This tutorial will take you step by step through installing all of the software necessary to play rmvb (RealMedia Variable Bitrate) files in Ubuntu Linux.
Though the steps and screenshots are specific to Ubuntu, they will likely be similar for other versions of Linux. With that said, be sure to read the MPlayer README file if you’re not using Ubuntu. Similar to some of the other tutorials on Simplehelp, this is almost certainly not the only way to play .rmvb files in Ubuntu, but it’s the easiest way I could find. If you know of a easier method, by all means please feel free to leave a comment.
- The first step in playing .rmvb files in Ubuntu is to use the Synaptic Package Manager to install MPlayer. When you mark MPlayer for installation, you’ll be prompted to install additional software packages (if they’re not already installed).
- After MPlayer has been installed, exit out of the Synaptic Package Manager and visit the MPlayer binary codec download page. Download the codec package for your platform (for example, if you’re using a 32bit Intel or AMD processor, download the Linux x86 package).
Save the file to your desktop (or home folder). Once the download has completed, double-click that file. Select the folder to uncompress, and click the Extract button.
- Choose a location to extract the files (your desktop is ideal) and again click Extract.
- Make sure the files extracted correctly. They’ll be in a folder titled essential-date.
- Open up a Terminal by selecting Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal.
- Enter the following commands (and your password when prompted):
cd Desktop
cd essential-date
sudo mkdir /usr/lib/codecs
sudo cp * /usr/lib/codecs - NOTE: you may need to install libstdc++5 to get .rmvb files to play. Even though it might not be necessary for you, it can’t hurt to install (the package isn’t very big). Run the command: sudo apt-get install libstdc++5 in a Terminal, or use Synaptic and search for libstdc++5. Thanks to everyone who commented (see comments below) for the tip.
- Launch MPLayer by selecting Applications -> Sound & Video -> MPlayer Movie Player. Right-click in the Mplayer – Video window and select Preferences from the menu.
- Select the Video tab and change the Available drivers: to x11 X11 (XImage/Shm).
- Select the Codecs & demuxer tab and change the Video codec family: to RealVideo decoder and the Audio codec family: to FFmpeg/libavcodec audio decoders. When you’re done, click OK and close down MPlayer.
- Locate one of your .rmvb files, right-click it and select Properties.
- Select the Open With tab and change whatever the default is to MPlayer Movie Player. Click Close.
- Double-click any of your .rmvb files and they should open up in MPlayer and start playing.
Got it working finally !
had to install the gcc-3.3-base package first
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid/powerpc/gcc-3.3-base/1:3.3.6-15ubuntu4
after installing this file, then I could install the libstdc++5
then voila, Mplayer can play rmvb
but as somebody mentioned above, when I tried to see it in full screen using OpenGL, the video is stuttering like crazy. Anyway of solving that?
This is running on my PS3.
Hey thanks for the tip!
However when double clicking the videos, I also couldn’t play them in full screen mode as reported Stephanie and An_hin.
However I noticed that when opening the files through the console
>mplayer myvideo.rmvb [enter]
mplayer can resize the video correctly. Wonder if this is a bug in the graphical-user-interface =/
Regards
I take that back, it is not a bug.
You fix that by adding “zoom=true” to the file $HOME\ .mplayer/config
example:
>cat $HOME/.mplayer/config
# Write your default config options here!
zoom=yes
>
regards
thank you cperez
i typed: echo “zoom=yes” >> ~/.mplayer/config
to terminal, and it worked
but the video was stuttering too badly once in full screen.
So now I need to figure out how to make my PS3 play rmvb in full screen smoother.
Thank u very much, the tutorial was very simple. I really appreciate your help!!
a very big thank you to you. i tried your way and after months of toiling to get .rm working, i am now able to watch my shows.
though, the step 9 # Select the Video tab and change the Available drivers: to x11 X11 (XImage/Shm). worked but so well that if the pixels are small, even in full screen mode, the video size will remain small unless changed to x11 X11/Xv where full screen worked for me. the quality depletes but being able to see the video is better than nothing at all.
once again thank you.
Thank you very much it work for me very good, althought other options is install realplayer http://www.real.com/linux, but it is not available for 64 bits.
Hi guys,
I have tried it, it successfully plays the video. However, it has no sound. When I double click on the video it says
“could not open initialize/audio device -> no sound”
Can anybody help ?
Thanks,
Applauses! * * *
Mille Merci! It’s working!
found an easier way, it’s to download real player for linux. http://www.real.com and look for the version for linux….suits a layman like me
Obrigado.
thank you very much. it is working !
Nice tutorial it works with CentOS 5.2
(keep in mind 64bit MPlayer requires /usr/lib64/codecs)
Thanks alot!!
Hey man.. thanks..
it works
wow this is amazing really works!
Thanks! It worked for me!
peace for you all guys
thanks very much for this information ….. it work properly . but I have a query >>>>>> all movie with *rmvb is working but in small window and I can’t resize it or make it large so what I ganna to do ……
thanks again
Hi Ahmed,
The answer to youur problem is written by cperez =).
regards
Thanks!
You are the best!!!!
thanks. worked on debian etch after installing the codecs in the specified directory and installing libstdc++5 with aptitude, then choosing the xv/x11 video driver and alsa audio in the preferences menu. changing the audio/video codecs didn’t make any noticeable difference.
Oi!
Depois de tanto pesquisar, enfim consegui instalar os codecs para ler os filmes com extensão .rmvb, graças as dicas fornecidas aqui neste site. Parabéns! E muito obrigado!
Abraços!
George Bush…really?
But otherwise …awesome!! Thanks!
me funciono perfecto en hardy, baje los codecs los instale, instale la libreria q faltaba y anduvo sin ningun otro cambio.. gracias!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you so much
this is an excellent step by step guide and although i freaked out at one point it was simple and easy to follow
it gives me an error saying
cannot find codec matching selected -vo and video format 0×30345652
I think I’m the 10000th person who make comment in this post:D
But God Bless you man. It helps me a lot.
Now I can watch my copy (I’m sorry that is an illegal copy) Of jomung tv series with ubuntu linux.
thank you so much
i did all of this but mplayer isnt in my applications :S
THANKS A LOOOT!, it works
Thanks, it work fine.
i didn’t know what i was doing, but i was soooo happy to see exactly the same windows ;D and it worked, thank you a lot:):)
This works perfectly! Thanks.
Hi, I am using Ubuntu I have tried what u say above and it plays .rmvb files. So Thanks for that.
But when I play .3gp file, then the video is played but whit no sound. Can anyone help me… Thanks
thaks, i’m glad to read it….
see you
Thanks. It worked after I installed libstdc++5, having done all else you mentioned here.
its solve my problem.. tq tq
well you could also goto http://www.real.com/linux/ and download the .bin, .rpm or the .deb at the bottom.
Thanks a lot! This worked for me.
I was using RealPlayer, It was doing the job but, no seek bar, and also for some videos the image keeps flickering. So I followed these instructions and worked fine for me.
Except that I couldn’t install “sudo apt-get install libstdc++5″ it seems not included in the repository. the video part working fine but no sound, I just started changing Audio driver until it worked [it is oss:ioctl audio output ].
Thanks a lot )
This does not work in 64 bit Ububtu 9.04 and above.
ooooh, thanks. This work with Debian Lenny! I think mplayer play much better than xine this type of file.
I see guys.