---
name: "dbcat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dbmix"
version: "0.9.8-8"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dbcat"
---

# dbcat(1)

Send audio data to DB Fourier Synthesis daemon

## NAME

dbcat - Send audio data to DB Fourier Synthesis daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**dbcat** \[*options*\]\

## DESCRIPTION

The **dbcat** tool provides a simple means to feed **dbfsd** with audio data.  Both programs are part of the DBMix project, a digital audio mixing system.  **dbcat** takes input data from its standard input only, and is therefore usually used in a pipe with some other sound generating program.

## OPTIONS

- **-8**

  Input data comprises of PCM-coded 8bit unsigned samples. (Default: 16bit signed samples.)

- **-c** *n*

  Connect to channel *n* of **dbfsd**.  (Default: first channel available.)

- **-d**

  Print out debug messages to console.  (Default: debugging disabled.)

- **-h**

  Print summary of available options.

- **-m**

  Input data is a mono stream.  (Default: interleaved stereo stream.)

- **-r** *rate*

  Input data is sampled at *rate* Hertz.  (Default: 44100Hz.)

- **-v**

  Print version information.  (Default: no version information.)

- **-S**

  Produce an endless stream of blank audio data (silence).  Any input data is dropped.  This mode provides a dummy source useful for testing and debugging.  (Default: pass on input data.)

## EXAMPLES

- *mpg321 -s test.mp3 \| dbcat*

  Sends a 16bit/44.1kHz stereo audio stream decoded from test.mp3 off to *dbfsd*.

## SEE ALSO

[**dbin**(1)](/dbin/1.md), [**dbfsd**(1)](/dbfsd/1.md), [**dbmixer**(1)](/dbmixer/1.md), [**dbmix**(7)](/dbmix/7.md).

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Daniel Kobras \<kobras@debian.org\>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).  It is heavily based on DBMix's README file written by Robert Michael S Dean.