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[Giant Waffle]

Hi,

I am using the skin "MMD3", listed as follows on this web site:

MMD3
by KelticDanor
original by Sven Kistner

There are either bugs in it, or features that are not there, I'm not sure which.  I can only compare it to how it worked in WinAmp, when I used that player.  I know it's not the same player, but the skin should be doing what I will be addressing, regardless of the player I think.

For some examples:

1) The "Config" button on the left side bring up the program's main configuration (options) screen, but when it was originally designed and used in WinAmp, it allowed you to configure the "Drawers" (that's what they were called, the Equalizer being a "drawer" that slid open) and when you clicked on "Config", it would pop up a little box from which you could swap which side the Equalizer Drawer shows on.  I place my player in the top right corner of the Desktop, so it is a bit annoying note to be able to put the main part up against the right edge, especially because...

2) I cannot close the Equalizer drawer, so that it does not stick out.  There should be a button on each side that opens and closes the two popouts (one on each side).  To the right of the Equalizer drawer, there is a large button.  I can't make out what it says, but it should make the EQ drawer slide open or closed, but I can't do that because...

3) The button on the edge of the EQ drawer does not work for opening and closing the EQ drawer.  As I said, I can't make out what it says, but it looks like it says "DSP Settings", instead of "Open/Close".  I could live with this, if the EQ drawer was on the left and the other drawer is not important, because all it did was allow you to change the skin, which can be done by right-clicking on the main part of the program anyway.

4) When I "stretch" the window that shows you the songs that you have loaded up to play, it will not "hold" that length.  In other words, when you open it again, it is "short" again and I have to "stretch" it vertically each and every time.  It should be able to "stick" the way that I set it up.  I mean, all I'm doing is making it longer, so that I can see more of the list when I open it and place songs in it.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with the programmer, or if he looks at these forums?

I think this is simply a GREAT looking screen and I would really LOVE to use it with XMPlay!  But it's just SO AGGRAVATING to me to have the EQ be stuck on the right and not be able to stretch out the song list window!!!

Can anyone please help me out here???  I would really, greatly appreciate it!!!  Thanks!

Dave

[Pike84]

2) I cannot close the Equalizer drawer, so that it does not stick out.  There should be a button on each side that opens and closes the two popouts (one on each side).  To the right of the Equalizer drawer, there is a large button.  I can't make out what it says, but it should make the EQ drawer slide open or closed, but I can't do that because...

3) The button on the edge of the EQ drawer does not work for opening and closing the EQ drawer.  As I said, I can't make out what it says, but it looks like it says "DSP Settings", instead of "Open/Close".  I could live with this, if the EQ drawer was on the left and the other drawer is not important, because all it did was allow you to change the skin, which can be done by right-clicking on the main part of the program anyway.

It says "DSP SETTINGS" and it's quite clear on my screen.

I can't reproduce your problem though. Double clicking on the said area (with the text) will either open or close the panel, depending on the current position. You can click and drag it open or closed too, also half-way if you like.

4) When I "stretch" the window that shows you the songs that you have loaded up to play, it will not "hold" that length.  In other words, when you open it again, it is "short" again and I have to "stretch" it vertically each and every time.  It should be able to "stick" the way that I set it up.  I mean, all I'm doing is making it longer, so that I can see more of the list when I open it and place songs in it.

I can't reproduce this one either. Whenever I close and open the extended list again, it stays the same size it was. I don't know what might cause your issue.

Using Windows 7 (though I haven't had any such problems with XP either).

[Giant Waffle]

PIKE84 SAID: I can't reproduce your problem [EQ Drawer not closing] though. Double clicking on the said area (with the text) will either open or close the panel, depending on the current position. You can click and drag it open or closed too, also half-way if you like.

GW RESPONDS: You're right, it does work that way!  Thanks!

You see, since I only had to click it once with this skin in WinAmp, that's all I did.  I didn't even think to try clicking it twice.  I figured "same skin, same way".

If it helps me any, I really am a blond.


PIKE84 SAID: The text is clear on mine.

Not on mine.  I have to pick up my laptop, bring it about 4 inches from my face to read it and even then, I'm still not sure that I have it right.  The only thing I have operated in it without mistake, are the buttons that have not changed from the one for MMD3 for WinAmp.


