Multimedia woes: just wishing

English Multimedia
#1

I wish that some individual would create a simple package, or script.

My introduction to Linux was by way of Suse, and I have traveled away and back a couple times now. I am no guru, but I don’t think that I’m a real dummy either.

But, no matter what distro, multimedia bites me in the arse. Install the distro, try to play a file, get an error message, chase that message down on the internet, install dependencies, try to play the file to read yet another error message.

A guy is left wondering which engine he really wants/needs to play those files, he goes through several repositories installing things that LOOK like they will make things work, just to find that he gets yet another error message.

I wish that there were one single multi-media guru who had the answers to this distro, and that he were the ultimate authority that EVERYONE referenced when discussing multimedia.

Now, I’ll be honest - I don’t care a whole lot for sound. Back in the day, the only sounds one heard from one’s computer were disks whirring, and a beep now and then to warn you of an error. But, I have a wife and kids who do little more than play games, listen to music, and watch movies.

I NEED SOUND!!

But, it’s real work chasing down all the requirements.

No, I don’t expect anyone to offer help to this thread. I am just ranting. Maybe I am suggesting too. Why isn’t there some dude, or some group, to whom we can go with just the multimedia problems?

That person, or group, might settle on one BEST player for audio, and one BEST player for video, and offer tutorials on just how to set them up for reliably good results.

Packman is great, with his superb repository. But, navigating all those choices, and making a few poor decisions about what to use, can easily mean a broken installation.

Enough ranting. Maybe I’ll get my act together in a short bit, and ask intelligent questions that someone can answer.

But, if there is some outstanding multimedia guru with lots and lots of answers, maybe someone can point me to his site or whatever he calls home. :wink:

#2

Hiya Runaway,

I’m far from a guru, but you have seen this one-click : Restricted Formats - openSUSE-Community

As for players Amarok (for music) and MPlayer and VLC (video) seem to have the highest votes here.

As for Linux multimedia experts, there are a couple of admins/members here that have a high standing so to speek (oldcpu is one of them), & you might get lucky and have them pick up on your wish :wink:

Cheers,
Wj

edit: the thing with ‘one person or group to answer them all’… This is still a forum based on efforts of volunteers. To get organized in such a manor is possible, and maybe even more so now the three forums have merged (meaning more man power).
It could be a suggestion to state seperatly and see where it goes…

#3

On 2008-06-22, Runaway1956 <Runaway1956@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

> I wish that some individual would create a simple package, or script.
>
> My introduction to Linux was by way of Suse, and I have traveled away
> and back a couple times now. I am no guru, but I don’t think that I’m
> a real dummy either.
>
> But, no matter what distro, multimedia bites me in the arse. Install
> the distro, try to play a file, get an error message, chase that
> message down on the internet, install dependencies, try to play the
> file to read yet another error message.

Aha! There’s your problem. You should never try that, it leads nowhere.

A short procedure that makes most tis (if not all) work:

  • remove Kaffeine
  • add Packman
  • select all following, then accept:
  • Kaffeine
  • Mplayer
  • anything with the name ‘codec’ in it
  • maybe even Firefox plugin for mplayer

Try it. :slight_smile:

–
The sand remembers once there was beach and sunshine
but chip is warm too
– haiku from Effector Online, Volume 1, Number 6

#4

If you want audio and openSUSE, you could always try JackLab (JAD):
jacklab.org - The News

Its not “cutting edge” openSUSE, but it does address many criticism that various users have.

#5

VLC media player for Linux SUSE

Maybe I found what I was looking for. I’m unsure. After running this installer, sound is great in VLC, and I play my audio files.

I thought I was watching a movie, but Plasma crashed along with the VLC player.

I think maybe a reboot is in order, which I am not accustomed to doing.

anyway - Thanks for listening, guys. :smiley:

#6

What desktop/window manager ? KDE-4 ??