Configure mpd and ncmpcpp on Linux: Music Player Daemon (MPD) is a flexible, powerful, server-side application for playing music. Through plugins and libraries it can play a variety of sound files while being controlled by its network protocol. In order to interact with mpd, a client program is needed. Most commonly used client Applications being:
- ncmpcpp : Almost exact clone of ncmpc with some new features written in C++ (tag editor, search engine)
- ncmpc: Ncurses client for mpd
- mpc – Command line user interface for MPD server
Above mentioned applications are console based.
In this guide, I’ll take you through steps to install and configure mpd and ncmpcpp on Linux. Installations will be based on Ubuntu and Arch Linux. If you are a MacOS User, have a look at Install and configure mpd and ncmpcpp on MacOS
Install mpd on Linux
As we kick off on how to configure mpd and ncmpcpp on Linux, we’re starting with the installation process.
Install mpd on Arch Linux:
Mpd for Arch Linux is available on both official repositories and AUR:
sudo pacman -Sy mpd --noconfirmTo get latest development version, use AUR. Check our guide on AUR:
$ yay -S --needed --noconfirm mpd-git
OR
$ yaourt -S mpd-git
Install mpd on Ubuntu:
For Ubuntu, it is also available on official repositories:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mpdFor other distributions, have a look at official installation guide:
Configure mpd
Now create directories needed by mpd. Lets create default configurations directory and playlist directory:
mkdir -p ~/.mpd/playlists/Create mpd.conf file inside ~/.mpd directory. The content can be modified to your liking:
vim ~/.mpd/mpd.confAdd the following content:
bind_to_address "127.0.0.1"
#bind_to_address "~/.mpd/socket"
music_directory "~/Music"
playlist_directory "~/.mpd/playlists"
db_file "~/.mpd/mpd.db"
log_file "~/.mpd/mpd.log"
pid_file "~/.mpd/mpd.pid"
state_file "~/.mpd/mpdstate"
audio_output {
type "pulse"
name "pulse audio"
device "pulse"
mixer_type "hardware"
}
audio_output {
type "fifo"
name "my_fifo"
path "/tmp/mpd.fifo"
format "44100:16:2"
}
To use alsa instead of pulseaudio, the first audio_output block should look like below:
audio_output {
type "alsa"
name "Alsa for audio sound card"
mixer_type "software" # optional
}Add your mpd username to your login group and audio group
sudo gpasswd -a mpd <your login group>
sudo gpasswd -a mpd audioTest that the configuration file is valid by starting mpd.
$ mpd
$ ss -tunelp | grep 6600
tcp LISTEN 0 5 127.0.0.1:6600 *:* users:(("mpd",pid=10906,fd=8)) uid:1000 ino:269403 sk:8 <->mpd.service systemd unit is available for autostart on/usr/lib/systemd/system/mpd.service.
Install and Configure ncmpcpp
Install ncmpcpp on Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -Sy ncmpcpp --noconfirmLatest development version with AUR:
yay --needed --noconfirm -S ncmpcpp-gitInstall and Configure ncmpcpp on Ubuntu
Install ncmpcpp with aptpackage manager:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ncmpcpp
mkdir -p ~/.ncmcpp/lyricsCreate ncmpcpp config file (this is optional) – You can run ncmpcpp without this!
