Playing streaming video, audio, MP3, mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, avi, wmv, wma, etc. is very important to the computer user of today. Ubuntu has the capability to play pretty much any video or audio format out there with the proper CODEC (CODer / DECoder) is installed. Ubuntu refers to these proprietary CODECs as Restricted Formats. Problem being is that a lot of these CODECs are not free. Ubuntu cannot include these with the default install otherwise payment would have to made as these are liscensed.
No problem, you as an individual can download and install these CODECs for free from Ubuntu’s repository.
First we need to ensure that the proper repositories are enabled. Click System—>Administration—>Synaptic Package Manager. You will be prompted to enter your password, do so. Select Settings—>Repositories and then click Add. Check the Community maintained (Universe) and Non-free (Multiverse) boxes. When you close the window, click Reload.
To install the proprietary CODECs type the following in a terrminal window.
32 bit
sudo apt-get -y install gstreamer0.10-pitfdll gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse
64 bit
sudo apt-get -y install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse
Once these CODECs are installed you will be able to play nearly every video or audio type out there.