GW NOW ASKS: What about the drawer being changeable to be either on the left, or the right?  I really hate it being on the left!  It looks really dorky there!   It was one of the functions of this skin in WinAmp.  That was one of the things that the "CFG" (Config) button on the left side of the main XMPlay window did.  It would swap the two drawers that came out (one on the left and one on the right) and I always permanently switched them, so that the EQ drawer was on the left, so that I could place the player right up against the right side of the screen.  As I said, that was in WinAmp, but is there a way to get the EQ drawer over on the left using this MMD3 skin in XMPlay?


PIKE84 SAID: I can't reproduce this one either [stretched song list box won't stay stretched].  Whenever I close and open the extended list again, it stays the same size it was. I don't know what might cause your issue.

GW RESPONDS: I don't know what to say either.  But I also installed it on my wife's laptop, with the same result.  It simply will not stay stretched vertically!

We are talking about the same thing, right?  I am NOT talking about stretching it horizontally (side to side). It DOES stay stretched when I do that.  It is the vertical (top to bottom length) that it simply WILL NOT remember.

Also, did you "install" yours?  What I mean is, did it go through a regular install procedure and add the icons automatically and everything for you?  I aske, because that mgith be the difference.  Registry entries that change when you stretch it.  You see when I downloaded it yesterday from the web site, it didn't have an install routine.  You just unzipped it and made a folder for it, put it in there and created a shortcut to it and that's it.  And no, it isn't the Portable version.

To make sure I have the right window, it is the one that says at the top;

"INFO WINDOW"

...and has words at the top of it like;

General   Message   Samples   Visual

That is the window that the list of songs I'm playing would appear in, right?

I'm not sure, because I have not tried playing music with it yet.  But it looks like the one that showed me my songs when I had it set up in WinAmp, so I assumed it is the same one.

I also assumed this, because it says right in the center of it "NO TRACK".

If it's not and it is another one, then can you please tell me how to open it?  I don't care what any other window does, so that would be good enough for me.


PIKE84 SAID: Using Windows 7.

GW RESPONDED: So am I.  Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit.


One other quick question, please???

Are there any DSP plugins that I really should put into it, that would make my music sound really good, that are available on the XMPlay web site?  Like a BASS one, or something?

This is my only music player!  It's all I own, so I need it to sound great!  I do have a 3-way external system set up, but my laptop has so little volume (yes, I've tried every trick), that even with the external amp it isn't very loud and I was told that XMPlay has a boost slider that boosts it above 100%, so I am trying it out, but want to get it usable before I do, ya know?

Thanks for your response and for any further help that you can offer me, please!

[Pike84]

PIKE84 SAID: The text is clear on mine.

Not on mine.  I have to pick up my laptop, bring it about 4 inches from my face to read it and even then, I'm still not sure that I have it right.  The only thing I have operated in it without mistake, are the buttons that have not changed from the one for MMD3 for WinAmp.

Yeah, I can understand it being too small on a laptop. I currently have a desktop with 21'' screen.

As I said, that was in WinAmp, but is there a way to get the EQ drawer over on the left using this MMD3 skin in XMPlay?

Sorry, but there's no way to change the side of the panels on the fly. You can place the different elements quite freely when you're creating a skin, though.

We are talking about the same thing, right?  I am NOT talking about stretching it horizontally (side to side). It DOES stay stretched when I do that.  It is the vertical (top to bottom length) that it simply WILL NOT remember.

Yeah, it seems like we're talking about the same thing. I can't get the player to forget the size either vertically or horizontally.

Also, did you "install" yours?  What I mean is, did it go through a regular install procedure and add the icons automatically and everything for you?  I aske, because that mgith be the difference.  Registry entries that change when you stretch it.  You see when I downloaded it yesterday from the web site, it didn't have an install routine.  You just unzipped it and made a folder for it, put it in there and created a shortcut to it and that's it.  And no, it isn't the Portable version.

I don't even know of any installer. XMPlay has never required any other installation than unzipping the package. Also, the only registry changes it does, are file associations (meaning when you double-click an mp3 for example, it opens in XMPlay etc.).

I also assumed this, because it says right in the center of it "NO TRACK".

