The issue has been solved for me by using the same fix as in post#3 here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gstreamer0.10/+bug/770158
Directory in question can be deleted from the terminal with: rm -rf ~/.gstreamer-0.10 That folder was recreated with new contents when launching Rhythmbox afresh on my machine. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to rhythmbox in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/992303 Title: Cannot play mp3 or ogg files in Rhythmbox after upgrade to 64-bit 12.04 Precise Status in “rhythmbox” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: Right-click on mp3/ogg file, select "Open With Rhythmbox Music Player." Application opens but does not play. Clicking on "Play" button produces window error message, "Couldn't start playback (null)." Clicking on "Play" button a second time produces a different window error message, "Couldn't start playback - Failed to create playbin2 element; check your GStreamer installation." Expected mp3 files to play normally as they did with Rhythmbox on 11.10 Oneiric prior to upgrade. Can still play these audio files ok with VLC media player. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04 Package: rhythmbox 2.96-0ubuntu4 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-23.36-generic 3.2.14 Uname: Linux 3.2.0-23-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7 Architecture: amd64 Date: Tue May 1 11:41:22 2012 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100816.1) ProcEnviron: TERM=xterm PATH=(custom, no user) LANG=en_NZ.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: rhythmbox UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rhythmbox/+bug/992303/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp