--- name: "mpg321" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "mpg321" version: "0.3.2-4" release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/mpg321" --- # mpg321(1) Simple and lightweight command line MP3 player ## NAME mpg321 — Simple and lightweight command line MP3 player ## SYNOPSIS **mpg321 \[options\] file(s) \| URL(s) \| -** ## DESCRIPTION **mpg321** is a free command-line mp3 player, which uses the mad audio decoding library. mpg321 was written to be a drop-in replacement for the (by-then) non-free **mpg123** player. Some functions remain unimplemented, but mpg321 should function as a basic drop-in replacement for **mpg123** front-ends such as **gqmpeg**, and those programs which use mpg123 to decode mp3 files (like **gtoaster**, and other CD-recording software). ## OPTIONS - **-o devicetype** Set the output device type to **devicetype**. **devicetype** can be one of: - oss - the Linux Open Sound System; - sun - the Sun audio system; - alsa - the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture; - alsa09 - the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture, version 0.9; - esd - the Enlightened Sound Daemon; - arts - the analog real-time synthesiser - See **-a device**, below. - **-a device**, **--audiodevice device** Use **device** for audio-out instead of the default device, depending on the output device you've chosen (via **-o devicetype**). By default this is the native sound device. Generally this is the device for **devicetype** (or the default system device) to use for output (i.e. **/dev/sound/dsp1**). - This option has no effect with **-o arts**. - For **-o esd**, specify the host on which esd is running; defaults to localhost. - For **-o alsa**, specify audio device using the hw:x,y syntax, where x and y are numbers, default is hw:0,0. For example, if there is only one device installed, in most cases, the device should be named hw:0,0. When there is only one device, the device should always have the same name and numbers. - **-g N**, **--gain N** Set gain (volume) to N (1-100). - **-k N**, **--skip N** Skip N frames into the file being played. - **-n N**, **--frames N** Decode only the first N frames of the stream. By default, the entire stream is decoded. - **-@ list**, **--list list** Use the file list for a playlist. The list should be in a format of filenames followed by a line feed. Multiple -@ or --list specifiers will be ignored; only the last -@ or --list option will be used. The playlist is concatenated with filenames specified on the command-line to produce one master playlist. A filename of '-' will cause standard input to be read as a playlist. - **-z**, **--shuffle** Shuffle playlists and files specified on the command-line. Produces a randomly-sorted playlist which is then played through once. - **-Z**, **--random** Randomise playlists and files specified on the command-line. Files are played through, choosing at random; this means that random files will be played for as long as mpg321 is running. - **-v**, **--verbose** Be more verbose. Show current byte, bytes remaining, time, and time remaining, as well as more information about the mp3 file. - **-s**, **--stdout** Use standard output instead of an audio device for output. Output is in 16-bit PCM, little-endian. - **-w N**, **--wav N** Write to wav file N instead of using the audio device. This option will be preferred if --cdr or --au are specified too. Specifying '-' for N will cause the file to be written to standard output. - **--cdr N** Write to cdr file N instead of using the audio device. Specifying '-' for N will cause the file to be written to standard output. - **--au N** Write to au file N instead of using the audio device. Specifying '-' for N will cause the file to be written to standard output. - **-t**, **--test** Test mode; do no output at all. - **-q**, **--quiet** Quiet mode; suppress output of mpg123 boilerplate and file and song name. - **-B** Read recursively the given directories. Allows you to define only the directory or directories and then mpg321 recursively plays all the songs. - **-F** Turn on FFT analysis on PCM data. Remote mode only - **-S** Report song to AudioScrobbler (last.fm). - **-x** Set xterm title setting - **-b** Number of decoded frames for the output buffer. - **-K** Enable Basic Keys. - **-R** "Remote control" mode. Useful for front-ends. Allows seeking and pausing of mp3 files. See README.remote (in /usr/share/doc/mpg321 on Debian and some other systems.) - **-3**, **--restart** Restart "remote shell". Used only when in "Remote control" mode. - **--stereo** Force stereo output: duplicates mono stream on second output channel. Useful for output for devices that don't understand mono, such as some CD players. - **--aggressive** Aggressive mode; try to get higher priority on the system. Needs root permissions. - **--skip-printing-frames=N** Skip N frames between printing a frame status update, in both Remote Control (-R) and verbose (-v) mode. Can help CPU utilisation on slower machines. This is an mpg321-specific option. - **-l N**, **--loop N** Loop song or playlist N times.If N is 0 means infinite times. - **--help**, **--longhelp** Show summary of options. - **-V**, **--version** Show version of program. ## Basic keys (enabled with -K): - **\*** or **/** Increase or decrease volume. - **n** Skip song. - **m** Mute/unmute. ## AUTHOR This manual page was written by Joe Drew \. Maintained by Nanakos Chrysostomos \. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the BSD license. On Debian systems, this can be found in **/usr/share/common-licenses/BSD**.