How to Install DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

DeaDBeeF is a lightweight and customizable music player, ideal for Ubuntu users who desire an efficient and straightforward audio experience. If you’re planning on how to install DeaDBeeF on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or its older stable release of Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa, understanding its features and benefits is crucial.

Key Features of DeaDBeeF Player:

• Diverse Audio Format Support: With support for formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, and OGG, DeaDBeeF ensures seamless playback of your extensive music library.
• Customizable Interface: Tailor DeaDBeeF’s interface to your liking, adjusting its appearance, layout, and functionality for a personalized listening experience.
• Resource-Efficient: Designed for minimal system resource consumption, DeaDBeeF guarantees smooth performance, even with large audio files.
• Advanced Playback Options: Enjoy high-quality listening with advanced features like gapless playback, replay gain, and a 32-bit audio processing pipeline.
• Plugin Ecosystem: Extend DeaDBeeF’s functionality through its robust plugin support, adding features like visualizations and audio effects.
• Cross-Platform Availability: Although this guide is for Ubuntu, DeaDBeeF is accessible on platforms like Windows and macOS.

With its user-centric design and powerful features, DeaDBeeF stands out as a top choice for Ubuntu users seeking an efficient and customizable music player. The upcoming guide will walk you through the steps to install DeaDBeeF on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa efficiently using apt.

Install DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

This section will guide you through installing DeaDBeeF Player on your Ubuntu system. We will use the APT package manager and a PPA provided by Pavel to ensure a smooth and reliable installation.

Step 1: Update Ubuntu System Before DeaDBeeF Installation

You must first update your Ubuntu system to prevent potential conflicts or issues during installation. This ensures that all existing packages are up to date. To update your system, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Import DeaDBeeF PPA on Ubuntu

To use the APT package manager to install DeaDBeeF Player, we will first need to import the appropriate PPA repository provided by Pavel. There are two options available: the stable version and the development version.

It’s important to note that if you import both repositories, only the one with the latest version, which is usually the development version, will be used. Choose the version that best suits your needs and run the corresponding command below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:spvkgn/deadbeef -y

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:spvkgn/deadbeef-devel -y

Step 3: Update the Package List After DeaDBeeF PPA Import on Ubuntu

After importing the chosen PPA repository, it’s necessary to update the package list to reflect the newly added PPA. To do this, run the following command:

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install the DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 via APT Command

Now install DeaDBeeF Player by running the following command:

sudo apt install deadbeef

Step 5: (Optional) Install DeadBeeF Plugin Developer Package on Ubuntu

If you want to develop plugins for DeaDBeeF Player or need additional functionality, install the plugin developer package. To do this, run the following command:

sudo apt install deadbeef-plugins-dev

Launching DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

After successfully installing DeaDBeeF Player on your Ubuntu system, you might be eager to explore its features and capabilities. This section will guide you through different methods of launching DeaDBeeF Player so you can choose the one that suits you best.

CLI Command to Launch DeaDBeeF on Ubuntu

For those who prefer working with the command line, you can quickly launch DeaDBeeF Player by running the following command in your terminal:

deadbeef

This will open the DeaDBeeF Player application and allow you to use its features immediately.

GUI Command to Launch DeaDBeeF on Ubuntu

If you are more comfortable using the graphical interface, you can quickly launch DeaDBeeF Player by locating and clicking its application icon. To do this, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Open the Activities menu located at the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Click on Show Applications (represented by a grid of dots) to display the list of installed applications.
3. Search for DeaDBeeF in the list of applications, or type “DeaDBeeF” in the search bar.
4. Click on the DeaDBeeF application icon to launch the music player.

Getting Started with DeaDBeeF on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Now that you have successfully installed and launched DeaDBeeF Player on your Ubuntu system, it’s time to explore some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this versatile music player. This section will provide valuable tips on general usage, customizations, and other helpful information to enhance your DeaDBeeF Player experience.

General DeaDBeeF Tips on Ubuntu

• Add Music Files: To add music files to your DeaDBeeF Player library, drag and drop the files or folders into the main window. Alternatively, you can use the File menu and click on Add Files or Add Folder to navigate to your music files.
• Create Playlists: Organize your music collection by creating multiple playlists in DeaDBeeF Player. To create a new playlist, right-click on the tab bar and select New Playlist. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T.
• Change Playback Order: DeaDBeeF Player allows you to change the playback order of your music tracks. To do this, right-click the playback order button in the bottom-right corner of the main window, and choose from options such as Shuffle, Repeat, or Random.

