Ubuntu Medibuntu and Multimedia

[alan c]

Bill Moseley wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 6, 2010 at 7:35 AM, alan c <aeclist at candt.waitrose.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Ubuntu 'restricted extras'
>> will do the trick , it is available from the add/remove item
>> Applications>Add/remove
>> restricted extras
>> (or just type in restricted to find the item)
>>
> 
> Is http://www.medibuntu.org/ still the recommended way to get Ubuntu to play
> just about any media format?

yes, pretty much. I have some notes here which might be useful, I
think they are up to date  still:

===================
Multimedia and Ubuntu
How to get multimedia codecs the easy way!

Disclaimer:   Patent and copyright laws operate differently depending
on which country you are in. Please obtain legal advice if you are
unsure whether a particular patent or restriction applies to a media
format you wish to use in your country.
For legal reasons Ubuntu (as first installed) lacks many of the codecs
which are needed to play some of the many possible audio or video
formats available. This is because of global, geographical, variations
in legislation regarding the legal situation, security and other issues.

Before following any of the procedures offered in here, please note
that immediately after installation of Ubuntu it is recommended to
first download any security updates which are available to date.

If you do not see a pop up offer for this then use
System>Administration>UpdateManager
and accept the updates (this is not the same as an 'Version' upgrade,
to a later version of Ubuntu, which you should avoid doing unless you
want that).

1) Multimedia – GNU/Linux native codecs
To get pretty well all of the multimedia codecs the easy way, ensure
the machine is connected to the internet and use the facility (note -
for Ubuntu 9.10 or later, use Ubuntu Software Centre, not Add/Remove)
Add/Remove applications
If the list is out of date, accept a refresh invitation, and more
recent information will be downloaded. Then use
Applications>Add/Remove

Ensure that 'All' is selected, and Click the choices to select 'All
Available Applications' from the list  (for Ubuntu 9.10 or later, Get
Free Software).

Then into the 'Search' space type
gstreamer

After a short time, the search results will display a number of
gstreamer entries,

Note that the search results may also include some items related to
gstreamer, but are not directly gstreamer items, for example Subtitle
Editor, OpenOffice full Suite, Bluemindo. these are not necessary in
this current activity.

For each gstreamer item in turn, click the check box so that a tick is
shown. It is possible you will be asked to confirm what you want and
that you do not live in a country where such codecs are not allowed
(such as USA).

Note that in some versions of Ubuntu, for example, 9.04, the
[gstreamer fluendo MPEG2 demuxing plugin] is not required and will
conflict with other installed software. If so, you will see an error
warning message, so in this case, there is no need for this item.

When your choices are all checked and accepted, click the 'Apply'
button and they will be downloaded and installed. You will now have
installed most of the multimedia codecs. (Note that for Ubuntu 9.10 or
later, the items might need to be installed one at a time)

Then, into the 'Search' space type

Ubuntu restricted extras

and install it. In some versions of Ubuntu it may have been possible
to install this item at an earlier stage.

2) Further actions:
Playing Encrypted DVDs
The several actions above will be capable of installing most
multimedia codecs. However, to play encrypted DVDs (some commercial
DVDs), the package libdvdcss2 is also an essential requirement.
libdvdcss2 is a simple library designed for accessing DVDs like a
block device without having to use decryption. This can be installed
easily after the medibuntu repository has been enabled for your
machine, please see below.

3) Playing some non-native formats
Some media formats do not have native GNU/Linux facilities. In such
cases it is possible to make use of binary Windows and other codecs
through a 'wrapper', bundled as the 'w32codecs', for playback of these
media formats. This can be installed easily after the medibuntu
repository has been enabled for your machine, please see below.

4) The Medibuntu repository
If your computer is configured to make use of the special software
repository for Multimedia, Entertainment & Distractions In Ubuntu
(medibuntu), then subsequent actions, including security updates, can
be handled conveniently. Unfortunately for the beginner, the
configuration to include a new software repository can seem a bit
demanding at first.
The following actions are closely based on information at
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu
(please note the leading upper case in the word Medibuntu here)

An overview of actions is:
- Add the Repository. A Repository is a private library of relevant
software packages, administered by a known group of people.
On the Medibuntu web page mentioned above please see: 'Adding the
Repository'
This technique makes use of a Terminal, and copy and paste.
If it seems complicated at first, please don't be concerned, it uses
Edit>copy, and Edit>paste.

How to get a 'Terminal'?
Applications>Accessories>Terminal
It is a powerful way of doing things fast. It is certainly much more
powerful than it first appears, so do not rush with any typing or
commands. Take your time.

Adding the Repository
Carefully first highlight the entire block of command text in the
Medibuntu page,
edit>copy, then into the terminal, use
edit>paste into the terminal.
When you hit the Return key your password will be needed, and actions
begin.
Wait until all downloads are completed and you see a normal prompt again.

Please refer to the Medibuntu page for more detailed information.

When these actions are completed, Medibuntu repository is available in
your Ubuntu.
Well Done!

You can verify your success by looking at
System>Administration>Software Sources
and the tab
Third Party Software  (or 'Other Software')
and you should see Medibuntu packages free and non free as being
entered and ticked (enabled).

Installing other packages:
libdvdcss2    and    w32codecs

As will be seen in the Medibuntu page referenced above,  to play
encrypted DVDs it is necessary to use libdvdcss2.

Because in the preceding actions in this information sheet, the entire
Medibuntu repository has already been made available, then it is now
only necessary to call for the particular package to be installed, so,
we follow the Medibuntu page's information to install libdvdcss2. Use
a terminal and carefully enter (or copy and paste from the Medibuntu page)
     sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

For playing non native formats for i386 (32 bit) machines, the
w32codecs is needed.
To install  this, use a terminal and carefully enter (or copy and
paste from the Medibuntu page)
      sudo apt-get install w32codecs

For amd64 (64 bit) and PPC machines please use the appropriate package
names as detailed in the Medibuntu pages.

===================

hth

-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user