Can't play MP4/DVD in Totem on XFCE

English Multimedia
#1

Hi all,

Is sad, because every time I try to install OpenSUSE, I have problems with it. So I give up, go to Ubuntu, Debian… even Slackware. But in OpenSUSE, I just can’t make work.

I’m not a genius in GNU/Linux, but I’m not a beginner too… at least… I think.

I’m trying to play encoded DVD with Totem, or even a MP4 file. But don’t work. Every time they ask for plugins, and when I click to search, Totem cannot find.

I added Packman and DVDCSS repositories, but don’t work. The only method I found to made the system use all libraries from Packman was from zypper, in terminal. All the other options using Yast2 I cannot find.

In installation, I notice that fluendo-mp3 is installed. But, without Packman, Totem and Rythmbox don’t play MP3 files.

I’m using OpenSUSE 13.1 with XFCE, installed from DVD.

Please, this is killing me, I think that is something very basic that I missed.

How can I fix it?

#2

Install all the gstreamer-plugins-* packages from Packman (with YaST->Software Management f.e.), especially gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon, gstreamer-plugins-ugly-addon and gstreamer-plugins-libav. (other necessary packages should then be installed automatically)
And install libdvdcss2.

Just adding the repos alone doesn’t change anything on your system.
And gstreamer’s codec search/automatic installation doesn’t work apparently when more than one version of the codec is found (1.0 in the standard repo, 1.2 on Packman) unfortunately.

MP3s should work though. Do you have gstreamer-fluendo-mp3 installed? (this is what you need for totem and rhythmbox) Or only gstreamer-0_10-fluendo-mp3?
But when you install the other codecs, MP3s would work as well even without the fluendo codec.

#3

Hi,

Just back here to say that everything work on VLC: MP3, MP4 and DVD.

But I’m still curious how to make it work with default applications.

Thanks

#4

See my previous post.
In particular, install the following packages and it should work:
gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon, gstreamer-plugins-ugly-addon and gstreamer-plugins-libav.

#5

Hi, thanks for reply.

I not only add the repositories, I install codecs too. With one of these “One Click Install” from here: https://forums.opensuse.org/entry.php/149-openSUSE-13-1-Multi-media-and-Restricted-Format-Installation-Guide and http://opensuse-guide.org/codecs.php and here http://opensuse-community.org/ chosing Gnome.
These three times that I try, I reistalled everything before try another method.

With other codecs, the MP3 work. But only with the repos from installation, they not work.

I’ll reinstall again, in another HD because now with VLC everything is right. Then I’ll back here to post the results.

Really, thanks!

#6

The second one is mainly intended for KDE, it won’t install any gstreamer codecs (only codecs for gstreamer-0_10), so won’t help with totem or rhythmbox.
The other two should work though.

With other codecs, the MP3 work. But only with the repos from installation, they not work.

They should, if “gstreamer-fluendo-mp3” is installed.

I’ll reinstall again, in another HD because now with VLC everything is right. Then I’ll back here to post the results.

Really, thanks!

For VLC you mainly need “vlc-codecs” from Packman.
And you don’t have to re-install. Just enter YaST->Software Management to install/remove packages.

One thing to note though.
Never add both the VLC repo (videolan.org) and the Packman repo to your system! Those are not compatible, if you have both that will break your multimedia stuff.

#7

Ah, the second one. I thought it was strange, it install K3B codecs, and some Qt libs. It should be more explicit, that is the first page that appers when search for “OpenSUSE 13.1 multimedia”.

Don’t work, by the way I’ll try again and post the results. This thing about fluendo, I think that the one you said me was not installed.

I’ll reinstall everything just to have sure that nothing that I did is in the way. This time I really want to make OpenSUSE work with everything that a “normal” user will use.

Yes, I read about that.

I’ll back in some minutes. Thanks again.

#8

You’re right. They should maybe add a GNOME section there as well, since it’s the “Unofficial Guide to openSUSE”, not KDE…
But the very first sentence does say:

This chapter describes three different methods for installing the packages needed to playback most multimedia formats - including MP3, DVDs etc., with Kaffeine (video) and Amarok (audio).

Kaffeine and Amarok are the default applications for video and audio on KDE btw. :wink:

Don't work, by the way I'll try again and post the results. This thing about fluendo, I think that the one you said me was not installed.

Maybe you only had “pullin-fluendo-mp3”? That’s just a place-holder package included in the standard repo.
It should pull in the actual “gstreamer-plugins-fluendo” (from the non-oss repo) whenever you first enter YaST->Software Management though.

#9

Ok, now I saw… gstreamer-fluendo-mp3 was not installed. I installed and I can play MP3 The great question here… is why? Because it’s not a Free/Oss Software? In KDE they install by default, but I can only play with Amarok, not Kaffeine.

