Setting up transcoding binaries

Transcoders are used by Airsonic to convert media from their on disk format to a format that can be consumed by clients. This is done not only for compatibility but also to save bandwidth when dealing with heavier file types. For example, although your library might use the flac format, bandwidth can be saved by converting to mp3 before transmission.

Install the transcoder

On Debian 9

Install ffmpeg package:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Create a transcode directory within your AIRSONIC_HOME directory:

mkdir /var/airsonic/transcode

Within the transcode directory symlink to ffmpeg and verify correct permissions:

cd transcode/
ln -s /usr/bin/ffmpeg
chown -h user:user ffmpeg
ls -alh

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user   15 mai    4 19:57 ffmpeg -> /usr/bin/ffmpeg

NOTE: user has to be the user that runs Airsonic

On Debian 8

Open your /etc/apt/source.list:

sudo nano /etc/apt/source.list

Add the backports repo to it:

deb http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ jessie-backports main contrib

Update your package list:

sudo apt-get update

Install ffmpeg package from jessie-backports:

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg -t jessie-backports

Create a transcode directory within your AIRSONIC_HOME directory:

mkdir /var/airsonic/transcode

Within the transcode directory symlink to ffmpeg and verify correct permissions:

cd transcode/
ln -s /usr/bin/ffmpeg
chown -h user:user ffmpeg
ls -alh

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user   15 mai    4 19:57 ffmpeg -> /usr/bin/ffmpeg

NOTE: user has to be the user that runs Airsonic

On Ubuntu > 16.04

Install ffmpeg package:

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

Create a transcode directory within your AIRSONIC_HOME directory:

mkdir /var/airsonic/transcode

Within the transcode directory symlink to ffmpeg and verify correct permissions:

cd transcode/
ln -s /usr/bin/ffmpeg
chown -h user:user ffmpeg
ls -alh

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user   15 mai    4 19:57 ffmpeg -> /usr/bin/ffmpeg

NOTE: user has to be the user that runs Airsonic

On Red Hat / Fedora

Install ffmpeg package:

sudo yum install ffmpeg

Create a transcode directory within your AIRSONIC_HOME directory:

mkdir /var/airsonic/transcode

Within the transcode directory symlink to ffmpeg and verify correct permissions:

cd transcode/
ln -s /usr/bin/ffmpeg
chown -h user:user ffmpeg
ls -alh

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user   15 mai    4 19:57 ffmpeg -> /usr/bin/ffmpeg

NOTE: user has to be the user that runs Airsonic

On Windows

Get the ffmpeg package from the project download page.

Unpack the files into the AIRSONIC_HOME/transcode/ folder.

On MacOS

You can install ffmpeg binaries on MacOS using Homebrew:

brew install ffmpeg

Create a transcode directory within your AIRSONIC_HOME directory:

mkdir /var/airsonic/transcode

Within the transcode directory symlink to ffmpeg and verify correct permissions:

cd transcode/
ln -s "$(brew --prefix)/bin/ffmpeg"
chown -h user:user ffmpeg
ls -alh

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user   15 mai    4 19:57 ffmpeg -> /usr/bin/ffmpeg

NOTE: user has to be the user that runs Airsonic