Ubuntu Restricted Extras

Ubuntu has simplified the method for installing codecs and other plugins by capturing the most popular within a single meta-package. This package, ubuntu-restricted-extras, provides a list of packages that will complete most of your multimedia requirements. From the package description:

Installing this package will pull in support for MP3 playback and decoding, support for various other audio formats (GStreamer plugins), Microsoft fonts, Java runtime environment, Flash plugin, LAME (to create compressed audio files), and DVD playback.

To install this package, enter the following command in the Terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) or simply click on the link below:

sudo aptitude install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Additional Codecs

If you want more codecs and additional support for encrypted DVD playback you’ll need to go one step further. You’ll need to take advantage of the Medibuntu repository, which is a fully functional, community maintained repository specializing in Multimedia, Entertainment and Distractions in Ubuntu.

Adding Medibuntu

The following few commands will simplify the process of adding the Medibuntu repository and importing its signing key:

cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d/
sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list
sudo apt-get -q update
sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring
sudo apt-get -q update

Installing Medibuntu Packages

After this is finished you’ll be able to install additional packages. The most popular packages from Medibuntu are the w32codecs (w64codecs for 64bit installations) and libdvdcss2 for encrypted DVD playback support. To install these simply use the commands below in your terminal, or click the link.

DVD Playback

sudo aptitude install libdvdcss2

Windows Media Codecs – 32bit

sudo aptitude install w32codecs

Windows Media Codecs – 64bit

sudo aptitude install w64codecs

I hope these packages are able to provide the multimedia functionality that you’re looking for. You might also want to check out the VLC package for additional media playback support. Enjoy!

note: in some areas this is not legal. If that is the case for you you can 1) continue to let some corporation demand payment to be able to playback the DVDs you already paid for, 2) stop watching DVDs altogether or 3) tell them to take a hike and install playback anyway. Viva la revolucion!

Installing DVD playback is pretty simple. You’ll need to install the Seveas Repository before you’ll have access to it and then simply run:

sudo aptitude install libdvdcss2

or, if you prefer not to install Seveas repository you can run the following command to automagically download and install the appropriate files:

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/./install-css.sh

We desperately need a change to our countries laws in this regard, at least in the US. Until then we simply do what has to be done.

update: if you find that, for whatever reason, you don’t have the above file to run and install you can try to take a look at this comment for an additional method. install libdvdread3

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