Costing equally little as $v, you tin can plow any Raspberry Pi into a whole host of useful devices: a Minecraft server, a retro gaming station, a desktop PC, or fifty-fifty a homemade laptop.

Merely how useful is it for playing music and audio files?

Not merely can you use a Raspberry Pi equally a Kodi media eye, a Raspberry Pi can also play music. Thanks to the audio out port (see below), you can pipe music through to a dedicated speaker or simple headphones. With HDMI, you can even send audio to your TV (which you probably already knew).

But how practise y'all play MP3s on Raspberry Pi without installing Kodi showtime?

Several tools can be installed on Raspbian (or whatever Raspberry Pi operating organisation you're using) to play MP3, FLAC, OGG, fifty-fifty WAV files on your Raspberry Pi. With the correct software, you might even be able to gear up playlists and subscribe to podcasts!

Copying MP3 Files to Your Raspberry Pi

To get started playing MP3 or other audio files on your Raspberry Pi, you'll need to either download some (via the browser), or re-create them across.

You have several options for copying data to your Pi:

  • Transfer files with a USB stick
  • Upload files to your cloud account and download to the Pi
  • Transfer using an external hard disk drive drive
  • Copy data to the /boot/sectionalization on your Pi's microSD carte du jour
  • Transfer data via SSH using a desktop SFTP app (such as FileZilla)

Find full details on all of these methods using our guide to transferring data betwixt a Raspberry Pi and desktop PC.

Outputting Sound From Your Raspberry Pi

While HDMI is probably acceptable, you might want to apply the A/5 socket on your Raspberry Pi. This might be the instance if your HDMI cable doesn't carry audio, for case, or the monitor speakers are faulty.

The Raspberry Pi two and later has a 3.5mm A/5 port for apply with audio and video TRRS uniform RCA cables. While the colors may not match those on your TV (some swapping around is required), the results are skillful. It's thanks to this connector that the Raspberry Pi can exist hooked up to one-time TVs for authentic retro gaming experiences.

In addition to video and audio, the port can also output audio merely. A standard headphone jack can exist connected, for instance, every bit tin a speaker. (For the best results, use a powered loudspeaker.)

Playing Audio in the Command Line With omxplayer

You lot should notice omxplayer is already arranged with your Raspberry Pi. If not, utilize:

          sudo apt update
sudo apt install omxplayer

Run from the concluding, omxplayer has a help file that yous tin can check using:

          omxplayer -h

However, to become started, all yous need to know is the file path and filename of the sound file you wish to play.

In this example, I've copied an MP3 file (Led Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dying") to my Raspberry Pi and play information technology with omxplayer:

          omxplayer inmytimeofdying.mp3

It's really as unproblematic as that:

Play MP3s on Raspberry Pi with omxplayer

However, as you'll discover when checking the help notes for omxplayer, you tin can do so much more, such equally specify a particular route for the sound. To transport the file through your HDMI cablevision, for example, use the audio laissez passer-through switch, -o:

          omxplayer -o hdmi [AUDIO_FILENAME]

You could also apply the both command to play the sound through HDMI and the local output. The possibilities for audio (and video) playback with omxplayer are considerable, so once you get to grips with it you'll find it a not bad tool to accept to hand.

Playing Sound on a Desktop PC With VLC

If you would rather use a desktop computer to enjoy audio on your Raspberry Pi, the best option is VLC Actor. Capable of playing all mode of media, VLC Player will play audio in virtually any format.

To install VLC, open a terminal and use:

          sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlc

Await for the software to download and agree to installation:

Play audio in Raspbian with VLC Player

Note: VLC Player on the Raspberry Pi comes in two flavors. In that location is the chief version, for like shooting fish in a barrel installation, and the source version that can be compiled with hardware acceleration for better operation. You probably won't need hardware dispatch for playing sound, although it might come in useful for loftier-definition video.

That'south all yous demand to do. The app will be added to a new bill of fare subfolder chosen Sound & Video. Launch VLC from the desktop when you're prepare to playback your favorite audio tracks. (By the way, check out our tips on the best subconscious VLC features.)

Enjoy Music With Your Raspberry Pi

It doesn't accept long to become music and audio playing on your Raspberry Pi. In fact, the main problem you lot'll face is system. Then when you're migrating your audiobooks or albums to your Pi's storage, make sure everything is sorted correctly.

Believe u.s., having multiple directories labeled "Disc 2" is going to cause a lot of problems when you lot're searching for a particular song!

Of course, you take other options to play music with your Raspberry Pi. Installing Plex will turn the Raspberry Pi into a media server and player for your home network.

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About The Author

Christian Cawley (1574 Manufactures Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with all-encompassing experience in desktop and software support. A correspondent to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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