Why Use Mpdas with Libre.fm?

Mpdas (MPD Audio Scrobbler) is a lightweight, efficient tool that acts as a bridge between MPD servers and scrobbling platforms like Libre.fm. For anyone unfamiliar, MPD is a versatile, open-source music server popular among audiophiles and Linux users. It plays music from a local library, internet radio, or streaming services, and it integrates well with various lightweight clients like ncmpcpp.

Libre.fm, meanwhile, offers a refreshing alternative to Last.fm by prioritizing user control and open-source principles. It’s a community-oriented service that allows users to “scrobble” (log) their played tracks without sacrificing their data privacy. With Mpdas and Libre.fm, you can track what you’re listening to, explore your listening history, and discover music—all without corporate oversight.

My take on Security Configuration: It Uses Plain Text Passwords

As of Mpdas version 0.4.3, Last.fm deprecated MD5 password hashing, requiring Mpdas to switch to plain-text passwords. In this version, passwords for scrobbling services must be stored as plaintext in the configuration file. Although this might raise a security concern, you can protect your data by restricting access to the configuration file. Placing it in a restricted-access directory or managing permissions can help ensure that your password is secure on your machine.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Mpdas

Ready to connect your MPD server to Libre.fm? Follow these steps, and you’ll be scrobbling in no time.

Step 1: Install Mpdas

Installing Mpdas is straightforward, thanks to its availability in most Linux distribution repositories. Here’s a quick installation guide for some popular Linux distros:

• Arch Linux: Install Mpdas using the yay package manager.

  1	yay -S mpdas

• Debian/Ubuntu: Install via apt if Mpdas is available in the repositories.

  1	sudo apt install mpdas

• Fedora: Use dnf to install Mpdas, if it’s available in your repositories.

  1	sudo dnf install mpdas

If Mpdas isn’t available through your package manager, you may need to compile it from source. The official Mpdas GitHub repository has detailed instructions on how to do this.

Step 2: Configure Mpdas

Once installed, you’ll need to configure Mpdas so it can log into your Libre.fm account and scrobble your plays.

1. Open the Mpdas configuration file, typically found at /etc/mpdasrc. Use your preferred text editor with root permissions: sudo vim /etc/mpdasrc

2. In this file, add the following configuration, replacing <username> and <plain-text-password> with your actual Libre.fm credentials:

   1 2 3 4 5 6

   username = <username> password = <plain-text-password> port = 6600 runas = mpd service = librefm debug = 1

Type ZZ to write then quit.

Here’s what each setting does:

• username and password: Your Libre.fm login credentials.
• port: Sets the MPD server connection port. Default is 6600, so if you haven’t customized your MPD setup, this should work fine.
• runas: Defines the user under which Mpdas should run. Here, it’s set to mpd.
• service: Specifies the scrobbling service. Set this to librefm to scrobble with Libre.fm. (Default last.fm)
• debug: Enables debugging if set to 1, which can help with troubleshooting if needed.

3. Save and close the configuration file.

Step 3: Enable and Start Mpdas as a User Service

After configuring Mpdas, start it as a user service to keep it running in the background. By enabling it as a user service, Mpdas will run each time you log in, making the setup hassle-free.

1. Run the following command to enable and start Mpdas as a user service:

   1	systemctl enable --now --user mpdas.service

   This command does two things: it starts Mpdas immediately and ensures that it will start automatically each time you log in.

2. Open your MPD music client (e.g., ncmpcpp) and start playing some music. This step will let you confirm that the setup is working properly.

3. Go to your Libre.fm profile and check the “Now Playing” section. If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see the current track being scrobbled in real-time, reflecting the music playing in your MPD client.

Step 4: Loving and Unloving Tracks on Libre.fm

With Mpdas, you can also mark your favorite tracks by “Loving” them, just like on Last.fm. This feature allows you to mark songs you particularly enjoy for easier recall later.

To love a track, use the following command:

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mpc sendmessage mpdas love

If you want to unlove (or revert) a track, simply use:

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mpc sendmessage mpdas unlove

Wrapping Up: Enjoy Real-Time Music Tracking with Libre.fm

Congratulations! With Mpdas up and running, you now have a powerful, privacy-focused way to track your listening habits. This setup combines the flexibility of MPD, the simplicity of Mpdas, and the openness of Libre.fm, giving you a complete music experience that respects your data and privacy.

Now, your plays are seamlessly logged on Libre.fm. Whether you’re using ncmpcpp, Cantata, or any other MPD client, you’ll be able to track and analyze your music tastes effortlessly. So sit back, press play, and enjoy your music journey!