Ncmpcpp: Ncurses MPD Client [Shell Music Player - Linux]

For a shell music player, I used to love CMus (I still like it a lot), but I've found a similar - probably better - command line music player which is actually a MPD client: Ncmpcpp.

Ncmpcpp (Ncmpc++) is an ncurses MPD client inspired by Ncmpc (runs in a terminal). Ncmpcpp has an UI very similar to ncmpc's one, but it provides new useful features such as support for regular expressions in search engine, extended song format, items filtering, fetching artist's info from last.fm, tag editor, ability to sort playlist, local filesystem browser, song lyrics and other minor functions.

Why use Ncmpcpp (Ncmpc++)?

• It's fast and uses very few system resources. On my computer, it uses 2,2 MB of RAM - on a music database of ~40.000 songs.
• It has all the features you may want in a music player, even Last.fm info, lyrics, multiple views and tag editor.
• Very easy to use - must remember a few keyboard shortcuts.
  
• Ncmpcpp can basically run and work perfect on any PC, no matter it's configuration.
• Want to look geeky in front of your friends =)

Install Ncmpcpp

Ubuntu

The version available in the repositories is very old. To install the latest Ncmpcpp in Ubuntu, add the following PPA:

-Ubuntu Karmic:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:aguignard/ppa

-Ubuntu Jaunty or Intrepid (however, the Jaunty and Intrepid version is old):

sudo sh -c "echo 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/aguignard/ppa/ubuntu YOUR_UBUNTU_VERSION_HERE main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list"
sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 9058FBF6

Replacing "YOUR_UBUNTU_VERSION_HERE" with jaunty or intrepid.

Then, install Ncmpcpp (any Ubuntu version):

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ncmpcpp

For other Linux distributions, see Ncmpcpp downloads page.

Configure Ncmpcpp

Firstly, you must configure MPD. If you haven't done this already, see our Sonata + MPD article - we covered setting up MPD in that post. If you want to install the latest version of MPD in Ubuntu, see our Gnome Music Player Client (GMPC) + MPD article (see the MPD PPA installation part).

OK, once you have MPD set up and installed Ncmpcpp, let's create a config file.

Ncmpcpp doesn't require too much configuration, but you can configure it's colors and so on if you want. Don't worry, I have found some really interesting Ncmpcpp configuration files and you can try those or create your own. One thing you have to do (if you want to use the built-in tag editor) is set your music directory in the Ncmpcpp config file.

Let's proceed. Run the following 2 commands in a terminal:

mkdir ~/.ncmpcpp
gedit ~/.ncmpcpp/config

This is the config file I am using (to use it yourself, simply paste it in the newly opened ~/.ncmpcpp/config file):

##### connection settings #####
mpd_host = "localhost"
mpd_port = "6600"
mpd_music_dir = "/path/to/your/music/directory"
mpd_connection_timeout = "5"
mpd_crossfade_time = "5"

##### delays #####
playlist_disable_highlight_delay = "5"
message_delay_time = "4"

##### song format #####
song_list_format = "{%a - %t}|{$8%f$9}%r{$3(%l)$9}"
song_library_format = "{%n - }{%t}|{%f}"
media_library_album_format = "{(%y) }%b"
tag_editor_album_format = "{(%y) }%b"
browser_playlist_prefix = "$2playlist$9 "
selected_item_prefix = "$6"
selected_item_suffix = "$9"
song_status_format = "{(%l) }{%a - }{%t}|{%f}"
song_window_title_format = "{%a - }{%t}|{%f}"
song_columns_list_format = "(5)[magenta]{l} (28)[cyan]{a} (30)[blue]{b} (50)[white]{t}"
alternative_header_first_line_format = "{%t}"
alternative_header_second_line_format = "$7{%a} - $5{%b} $8{(%y)}"

##### various settings #####
playlist_display_mode = "columns"
incremental_seeking = "yes"
seek_time = "1"
autocenter_mode = "yes"
repeat_one_mode = "no"
default_place_to_search_in = "database"
media_library_left_column = "a"
default_find_mode = "wrapped"
default_space_mode = "add"
default_tag_editor_left_col = "albums"
default_tag_editor_pattern = "%n - %t"
header_visibility = "yes"
header_text_scrolling = "yes"
cyclic_scrolling = "yes"
statusbar_visibility = "yes"
fancy_scrolling = "yes"
follow_now_playing_lyrics = "no"
ncmpc_like_songs_adding = "yes"
display_screens_numbers_on_start = "yes"
clock_display_seconds = "yes"
enable_window_title = "yes"
user_interface = "alternative"
progressbar_look = "-)"


##### colors definitions #####
colors_enabled = "yes"
empty_tag_color = "cyan"
header_window_color = "default"
volume_color = "default"
state_line_color = "default"
state_flags_color = "default"
main_window_color = "cyan"
color1 = "white"
color2 = "green"
main_window_highlight_color = "blue"
progressbar_color = "default"
statusbar_color = "default"
active_column_color = "red"
window_border_color = "green"
active_window_border = "red"
alternative_ui_separator_color = "black"

Edit the path to your music folder on top of the file, then save it. This configuration was created by Barrucadu user @ ArchLinux forums.

You can find more configuration files with screenshots @ ArchLinux forums.

To run Ncmpcpp, simply type ncmpcpp in a terminal.

To navigate through the different Ncmpcpp views, use 1-9 keys (or F1-F9). But to get you started, read the help (pressing "1" or F1).