Unable to play media file: Halloween.mp3

[sittro]

I just installed V4.2.15 on Ubuntu Linux and converted a Vixen file to fseq to play in the scheduler.  This is my first time working with XLights.  When I create a playlist and hit "Play Item" it gives me an error:  Unable to play media file: Halloween.mp3. I can play the mp3 file just fine with any mp3 software like Audacity, etc.  I did install ubuntu-restricted-extras and playitslowly before compiling.  Am I missing something to allow xLights to play mp3?

[CaptainMurdoch]

I can't remember and am not at a computer but I think you need the lame libraries installed.  Check the Linux readme file, I believe the package requirements are listed in there.  You will have to translate package names for Ubuntu.

[sittro]

Thanks, I installed LAME and recompiled, but that didn't seem to help.  It looks like it's compiling with libmpg123, which should work.  I can't seem to figure out what the problem is (it won't play any mp3 files).

[CaptainMurdoch]

I haven't tried it on Ubuntu, I use a fedora spin normally.  Maybe check 'ldd' to see if libmpg123 is linked.  Can it play from the sequence tab or does that give the same error?

[sittro]

Thanks for the suggestion.  Libmpg123 is linked according to ldd.  I can't play mp3s from anywhere in the program, not just the scheduler.  I think I'll checkout some earlier versions because there are a couple other weird things I can't get working, like the layout preview.  It also gives me a "Could not find a suitable video sink Error 0: Success" message at the beginning.  But my Renard and all channels work in the test tab, so at least that's a start.

[CaptainMurdoch]

I haven't tried playing audio for a while on Linux, I will try to update soon and test to make sure it is still working.

[CaptainMurdoch]

I tried tonight with the latest code from github and mp3 playback is working on my Fedora dev system.

Have you tried a "make clean" just to make sure there aren't any issues with some files not getting recompiled as they should somewhere along the way?

[sittro]

I tried that, as well as a few different versions.  I can't seem to figure out what's wrong.  I ended up grabbing an old windows disk and dual booting and it works great in windows.  If I have some free time I might try a clean linux install and see how that goes.  Thanks for your help.

[CaptainMurdoch]

If you want me to try your mp3 on my working system to exclude any incompatibility issue with the file, feel free to PM me a link to a Dropbox location or I can send you my email address.

[sittro]

I just upgraded to lubuntu 15.10 and recompiled.  Mp3 playing works fine now. I must have screwed something up with my previous install, who knows what it was.  Thanks for the help.

[CaptainMurdoch]

Glad you got it working.  I am interested to hear about how it goes, I have been having some crashes lately but haven't had time to even start to try to debug those.  They are normally GTK asserts with a message about "width < 0"

[sittro]

I get crashes on the layout page when changing model height, but since I reinstalled the models aren't showing up, just a gray background.  I must have not installed gtk or maybe wxWidgets properly?  Always new problems!

[CaptainMurdoch]

Which version of wxWidgets are you using?  I am running 3.0.2.  I found out some of my drawing issues are related to the other libraries on my one system.  I tested last night on another laptop and didn't have the drawing issues with the preview image.  I didn't play around long enough to see if it crashed with the gtk width assert.