Hmm... You're looking at the info window, which is actually another section of the extended playlist (or vice versa). What button are you using to open the window? I used the one on the left side of the player, that says "Extended playlist" when you hover the cursor on it for a while. That one also always opens the playlist view, and not the info view. There are also shortcut keys to open the different windows.

Are there any DSP plugins that I really should put into it, that would make my music sound really good, that are available on the XMPlay web site?  Like a BASS one, or something?

I haven't used anything like that myself, but I remember there being discussions about such before. Try the search .

[edit]Oh, and just to clarify things, the functionality of the player doesn't change based on the skin in use, only the placement (and number) of different buttons/elements.

[Dotpitch]

1) The "Config" button on the left side bring up the program's main configuration (options) screen, but when it was originally designed and used in WinAmp, it allowed you to configure the "Drawers" (that's what they were called, the Equalizer being a "drawer" that slid open) and when you clicked on "Config", it would pop up a little box from which you could swap which side the Equalizer Drawer shows on.

The skins looks like the one made for Winamp, but it has the function of XMPlay. Therefore, you cannot configure that kind of stuff.

I am NOT talking about stretching it horizontally (side to side). It DOES stay stretched when I do that.  It is the vertical (top to bottom length) that it simply WILL NOT remember.

Could you post a screenshot of what you're seeing? (Save it as a .jpeg and choose Additional Options > Attach when posting a reply.)

[Giant Waffle]

1) The "Config" button on the left side bring up the program's main configuration (options) screen, but when it was originally designed and used in WinAmp, it allowed you to configure the "Drawers" (that's what they were called, the Equalizer being a "drawer" that slid open) and when you clicked on "Config", it would pop up a little box from which you could swap which side the Equalizer Drawer shows on.

The skins looks like the one made for Winamp, but it has the function of XMPlay. Therefore, you cannot configurate that kind of stuff.

I am NOT talking about stretching it horizontally (side to side). It DOES stay stretched when I do that.  It is the vertical (top to bottom length) that it simply WILL NOT remember.

Could you post a screenshot of what you're seeing? (Save it as a .jpeg and choose Additional Options > Attach when posting a reply.)

Okay, I tried uploading pics for you, but it errored out and when I made them smaller and tried again, it keeps telling me that I already sent the post.  However, it does not appear in this thread and it won't let me send the pics again.

To the other person who responded, not to be rude, but it doesn't matter to me what *I* can do while *I* create a skin.  I don't create skins.  That's why I wrote here and was hoping that the author of the skin would see my message and maybe add that function to the skin, since I know that it can be done, since it works that way when used with WinAmp and it isn't a WinAmp function as far as I know.  It's up to him if he wants to do it or not, of course.  But I'm asking, because I think it would make sense, since not everyone wants their music player on the left, nor in the center of their Desktop.

But I do not want to learn how to create skins.  I don't care how easy one might say it is.  Everything is easy when you already know how to do it.  Configuring Windows for performance is easy if you know how to do it.  Writing the "Call of Duty" game is easy if you're a programmer and have done it before.  But what if you're not a programmer?  Then how easy is it?  We always forget the first day, don't we?

The bottom line for me, is that I don't want to learn to create skins.  I love MMD3.  It's just a totally great skin and it's the one I want to use and I'm hoping the author will take pity on me and my OCD, that says it cannot be sticking out from the edge of the screen like that and that he will help me not to go crazy with that!

I'm going to try two separate posts with the pics again, so if you see a bunch of scrambled posts, it was me and I'm sorry!
GW PREVIOUSLY SAID: Okay, I tried uploading pics for you, but it errored out and when I made them smaller and tried again, it keeps telling me that I already sent the post.  However, it does not appear in this thread and it won't let me send the pics again.

Here is my attempt at Pic #1...

[Giant Waffle]

You Said: Could you post a screenshot of what you're seeing? (Save it as a .jpeg and choose Additional Options > Attach when posting a reply.)


Here is Pic #2...

[Pike84]

To the other person who responded, not to be rude, but it doesn't matter to me what *I* can do while *I* create a skin.
.
.
.

The bottom line for me, is that I don't want to learn to create skins.  I love MMD3.  It's just a totally great skin and it's the one I want to use and I'm hoping the author will take pity on me and my OCD, that says it cannot be sticking out from the edge of the screen like that and that he will help me not to go crazy with that!

