1. Audio Applications

Abstract

This section introduces the main audio applications you may need for your entertainment: Amarok the music player, KsCD the cd player, and KMix the sound mixer. All can be accessed by choosing MultimediaSound from the main menu.

1.1. amaroK Audio Player

Amarok is “the” multimedia application to use to listen to your favorite music. You can organize your music in collections, get information about recordings such as artist, lyrics, album covers, and more.

In this section we go through its essential features.

Figure 4.1. amaroK's Main Window

amaroK's Main Window

[Note] Note

Once Amarok is launched this icon appears on the panel. Right-click on it to access its options.

Amarok's main features are divided up in four browsers, located on the sidebar.

The context browser which spreads out on three tabs: Music, Lyrics, and Artist, gives you various information on the music currently playing.

The Collection browser enables you to view and organize your entire music collection.

To use it, you need to create a collection first: click on the Build Collection button, check all the folders you want Amarok to look in for music files and click Ok to start building the collection.

Figure 4.2. Music Collection

Music Collection

With the collection browser active, click on this button to add more folders to your collection; put check marks on the ones you are interested in and click Ok. Then choose ToolsRescan Collection from the menu to update the collection.

[Warning] Warning

If you added files from removable devices (such as a USB key or an external hard drive), make sure they are mounted at the same location as when you originally added them to your collection or Amarok won't be able to find the files they contain.

The playlist browser lets you roam your playlists and podcasts! If you don't have any you can listen to the Cool-Streams, which is a collection of online radio broadcasts. To create a playlist, simply drag tunes into the playlist, then select PlaylistSave Playlist As and give it a name. To add new podcasts, click the Add button, select Podcast and add the podcast's URL into the dialog.

The File Browser allows you to access and search your local file system. You can use it as an alternative to Amarok's Collection.

The Media Device Browser allows you to transfer songs to your portable audio device, such as an iPod.

1.2. KsCD CD Player

When you insert an audio CD in your CD drive a window pops up, if you choose to play the cd, the KsCD player starts up.

Figure 4.3. KsCD's Main Window

KsCD's Main Window

[Tip] Tip

Once KsCD is launched, this quick-launch icon appears near the clock. Right-click on it, to access KsCD's main features.

On the left you have the typical CD player controls: Play/Pause, Stop, Eject, etc. The ones below alter the playing order. The CDDB button can be used if your CD information doesn't appear automatically, it will display the CD's title, artist and tracklist information. The Extras button let you access more advanced configuration options.

1.3. Using the KMix Mixer

KMix is a sound mixing application under KDE. It allows you to fine-tune your sound card's audio levels through various sliders.

[Note] Note

The availability and type of the controls discussed below depend on your particular sound card. Some controls may even be absent for your hardware.

When KMix starts, this quick-launch icon appears near the clock. Click on it, then click Mixer to view the full mixer window.

Figure 4.4. KMix Main Window

KMix Main Window

The Output tab controls the volume levels of the sound sources of your sound card. The most important one is the Master which controls the general volume. By right-clicking on each slider you have extra options such as Split Channels, Muted Hide, etc. Clicking on the green dot at the top of a column will mute/unmute that sound source.

[Tip] Tip

Clicking on the quick-launch icon, pops up a slider which lets you control the master volume, as well as to mute all sound.

The Input tab controls the volume levels of the recording sources of your sound card. If you use videoconferencing software or are a musician, this is where you'll want to adjust your microphone and your auxiliary devices. Clicking on the green dot at the top of a column will mute/unmute that recording source, the red dot at the bottom enables or disables it.

The Switches tab goes deeper into your sound card's configuration. Boosting your microphone, using an external amplifier: these features are for advanced users who wish to really master their sound system. To activate them, simply click on the dot at the top of each column.

Finally, the horizontal slider enables you to balance your sound between the left and right speakers. Notice that if your sound card supports separate levels for master's right and left, the Output's Master controllers will be modified following the movement of the horizontal balance slider.