Correct way to install multimedia

When adding multimedia to Fedora, you naturally end up with adding rpmfusion (free) repo.

But the documentation on what to add and how, there are three different variants which confuse me:

Variant 1: Configuration - RPM Fusion > Multimedia post-install

sudo dnf groupupdate multimedia --setop="install_weak_deps=False" --exclude=PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin
sudo dnf groupupdate sound-and-video

Variant 2: FAQ - RPM Fusion > What packages should I install to be able to play patented codecs?

dnf groupinstall multimedia ; dnf groupupdate multimedia

Variant 3: Installing plugins for playing movies and music :: Fedora Docs

sudo dnf install gstreamer1-plugins-{bad-\*,good-\*,base} gstreamer1-plugin-openh264 gstreamer1-libav --exclude=gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-devel
sudo dnf install lame\* --exclude=lame-devel
sudo dnf group upgrade --with-optional Multimedia

Which one is the correct way to install multimedia support?

2 Likes

It sort of depends on what you want to install, the two groups: sound-and-video and multimedia have slightly different packages:

$ sudo dnf groupinfo multimedia
Last metadata expiration check: 2:27:16 ago on Wed 02 Feb 2022 18:39:54 GMT.
Group: Multimedia
 Description: Audio/video framework common to desktops
 Mandatory Packages:
   PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin
   alsa-ucm
   alsa-utils
   gstreamer1-libav
   gstreamer1-plugin-openh264
   gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free
   gstreamer1-plugins-bad-freeworld
   gstreamer1-plugins-good
   gstreamer1-plugins-ugly
   gstreamer1-plugins-ugly-free
   pipewire-alsa
   pipewire-gstreamer
   pipewire-pulseaudio
   pipewire-utils
   wireplumber
 Conditional Packages:
   ffmpeg-libs
   gstreamer-plugins-espeak
   pipewire-codec-aptx
   qt5-qtwebengine-freeworld
sudo dnf groupinfo sound-and-video
Last metadata expiration check: 2:26:55 ago on Wed 02 Feb 2022 18:39:54 GMT.
Group: Sound and Video
 Description: From CD recording to playing audio CDs and multimedia files, this package group allows you to work with sound and video on the system.
 Optional Packages:
   abcde
   alsa-plugins-freeworld-lavrate
   alsamixergui
   amarok
   asunder
   audacious
   audacious-plugins-freeworld
   audacious-plugins-freeworld-aac
   audacious-plugins-freeworld-mms
   audacity
   audacity-freeworld
   avidemux
   banshee
   brasero
   cdcollect
   cdlabelgen
   cdparanoia
   cdrskin
   denemo
   devedeng
   dragon
   dvdauthor
   dvdisaster
   dvdstyler
   dvgrab
   easytag
   festvox-bdl-arctic-hts
   festvox-clb-arctic-hts
   festvox-rms-arctic-hts
   ffmpeg
   gcstar
   genisoimage
   get_iplayer
   gnome-sound-recorder
   grip
   gstreamer1-plugins-bad-nonfree
   gtk-v4l
   gtkpod
   icedax
   id3v2
   irstlm
   isomaster
   juk
   k3b
   kid3
   kmix
   kodi
   kover
   kscd
   lame
   lame-mp3x
   libquicktime-utils
   lingot
   live555-tools
   lxmusic
   mencoder
   mikmod
   milkytracker
   mjpegtools-gui
   mkvtoolnix-gui
   motion
   mp3gain
   mpd
   mpeg2dec
   mpgtx
   mplayer
   mplayer-doc
   mplayer-gui
   multimedia-menus
   mybashburn
   mythmusic
   mythtv-backend
   mythtv-frontend
   mythtv-setup
   openfst-tools
   opengrm-ngram-tools
   paman
   paprefs
   parole
   pavucontrol
   pavumeter
   picard
   pipewire
   pipewire-jack-audio-connection-kit
   pipewire-pulseaudio
   pitivi
   pocketsphinx
   pocketsphinx-plugin
   qmmp
   qmmp-plugin-pack
   quodlibet
   rakarrack
   regionset
   rhythmbox
   rosegarden4
   rtmpdump
   smplayer
   sonic-visualiser-freeworld
   sound-juicer
   soundconverter
   soundtracker
   sox
   streamripper
   sweep
   tagtool
   totem
   traverso
   tvtime
   twolame
   uade
   ucview
   v4l2ucp
   vdr
   vdr-burn
   vdr-epgsearch
   vdr-femon
   vdr-mp3
   vdr-mplayer
   vdr-osdteletext
   vdr-remote
   vdr-skinsoppalusikka
   vdr-streamdev-client
   vdr-streamdev-server
   vdrsync
   vlc
   volumeicon
   vorbis-tools
   wireplumber
   wodim
   xfburn
   xine-lib
   xine-ui
   xmms
   xmms-flac
   xmp
 Conditional Packages:
   k3b-extras-freeworld
   qmmp-plugins-freeworld
   xmms2-freeworld

So sound-and-video also includes applications, but multimedia is more about the underlying codecs etc.

The first two commands of the third variant don’t install the full groups, they install a subset.

So, they’re all correct—depends on what you want to do. Some of us install packages as we need them incrementally, others prefer to install the full groups to get the whole superset of packages so they don’t have to worry about installing packages in the future.

1 Like