Relax, it was just an additional piece of information. I didn't mean to tell you to create your own skins as a solution.

That's why I wrote here and was hoping that the author of the skin would see my message and maybe add that function to the skin, since I know that it can be done, since it works that way when used with WinAmp and it isn't a WinAmp function as far as I know.

You can't add that kind of functionality, even if you created the skin yourself. In XMPlay it's not possible to switch the side of the panel, no matter what you did, except for creating another skin with the panel on the other side.

This is XMPlay, and the skin is basically just a picture. It doesn't have any functionality of its own, apart of the player that it works on. Most of the skin's pictures have been copied from the original Winamp skin, but other than that, the skin is made for XMPlay and works at XMPlay's terms.

That also means it must be a Winamp function, because it certainly isn't XMPlay's.
[OT]W00t, a new forum function? Well congrats me .

[Dotpitch]

Here is my attempt at Pic #1...

What you're looking at is the General tab of the Info Window, which will display information about the file you're playing (location, filesize, format, etc.). By default, it will automatically adjust its size to its contents. In this case, XMPlay sees that "no track" is pretty small, so it makes the Info Window smaller. If you don't want it to do that, switch off 'Auto-resize', either via Options and stuff > Appearance of by clicking the small arrow button next to the close button on the Info Window.

Are there any DSP plugins that I really should put into it, that would make my music sound really good, that are available on the XMPlay web site?  Like a BASS one, or something?
This is my only music player!  It's all I own, so I need it to sound great!  I do have a 3-way external system set up, but my laptop has so little volume (yes, I've tried every trick), that even with the external amp it isn't very loud and I was told that XMPlay has a boost slider that boosts it above 100%, so I am trying it out, but want to get it usable before I do, ya know?

XMPlay can't make your laptop produce more sound than the physical maximum of your soundcard (not even if you set the knob to 11 ). But if you described your software setup and problem, there are enough members around here to help you out and make the most of it. For starters, on the DSP Panel of the Main Window, set the auto-amp to 'Dynamic' (top row, third button from the right, click twice to make it say 'DYNA').

[Giant Waffle]

Here is my attempt at Pic #1...

What you're looking at is the General tab of the Info Window, which will display information about the file you're playing (location, filesize, format, etc.). By default, it will automatically adjust its size to its contents. In this case, XMPlay sees that "no track" is pretty small, so it makes the Info Window smaller. If you don't want it to do that, switch off 'Auto-resize', either via Options and stuff > Appearance of by clicking the small arrow button next to the close button on the Info Window.

Are there any DSP plugins that I really should put into it, that would make my music sound really good, that are available on the XMPlay web site?  Like a BASS one, or something?
This is my only music player!  It's all I own, so I need it to sound great!  I do have a 3-way external system set up, but my laptop has so little volume (yes, I've tried every trick), that even with the external amp it isn't very loud and I was told that XMPlay has a boost slider that boosts it above 100%, so I am trying it out, but want to get it usable before I do, ya know?

XMPlay can't make your laptop produce more sound than the physical maximum of your soundcard (not even if you set the knob to 11 ). But if you described your software setup and problem, there are enough members around here to help you out and make the most of it. For starters, on the DSP Panel of the Main Window, set the auto-amp to 'Dynamic' (top row, third button from the right, click twice to make it say 'DYNA').

1) Thanks for the info on the "Info".   I now understand what that window actually is and I the resizing will be something I will test out both ways.

2) Actually, one can boost the sound, because the problem occurs with Vista and 7 not utilizing the sound adapter to its potential.  If you have ever done any research on this issue, you will find that there are many, many laptop owners with this problem out there and I just put it (in here) in a way that most lay people will understand, having experienced it.

In essence, Vista and 7, for some reason, do not "drive" the adapter to its "100%" level and so, even sliding it up to 100% volume does not give you much volume.  The only solution is to go back to XP, which I did have running on this when I first had it (x64) and the volume was great!  It's when I put 7 on it, that the volume had a problem.  Yes, I did try every trick in the book and while one did help some, it wasn't much.  And I can't update the driver any more to see if they handled it for me, because with a laptop, the program they write is required as well, for auto-switching to headphones, etc..  It takes a while to explain, but suffice it to say that there's no way to update just the driver, without wiping out the program portion from working.  The version on Lenovo's web site is no better than the one I use now and the manufacturer of the sound chip does not include the program in their latest versions.  For some reason, they stopped including it.

