AdPlay/UNIX plays endlessly, if only one file is given. With multiple files, it plays them in a sequence and exits after the last file. The same can also be accomplished with only one file, by using the -o option. When using the disk writer, -o is implied.

AdPlay/UNIX can play back using many different output mechanisms, which can be selected with the -O argument. The availability of a method depends on compile-time settings. Available methods are printed out after the help text, displayed with --help.

Next is a brief description of all output mechanisms, following their abbreviations:

This output method is available on most Linux and other UNIX systems.

Discards anything sent to it. It can be useful for testing purposes.

Writes its output to a file in Microsoft RIFF WAVE format.

Creates a socket connection to an EsounD server and streams the audio to it.

Uses the QNX system's standard output method.

Uses the SDL library for sound output. The library has a broader platform support than any of the other output methods. Thus, it could be useful on some exotic systems.

Uses the standard output method on newer Linux systems.

The order of the option commandline parameters is not important, except for the -d option, which always has to be specified after an -O option.

-O, --output=OUTPUT

Specify output mechanism. Available mechanisms depend on compilation settings and are printed on --help output. A reasonable default is automatically selected, based on the availability of the output mechanisms.

-b --buffer=SIZE

Set sound buffer size to SIZE samples. If you notice sound skipping with the default setting, try a greater buffer size. Note that this is measured in samples, not bytes! This is 2048 samples by default.

-d --device=FILE

Set sound output device file to FILE. This is /dev/dsp by default.

-d --device=FILE

Write sound data to FILE. The data is written in Microsoft RIFF WAVE format (little-endian). You can specify a single '-' to write to stdout instead. This option has no default and must be specified when the disk writer is to be used!

-d --device=URL

Connect to "hostname:port" combination in URL. Example: "myhost.sound.net:1234". The default is "localhost:16001".

-b --buffer=SIZE

Set sound buffer size to SIZE samples. If you notice sound skipping with the default setting, try a greater buffer size. Note that this is measured in samples, not bytes! This is 2048 samples by default.

-b --buffer=SIZE

Set sound buffer size to SIZE samples. If you notice sound skipping with the default setting, try a greater buffer size. Note that this is measured in samples, not bytes! This is 2048 samples by default.

-d --device=DEVICE

Set sound output device to DEVICE. This is plughw:0,0 by default.

-8, --8bit

Use only 8-bit samples for playback.

--16bit

Use only 16-bit samples for playback (default).

-f, --freq=FREQ

Set playback frequency to FREQ, in Hz. This is 44100Hz by default.

--stereo

Use only stereo samples for playback. The sound stream is just doubled, no further audio processing is done. This option is pretty useless unless you have very obscure audio hardware that only accepts stereo streams. AdPlug only generates mono streams because the OPL2 only generates mono sound.

--mono

Use only mono samples for playback (default).

-i --instruments

Display instrument names (if available).

-r --realtime

Display realtime playback information, while playing. This will display a one-line status bar, containing essential playback information.

-m --message

Display the song message (if available).

-s --subsong=N Play subsong number N, instead of the first subsong. Only useful for file formats that support multiple subsongs.

-o --once

Play just once, don't loop. This will exit adplay after the song ended. This is the default when multiple FILEs are given.

-D, --database=FILE

Additionally use database file FILE. This option may be specified multiple times. Each database file is additionally merged with the others, creating one large database on the fly.

-q, --quiet

Be more quiet.

-v, --verbose

Be more verbose.

-h, --help

Show summary of options.

-V, --version

Show version of program.