DeaDBeeF Customization Tips on Ubuntu

• Customize Interface: Tailor the appearance and layout of DeaDBeeF Player by right-clicking on the main window, selecting Design Mode, and rearranging the elements as desired. To exit Design Mode, right-click again and deselect Design Mode.
• Change Colors and Fonts: Personalize the look of DeaDBeeF Player by modifying the colors and fonts. To do this, navigate to Edit > Preferences > Appearance and explore the various customization options available.
• Customize Hotkeys: Set up custom hotkeys for common actions to improve your workflow. Access the hotkey settings by going to Edit > Preferences > Hotkeys.

Other DeaDBeeF Tips on Ubuntu

• Install Additional Plugins: Enhance the functionality of DeaDBeeF Player by installing additional plugins. To do this, navigate to Edit > Preferences > Plugins, and click on the Find More button to discover new plugins.
• Equalizer Settings: Fine-tune your listening experience by adjusting the built-in equalizer. Access the equalizer by clicking on View > Equalizer.
• Export Playlists: Save your playlists for backup or sharing by exporting them in various formats. To export a playlist, right-click on the playlist tab and select Save Playlist.

Install DeaDBeeF Plugins on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

DeaDBeeF Player has various features and functionality, but you can further enhance your music listening experience by extending the player with additional plugins. In this section, we will walk you through accessing the plugins directory, downloading plugins, and installing them in the correct location on your Ubuntu system.

Step 1: Access the DeaDBeeF Plugins Page

To find and download the additional plugins for DeaDBeeF, visit the DeaDBeeF plugins page and browse the available packages. You can find plugins that provide additional codecs, user interface elements, visualizations, and more.

Step 2: Create DeaDBeeF Plugins Directory on Ubuntu

Before installing downloaded plugins, ensure the appropriate directory exists on your Ubuntu system. The system does not create this directory by default, so create it manually with the following command:

sudo mkdir -p ~/.local/lib/deadbeef/

This command creates the ~/.local/lib/deadbeef/ directory, which is the designated location for storing DeaDBeeF plugins.

Step 3: Download and Install DeaDBeeF Plugins on Ubuntu

Once you have identified the plugins you want to install, download the corresponding zip archives from the DeaDBeeF plugins page. After downloading the archives, extract their contents and move the extracted files to the ~/.local/lib/deadbeef/ directory.

For example, if you have downloaded a plugin named example_plugin.zip, extract the contents and move them to the plugins directory using these commands:

unzip example_plugin.zip -d example_plugin
mv example_plugin/* ~/.local/lib/deadbeef/

Remember to replace example_plugin.zip with the actual name of the plugin archive you downloaded.

Step 4: Restart the DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu

After installing the new plugins, restart DeaDBeeF Player for the changes to take effect. Close the application and relaunch it, either using the command deadbeef or by clicking on the application icon.

Additional DeaDBeeF Commands with Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

This section will guide you through various actions related to the DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu Linux, including updating the software, removing it from your system, and managing its PPA repositories.

Update DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

You should periodically check for updates to keep your DeaDBeeF Player up-to-date and ensure optimal performance. The easiest way to do this is by using the command line terminal. Run the following command to update the DeaDBeeF Player, along with all other packages managed by the APT package manager:

sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt upgrade

The 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.

Remove DeaDBeeF Player From Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

You can easily remove it if you no longer need DeaDBeeF Player on your Ubuntu system. To do this, run the following command:

sudo apt remove deadbeef

This command uninstalls DeaDBeeF Player and automatically removes any unused dependencies.

Remove DeaDBeeF Player PPA Repositories

After uninstalling DeaDBeeF Player, you may want to remove the associated PPA repositories, especially if you do not plan to use the software again. Use the appropriate command below, based on the original installation method:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:spvkgn/deadbeef -y

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:spvkgn/deadbeef-devel -y

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, this guide provides comprehensive instructions for installing and managing DeaDBeeF Player on Ubuntu Linux. It covers installation, launch, plugin extension functionality, and command management and offers tips for beginners. This guide lets you fully utilize DeaDBeeF Player on your Ubuntu Linux system.