How to filter music in cmus permanently
Summary
Learn how to use permanent filters in cmus to manage your music collection efficiently. With fset and factivate you can create persistent filters. The article contains many permanent filter examples and use cases which you can adapt.
Introduction #
In cmus, filtering your music collection efficiently is essential for managing large libraries. While temporary filters (:filter) apply only for the current session, permanent filters persist across views and sessions using fset, factivate, and playlists.
This article explains how permanent filters work in cmus, how to create and apply them, and provides real-world examples for different use cases.
Where cmus gets filtering information from #
cmus uses metadata embedded in audio files to filter music. This metadata includes ID3 tags (commonly used in MP3 files), Vorbis comments (used in Ogg Vorbis files), and other format-specific tagging systems. The player extracts this information when you add files to your library.
Difference between temporary and permanent filters #
cmus provides two types of filters:
- Temporary filters
Applied using:filter. These filters work only until you change views or restartcmus. There is a separate article on temporary filters in cmus. - Permanent filters
Defined usingfsetand activated withfactivate. They remain active until manually removed.
Permanent filters are useful when you frequently need to filter your library in the same way, such as hiding certain file formats or isolating specific genres.
Playlists can also function as filters. Learn how to create a playlist in cmus.
How permanent filters work in cmus #
Permanent filters in cmus work by defining filter conditions with fset, applying them with factivate, and managing them in view 6 (Filters View). Filters can be based on metadata such as filename, duration, or genre.
Creating a permanent filter #
Use :fset to define a new filter. Example:
:fset flac=filename="*.flac"
This creates a filter called flac that displays only FLAC files.
Activating a filter #
Once defined, activate the filter with:
:factivate flac
To deactivate the filter, use:
:factivate !flac
Managing filters in view 6 #
- Press
6to enter the Filters View. - Navigate to a filter and press
spaceto select it. - Press
enterto apply the selected filter.
Examples of permanent filter use cases #
Show only FLAC files #
:fset flac=filename="*.flac"
:factivate flac
Show only MP3 files #
:fset mp3=filename="*.mp3"
:factivate mp3
Show only songs longer than 5 minutes #
:fset long_tracks=duration>300
:factivate long_tracks
Hide all songs shorter than 2 minutes #
:fset hide_short=duration<120
:factivate hide_short
Show only a specific artist #
:fset artist_bowie=artist="David Bowie"
:factivate artist_bowie
Show only a specific album #
:fset album_blackstar=album="Blackstar"
:factivate album_blackstar
Show songs released after 2010 #
:fset modern_tracks=date>2010
:factivate modern_tracks
Show only lossless formats (FLAC and WAV) #
:fset lossless=filename="*.flac" | filename="*.wav"
:factivate lossless
Exclude a specific genre #
:fset no_jazz=!genre="Jazz"
:factivate no_jazz
Show only a custom playlist #
:load my_playlist
Combining filters #
Show only FLAC files longer than 5 minutes #
:fset flac_long=filename="*.flac" & duration>300
:factivate flac_long
Exclude short songs and a specific artist #
:fset exclude_short_bowie=duration>120 & !artist="David Bowie"
:factivate exclude_short_bowie
How to remove permanent filters #
To deactivate a currently applied filter, use:
:fdeactivate filter_name
For example, to deactivate the FLAC filter:
:fdeactivate flac
To completely remove a filter definition, use:
:fset -remove filter_name
For example, to remove the FLAC filter permanently:
:fset -remove flac
This will delete the filter from cmus so that it cannot be reactivated later.
FAQ's #
Most common questions and brief, easy-to-understand answers on the topic:
What is the difference between temporary and permanent filters in cmus?
Temporary filters in cmus are applied using :filter and reset when switching views, whereas permanent filters set with fset and factivate persist until manually changed.
How do I create a permanent filter in cmus?
Use the :fset command to define a filter and :factivate to apply it. Example: :fset flac=filename="*.flac" followed by :factivate flac.
Can I apply multiple filters at once in cmus?
Yes, you can combine filters using logical operators. Example: :fset flac_and_large=filename="*.flac" & duration>300 applies both conditions.
How do I disable a permanent filter in cmus?
You can deactivate a filter using :factivate !filter_name. For example, :factivate !flac removes the FLAC filter.
How do I use playlists as filters in cmus?
You can create a playlist and switch to view 6 to use it as a filter. Use :save my_playlist to save a selection and apply it later.
Further readings #
Sources and recommended, further resources on the topic:
Author
Jonas Jared Jacek (J15k)
Jonas works as project manager, web designer, and web developer since 2001. On top of that, he is a Linux system administrator with a broad interest in things related to programming, architecture, and design. See: https://www.j15k.com/License
How to filter music in cmus permanently by Jonas Jared Jacek is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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