ffmpeg and FLV on Ubuntu

Wow, ffmpeg is really great for converting multimedia.  Unfortunately, the support for MP3 audio doesn’t appear available by default.  Sure, it can decode MP3 audio and write to an MP3 container, but what about having an actual MP3 codec available?

sudo apt-get purge ffmpeg
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-unstripped-52 libavdevice-unstripped-52 libavformat-unstripped-52 libavutil-unstripped-49 libpostproc-unstripped-51 libswscale-unstripped-0 ffmpeg

As a little bonus, there’s a number of other codecs that come along with it too (xvid etc).  I’m not too fussed on them but now I can use -acodec libmp3lame as my audio codec and have the FLV outputted with MP3 audio …

in Linux · Tue 22 September 2009

Buildout: the biggest problems have the simplest answers…

..and how true that is.  Today’s time consumer is directly related to just 1 misplaced line of a buildout configuration (and presumably something that’s changed somewhere else).

in Buildout · Thu 03 September 2009

Virtualenv, Plone, and Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

What a complicated situation it is trying to use all of the above-mentioned pieces of software together. In all seriousness, Virtualenv is now appearing to be the best thing since sliced bread for me to help out with making Plone/Zope usable under Jaunty.

By default, as everyone should know by now, a whole bunch of old Python 2.4 packages got removed from Jaunty, throwing us Plone developers into peril.  Well, those of us who hadn’t discovered the joys of virtualenv yet, that is.

Here’s how to convert an existing buildout folder over to Virtualenv without too …

in Plone · Fri 12 June 2009

Ubuntu: Dual Monitors & Separating Tasks

Today’s puzzle: how to get Ubuntu (specifically GNOME Panels as it turns out) to use my new dual-monitor setup and show only the tasks from one monitor on that monitor’s panel. Sure, people had mentioned that it was possible (everywhere) but noone actually seemed to take the time to mention how. That’s when I found this: http://www.lloydleung.com/2006/10/14/gnome-multiple-monitor-taskbar-window-listing/ so cheers go to Lloyd there. Still works (and should be fine on any version from at least now on):

1. Right click on anywhere on the launchbar, click “New Panel”
2. Drag that to …

in Linux · Wed 04 February 2009

Linux: Graphics Card Woes & BIOS Issues

…and I had thought that installing a graphics card in a computer was as easy as opening the case, inserting the card, and booting the machine (then Xorg config etc). Well, to tell the truth, I just moved my HDD, peripherals (gfx card included) to a new box - now a Dell OptiPlex 755. But, it’s not that easy if you can’t boot your Ubuntu 8.10 OS!

The computer kept spitting this message out, even though it just worked a few days ago:

15.848000 NVRM: This PCI I/O region assigned to your NVIDIA device is invalid …

in IT, Linux, Work · Tue 27 January 2009

Ubuntu: PulseAudio Joy

Well, it’s a sad state of affairs when simply unplugging your set of USB headphones causes your Intrepid Ibex install of Ubuntu to crap itself. Even with the same set of headphones plugged back into the same port not 10 seconds later. Painful.

But, the good news is that after a few hours of pain, PulseAudio works and it’s magical in comparison to the older audio systems (3 apps playing audio at once..wow).

Check out http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=789578 for a great walk-through on how to set it up on Hardy or Intrepid. Unfortunately …

in Linux · Tue 06 January 2009