The solution I found was in VLC, which has a slider that boosts sound up to 400%.  Sliding this up to 200%, gave me the level of sound I had, which shows that my sound is cut in half running 7.

So yes, a volume slider that "goes beyond 100%" is possible in a sound player and yes, it can put the volume level "above 100%".  We both know that it's not reality and that it's just Win7 not giving you the actual 100% and the sound player just bringing it up to where it should be, but if you use a sound player that does not have this feature, you won't get enough sound and I mean that the boost is so low, that even plugged into external 3-way speakers with a sub (not a weak setup), that it still isn't livable.  Under XP, for example, it used to literally shake the living room windows!

I can do this again with VLC (which allows up to 400%), but I just don't like VLC from a users standpoint.  WinAmp was comfortable, but it got way too bloated.  So I went to Spider Player, which I really loved, but the sound was low as I described and just when the author said he's put a boost in for me, he decided to stop developing it, so it's no good to me.  Shame.  Great little player.

Then I saw XMPlay and thought, "How cool!".  I can have the same look I had a while back and have a simple, clean player like I had and it has good support and good skin/plugin support!  This is great!  So I wrote to them and they said that yes, XMPlay does have the boost slider that I'm looking for and so, here I am!

I assume that they are talking about the "PreAmp" slider???

Anyway, I can tell you from experience, that the "volume" thing can be done, even though it isn't really being done.

Thanks for your help on the Info window!  I appreciate it!

As for the "Dynamic" setting, I did change that as you said I should, but that is another issue for the author of the MMD3 skin.  I don't see the "AutoAmp" anywhere on the MMD3 skin.  I had to switch it back to the Default skin to change it.  Bummer.

[Giant Waffle]

To the other person who responded, not to be rude, but it doesn't matter to me what *I* can do while *I* create a skin.
.
.
.

The bottom line for me, is that I don't want to learn to create skins.  I love MMD3.  It's just a totally great skin and it's the one I want to use and I'm hoping the author will take pity on me and my OCD, that says it cannot be sticking out from the edge of the screen like that and that he will help me not to go crazy with that!

Relax, it was just an additional piece of information. I didn't mean to tell you to create your own skins as a solution.

That's why I wrote here and was hoping that the author of the skin would see my message and maybe add that function to the skin, since I know that it can be done, since it works that way when used with WinAmp and it isn't a WinAmp function as far as I know.

You can't add that kind of functionality, even if you created the skin yourself. In XMPlay it's not possible to switch the side of the panel, no matter what you did, except for creating another skin with the panel on the other side.

This is XMPlay, and the skin is basically just a picture. It doesn't have any functionality of its own, apart of the player that it works on. Most of the skin's pictures have been copied from the original Winamp skin, but other than that, the skin is made for XMPlay and works at XMPlay's terms.

That also means it must be a Winamp function, because it certainly isn't XMPlay's.
[OT]W00t, a new forum function? Well congrats me .

1) I wasn't upset.  Just emphasizing.

2) I did not realize that.  Maybe the author could create a skin for each side.  I would have thought that having it on the left would be preferable, because many people pop their players into the top corner and if it's on the left, then the player covers some of the Desktop icons.  And if you put it on the right as it is, it looks kind of weird with the main XMP window sticking out into the Desktop like that.  Oh well.

P.S.: Anyone know how to contact the author of the MMD3 skin directly?  I didn't see an email for him.  I would like to see if he would kindly consider making a skin that has the EQ on the left side.

Thanks

[Dotpitch]

Actually, one can boost the sound, because the problem occurs with Vista and 7 not utilizing the sound adapter to its potential.

I hadn't heard of that issue before, and I haven't encountered it myself. Btw, if you're on Win7, you should try the WASAPI Output plugin.

As for the "Dynamic" setting, I did change that as you said I should, but that is another issue for the author of the MMD3 skin.  I don't see the "AutoAmp" anywhere on the MMD3 skin.  I had to switch it back to the Default skin to change it.  Bummer.

