Controlling VLC from the terminal can be incredibly useful in a variety of scenarios, such as automating tasks, managing media on headless servers, or controlling playback remotely without a graphical interface. By using command-line options, you can integrate VLC into your workflows, making it a powerful tool for developers, system administrators, or users managing media libraries in a more hands-on, programmable way. Whether you’re running a remote media server, automating playback, or simply prefer the efficiency of the command line, mastering VLC terminal controls opens up a range of possibilities.

In this guide, we’ll dive into two reliable methods for controlling VLC’s command-line version, cvlc, specifically focusing on how to pause and play media using terminal commands. The first method utilizes the dbus interface, a communication system that allows you to interact with VLC in a structured way, ideal for users who want granular control over media playback in a remote environment. The second method involves process control commands, a more straightforward approach that uses signals to control the VLC process directly. These methods are efficient, easy to implement, and tailored for different use cases, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your needs.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Using the dbus Interface

The dbus interface allows you to interact with VLC through Linux’s message bus system, which is a great option if you’re running a GUI instance of VLC. Here’s how you can use dbus commands to pause and play cvlc directly from the terminal.

Steps:

Pause VLC Playback:

dbus-send --type=method_call --dest=org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.vlc /org/mpris/MediaPlayer2 org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.Player.Pause

Play VLC Playback:

dbus-send --type=method_call --dest=org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.vlc /org/mpris/MediaPlayer2 org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.Player.Play

Note: Make sure VLC is running with the GUI to use dbus. This interface is especially useful for desktop environments where you might want to automate multimedia tasks or control VLC remotely.

Method 2: Using Process Control Commands

When you’re using cvlc (the terminal version of VLC), controlling playback without a GUI might seem tricky. However, you can easily manage playback using simple process control commands like kill to stop or resume a process without actually terminating it.

Steps:

Pause VLC by Stopping the Process:

Use the kill -STOP command followed by the process ID (PID) to pause VLC:

kill -STOP [PID]

Play VLC by Resuming the Process:

Use the kill -CONT command to resume playback:

kill -CONT [PID]

Force Kill VLC:

if you want to kill VLC outright, do this:

kill -9 [PID]

How to Find the PID:

Run this command to locate the PID of the running cvlc instance:

$ ps aux | grep vlc

This method is direct and effective for scripts or when using VLC on a headless server without a GUI.

Use Cases

1. Remote Media Servers
   If you’re running VLC on a remote server to stream music or videos, pausing and resuming playback without needing a graphical interface is crucial. These methods allow you to control playback via SSH, making it perfect for headless setups.
2. Automated Playlists
   When automating media playback for radio stations or podcasts, you can integrate the process control method into scripts to manage breaks between audio tracks without needing VLC to be restarted.
3. Background Media Playback
   If you’re multitasking on a system with limited resources, suspending VLC temporarily (with kill -STOP) can free up CPU and memory. You can resume playback at any time without losing your place in the media file.

Conclusion

Using the dbus interface or simple process control commands, you can easily pause and play cvlc from the terminal. These methods provide flexibility, allowing you to integrate VLC into various automated tasks or remotely control playback on a headless server.

Related Links

• How to Install and Use VLC in Termux

By implementing these methods, you’ll have complete control over VLC playback from the terminal—making it an ideal solution for both desktop and headless environments.