mpvsync is a plugin for mpv that synchronizes playback over the network, allowing you to play the same file simultaneously on multiple devices running mpv. Each device must have a local copy of the file as the plugin does not transfer the files.
The plugin requires the luaposix library for Lua version 5.1. On many Linux distributions, this is available in the lua-posix package.
Alternatively, use luarocks to install Lua libraries. For distributions without a native luaposix package for Lua 5.1, you can install it with luarocks.
First, install luarocks for Lua 5.1:
# pacman -Syu luarocks-5.1
Then install luaposix:
$ luarocks-5.1 install luaposix --local
Use the --local option to install packages in the ~/.luarocks/ directory. Add this directory to the $LUA_PATH and $LUA_CPATH environment variables:
$ luarocks-5.1 path
Copy the printed values to your shell configuration file.
First, install luarocks using Homebrew:
$ brew install luarocks
Lua 5.1 support has been deprecated in Homebrew. To install it, you need to modify the Lua 5.1 formula:
$ export HOMEBREW_NO_INSTALL_FROM_API=1
$ brew edit lua@5.1
This command may take some time to complete. Once it opens the formula in the editor, find the disable! ... line and comment it out.
After modifying the formula, proceed to install Lua 5.1:
$ brew install lua@5.1
To ensure Lua 5.1 paths are set up correctly in your environment, add them to your .zshrc file and then restart your shell:
$ luarocks --lua-version=5.1 path >> ~/.zshrc
$ source ~/.zshrc
Clone the repository:
$ git clone https://github.com/esterkimx/mpvsync.git
Link the repository from the mpv scripts directory:
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/mpv/scripts
$ ln -s mpvsync ~/.config/mpv/scripts
Or copy the necessary files:
$ cd mpvsync
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/mpv/scripts/mpvsync
$ cp -r main.lua mpvsync_modules ~/.config/mpv/scripts/mpvsync
Alternatively, use the --script option:
$ mpv --script mpvsync <input-file>
Run one instance of mpv as the server and others as clients. By default, mpvsync operates in server mode and listens on port 32923. Start the server:
$ mpv <input-file>
The server instance should display "Waiting for clients". To specify a different port, use:
$ mpv --script-opts=mpvsync-port=58785 <input-file>
To operate in client mode, specify the host:
$ mpv --script-opts=mpvsync-host=localhost <input-file>
After connecting, the server will control the playback on all clients.
To configure via a file instead of command line, create a configuration directory:
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/mpv/lua-settings
Create the configuration file:
$ $EDITOR ~/.config/mpv/lua-settings/mpvsync.conf
To disable mpvsync by default:
# Example mpvsync configuration file
enabled=no
Note the absence of trailing spaces to avoid errors.
Start the server on a specific port:
$ mpv --script-opts=mpvsync-port=3535 <input-file>
Run a client connected to a specific host and port, without on-screen display notifications:
$ mpv --script-opts=mpvsync-host=example.com,mpvsync-port=8998,mpvsync-osd=no <input-file>
List all available options:
$ mpv --script-opts=mpvsync-help=yes -