Kaffeine and Amarok are the default applications for video and audio on KDE btw

Oh my, I know but I really don’t saw that… my bad. But this need a very big title saying that is for KDE. Will help people like me! rotfl!

Ok, I opened Software Manager -> Configuration -> Repositories -> Add -> Community Repositories and checked Packman and libdvdcss. Undo all automatic sugested packages and install gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon, gstreamer-plugins-ugly-orig-addon, gstreamer-plugins-libav and libdvdcss2*.*

After that Totem won’t start, and displayed this message: “Some necessary plug-ins are missing. Make sure that the program is correctly installed.” I installed gstreamer-plugins-good-extra and them Totem back to start. I noticed that when I installed this package, a lot of other packages was replaced from Packman version, this is normal?

Rythmbox and Totem still playing MP3. But not MP4/DVD. I can hear the sound from MP4 files. This time I did a manual installation instead “One-click Install”. The result was the same, is this some bug with OpenSUSE and XFCE?

Are some plugins missing? Or I have duplicated packages?

#10

Yes. But again, it should be selected for installation automatically, whenever you first enter YaST->Software Management and install/remove some software.

In KDE they install by default, but I can only play with Amarok, not Kaffeine.

You didn’t do any 1-click installs now, right?
Kaffeine uses libxine2, so you need to install libxine2-codecs for that to play all files.

I installed gstreamer-plugins-good-extra and them Totem back to start. I noticed that when I installed this package, a lot of other packages was replaced from Packman version, this is normal?

Yes. And in fact necessary.

Rythmbox and Totem still playing MP3. But not MP4/DVD. I can hear the sound from MP4 files. This time I did a manual installation instead “One-click Install”. The result was the same, is this some bug with OpenSUSE and XFCE?

No, that’s surely no bug in openSUSE and XFCE.

Are some plugins missing?

There shouldn’t be when you installed those packages.

Or I have duplicated packages?

No, that’s not possible.

Well, you say they do work fine in VLC, right?

Try to do a full repository Vendor change update to Packman like described here:
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Vendor_change_update#Full_repository_Vendor_change
Maybe not all necessary packages have been switched to their Packman counterparts.

And try to delete gstreamer’s plugin cache:

rm -r ~/.cache/gstreamer-1.0

(or do it with a file manager)
This has helped people that couldn’t get MP4 to play although the codecs were installed.

I don’t use totem myself, but it should work. (at least it played MP4 when I last tried it… :wink: )

#11

Ok, I reinstalled everything again. I entered in Software Manager and the only suggested package related to MP3 was gstreamer-0_10-fluendo-mp3. In this installation, unrar and some other programs are installed. So, entering in Software Manager for first time and install suggested packages don’t enable the MP3 playback on default applications. Another problem is the automatic plugin search that Totem and Rythmbox try. With only installation repositories, they cannot find MP3 plugins. So, for the second time in installation, I need to install manually the gstreamer-fluendo-mp3. This is not a problem at all. I remember that flash-player was installed by default in KDE, and here in my XFCE I don’t have flash-player installed by default, or even in suggested packages. Well, I added the repositories with “Software Management”, installed the plugins, libdvdcss and executed the following commands from my home directory because I don’t have that options in my Yast2 Software Management:

zypper dup --from ftp.gwdg.de-suse rm -rf .cache/

And everything worked! MP3, MP4… DVDs. The .cache directory was the problem before. In other tests I removed every directory that start with a “.”. But I don’t do the Full Repository Vendor Change. **Thanks man! Really thanks! ** Sorry my bad english, I’m brazilian, I don’t studded a lot of grammar rules and I’m writing everything from my head. Well, I think that some things can be better. I’ll do another tests with KDE and test the things about MP3 and Flash automatic install. I don’t like MP3, even Flash… I prefer HTML5 players and OGG, but I’m giving this PC and I can give it with missing thinks… or even a cracked Windows. I don’t like Totem too, I really like MPlayer or VLC (more Mplayer because VLC can’t execute for root), but I must learn once and for all, and now I think I learned, thanks to you lol!, I don’t feel comfortable with RPM systems. There is some way to make this steps easy for “first time” users?

#12

I reinstall everything.

All these steps are needed. Just with the installation, trying to play a MP3 result in a plugin search that will fail.

Using http://opensuse-community.org/ a least for Gnome don’t enable the support.

Removing ~/.cache after “1-Click” doesn’t enable it too.

After all, a full Vendor Change for Packman followed by remove the .cache directory work.

#13

Well, those 1-click installs are there to make it easier for new users.
And gstreamer’s codec search as well, but that seems to have problems.

It would be the easiest of course, if everything would be installed by default. But that’s just not possible, because of legal reasons.

Hm. gstreamer-fluendo-mp3 and gstreamer-0_10-fluendo-mp3 always got installed here automatically. But then I always installed KDE.

Maybe the XFCE installation might be missing some vital packages/patterns.
If you want to experiment, you could try a GNOME installation. In this case the 1-click install should be sufficient, and the mp3 codec should get installed automatically.

