferences > Advanced", and tick the "Software Volume Control" box. As for MPlayer users, right-click on the video window and navigate to "Preferences > Audio", then tick the "Enable Software Mixer" box. If you launched a video before carrying out these steps, open the video again with the new sound setting in place, or restart GNOME MPlayer/MPlayer.


    JAVA & JAVA PLUGIN


    Java not working correctly? Execute the command below, and make sure you select Sun Java if you're a 32-bit user, then restart your web browser:

    Code:
    sudo update-alternatives --config java
    Still no? If you are using the 32-bit build of Ubuntu, and are trying to use Sun Java, you may want to make sure that you don't have IcedTea/OpenJDK Java and it's plug-in installed, as it will conflict with the Sun Java plugin:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get remove icedtea6-plugin icedtea-java7-bin icedtea-java7-jre icedtea-java7-plugin icedtea-gcjwebplugin openjdk-6-jre-headless openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-lib
    Those of you running the 64-bit version of Ubuntu with OpenJDK Java installed may struggle with compatibility at times. Sun Java is opening up Java to the free and open source community, but it will take a while before it's performance is on-par with Sun Java. Until then, some desktop applications (such as FrostWire) will work better with the Sun JRE installed:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre
    Then select it as the Java you want applications to use:

    Code:
    sudo update-alternatives --config java
    Note: The following instructions are for Gutsy users only.

    If you have followed the above steps and still can't get IcedTea Java applets working properly, it may be worth adding the unofficial repository for Gutsy, which can be done in "System > Administration > Software Sources" in Ubuntu, or the command line way:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
    Then copy and paste these two lines into it:

    Code:
    deb http://people.ubuntu.com/~doko/ubuntu/ gutsy/
    deb-src http://people.ubuntu.com/~doko/ubuntu/ gutsy/
    Make sure you save your changes, then perform a "sudo apt-get update", or alternatively, just reload Synaptic/Adept. After you have updated your list of packages, you can perform a "sudo apt-get upgrade", or just wait for the update manager to realise there are updates available. IcedTea Java will be updated and hopefully work much better than previously.


    REALPLAYER


    PRE-UBUNTU FAMILY 8.04 USERS ONLY


    PERFORMANCE

    If your RealPlayer's playback is terrible (mine was), you have to do some manual editing. First of all, you need to copy and paste the following command into the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /usr/bin/realplay
    Next, find the line "echo "Warning: LD_PRELOAD=\"$LD_PRELOAD\"", and underneath "fi", paste these two lines:

    Code:
    LD_PRELOAD="$LDPRELOAD:/usr/lib/libaoss.so"
    export LD_PRELOAD
    Save and close. Also, open RealPlayer's preferences and go to "Transport", once you're there, select "Use specified transport". Then go into the two configuration options beneath that and untick everything except "http". You can also select your connection speed in preferences, and tell RealPlayer not to send connection info back to real.com.

    LANGUAGE PACKS

    Those of you who are having problems with SCIM (the popular input method for multiple languages), and are receiving the "segmentation fault" error, should carry out instructions similar to those above, and execute the following command in the terminal:

    Code:
    gksudo gedit /usr/bin/realplay
    Finally, add the following instruction to the top of the RealPlayer script:

    Code:
    export GTK_IM_MODULE=xim
    Close and save the changes, then restart RealPlayer.
    Last edited by Elfy; December 28th, 2013 at 08:27 AM. Reason: Fixed the new setup command and changed some other stuff.

  2. #2
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    Created new post as suggested by LaRoza and matthew.

    Nathan
    Last edited by ubuntu-freak; August 30th, 2008 at 07:05 PM.

  3. #3
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    This thread supersedes the original, which is still in the archives.

    Thanks again.
    what's a troll? | my blog | my writing | Ubuntu Unleashed

    Don't ask support questions in PMs--post a thread so everyone can benefit!

  4. #4
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    May 2007
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    Thank you reassuringlyoffensive,
    your tutorial is really perfectly done!
    Nobody was born with linux knowledge!
    Here's my experience with Ubuntu linux on laptops: http://linux.aldeby.org

  5. #5
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    Excellent. Well done. I might add that this solved my "choppy video" problem with Hardy and now all video looks great (even full screen).

    Thank you.

    Update:I had forgotten that I disabled the ATI driver under "Hardware Drivers" prior to this. I have desktop effects "off" as well. So, it looks like this:

    Disable the driver and get smooth video playback. But, you can't play games, and Google Earth will cause a crash upon opening (at least for me). Compiz? Forget it.

    Enable the driver and you get choppy, horrible video playback. You can play games and Google Earth works fine. Of course, I still have desktop effects "off".

    Enable desktop settings (visual effects) under "normal" and you can't play games and of course, video playback is still horrible. Google Earth won't function with them enabled either.
    Last edited by gfahey; April 25th, 2008 at 05:11 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    Quote Originally Posted by gfahey View Post
    Excellent. Well done. I might add that this solved my "choppy video" problem with Hardy and now all video looks great (even full screen).

    Thank you.

    No problem.

    Do you know which package or advice solved your issue?

    Nathan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    please note that your tip concerning DVD playback

    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

    actually downgrades libdvdcss2 from 1.2.9-2medibuntu4 to 1.2.5-1

    1.2.9-2medibuntu4 is from official medibuntu repositories
    Nobody was born with linux knowledge!
    Here's my experience with Ubuntu linux on laptops: http://linux.aldeby.org

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    Quote Originally Posted by aldeby View Post
    please note that your tip concerning DVD playback

    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

    actually downgrades libdvdcss2 from 1.2.9-2medibuntu4 to 1.2.5-1

    1.2.9-2medibuntu4 is from official medibuntu repositories

    That's normal, it upgrades again after the downgrade.

    Nathan
    Last edited by ubuntu-freak; May 12th, 2008 at 02:31 PM.

  9. #9
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    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    thank you for such a comprehensive guide... really really helped a lot - answered a billion questions n issues =) thanks!!!

    .

  10. #10
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    Kubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

    Re: Complete Multimedia & Video How-to

    Actually I would like to suggest purging swfdec-mozilla when installing flash. This being the third option offerred up by firefox. Installing this package gives a big play symbol over the flash vid, but its impossible to maximise, volume control etc.. I accidentaly installed it, and was raging at myself until I found it in synaptic and got rid of it.

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