QTPLAY(1)

NAME
qtplay - command line quicktime player

SYNOPSIS
qtplay [OPTION] [file(s) | directory(s) | -]
qtplay [OPTION] -cd
qtplay [OPTION] -f [file(s)]

DESCRIPTION
qtplay (Quicktime player) is a command line utility to play Audio CD's, MP3's, and other music files. Since qtplay uses Apple's Quicktime, it supports (only) all audio file formats that are supported by QuickTime, including Audio CDs, AIFF, MIDI, and MP3.

Arguments can be audio file names, directories containing audio files, or a special flag. Special flags include -cd which is for simply playing CDs for lazy people, -f which is for reading playlists, and - which is for reading standard input. Playlist features exist such as loop, shuffle, and random. Another playlist feature is the ability to play files in a random order while keeping playlist files (eg. symphonies) in tact.

OPTIONS

-cd

--cd
    Play all CDs that are found in the file system.

-f  Read file names from playlist files. (Treat the contents of the files as if they were on the command line; that is, treat the contents as the master playlist.)

-l  Play the audio files in a loop.

-q  Use Quiet mode.

-Q  Use Quicktime only to play files.

-r  Recursive. Play the audio files in a directory, when the directory name is given.

-S  Use Sound Manager only to play files.

-t value
    Update time controls processor usage. (Measured in seconds; default = .1)

-T value
    Kill time controls the behavior of signal SIGINT. (Measured in ticks; default = double click time)

-v  Use Verbose mode.

-V value
    Set the volume. (Measured in percent; default = 100)

--version
    Display the version number.

-z  "Shuffle" play the audio files.

-Z  Play the audio files in a random order.

-1  Play one random file.

-   Read file names from standard input.

--  Treat the remaining arguments as file names, even if they begin with a dash.

ADVANCED USAGE
qtplay supports the following signals:

SIGINT
    This signal is used to stop the current song, and go on to the next. If two signals (^C^C) are received in succession, then the program aborts. This is similar to the behavior of mpg123. (By default, the shell defines this signal by the keyboard shortcut: control-c)

SIGTSTP
    This signal is used to pause the current song. (Note: Call SIGTSTP instead of SIGSTOP.) (By default, the shell defines this signal by the keyboard shortcut: control-z)

SIGCONT
    This signal is used to continue the current song. (Once a process has been suspended/paused, you can resume/continue it by typing the command: fg)

EXAMPLES

1.  Play files in current directory.

        qtplay

2.  Play all Audio CDs.

        qtplay -cd

3.  Play files (plays files in the order given).

        qtplay file.mp3 file2.mp3

4.  Play files randomized (plays a random file, then another random file, etc...).

        qtplay -Z file.mp3 file2.mp3

5.  Play files shuffled and looped (plays each file once in a random order, then loops and plays each file once in a different random order, etc...).

        qtplay -l -z file.mp3 file2.mp3

6.  Play all of your music randomized.

        qtplay -r -Z ~/Music/

7.  Play one random song of your music.

        qtplay -r -1 ~/Music/

8.  Play files (playlist).

        /bin/ls /Volumes/Audio\ CD/* > playlist.txt
        qtplay -f playlist.txt

9.  Play files (playlist), alternate method.

        /bin/ls /Volumes/Audio\ CD/* | qtplay -

10. Play files (playlist) in shuffled order keeping symphonies in tact.

        /bin/ls /Volumes/Audio CD/Track\ 0[1-4].cdda > symphony1.txt
        /bin/ls /Volumes/Audio CD/Track\ 0[5-8].cdda > symphony2.txt
        qtplay -z symphony1.txt symphony2.txt

AUTHOR
Written by Sarah Childers <rainbowflight@earthlink.net>.

COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 2002, Rainbow Flight. All rights reserved. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.

BUGS
A user reported crashing from using qtplay from procmail. qtplay can't fast-forward or rewind songs. qtplay can't read non-Quicktime internet URLs (ie. text playlists). qtplay doesn't determine length of track, in verbose mode. qtplay doesn't have a flag for buffer size.

SEE ALSO
mpg123(1)

VERSION
This man page documents qtplay version 1.3.1.