Using http://opensuse-community.org/ a least for Gnome don’t enable the support.

No. AFAICS that installs all additional packages needed for full codec support in GNOME.

Removing ~/.cache after “1-Click” doesn’t enable it too.

After all, a full Vendor Change for Packman followed by remove the .cache directory work.

I never ever had to remove the .cache directory AT ALL here on ANY of my systems.
No idea, why you have to do it.

A full vendor change to Packman should not be necessary either, but is the easiest way to make sure all necessary packages come from Packman.

#14

Ok,

I reinstall, but know with KDE.

By default, I noticed that a package having a name about partners or third part… was installed. But, again after installation, Amarok can’t play MP3, and Kaffeine can’t play MP4. But I don’t enter in Yast to install the suggested packages, maybe this will allow play MP3.

But, the “good” news is that after a “1-click Install” all programs worked well.

I do not need to remove the .cache or even do a Full Vendor Change Update.

I think that is a problem with XFCE. I’ll try the… argh… Gnome 3 and post the results.

#15

Yes it should.
MP4 support is not included in openSUSE at all. For Kaffeine you need the “libxine2-codecs” package from Packman for that.
Although, if you add the Packman repo, “libxine2-codecs” should get installed automatically as well, because it is recommended by the libxine2 package.
Packman also provides that support for other things like gstreamer 1.0 (totem f.e.) and VLC. There the necessary additional packages don’t get installed automatically though.
But that’s why those multimedia 1-click installs exist.

#16

Oh, yes, I just wrote about MP4, don’t know why. In KDE the 1-click installer work very well. But in Gnome, I need to follow all the steps that I did in XFCE. When I ask about some easy way, I meant about this steps. Because I think that these steps are needed for everyone that don’t use KDE. A least, include this steps on the 1-click page. KDE is nice, and I don’t know, but I feel that OpenSUSE have a preference on it. I like KDE but some times I work with old machines and KDE4 is not a option. I don’t have knowledge to help with other graphical interfaces on OpenSUSE, but I can test a lot of things in a lot of different machines. I want to help, but don’t know how. PS: Some wierd configuration don’t let me to put line breaks… maybe this post will have a big line.

#17

Again, those steps should not be necessary, even in GNOME IMHO.

I guess, I will have to try a GNOME installation when I find the time…

KDE is nice, and I don’t know, but I feel that OpenSUSE have a preference on it.

Yes, KDE is the default since ever (although for a short period, there was no default selected at all, because some GNOME people complained about KDE being preferred…)

I like KDE but some times I work with old machines and KDE4 is not a option.

Actually, KDE should work quite well even with old machines (although nowadays there should at least be 1GiB RAM). Mine is from 2005…
But well, I can understand if you prefer to use another Desktop. OpenSUSE is not KDE-exclusive anyway, it tries to offer as many desktops as sensible. You might have a look at KDE3 as well though, that hasn’t changed much (also in terms of requirements) since years and is still included in openSUSE 13.1.

I don’t have knowledge to help with other graphical interfaces on OpenSUSE, but I can test a lot of things in a lot of different machines. I want to help, but don’t know how.

Sorry, I don’t know who maintains that opensuse-community.org page either.

Myself, I don’t use any of those 1-click installs anyway, as I know what needs to be installed.

#18

Yes, please.

The PC where I’m trying to install is 12 year old, P4 2.6Ghz (not 755, not HT) 1GB DDR1 GeForce FX5200. KDE runs pretty well, take a time to start, and I disable desktop composition. But KDE use more RAM than XFCE, off course. Dolphin is a bit slower to start, Amarok is very… very full of things. Personally I prefer light and simple things.

As I sad, this PC is not for me. I don’t like these things that helps more than necessary, and this includes 1-click. I don’t even start X by default.

But, for someone that is beginning and trying to find a good replacement for Ubuntu and can’t use Debian because need newer packages, OpenSUSE it’s a good choice, or Mint. My brother for example…

Off course, everything in KDE works better in my tests. If you could try Gnome/XFCE I’ll be glad.

Thanks

#19

I was having this issue , also using xfce , after install gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon, gstreamer-plugins-ugly-orig-addon , and removing the cache, totem now works.

The flash repositories is broken, I’m using the packman one.

But in gstreamer , I had to go back ( I think ) to the gstreamer provided by leap .

**> Is there a way to list a search filtering by installed packages with zypper ?
**
I’m asking this, because I followed a lot of post a wikis, and i think I have a lot installed that I don’t need , I would like to show this

#20

Hello, this is an old thread. The version you are using are most probably not the same as they were in this thread. Also hiding your new question at the end of an old thread will not give it much exposure to people that might be able to help you.

Best is to start a new thread in the best fitting (sub)forum, giving it a good title that contains the key-words that will draw the attention of people that know about your area of interest.