---
name: "pacpl"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pacpl"
version: "6.1.3-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pacpl"
---

# pacpl(1)

Perl Audio Converter, a multi purpose converter/ripper/tagger

## NAME

pacpl - Perl Audio Converter, a multi purpose converter/ripper/tagger

## SYNOPSIS

pacpl --to \<format\> \<options\> \[file(s)/directory(s)\]

## DESCRIPTION

Perl Audio Converter

A Linux CLI tool for converting multiple audio types from one format to another.

It supports the following audio formats:

\========================================

3G2, 3GP, 8SVX, AAC, AC3, ADTS, AIFF, AL, AMB, AMR, APE, AU,  AVR, BONK, CAF, CDR, CVU, DAT, DSF, DTS, DVMS, F32, F64, FAP, FLA,  FLAC, FSSD, GSRT, HCOM, IMA, IRCAM, LA, MAT, MAUD, MAT4, MAT5,  M4A, MP2, MP3, MP4, MPC, MPP, NIST, OFF, OFR, OFS, OPUS, OGA,  OGG, PAF, PRC, PVF, RA, RAM, RAW, RF64, SD2, SF, SHN, SMP, SND,  SOU, SPX, SRN, TAK, TTA, TXW, VOC, VMS, VQF, W64, WAV, WMA,  and WV.

It can also extract audio from the following video extensions:

\==============================================================

RM, RV, ASF, DivX, MPG, MKV, MPEG, AVI, MOV, OGM, OGV, QT, VCD,  SVCD, M4V, NSV, NUV, PSP, SMK, VOB, FLV, WEBM and WMV.

Parallel Processing, a CD ripping function with CDDB support, batch conversion,  tag preservation for most supported formats, independent tag reading & writing,  service menus for KDE Dolphin/Konqueror, GNOME Nautilus script, and action  scripts for Nemo/Thunar are also provided.

## OPTIONS

**-t, --to** *format*

set encode format for the input file(s) or directory(ies).  you can see a complete list of supported encode formats by using the **--formats** option.

**-r, --recursive**

recursively scan and convert input folder(s) to destination format.

**-p, --preserve**

when recursively converting a directory, preserve the input folders directory  structure in the specified output directory.  such as:

pacpl --to ogg -r -p /home/mp3s --outdir /home/oggs

in the example above, let's assume the directory structure was:

- /home/mp3s/Alternative

  - /home/mp3s/Alternative/New

  - /home/mp3s/Rap

  - /home/mp3s/Country

  - /home/mp3s/Techno/

  the output directory will now contain:

- /home/oggs/Alternative

  - /home/oggs/Alternative/New

  - /home/oggs/Rap

  - /home/oggs/Country

  - /home/oggs/Techno

  with all files in each sub-folder converted to ogg.

**-o, --only** *format*

only convert files matching extension.  this option is useful when you have a directory or batch of files with mixed audio types and only need to convert one specific type.

**-k, --keep**

do not re-encode files with extensions matching the destination extension.   instead...copy them to the output folder, or skip to the next file.

**-j, --jobs**

number of simultanious jobs to run at once.  the default limit is set to 4 in pacpl.conf.  You can modify this value on the fly  using --jobs=\<num\> or set it perminately in the configuration file

- **-f, --formats** show a list of supported encode/decode formats.

  - **-h, --help** show the short help menu.

  - **-l, --longhelp** display the complete list of options.

  - **--version** show version and licensing information.

  ## USER OPTIONS

**--defopts** *1/0*

to turn off default encoder options use --defopts 0. this option gives you  more control when using the --eopts command.

defopts is set to 1 by default.  you can also toggle this option in /etc/pacpl/pacpl.conf.

**--eopts** *options*

this option allows you to use encoder options not implemented by pacpl. an example would be:

pacpl --to mp4 --eopts="-c 44100 -I 1,2" YourFile.mp3

**--dopts** *options*

this option allows you to use decoder options not implemented by pacpl. an example would be:

pacpl --to mpc --dopts="--start 60" YourFile.ogg

**--outfile** *name*

set the output file name to *name*.

**--outdir** *directory*

place all encoded files in *directory*.

**--dryrun**

show what would be done without actually converting anything.  this is a good way to trouble shoot, or to see what would be done without actually touching your files.

**--overwrite**

replace the output file if it already exists.

**--normalize**

adjusts volume levels of audio files.

**--nopts** *options*

this allows you to specify normalize options not implemented by pacpl

**--delete**

remove source/input file after the conversion process has finished.

**--encoder** *encoder*

specify an alternate encoder for the selected output file(s)

you can see a list of supported encoders by using the following:

pacpl --encoder *format*

**--decoder** *decoder*

specify an alternate decoder for the selected input file(s)

you can see a list of supported decoders by using the following:

pacpl --decoder *format*

**-v, --verbose**

show detailed information about the encoding process and what's actually being done.

## ENCODER OPTIONS

**--bitrate** *num*

set the bitrate to *num*.  default is 128.  this option does not apply  to all formats.

**--freq** *num*

set the frequency to *num*.  default is 44100.  this option does not apply to all formats.

**--channels** *num*

set the number of audio channels in the output file to *num*.  this option does not apply to all formats.

