# Install madplay with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, zypper MPEG Audio Decoder. Version 0.15.2b via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:madplay ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install madplay ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install madplay ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: audio/madplay/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install madplay ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: madplay from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install abxtest ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: abxtest from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:madplay - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.15.2b - **Source summary:** MPEG Audio Decoder - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-19T12:32:39-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - abxtest (cli) - madplay (cli) - abxtest (alias) - madplay (alias) ## Dependencies - libid3tag - mad ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.15.2b - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-19 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage madplay is the command-line front end distributed with MAD, the MPEG Audio Decoder from Underbit Technologies. The official MAD page describes MAD as a high-quality MPEG audio decoder implementing MPEG-1, MPEG-2 lower sampling frequency extensions, the de facto MPEG 2.5 format, and all three MPEG audio layers including MP3. ### Project history Underbit distributes MAD as libmad, the madplay command-line front end, and the libid3tag ID3 tag library. The project emphasizes 24-bit PCM output, fixed-point integer computation, and a new implementation based on ISO/IEC standards rather than derivation from the ISO reference source. ### Adoption history MAD and madplay became part of the classic Unix audio stack because fixed-point decoding was valuable on machines without fast floating-point units and because MP3 playback was a common package-manager use case. The official page notes third-party ports and packages for Debian, FreeBSD, and NetBSD, and lists many third-party applications using or planning to use MAD. ### How it is used madplay is used as a simple CLI audio player and decoder for MPEG audio streams, especially MP3 files. Package users typically install it when they want a small command-line player or a known-good libmad-based decoder for testing and scripting. ### Why package nerds care madplay is historically significant because it packages the front end to libmad, a GPL fixed-point MP3 decoder that showed up across many Unix media applications and ports. It is a small package, but it represents an older era of audio packaging where decoder accuracy, patent-era MP3 support, integer arithmetic, and command-line playback all mattered. ### Timeline - Official distribution: Underbit distributes MAD source via FTP and SourceForge mirror rather than an official HTTP source-control repository. - Official package history: Underbit documents libmad, madplay, and libid3tag together as the MAD software distribution. - Third-party packaging: Underbit notes third-party packages for Debian, FreeBSD, and NetBSD. ### Related projects - madplay is related to libmad, libid3tag, mpg123, mpg321, LAME, GStreamer, MPlayer, VideoLAN Client, XMMS MAD plugins, and other Unix audio players and media frameworks listed on the official MAD applications page. ### 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:** madplay - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 3 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - madplay - 0.15.2b-10.1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: madplay from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | MPEG audio player in fixed point | https://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - Ubuntu apt - madplay - 0.15.2b-10build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: madplay from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | MPEG audio player in fixed point | https://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - zypper - abxtest - 0.15.2b-3.7: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: abxtest from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Double-blind ABX comparison testing script | http://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - zypper - madplay - 0.15.2b-3.7: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: madplay from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | MPEG audio decoder and player | http://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - zypper - madplay-lang - 0.15.2b-3.7: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: madplay-lang from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Translations for package madplay | http://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ - MacPorts - madplay: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: audio/madplay/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [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. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [libopenmpt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libopenmpt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, decoder, media. - [wildmidi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wildmidi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, player. - [abcde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcde/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [adplay](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adplay/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [adplug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adplug/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [aften](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aften/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [alsa-lib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/alsa-lib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [bandcamp-dl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bandcamp-dl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media. - [cmus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmus/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, mad, media, player. - [mpd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mpd/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, libid3tag, media, player. - [mpg321](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mpg321/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, libid3tag, mad, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/madplay.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/madplay.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