vim ~/.ncmpcpp/configAdd and customize the following contents:
##
# Files
mpd_music_dir = "~/Music"
lyrics_directory = ~/.ncmpcpp/lyrics
ncmpcpp_directory = ~/.ncmpcpp
mpd_host = "localhost"
mpd_port = "6600"
mpd_connection_timeout = "5"
mpd_crossfade_time = "5"
# Playlist
playlist_disable_highlight_delay = "0"
playlist_display_mode = "columns"
playlist_show_remaining_time = "yes"
browser_display_mode = "columns"
autocenter_mode = "yes"
fancy_scrolling = "yes"
follow_now_playing_lyrics = "yes"
display_screens_numbers_on_start = "yes"
ignore_leading_the = "yes"
lyrics_database = "1"
song_columns_list_format = "(10)[blue]{l} (30)[green]{a} (30)[magenta]{b} (50)[yellow]{t}"
colors_enabled = "yes"
main_window_color = "white"
main_window_highlight_color = "blue"
header_window_color = "cyan"
volume_color = "red"
progressbar_color = "cyan"
statusbar_color = "white"
active_column_color = "cyan"
active_window_border = "blue"
alternative_header_first_line_format = "$0$aqqu$/a {$7%a - $9}{$5%t$9}|{$8%f$9} $0$atqq$/a$9"
alternative_header_second_line_format = "{{$6%b$9}{ [$6%y$9]}}|{%D}"
song_list_format = "{$3%n │ $9}{$7%a - $9}{$5%t$9}|{$8%f$9}$R{$6 │ %b$9}{$3 │ %l$9}"
user_interface = "alternative"
#user_interface = "classic"
default_place_to_search_in = "database"
# visualizer
visualizer_fifo_path = "/tmp/mpd.fifo"
visualizer_output_name = "my_fifo"
visualizer_sync_interval = "12"
#visualizer_type = "wave" (spectrum/wave)
visualizer_type = "spectrum" (spectrum/wave)
visualizer_in_stereo = "yes"
visualizer_look = "+|"
## Navigation ##
cyclic_scrolling = "yes"
header_text_scrolling = "yes"
jump_to_now_playing_song_at_start = "yes"
lines_scrolled = "2"
## Other ##
system_encoding = "utf-8"
regular_expressions = "extended"
## Selected tracks ##
selected_item_prefix = "* "
discard_colors_if_item_is_selected = "no"
## Seeking ##
incremental_seeking = "yes"
seek_time = "1"
## Visivility ##
header_visibility = "yes"
statusbar_visibility = "yes"
titles_visibility = "yes"
progressbar_look = "=>-"
progressbar_boldness = "yes"
progressbar_elapsed_color = "white"
now_playing_prefix = "> "
song_status_format = " $2%a $4⟫$3⟫ $8%t $4⟫$3⟫ $5%b "
autocenter_mode = "yes"
centered_cursor = "yes"
# Misc
display_bitrate = "yes"
# enable_window_title = "no"
follow_now_playing_lyrics = "yes"
ignore_leading_the = "yes"
empty_tag_marker = ""
Start ncmpcpp and update mpd database
To start ncmpcpp , just type the command on the terminal:
ncmpcpp Once Launched, type u to update the database, it will automatically discover songs on ~/Music/directory:
uThe look should be similar to the one given below:
Mpd playlist as seen on ncmpcpp
If you press 8 or F8, you would see Music visualizer:
Table below serve as a quickstart cheatsheet on navigating ncmpcpp.
| Keyboard Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Down j | : Move Cursor down |
| Page Up | : Page up |
| Page Down | : Page down |
| Home | : Home |
| End | : End |
| Tab | : Switch between playlist and browser |
| 1 F1 | : Help screen |
| 2 F2 | : Playlist screen |
| 3 F3 | : Browse screen |
| 4 F4 | : Search engine |
| 5 F5 | : Media library |
| 6 F6 | : Playlist editor |
| 7 F7 | : Tag editor |
| 0 F10 | : Clock screen |
Here is the complete cheat sheet:
Up k : Move Cursor up
r - repeat mode [r-----]
z - random mode [-z----]
y - single mode [--s---] (Repeats the current track after reaching the end.)
R - consume mode [---c--] (Removes the current track from playlist after reaching the end.)
x - crossfade mode [----x-]
Down j : Move Cursor down
Page Up : Page up
Page Down : Page down
Home : Home
End : End
Tab : Switch between playlist and browser
1 F1 : Help screen
2 F2 : Playlist screen
3 F3 : Browse screen
4 F4 : Search engine
5 F5 : Media library
6 F6 : Playlist editor
7 F7 : Tag editor
0 F10 : Clock screen
Keys - Global
-----------------------------------------
s : Stop
P : Pause
> : Next track
< : Previous track
f : Seek forward
b : Seek backward
Left - : Decrease volume
Right + : Increase volume
t : Toggle space mode (select/add)
T : Toggle add mode
| : Toggle mouse support
v : Reverse selection
V : Deselect all items
A : Add selected items to playlist/m3u file
r : Toggle repeat mode
Z : Shuffle playlist
i : Show song's info
I : Show artist's info
L : Toggle lyrics database
l : Show/hide song's lyrics
q Q : Quit
+ - Increase volume 2%
- - Decrease volume 2%
# - Display bitrate of file
= - Clock
F1 - Help
r - repeat mode [r-----]
z - random mode [-z----]
y - single mode [--s---] (Repeats the current track after reaching the end.)
R - consume mode [---c--] (Removes the current track from playlist after reaching the end.)
x - crossfade mode [----x-]
u - Database updateThis marks the end of how to install and configure mpd and ncmpcpp on Linux. Consult relevant documentations for Linux distributions not covered here.
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