**--effect** *str*

see [**sox**(1)](/sox/1.md).  this option only applies to the following:

AIFF, AU, SND, RAW, VOC, SMP, AVR, and CDR

**--fcomp** *num*

set flac compression level to *num*. fastest -0, highest -8, default -2

- 1 = fast

  - 2 = simple

  - 3 = medium (default)

  - 4 = high

  - 5 = extra high,

  **--acomp** *num*

set ape compression level to *num*.

- 1000 = fast

  - 2000 = normal

  - 3000 = high (default)

  - 4000 = extra high

  - 5000 = insane

  **--oggqual** *num*

set ogg quality level to *num*. -1, very low and 10 very high, default 3

**--spxqual** *num*

set speex quality level to *num*. 0-10, default 8 (use --bitrate \<num\> when using ffmpeg/avconv as encoder)

**--aacqual** *num*

set aac, mp4, m4a, or m4b quality level to *num*. default 300

**--mpcqual** *str*

set mpc/mpp quality level to *str*.

- thumb low quality/internet, (typ. 58... 86 kbps)

  - radio medium (MP3) quality, (typ. 112...152 kbps - default)

  - standard high quality (dflt), (typ. 142...184 kbps)

  - xtreme extreme high quality, (typ. 168...212 kbps)

  **--ofmode** *str*

set off/ofr/ofs compression mode to *str*.  normal, extra, and extranew modes are recommended for general use.  available options are:

- fast

  - normal (default)

  - high

  - extra

  - best

  - highnew

  - extranew

  - bestnew

  **--ofopt** *str*

set off/ofr/ofs optimization level to *str*.

specify the optimization level in the engine. In order to achieve optimal compression at all sample types, sample rates, and audio content, the core compression engine has the possibility to find the optimal values for its parameters, at the cost of slightly increased compression time only. The default recommended value is fast. do not use normal (or even high or best) for this parameter unless encoding time does not matter and you want to obtain the smallest possible file for a given compression mode. The difference between the optimize levels fast and best (which is up to three times slower than fast) is very small, generally under 0.05%, but may be also larger in some rare cases. Note that the none optimize level is forced by the encoder to fast optimize level for the extra, best, highnew, extranew, and bestnew modes.

available options are:

- none

  - fast (default)

  - normal

  - high

  - best

  **--bratio** *num*

set bonk down sampling ratio.  default 2

**--bquanl** *num*

set bonk quantanization level.  default 1.0

**--bpsize** *num*

set bonk predictor size.  default 128

## TAGGING OPTIONS

**note:**

tagging outside of the encoding process can only be performed on the following audio types:

- MP3

  - OGG

  - FLA

  - FLAC

  **--artist** *str*

set artist information to *str*.

**--title** *str*

set title information to *str*.

**--track** *num*

set track information to *num*.

**--year** *num*

set year/date information to *num*.

**--album** *str*

set album information to *str*.

**--genre** *str*

set genre information to *str*.

**--comment** *str*

set comment information to *str*.

**--taginfo** *file*

show tagging information for *file*.  multiple files can be specified at once.

## RIPPING OPTIONS

**--rip** *num/all*

rip selected tracks separated by comma or all from current disc.

- pacpl --rip all --to flac

  - pacpl --rip 1,3,9,15 --to flac

  **--nocddb**

disable cddb.  use this option if you do not want tagging based on cddb.

**--noinput**

disable cddb interactivity.  this is enabled by default.

**--nscheme** *str*

set naming scheme to *str*.  default is `%ar` - `%ti`

available options are:

- %ar = artist

  - %ti = song title

  - %tr = track

  - %yr = year

  - %ab = album

  **eg:** --nscheme="(%tr)-%ti"

**--device** *device*

set device to *device*.  default is /dev/dvd

**--cdinfo**

show cddb information for current disc.

## SEE ALSO

- [**sox**(1)](/sox/1.md) [**ffmpeg**(1)](/ffmpeg/1.md) [**lame**(1)](/lame/1.md) [**oggenc**(1)](/oggenc/1.md) [**oggdec**(1)](/oggdec/1.md)

  - [**flac**(1)](/flac/1.md) **shorten**(1) [**faac**(1)](/faac/1.md) [**faad**(1)](/faad/1.md) **mpcenc**(1)

  - **mpcdec**(1) [**mplayer**(1)](/mplayer/1.md) [**speexenc**(1)](/speexenc/1.md) [**speexdec**(1)](/speexdec/1.md)

  - [**sndfile-convert**(1)](/sndfile-convert/1.md) [**normalize**(1)](/normalize/1.md) [**cdparanoia**(1)](/cdparanoia/1.md)

  - [**opusenc**(1)](/opusenc/1.md) [**opusdec**(1)](/opusdec/1.md) [**wavpack**(1)](/wavpack/1.md) [**ffmpeg**(1)](/ffmpeg/1.md)

  - [**mplayer**(1)](/mplayer/1.md) [**avconv**(1)](/avconv/1.md)

  ## BUGS

Report all bugs to Philip Lyons (vorzox@gmail.com)

## LICENSING

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program.  If not, see \<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/\>.

## AUTHOR

\<\<\<\<\<\<\< HEAD Copyright (C) 2005-2021 Philip Lyons (vorzox@gmail.com) ======= Copyright (C) 2005-2019 Philip Lyons (vorzox@gmail.com) \>\>\>\>\>\>\> cc4eb189828ef15228da02c14a39e484294126ec