Linux Show Player

What Linux Show Player is

Linux Show Player is a free cue player for sound playback during stage productions, including theatre shows and musical plays. It is a desktop application for GNU/Linux, the only platform currently supported by the project. Cues can run concurrently, with pre- and post-wait settings for playback timing. Users can organize cues in a list layout or a cart layout, which has buttons suited to touchscreens.

The player provides realtime equalization, pitch shift, speed control, and compression, as well as peak and ReplayGain normalization. It can send and receive MIDI and OSC. Its documentation says it can play almost any kind of media file. Other listed features include hotkey triggering, multiple soundboards, undo and redo, and multi-language support.

The project’s download page links to official and testing builds, Flatpak setup instructions, and native packages for some GNU/Linux distributions; distribution packages may not be the latest version. The documentation describes the application as quite stable and recommends checking it in the production environment because GNU/Linux configurations vary. Bug reports and feature requests go to GitHub Issues, while support discussions are directed to GitHub Discussions or Gitter/Matrix chat.

Who it suits

Linux Show Player suits theatre and other stage production teams that need to trigger and time sound cues on GNU/Linux. Its list and touchscreen-oriented cart layouts, concurrent playback, hotkeys, and MIDI and OSC support fit cue-based playback workflows.

Limits

GNU/Linux is the only currently supported platform. The project recommends checking the player in its intended production environment because GNU/Linux configurations vary; some distribution packages may not be the latest version.

Getting started

1. Open the Linux Show Player website.
2. Choose an official or testing build, or follow the Flatpak setup instructions.
3. Alternatively, use a native package for a supported GNU/Linux distribution.
4. Check the player in the production environment where it will be used.

Verdict

Choose Linux Show Player if you need a free desktop cue player on GNU/Linux, with concurrent playback, sound effects, and MIDI or OSC support. Look elsewhere if you need a platform other than GNU/Linux, and check the application in your production setup because GNU/Linux configurations vary.