Auto-Queue Similar Tracks In Rhythmbox Using Last.FM

By , Published December 29, 2009

I posted earlier about Banshee’s magical playlist generator that queues songs in your library based on them sounding similar. Rhythmbox users can get something similar by making use of Last.FM reccomendations via the Dynamic Tracks plugin.

Last.fm Dynamic Tracks
Using data from last.fm the plugin scans for “similar” tracks in your library into the play queue.  As each track plays it scans for other similar tracks and so on – so you essentially end up with a never-ending playlist!

The plugin can be toggled on and off from the main window, too, so if you’re in the mood to manually queue your music you can do so with no effort at all.


Download
Grab the plugin archive @ http://airmindprojects.googlecode.com/files/lastfm_queue_0.3.tar.bz2

Install

  • Unpack the archive, press Alt+F2 and type the following: -
  • nautilus /home/USERNAMEHERE/.gnome2/rhythmbox/
  • If there is no “plugins” folder in the newly-spawned window, create one and name it “plugins” (all lowercase). 
  • Move the folder you extracted earlier into it.
  • Restart Rhythmbox then go to Edit > Plugins
  • Check the box next to “Last.fm dynamic Tracks’.

How To Use
In the main window you’ll now see a new icon on the toolbar – press this to switch dynamic tracks on.

As you play a track you’ll notice the play queue begin to populate. Pressing the icon again switches Dynamic Tracks off.

We posted about this plugin a few months back in our “5 Rhythmbox plugins worth installing” post. 
Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. Rhythmbox Context Pane Coming In 0.12.6
  2. Share Your Rhythmbox Library with Empathy Contacts
  3. Rhythmbox 0.12.5 Released
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  • http://kroulee.com Brandon Sheppard

    Works great! Thanks for the tip.

  • Mohan

    Cool, but I get an error when I try to tick mark the plugin. :(

  • http://disqus.com/forums/omgubuntu/rhythmbox_context_pane_coming_in_0126/trackback/ John

    This plugin keeps crashing my rhythmbox – haven’t been able to get it to work. Also, why would I want root to own a directory in my own home folder?

    • http://peligrociencia.com/ aloctavodia

      same here! :-(

      • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

        Whoops! That was a mistake on my part – of course you wouldn’t want to do that. I’m su used to writing posts where you need to root into folders that i was auto pilot.

        Amended.

        • Lke

          So, what can we do to avoid crashing? Thanks guys!

    • http://peligrociencia.com/ aloctavodia

      same here! :-(

  • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

    That’s greeeatt! =D I’ll try it.Also, nice gtk theme, and specially the font (the titlebar in the last screenshot looks goooood)!!!!! What is that font?

  • http://www.webupd8.org Andrew

    Rhythmbox is nice, but once you’ve tried the latest GMPC + MPD, believe me, you won’t ever think of using another music player. And GMPC has a similar Last.fm dynamic tracks plugin (among many others) which works great!

    • daniel

      Agreed, MPD is great.

    • bhm

      Only if it weren’t crashing every time. Tho I agree, any combo with mpd is awesome.
      No proper shuffle, like foobar2000′s, either. Pitty not even one nix player has one.

  • David

    The image with the circle has the circle in the wrong place. Great tip though!

  • Anonymous

    Looks good, helps as my music is fairly varied.

    Dunno why you suggest gksu for invoking nautilus in a ~/ dir though :)

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Yeah, that was a mistake – was on auto-pilot writing this post.

  • http://www.fully-faltoo.com Pratyush

    Auto Queue using Last.fm is good but unlike not as good as Mirage for Banshee.

    Read about a plugin “In The Mood” : http://code.google.com/p/rhythmbox-predictive-playback/downloads/list

    It is similar to Mirage (uses Marsyas) but for Rhythmbox.

    However I have been unsuccessful in compiling and installing Marsyas.

    May be some Linux Gurus can help here as it really sounds an awesome plugin.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I originally intended to write this article about that very plugin, but i couldn’t get it to compile either and the amount of fuss, hassle needed to get it working (if indeed it would, it’s my understanding that the libraries are long since deprecated) would be far to excessive when there is a plugin (as in the article) which can almost do the same (albeit via a different method)

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TMKE3O3OD3SZWETE64YMKMD7JY bITE

        It wasn’t easy, but I managed to compile and install inthemood and all of its dependecies….now if I could just figure out how to use it. It does add an “In the mood” playlist and scan my library just fine, but the playlist is empty and I can’t figure how to get it to generate a playlist. Great idea if it worked :(

  • Anonymous

    Thanks, works fine on my EeePC with Ubuntu and Rhythmbox. The screenshot is different from my screen. Instead of an arrow icon I see three cog wheels. The installation instruction were too little for a newbee like me, but in the end everything works fine!