Linux Multimedia Guide
Linux Multimedia Editing
You might be surprised to learn that multimedia is something that Linux is really geared up to do, and the open source operating system really does it well. Thanks to the low resource footprint of the majority of Linux distros, you can get a lot more out of a standard PC than if you were running, say, Windows 7, and with this extra power Linux makes a great multimedia studio for editing video, music, photos and even graphic design.
More and more freelancers and even full studios are turning to open source solutions, and this is reflected in the wide selection of multimedia applications that are now available for Linux, both free and premium.
- How to Turn Linux into a Multimedia Studio
- The Best Graphical Video Editors for Linux
- Top 10 Best Ever Multimedia Apps Built for Linux
- Unleash Your Media Production Skills with CeltX
Linux Media Center
There are many ways to access and enjoy multimedia (movies, games, photos) on a Linux computer, but it is fair to say that one of the main uses for Linux is to host media, usually as a media center. Many media center applications are available and there are even complete Linux distros dedicated to providing a user interface for watching TV on your computer or HTPC, using a DVR (digital video recorder) and viewing streamed content on a standard domestic television.
When installed on a system equipped with high quality audio and graphics, a TV out connection and even a TV card, these media center applications turn a typical PC into something far more focused and powerful.
XBMC, MythTV and LinuxMCE are among the most popular distros and applications for setting up a Linux-based media center, although others are available.
- Linux Media Center XBMC - Coming to Linux from Xbox Hacks
- Best Linux Distros for a Home Theater PC
- Top Linux Applications - Media Centers
- MythTV - Top Linux DVR Solution
- MythTV for Linux - A Real Myth Media Center Application
- LinuxMCE - A Top Linux Media Center? Nothing is Better
- WOMP! The Lightest Weight Media Center
- eAR OS - A Linux Media Center for Your PC
- TV on Linux? You Bet!
Hosting and Serving Media
Using Linux you can also serve movies, music and pictures to other devices by configuring your computer as a media server. There are various ways in which this can be done, from streaming data across the web to keeping things local and simply serving video and music to other devices on your local network.
You might even take advantage of VLC and Icecast for serving content around your network, ideal for sharing pictures from a TV card or other video file.
- Setting Up a Linux Streaming Web Server
- Linux and Media Server Setup
- Making a Media Server with VLC Player and Icecast
- Linux and Video Storage Server Setup
Linux Audio Tips
It isn’t all about the video on Linux, however. You will find that there is plenty for audio enthusiasts to get stuck into, from the basic audio controls to managing your MP3s with a script and choosing the best jukebox application (some distros such as Ubuntu ship with multiple music players).
Whichever you choose, you will find a great choice of options and even an online store for downloading MP3s.
- Linux Audio for the Newbie
- How to use an MP3 Sort Script to Organize your Media on Linux
- Top Linux Jukebox Applications
- List of Linux Audio Software Programs
- RhythmBox Music Player For Linux
Controlling Your iPod with Linux
While many people would have you believe that Linux cannot be used to sync data with an iPod or to access iTunes, this isn’t strictly true. After all, there is always a workaround whether the solution in this case is to run iTunes in an emulator or virtual machine or discard the online store and sync tool in favor of a Linux-based alternative.
Linux DVD and Video
Most multimedia requirements involve video, either playing Blu-ray or DVDs, making backups of optical discs, converting videos and authoring your own DVDs or simply choosing the best DVD device and app for your Linux distro.
There are ways of viewing QuickTime and other formats in Linux, and if you’re planning on building up a vast library of clips you will probably find that saving online streamed videos is fiendishly simple with your distro of choice.
- Enjoy Blu-Ray Discs on Your Linux Box
- Video Conversion and DVD Authoring in Linux
- Making a Personal Movie DVD Backup on Linux
- Multimedia in Linux - Video and Audio Players
- Best Linux DVD Players
- View QuickTime Video in Linux
- How to Save Online Videos in Linux With Almost Zero Effort
References
- Screenshots provided by author.