DeaDBeeF is an audio player software for Linux, Android, and other Unix-like operating systems and is free and open-source software, except on Android. DeaDBeeF is small but significant in features, and its interface is customizable and supports themes. It can play music from CDs and files in many different formats, including MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and WAV, along with other great features, including a built-in equalizer and support for plugins.
One of the best things about DeaDBeeF is that it’s not resource-intensive and can be used on older computers without any issues. If you’re looking for a lightweight but feature-rich audio player, DeaDBeeF is worth checking out.
The following tutorial will teach you how to install DeaDBeeF Player on Linux Mint 21 LTS using a LaunchPAD APT PPA with the command line terminal.
Table of Contents
Update Linux Mint
First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date to avoid conflicts.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yInstall DeaDBeeF Player
First, make sure the following dependencies are installed.
sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common gnupg gnupg2 apt-transport-https -yNext, import the GPG key needed for all the repositories.
sudo gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/pavel.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys F2C37BD8BDF01321549242C9AEC82AC78B65E182If you have issues importing the GPG key from LaunchPAD, please see the end section on GPG troubleshooting at the end of the article.
Example output:
gpg: keybox '/usr/share/keyrings/pavel.gpg' created
gpg: key AEC82AC78B65E182: public key "Launchpad PPA for pavel" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: imported: 1
Import the LaunchPAD PPA repository maintained by Pavel containing the latest version. You have two choices, the stable or the Devel, the newest release. I recommend the latest repository version for most users, but if you import both repositories, the one containing the latest version is always chosen automatically.
Option 1. Import DeaDBeeF Player PPA Stable
echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/pavel.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/spvkgn/deadbeef/ubuntu jammy main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deadbeef.listOption 2. Import DeaDBeeF Player PPA Devel
echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/pavel.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/spvkgn/deadbeef-devel/ubuntu jammy main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deadbeef.listBefore running the installation command, run an apt update to reflect the new imported PPA.
sudo apt-get updateInstall the software using the following command.
sudo apt install deadbeef -yOptionally, you can install the plugin developer package if you desire.
sudo apt install deadbeef-plugins-dev -yHow to Launch DeaDBeeF Player
Launching can be done in a few ways now that you have the software installed.
First, the DeaDBeeF Player can be launched using the following command.
deadbeefMost desktop users may elect to use the application icon to open DeaDBeeF Player, which can be achieved using the following path.
Taskbar > Sound & Video > DeaDBeeF.
Example:
Once open, you can begin loading and using the audio player.
Example:
DeaDBeeF Plugins Directory
Users that would like to extend DeaDBeeF visit the plugins page and download additional packages. Remember, when downloading and extracting the zip archives with DeaDBeeF, they must go into the location “~/.local/lib/deadbeef/,” which by default is not created so that you can do this yourself with the following command.
sudo mkdir -p ~/.local/lib/deadbeef/How to Update/Upgrade DeaDBeeF Player
The best method to ensure your DeaDBeeF Player is up-to-date is to open the command line terminal and run the following command.
sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt upgradeThe command will also ensure all other packages that use the APT package manager, including your system packages, are up-to-date. I suggest that users new to Linux run this command frequently to ensure your system works as intended, even if you have automatic GUI updates or notifications.
How to Remove (Uninstall) DeaDBeeF Player
Use one of the following commands to suit the original installation method for users who no longer require the application.
sudo apt autoremove deadbeef -yNext, remove the imported PPAs. Reimporting the stable repository would be the quickest option to downgrade from the latest to stable.
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deadbeef.listFor users that will never install DeaDBeeF again, you can remove the GPG that was imported as follows.
sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/pavel.gpgHow to Fix Broken LaunchPAD GPG Import
Users that have installed Linux Mint for the first time or have not imported a GPG key before using the command line terminal will often have issues importing GPG keys from LaunchPAD PPAs due to the directories not being created. This is an easy fix. Use the following command that will, in turn, generate the directories.
sudo gpg --list-keysExample output:
As mentioned above, the necessary directories have been created. This can be skipped, and use the following GPG import command below. If you have any issues with directories missing for this and any other PPA GPG key in the future, just run the above command.
Comments and Conclusion
If you’re looking for a great audio player that does not hog resources, DeaDBeeF is worth checking out. It supports a wide range of formats and has tons of features, including a customizable interface, themes, and support for plugins. Plus, it’s free and open-source software!
