Last Updated on May 25, 2022
The vast majority of Linux users would never be satisfied without access to a graphical user interface. However, even in 2020 there remain many reasons why console based applications can be extremely desirable.
Although console applications are very useful for updating, configuring, and repairing a system, their benefits are not only confined to system administration. Console based applications are light on system resources (very useful on low spec machines), can be faster and more efficient than their graphical counterparts, they do not stop working when X needs to be restarted, and are great for scripting purposes.
So what can users do with the command-line? There is a wide range of console based software which performs the same or similar functions to their graphical equivalents, even in the field of multimedia.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 17 high quality console based free Linux multimedia software. Hopefully, there will be something of interest for anyone who wishes to revel in the power of the command-line.
Some of the applications are at the heart of other software. For example, you might be surprised how many programs use FFmpeg and youtube-dl.
Now, let’s explore the 17 multimedia applications at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, screenshot, together with links to relevant resources.
| Console Multimedia Software | |
|---|---|
| musikcube | Terminal-based audio player and streaming server |
| youtube-dl | Download video and audio from streaming Sites |
| get_iplayer | Utility for downloading TV and radio programmes from BBC iPlayer |
| FFmpeg | Multimedia player, server and encoder |
| MPlayer | Multimedia player |
| PyRadio | Competent internet radio player |
| abcde | CD ripping software for the command line |
| CMus | Lightweight ncurses audio player |
| transcode | Utility to encode raw video/audio streams |
| LAME | LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder |
| Ecasound | Multitrack-capable audio recorder and effect processor |
| mencoder | MPlayer's Movie Encoder |
| Perl Audio Converter | Audio ripping tool with service extensions |
| ncmpc | Frugal C++ based Music Player Daemon client |
| SoX | Swiss army knife of sound processing |
| ncmpy | Python-based Music Player Daemon client |
| castero | Easy to use podcast player |
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |