How to Control Audacious with Audtool (with examples)

Audtool is a command-line utility that provides users with the ability to control Audacious, a versatile audio player, through various commands. This utility allows users to efficiently manage audio playback and retrieve information about the current song directly from the terminal without needing to interact with the graphical user interface of Audacious. Below, we explore several use cases of Audtool, illustrating how it can be used to enhance your auditory experience.

Use case 1: Play/Pause Audio Playback

Code:

audtool playback-playpause

Motivation: Controlling audio playback can sometimes be intrusive, especially when you’re engrossed in other tasks and don’t want to switch to Audacious to pause or play your music. By using the command audtool playback-playpause, you can seamlessly toggle playback without disrupting your workflow.

Explanation:

• playback-playpause: This argument toggles the current playback state. If the audio is playing, it will pause, and vice versa. This is particularly useful for quickly stopping or starting a track without needing to access the player interface.

Example Output: Executing this command doesn’t produce a text output but you will notice the change in the audio playback.

Use case 2: Print Artist, Album, and Song Name of Currently Playing Song

Code:

audtool current-song

Motivation: While working or studying, you might find it helpful to know details about the song that is currently playing without switching windows or checking your phone. This command provides a succinct way to display the artist, album, and song name directly in your terminal.

Explanation:

• current-song: This argument fetches and displays the metadata of the current track being played in Audacious, including the artist’s name, album title, and track name. This is helpful for music enthusiasts who wish to keep track of their playlist details.

Example Output:

Artist - Album - Song Name

Use case 3: Set Volume of Audio Playback

Code:

audtool set-volume 100

Motivation: Listening to music at the ideal volume is crucial for an enjoyable experience. Suppose you notice the audio is too high or too low while using Audacious, you can effortlessly adjust the volume to your desired level with this command.

Explanation:

• set-volume: This parameter allows you to set the playback volume.
• 100: The value following set-volume determines the volume level as a percentage. 100% represents maximum volume. You can set any value from 0 to 100 depending on your preference.

Example Output: This command doesn’t show any output on the terminal but will set the audio volume to the desired level.

Use case 4: Skip to the Next Song

Code:

audtool playlist-advance

Motivation: At times, you might not be in the mood for a particular song in your playlist and prefer to move on to the next track. The playlist-advance command skips the current song and starts playing the next track, allowing for uninterrupted music enjoyment.

Explanation:

• playlist-advance: This argument is used to skip the currently playing song. It shifts to the next song in the playlist queue, which is particularly handy during parties or when you want to skip repetitive tracks or unfavorable music without cycling through the entire playlist manually.

Example Output: There will be no textual output, but you will hear the transition to the next song in your playlist.

Use case 5: Print the Bitrate of the Current Song in Kilobits

Code:

audtool current-song-bitrate-kbps

Motivation: For audiophiles and those particular about sound quality, knowing the bitrate of currently playing audio can be important. This command helps determine the audio quality of the song playing and aids in troubleshooting streaming or file quality issues.

Explanation:

• current-song-bitrate-kbps: This argument retrieves and displays the bitrate of the current song in kilobits per second (kbps). Bitrate is an indicator of the compression quality of the audio file; higher bitrates generally suggest better sound quality but larger files.

Example Output:

320 kbps

Use case 6: Open Audacious in Full-Screen if Hidden

Code:

audtool mainwin-show

Motivation: Managing multiple windows can often lead to Audacious being minimized or covered by other applications. If you want to quickly bring Audacious to the forefront, or return it to its full-screen view, this command is incredibly useful.

Explanation:

• mainwin-show: This argument brings the main window of Audacious to focus, ensuring it’s visible on your screen. It’s particularly useful for multitasking environments where applications can easily get buried under multiple tabs or windows.

Example Output: The Audacious window will become visible, but no textual output will be shown.

Use case 7: Display Help

Code:

audtool help

Motivation: For those who are new to Audtool, understanding the available commands and how to use them is crucial. By executing the help command, you can get a list of all commands along with a brief synopsis of each, making it easier to navigate and use Audtool effectively.

Explanation:

• help: This command argument displays the help documentation for Audtool directly in the terminal, listing out all possible commands and what they do. It serves as a quick reference guide for users to understand the functionality available.

Example Output:

Usage: audtool <command> [arguments...]
Commands:
  ...
  playback-playpause       Play/pause current track.
  current-song             Print current song artist, album, and title.
  ...

Use case 8: Display Settings

Code:

audtool preferences-show

Motivation: For those who wish to adjust their audio output or modify playback settings directly, it’s beneficial to have quick access to the preferences. This command opens up the settings panel, allowing you to conveniently change what you need without navigating through multiple menus.

Explanation:

• preferences-show: This argument opens the Audacious Preferences window, where users can adjust various settings such as sound effects, playlists, and interfaces, enabling customization of the player’s performance to fit one’s needs.

Example Output: The Audacious Preferences window will appear, though no text is displayed in the terminal.

Conclusion:

Using Audtool offers a streamlined and efficient way to control Audacious without the need to constantly interact with the graphical user interface. From basic playback controls to accessing song details and player settings, Audtool enhances the user’s ability to manage their music listening experience directly from the terminal. By mastering these commands, users can enjoy a more integrated and personalized control over their Audacious audio player.