Hover over a button to get a tooltip indicating what the button does. As I said, the auto-amp button is on the DSP panel, top row, third from the right. In your screenshot it says AUTO and there's a blue light to the right of it. If every button were to have a complete label, the skin would look a whole lot less nice.

...  I would have thought that having it on the left would be preferable, because many people pop their players into the top corner and if it's on the left, then the player covers some of the Desktop icons.  And if you put it on the right as it is, it looks kind of weird with the main XMP window sticking out into the Desktop like that.

Do you change the equalizer that often that you need to have the DSP panel open all the time? I certainly don't. I prefer the mini-mode anyway.

Anyone know how to contact the author of the MMD3 skin directly?  I didn't see an email for him.  I would like to see if he would kindly consider making a skin that has the EQ on the left side.

Just wait some more, he'll probably answer. And with this thread title, you'll probably get his attention .

[Giant Waffle]

Actually, one can boost the sound, because the problem occurs with Vista and 7 not utilizing the sound adapter to its potential.

I hadn't heard of that issue before, and I haven't encountered it myself. Btw, if you're on Win7, you should try the WASAPI Output plugin.

As for the "Dynamic" setting, I did change that as you said I should, but that is another issue for the author of the MMD3 skin.  I don't see the "AutoAmp" anywhere on the MMD3 skin.  I had to switch it back to the Default skin to change it.  Bummer.

Hover over a button to get a tooltip indicating what the button does. As I said, the auto-amp button is on the DSP panel, top row, third from the right. In your screenshot it says AUTO and there's a blue light to the right of it. If every button were to have a complete label, the skin would look a whole lot less nice.

...  I would have thought that having it on the left would be preferable, because many people pop their players into the top corner and if it's on the left, then the player covers some of the Desktop icons.  And if you put it on the right as it is, it looks kind of weird with the main XMP window sticking out into the Desktop like that.

Do you change the equalizer that often that you need to have the DSP panel open all the time? I certainly don't. I prefer the mini-mode anyway.

Anyone know how to contact the author of the MMD3 skin directly?  I didn't see an email for him.  I would like to see if he would kindly consider making a skin that has the EQ on the left side.

Just wait some more, he'll probably answer. And with this thread title, you'll probably get his attention .

1) I don't know what "WASAPI" is.  I searched for it and the definition I found was...

"Makes <player> use WASAPI output"

Now how is that an explanation???

Can you tell me what it does, please?  I am not a PC sound expert.  And thanks for suggesting it.  I'm sure you did so because it will be beneficial.

Also, should I put the DSP PlugIn on that page into my setup as well?

2) I don't know what you mean by "DSP Panel".  Nothing says "DSP" on it.  I did see that on the EQ drawer on the right, there is a button that normally says "Auto", which I assumed was for "Auto EQ".  You have to remember, I cannot read what these buttons say.  The font is tiny and fuzzy and I had to hold the laptop up to my face to read what it says.  I see that it has now changed to "Dyna".  At least I think it has.  And when I held the mouse over it, it simply said, "Auto-Amp".  Remember, if you've never done it before, it does not make sense to you.  I have no idea what "Auto-Amp" will actually do, as in exactly how it will effect my music.  I'm not asking for a detailed explanation.  I'll hear what it does, I'm sure.

3) Yes, I do change the EQ all the time.  Different bands have different sounds.  Some use hardly any Bass.  Try playing a "Dio" CD and see if you don't amp up the Bass on it! <lol!>  Boston, on the other had, is good for a nice, standard EQ waveform (high sub, flowing downward to low mid and then back upward for Treble), with just a bit more midrange punch.  Then I save each setting as a Preset with each band's name as the name of each Preset and I just load that Preset when I play that band's music.

Look, I know my way around music and equipment.  But PC music playing is a whole different animal!  Things aren't always even named the same!  I miss the old days of inexpensive great audio and 21" Woofer and a Digital Processor that boosted sound up some decibals and cleaned it up and shook the walls without distortion!

