Comments on: I need a good media player for handling streaming radio on linux

Question: I need a good media player for handling streaming radio on linux

LeeJay — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:40:26 -0800

I recently switched from Windows to Ubuntu and I'm looking for a good media player for streaming internet radio.

I just switched to Linux (Ubuntu 6.06 LTS DapperDrake) and I really love it but I need some suggestions on picking the best media player for me. The computer I have Ubuntu on doesn't have a lot of storage space so most of my music listening is done through streaming internet radio as opposed to local media. I have Xmms and Rhythmbox installed. I like them both OK but neither of them handle streaming radio as well as I'd like them to. And I don't like the way either of them handles playlists.

All I need is something that makes it easy to add streams and easy to manage and edit multiple playlists. Any suggestions?

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:04:16 -0800

MPlayer, baby.

There's also juk if you went with kubuntu.

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:07:49 -0800

VLC is another good choice.

By: mcstayinskool

mcstayinskool — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:56:14 -0800

You really really need to check out Amarok. Best music player I've ever used on any OS. Handles internet radio great, too.

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:04:39 -0800

I'm liking Amarok

By: eckeric

eckeric — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:39:03 -0800

I would third amarok.

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:11:14 -0800

Thanks guys. I just installed Amarok and like it although it seems to play streams intermittently. It plays CDs and MP3s perfectly but will only play about half of the streams it came preconfigured with. It connects to them and it displays the track it's supposed to be playing but no sound comes out. I'm a linux n00b so this is probably just something configured wrong on my end. I'm working to solve the problem, though, because I really like the way Amarok is set up.

By: brett

brett — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:33:01 -0800

I haven't used it, so this is a guess, but Amarok might have trouble playing preconfigured streams because the station moved or shut down since Dapper was released. If you see something that interests you, try searching for them on the web and then re-adding the stream to Amarok.

By: lunchbox

lunchbox — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 17:51:02 -0800

Have you installed EasyUbuntu?

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:14:51 -0800

lunchbox, yes, I've already installed and run EasyUbuntu. It's a fabulous script.

brett, I don't think that's the issue since I've tried it on streams directly from the web. Streams that play in Rhythmbox and XMMS don't play on Amarok. It seems to be connecting to the stream, as it displays current track info . I just don't hear any sound. And the weird thing is, it only happens on some streams, not all. I'll comtinue to play with it and see what happens.

By: sprocket87

sprocket87 — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:04:47 -0800

I've had problems with amaroK and stream playback as well - I agree that it's intermittent at best, at least in my experience. amaroK is a fantastic program in many respects, but it's far from perfection.

Honestly, VLC is your best option for playback, as was referenced before. It handles my favorite stream, WOXY.com's aacPlus stream, with ease. aac+ stream playback seemed to be pretty hit or miss for me in other apps.

Sadly, VLC's playlist support isn't fantastic - the GUI isn't nearly as powerful as amaroK or XMMS. But then again, why do you need playlists with streaming radio? Just save the stream bookmarks and load them when you want to hear them.

Anyway, if you really want a nice interface, go with XMMS/amaroK/Rythymbox, and fix your stream problems. Use the Ubuntu Forums to get started on this.

By: thebigdeadwaltz

thebigdeadwaltz — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:06:01 -0800

If you're adventurous, I'd try Banshee. It's a pretty slick media player, but the internet radio stuff is an experimental plugin. I'd keep an eye on it if you like how iTunes is setup.

If you want a hand setting it up in Dapper, I'd be glad to help.

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:59:17 -0800

sprocket87, thank you. VLC is just what I wanted and it's playing my streams perfectly. And thanks to everyone else as well for the advice and suggestions.

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:00:14 -0800

Oh! And to The Jesse Helms thanks are due as well! I didn't see your reccomendation for VLC!

By: zaphod

zaphod — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:26:35 -0800

Maybe some of the streams your trying to play are WMF?

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:23:07 -0800

Just wanted to say that I'm loving VLC so far. Combined with Streamtuner (and Streamripper!), it's exactly what I wanted.