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Since the computer has a Compact Disc drive it is only natural to assume that in addition to handling data discs it aught to be able to play back audio CDs also. This is quite correct, most of the time simply insert the disc and a program will start automatically to play the disc.

If, you insert a disc and nothing happens or the playback does not work a simple, tested two-step method follows.

1.  Insert the Disc and open VLC

Insert the disc into the drive. Open "VLC" which you will find in the applications menu under "Applications" → "Multimedia". (VLC may also be titled "VLC Media Player" or similar).

2.  Load the disc in VLC

Go to "Media" → "Open Disc" in the menus:

VLC Menu

You will see the following dialog box:

Open dialog box

Make sure that "Audio CD" is selected at the top and click "Play". Playback begins

Here is a picture of VLC playing the disc:

Vlc Playing the Disc

The buttons on the player are identical in function to the buttons on a physical CD player, from left to right:

1. Play/Pause
2. Previous Track
3. Stop
4. Next Track
5. "Full Screen Mode" (Irrelevant to CDs, can be used with videos)
6. Playlist (shows list of all tracks and allows arbitrary reordering)
7. Equalizer (electronically altered waveform, like "EQ" settings on a sound board leave alone if you don't know what it does.)
8. Volume control slider. ³

3.  Getting the disc back

If you are done you must close VLC before you can eject the disc. The operating-system cannot allow you to eject the disc if it is being accessed by any program or user, including VLC.⁴

You can eject the disc in the usual way by pressing the physical eject button on the disc drive, or by right-clicking the device in the file-manager and selecting "Eject". If the former does not work the file-manager may also be accessing the device and the latter method will force the file-manager to let go.

4.  Notes

¹ This peculiar string of text is a special path that indicates the disc-drive directly instead of a real file-system location.

² D:\ is probably correct unless you have an unusual setup.

³ If the volume is still to low after setting this, check your software mixer settings. (On UNIX, If it's still too low, click "mixer" and check the "PCM" channel). DO NOT touch the speaker's volume knob.

⁴ If the eject fails even after you carefully follow these directions consult administration.

5.  See Also

• Audio
• AudioMixing

Categories AV, Workstation, Hardware