# Install a52dec with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams (AKA 'AC-3'). Version 0.8.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:a52dec ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install a52dec ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install a52dec ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: audio/a52dec/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add a52dec ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: a52dec from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install liba52-0.7.4 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: liba52-0.7.4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install a52dec ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: a52dec from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#a52dec ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/a5/a52dec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S a52dec ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: a52dec from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install a52dec ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: a52dec from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:a52dec - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.8.0 - **Source summary:** Library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams (AKA 'AC-3') - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - a52dec (cli) - extract_a52 (cli) - a52dec (alias) - extract_a52 (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.8.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://git.adelielinux.org/community/a52dec/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage a52dec is the command-line test decoder and distribution package for liba52, a C library for decoding ATSC A/52 audio streams, also known as AC-3. ### Project history The project started publicly as ac3dec in 1999 and evolved into a52dec/liba52 in 2001. The official ChangeLog records the first public ac3dec release in June 1999, the 0.7.0 liba52-era release in August 2001, and the 0.7.4 release in July 2002. The project then had a very long quiet period after the 2004 0.7.5 development snapshot. In 2022, Adelie Linux imported the historically available SourceForge code into Git, declared the Adelie GitLab URL canonical for source control and issue tracking, and took over maintenance while trying to minimize churn. ### Adoption history The README names xine, VideoLAN, MPlayer, FFmpeg, drip, and GStreamer as projects that used liba52, which explains why distributions kept shipping a small standalone a52dec package long after upstream development slowed. ### How it is used The a52dec program decodes ATSC A/52 files and can demultiplex MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 program streams. Typical use is running a52dec against an AC-3/A52 file, with options for multiplexed streams, output layer selection, optimization control, and dynamic range compression. ### Why package nerds care a52dec is interesting to package maintainers because it is a classic codec-library package with a tiny CLI, old CVS-era history, GPL licensing, dormant upstream years, and a later distribution-led maintenance handoff. ### Timeline - 1999: First public ac3dec release. - 2001: a52dec/liba52 0.7.0 release introduces a new library interface and major speedups. - 2002: a52dec 0.7.4 release marks liba52 as fully reentrant. - 2004: a52dec 0.7.5 development snapshot adds fixed-point support and other improvements. - 2022: a52dec 0.8.0 imports historical SourceForge code into Git and updates the maintenance situation. ### Related projects - Related users and peers include xine, VideoLAN/VLC, MPlayer, FFmpeg, GStreamer, and other media playback or transcoding projects that needed AC-3/A52 decoding. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** a52dec - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - liba52-0.7.4 - 0.7.4-20+b3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: liba52-0.7.4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams | http://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - Debian apt - liba52-0.7.4-dev - 0.7.4-20+b3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: liba52-0.7.4-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams (development) | http://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - Nix - a52dec: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/a5/a52dec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - liba52-0.7.4 - 0.7.4-20build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: liba52-0.7.4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams | http://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - Ubuntu apt - liba52-0.7.4-dev - 0.7.4-20build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: liba52-0.7.4-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams (development) | http://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - apk - a52dec - 0.8.0-r11: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: a52dec from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A free library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams. | https://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - apk - a52dec-dev - 0.8.0-r11: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: a52dec-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A free library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams. (development files) | https://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - apk - a52dec-doc - 0.8.0-r11: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: a52dec-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A free library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams. (documentation) | https://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - apk - a52dec-static - 0.8.0-r11: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: a52dec-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A free library for decoding ATSC A/52 streams. (static library) | https://liba52.sourceforge.net/ - dnf - a52dec - 0.7.4-53.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: a52dec from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Small test program for liba52 | http://liba52.sourceforge.net - dnf - liba52 - 0.7.4-53.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: liba52 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | A free ATSC A/52 stream decoder, also known as AC-3 or AC3 | http://liba52.sourceforge.net - dnf - liba52-devel - 0.7.4-53.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: liba52-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for liba52 | http://liba52.sourceforge.net - pacman - a52dec - 0.8.0-3: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: a52dec from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Library for decoding ATSC A/52 (AC-3) audio streams | https://git.adelielinux.org/community/a52dec/ - zypper - a52dec - 0.8.0-1.8: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: a52dec from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | ATSC A/52 stream decoder library | https://git.adelielinux.org/community/a52dec/ - zypper - liba52-0 - 0.8.0-1.8: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: liba52-0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | ATSC A/52 stream decoder library | https://git.adelielinux.org/community/a52dec/ - zypper - liba52-0-32bit - 0.8.0-1.8: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: liba52-0-32bit from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | ATSC A/52 stream decoder library | https://git.adelielinux.org/community/a52dec/ ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [scummvm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/scummvm/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [musepack](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/musepack/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, audio-codec, cli, codec, media. - [speex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/speex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, audio-codec, cli, codec, media. - [codec2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/codec2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, audio-codec, cli, media. - [fdk-aac](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fdk-aac/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio-codec, cli, library, media. - [adplug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adplug/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, library, media. - [aften](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aften/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ac3, audio, cli, media. - [alsa-lib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/alsa-lib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, library, media. - [chromaprint](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chromaprint/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, library, media. - [libdca](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libdca/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, codec, decoding, extract. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/a52dec.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/a52dec.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph