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[GlennNor]

Dotpitch: Search is all well and nice, but even better for, like you say, discovering new stations would be browsing implemented like I mentioned in Screamer Radio. I have discovered a lot of interesting stations in that manner.

Searching alone works best when you actually know what you are looking for

[Dotpitch]

Dotpitch: Search is all well and nice, but even better for, like you say, discovering new stations would be browsing implemented like I mentioned in Screamer Radio. I have discovered a lot of interesting stations in that manner.

I've just tried Screamer Radio (which is based on BASS, btw ), but what's so nice about the browsing? In XMPlays library, you can sort by type, genre, listeners (the 'play count' field) and location (comment field), so I think you can achieve about the same without huge changes.

[Jimmy Neutron]

In XMPlays library, you can sort by type, genre, listeners (the 'play count' field) and location (comment field), so I think you can achieve about the same without huge changes.

Sounds great!  Only I've got no idea how to do this.  Could you please explain it to me?

[GlennNor]

I've just tried Screamer Radio (which is based on BASS, btw ), but what's so nice about the browsing? In XMPlays library, you can sort by type, genre, listeners (the 'play count' field) and location (comment field), so I think you can achieve about the same without huge changes.

Well, that's just it. You write "you can achieve", and I'm sure XMPlay's highly configurable system can allow me to create something similar. However, with the Screamer Radio system, I don't have to. It provides a pre-made library, where I can browse by region or genre, and add stations to my favorites list. The point here is that the list comes pre-tagged, finished, no work involved on my part unless I want to. The strength of this is that users can collaborate on a the list online, with many hands pitching in on the same list. If I understand you correctly, what you are suggesting is that I can comile a local compilation of a specified list just for me. Correct?

The strength of SC for me is being allowed to boot it up, and browse to e.g. Norwegian stations and find something I like to listen to, then noticing something else that sounds interesting in the list. A lot of the time, I have been browsing genres and countries just listening my way around the world, and around different genres of online radio. Its strength for me is as an aggregator.

I would just love to be able to do that within XMPlay, just rightclick the "internet radio" button or whatever, and starting browsing around for cool stuff.

[Pike84]

This does seem like a bit much to ask, and even something that might be considered bloat, though I guess it depends a lot on the implementation. I don't think it's a bad idea per se, and I don't rightly know how much work would be required to add something like this, but it may not be worth the trouble from Ian's point of view, unless a lot of people want it. But who knows .

[Dotpitch]

In XMPlays library, you can sort by type, genre, listeners (the 'play count' field) and location (comment field), so I think you can achieve about the same without huge changes.

Sounds great!  Only I've got no idea how to do this.  Could you please explain it to me?

Add a stream to the library, right click it, Track info, tick Override, fill out the data and click apply.

Well, that's just it. You write "you can achieve", and I'm sure XMPlay's highly configurable system can allow me to create something similar. However, with the Screamer Radio system, I don't have to. It provides a pre-made library, where I can browse by region or genre, and add stations to my favorites list. The point here is that the list comes pre-tagged, finished, no work involved on my part unless I want to. The strength of this is that users can collaborate on a the list online, with many hands pitching in on the same list. If I understand you correctly, what you are suggesting is that I can compile a local compilation of a specified list just for me. Correct?

For now, you can indeed create a local library with a large number of streams in it, but that's solely because XMPlays library has no import/export option. XMPlay can already perform actions similar to Screamer Radio, but the key part that's missing is that huge library with internet streams and information on them. If that library is complete, no user editing is required and you can just listen to and browse through stations. Ian probably does not want to create such a library, let alone maintain it, so perhaps you'd like to start with it? Or you know someone that might?

[GlennNor]

I could certainly "start it", or we could even approach Screamer Radio about inheriting theirs?

I would be able to host it at least, but as for a website where users could submit streams and information, I would need someone to code that. Still, I think that is wholly achievable - given that this is something that Ian may be interested in implementing.

As for Pike84's opinion that it may be considered "bloat" - I take it he means in the sense that it is a function that few users will use and therefore is not necessary to the function of the program - I kindly disagree. I think it would be a wholly worthwhile addition to XMPlay, and one that would also attract new users.

[Jimmy Neutron]

Add a stream to the library, right click it, Track info, tick Override, fill out the data and click apply.

Well, sure.  I've got a couple of "radio.pls" files pre-made, and drop them onto XMPlay depending on what I want.

The list (pls or library) needs to be manually created before you can do the sorting/picking action.

However, with the Screamer Radio system, I don't have to. It provides a pre-made library, where I can browse by region or genre, and add stations to my favorites list. The point here is that the list comes pre-tagged, finished, no work involved on my part unless I want to.

Ah yes, it is good that Screamer allows use of a "Favorites" list, and you can ignore the extremely obsolete pre-made list.  That's the problem with any static list.  It is obsolete as soon as it is made.

If you want an interesting alternate system, check out StationRipper.  It is a GUI front-end for the command-line StreamRipper program.  It adds the GUI, and a database of ripped songs so you don't waste effort on duplicates. Oh, it makes the ID3 tags and downloads Cover Art too.

It is sorta crippleware (you can only rip 25 cuts at once before it stops working and has to be re-started).

The interesting part is that it brings up Shoutcast.com as the "library" and allows the user to pick streams directly from there.

While all those bells and whistles are beyond the intended scope of XMPlay, maybe all you really need to do is go to Shoutcast, download the pls files you want, and drop them into XMPlay.  From that point, the streams are in the library and you can go from there.

[Ian @ un4seen]

How about allowing two additional rating related shortcuts : One for raising it and one for lowering it. Then instead of 6 different keys (none,1,2,3,4,5) only two will be sufficient for rating changes.

Yep, seems like a decent idea. Here's an update to try...

   www.un4seen.com/stuff/xmplay.exe

Regarding internet streams... playlist URLs are probably less prone to change than stream URLs. So one thing I would suggest is disabling "Process playlists" in the "Library" options page, and then adding your favourite playlist URLs to the library (eg. from their webpages). That way, the playlists (rather than the streams) are stored in the library, and fresh stream URLs will be fetched whenever you play those library entries.

Regarding a stream directory, that could probably be supported via a plugin, eg. it could download the stream list(s) and present them to the user, and then play the chosen stream(s). The playlist manipulation plugin stuff I had in mind for 3.5 could have probably helped with that, but I think it should still be possible as things are (eg. using DDE/OLE to pass the streams to XMPlay). If needed though, plugin API additions could be made.

[Dotpitch]

Suggestions for XMPlay 3.6

List has been updated, go here...

[amit]

In another thread I learned "limit according to peak level" option only affects playback volume when replaygain is used.

Why not change this? If someone likes to hear music at original volume with interference only to avoid clipping ? If comparing to the autoamp behavior : replaygain is like dynamic and limiting only is similar to reduction.

[Ian @ un4seen]

Clipping won't generally be required unless some gain (eg. Replaygain) is applied, so I'm not sure the limiting would be very useful when Replaygain is not enabled (the peak level would have to be above 0 dB). One other possible use for the peak info is normalizing, ie. it could raise the gain, not only limit it.

[amit]

Clipping won't generally be required unless some gain (eg. Replaygain) is applied, so I'm not sure the limiting would be very useful when Replaygain is not enabled (the peak level would have to be above 0 dB).

Are you saying that commercial publications is done in such a way (mixing/engineering etc') so to avoid clipping or is it technically not possible? Are all modern publications with very high levels of average volumes are massively compressed to avoid clipping?

One other possible use for the peak info is normalizing, ie. it could raise the gain, not only limit it.

This way allowing listening at maximum possible volume without clipping...yes - It is possible
I was thinking of a way to limit to minimum the use of the pre-amp. It seem to me (maybe its my imagination?) that the pre-amp has a slight impact on the final sound quality.

[Dotpitch]

Are you saying that commercial publications is done in such a way (mixing/engineering etc') so to avoid clipping or is it technically not possible? Are all modern publications with very high levels of average volumes are massively compressed to avoid clipping?

Most of the music production is still focused on audio CDs. Since audio CDs store the waveform as integers, the signal cannot clip if you're playing the audio. Of course bad mastering of the CD can make the audio sound clipped, but that happened in the mastering; the waveform on the CD cannot exceed full scale.
MP3 (web releases), AC3 (DVD Audio) and DTS (DTS-CD/DVD Audio) all support some sort of volume control, so clipping is certainly possible there. A commercial release should never clip, otherwise it's not worth the money.

It seem to me (maybe its my imagination?) that the pre-amp has a slight impact on the final sound quality.

It's probably your imagination, but if it's enough to ruin your music experience you should do something about it, like avoiding the pre-amp.

[WonderSlug]

Something I'd see implemented is a checkable user-defined default ReplayGain settng if a particular track doesn't have any ReplayGain information.

For example, if checked on, play all tracks at -6.0 dB or -8.0 dB (or whatever value the user chooses) if there is no ReplayGain value in the track's tag information.  If there is ReplayGain information, use that instead obviously.

This is different from the pre-amp setting since that applies to all tracks regardless of RG information.  My recommendation is a setting that will be used only if there is no RG information.

Foobar2000 has such a setting in it's configuration options, and I'd like to see XMPlay have the same.  In FB2k, it's displayed as "Pre-Amp with RG info" and "Pre-Amp without RG info".  I have it set to 0.0 dB pre-amp with RG info, and -8.0 dB without RG info.

[antonymic]

I do think that XMPlay  should make use of SSE instructions , coz every now and then when i do some process intensive tasks (Running win7 is a process intensive task btw  ) XMPlay is glitchy..I tried increasing the buffer now it is somewhat better.
But I believe SSE should make a difference..

[Dotpitch]

... every now and then when i do some process intensive tasks (Running win7 is a process intensive task btw) XMPlay is glitchy..I tried increasing the buffer now it is somewhat better.

Are you using the WASAPI output plugin? If not, you could give it a try.

[m]

When paused Xmplay flashes the time and the pause/play button. Is there now some way to disable those visual effects?

[Dotpitch]

When paused Xmplay flashes the time and the pause/play button. Is there now some way to disable those visual effects?

There's been a hidden option for that for quite some time already: add NoFlashPause=1 to the [XMPlay] section of xmplay.ini.

[edit]Duh...[/edit]

[Jimmy Neutron]

When paused Xmplay flashes the time and the pause/play button. Is there now some way to disable those visual effects?

There's been a hidden option for that for quite some time already: add NoFlashPause=0 to the [XMPlay] section of xmplay.ini.

NoflashPause only fixes the flashing button.  It does not affect the flashing time.

I didn't get an answer last time I pointed this out:

I still didn't find a setting to disable flashing of the elapsed time when pause is activated.  NoFlashPause doesn't cover that.