---
name: "ossplay"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "oss4-base"
version: "4.2-build2010-2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ossplay"
---

# ossplay(1)

Open Sound System playback program.

## NAME

**ossplay** - Open Sound System playback program.

## SYNOPSIS

```
ossplay [-RWhlvq] [-S secs ] [ -c channels ] [ -d devname ]
      [ -f fmtname | ? ] [ -g gain ] [ -o playtarget | ? ]
      [ -s rate ] filename | - ...
```

## DESCRIPTION

**ossplay plays raw PCM, Microsoft RIFF (.wav), Sun ULaw (.au), Mac AIFF (.aif)** **and other types of audio files. By default the application will try to** **determine the audio file's format and play audio based on the stored** **inforation about sample format, number of** *channels* **and sampling** *rate***.**

## OPTIONS

- **-v**

  **Verbose output. Multiple invocations increase the level** **of verbosity.**

- **-q**

  **Quiet (no information printed).**

- **-l**

  **Loop playback indefinately.**

- **-d\<*devname*\>**

  **Select \<***devname***\> as the device (eg -d/dev/dsp2).**

- **-s\<*rate*\>**

  **Select the playback** *rate* **for raw PCM audio (eg -s48000).**

- **-c\<*channels***

  **Select the number of** *channels* **1=mono 2=stereo, 4, 6, 8, etc.**

- **-f\<*fmtname*\>**

  **Select the input format (eg -fU8 or -fS16\_BE).**

- **-f?**

  **Prints the list of supported format names.**

- **-o\<*playtarget*\>**

  **Selects the play target name if the device supports multiple** **play targets (such as front, rear, side).**

- **-o?**

  **Prints the list of available play targets.**

- **-g\<*gain*\>**

  **Amplify all played samples by percentage given as argument.**  **100 (default) means normal signal level, 200 means double level.**

- **-W**

  **Treat all input as raw PCM data.**

- **-R**

  **Disable redirection to virtual mixer engines and sample** *rate***/format conversions. Should not be used unless absolutely** **necessary.**

- **-S\<*secs*\>**

  **Start playing at \<***secs***\> seconds from start of file.** **The argument can contain a fractional part (e.g. -S1.2)**

- **-h**

  **Display usage information.**

## INTERRUPT

**Sending a SIGQUIT (Ctrl-\\ in most terminals) will make ossplay stop playing** **the currently played file and skip to the next file.**

## NOTES

**The ossplay executable is the same as the ossrecord executable.** **Behaviour is decided by the name used to invoke the program.**

## SEE ALSO

**[ossrecord(1)](/ossrecord/1.md), [ossmix(1)](/ossmix/1.md), [ossxmix(1)](/ossxmix/1.md)**

## FILES

**/usr/bin/ossplay**

## AUTHOR

**4Front Technologies**