But in the PC world, it doesn't seem to do the same thing from a user standpoint and you have to learn it inside out and know the function of every little option that you have to set, instead of just turning a dial and saying, "Ahhhhh, that's better!", while you have a <ahem> (I won't say that) and your friends cover their ears while you crank up The Police: Driven to Tears (great song for testing the highs), or some Camel. <smile>

I agree with you wholeheartedly about the skin.  You can only label it just so much and that's what Tool Tips are for, right?

Thanks again for your help!  You have been wonderful to me and I appreciate it and I am learning from you and the others here who have also answered!

[Giant Waffle]

P.S.: If I suddenly don't answer for a while, it's not that I'm ignoring you guys.  I have a really serious back injury and it kills me after a while to do anything but lay down and it builds up to where I can't even function for a few days and so, when that happens, I have to take a break.  But I will get back to you when I am able to again.  So if I suddenly disappear, that's what it is.  And that's why I haven't sat here and spent hours researching every option like I used to do and thanks for helping me out!!!

[Pike84]

P.S.: Anyone know how to contact the author of the MMD3 skin directly?  I didn't see an email for him.  I would like to see if he would kindly consider making a skin that has the EQ on the left side.

The author, KelticDanor is a forum regular and like Dotpitch said, this thread will probably grab his attention at some point. If you don't want to wait for his reply to this thread, or for another reason, you can also send him a private message about the matter. Just click on his name in one of his forum posts or in the Member list, and choose "Send this member a personal message".

1) I don't know what "WASAPI" is.  I searched for it and the definition I found was...

I don't know much about the technical stuff about it myself, but it's another sound output interface, that is recommended for use on Windows Vista/7. There's no harm in trying it, it might help with your problem.

Just download the plugin from the link Dotpitch gave, put it in your XMPlay folder or subfolder, then in XMPlay's options go to "Output->Device" and select "WASAPI - *your sound card*" from the dropdown list. You have to restart XMPlay to make it appear there.

2) I don't know what you mean by "DSP Panel".  Nothing says "DSP" on it.

It's the side panel we've mostly been talking about. It says "DSP SETTINGS" (on this particular skin) on the edge where you can grab/double-click on to make it come out or go back in. DSP is short for "Digital Signal Processing" which equalizer is a part of.

 

I did see that on the EQ drawer on the right, there is a button that normally says "Auto", which I assumed was for "Auto EQ".  You have to remember, I cannot read what these buttons say.

That button is for the amplification setting. It's kind of like another volume setting, but not quite... From xmplay.txt:

This is different to the volume slider. The volume slider controls the
    level of the sound card output, the amplification slider controls the
    level of the actual decoding. The higher the amplification, the greater
    the dynamic range of the decoding output, but if it is too high clipping
    may occur resulting in distortion of the sound.

Auto-amp setting makes XMPlay automatically reduce the amplification level whenever clipping occurs. I just have the amp level set to a low value and auto-amp setting off myself, because I don't want the loudness to change on its own. "Reduction" setting would result in the same over time, but with "Dynamic", the level may go up to increase the dynamic range.

By the way, you can see the different settings more clearly, if you right-click the button, bringing up the menu .

[Dotpitch]

1) I don't know what "WASAPI" is.  I searched for it and the definition I found was... "Makes <player> use WASAPI output" Now how is that an explanation??? Can you tell me what it does, please?  I am not a PC sound expert.

Basically, Microsoft rebuilt the audio stuff for Windows Vista. You can still use the old interfaces, they will be converted behind the scenes to the new WASAPI interface. To avoid this conversion, you should just use the new system.

Also, should I put the DSP PlugIn on that page into my setup as well?

No.

Look, I know my way around music and equipment.  But PC music playing is a whole different animal!  Things aren't always even named the same!  I miss the old days of inexpensive great audio and 21" Woofer and a Digital Processor that boosted sound up some decibals and cleaned it up and shook the walls without distortion!
But in the PC world, it doesn't seem to do the same thing from a user standpoint and you have to learn it inside out and know the function of every little option that you have to set, instead of just turning a dial and saying, "Ahhhhh, that's better!", while you have a <ahem> (I won't say that) and your friends cover their ears while you crank up The Police: Driven to Tears (great song for testing the highs), or some Camel. <smile>

You know what, just load up a file and start messing around with the buttons you see. There's nothing you can break (as long as you don't delete the file you're playing ).