mplayer, which handles proprietary formats by using a standard module interface to load binary codecs. It ships as a source archive plus a binary codecs archive; the latter turns out to include RealAudio codecs. So on the one hand I don't get to avoid non-free code completely, but on the other hand I get to use an application that has most of the advantages of open-source Unix code. In particular, it completely lacks the nasty overcomplicated RealPlayer GUI, preferring a completely command-line approach; and also it has a built-in option to save its audio output to a .wav file rather than insisting on playing it to the sound card.
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mplayer, which handles proprietary formats by using a standard module interface to load binary codecs. It ships as a source archive plus a binary codecs archive; the latter turns out to include RealAudio codecs. So on the one hand I don't get to avoid non-free code completely, but on the other hand I get to use an application that has most of the advantages of open-source Unix code. In particular, it completely lacks the nasty overcomplicated RealPlayer GUI, preferring a completely command-line approach; and also it has a built-in option to save its audio output to a.wavfile rather than insisting on playing it to the sound card.