1. Audio Applications

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. Choose Multimedia+SoundAmarok from the main menu to launch amaroK.

Figure 11.1. 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.

Click on the Build Collection button to configure a collection, check all folders you want amaroK to look for music files and click Ok to start building the collection.

Choose Settings+Configure amaroKCollection from the menu to add more folders to your collection. 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.

 Click on this tab to access all your playlists. If you don't have any you can listen to the Cool-Streams, which is a collection of online radio broadcasts. To build a playlist, simply drag tunes into the playlist then select PlaylistSave Playlist As and give it a name.

 Click on the Media Device Browser tab to transfer songs to your portable audio device, such as an iPod.

 Finally this icon allows you to access you local file system. You can use it as an alternative to amaroK's Collection.

1.1.1. Burning Tracks with K3b from amaroK

Right-click on songs or music folders and access the Burn contextual menu item (it's slightly different whether you choose to burn an entire album or a single song). You can burn in two formats: the “data” format means you'll be able to listen to the songs on your computer and your MP3 CD player, for example, while the “audio” format also permits you to listen to the music through a traditional CD player.

1.2. KsCD CD Player

When you insert an audio CD in your CD drive the KsCD player starts up.

Figure 11.2. KsCD's Main Window

KsCD's Main Window

On the left you have the typical CD player controls: Play/Pause, Stop, Eject, etc. The ones below alter the playing order. Then, there are buttons to give you information on the disk you are listening to and to access more advanced configuration options.

1.3. Using the KMix Mixer

KMix is a sound card mixer application under KDE. It allows you to fine-tune your sound cards through various sliders.

Figure 11.3. 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 this icon pops up a slider which lets you control the master volume, as well as to mute all sound and to launch the full mixer window.

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.