MPlayer v4 has finally arrived. New features include:
Playlist
Play Speed
Lyrics Search
New Button Styles
Button Style Viewer
Better Volume Controls
Ability to Hide Controls
Taken out of MDI Interface

There are still some known bugs (eg. the timer still says -1:59 when nothing is open), but apart from that everything looks fine.

You can download it from the website (see my sig for the site).

If any of you have downloaded MPlayer v4 yet, you would have noticed that the playlist is in the same window as the main player. The reason for this is that I couldn't seem to call events in one form from another. Because of the way the playlist operates, it is necessary to do so. If anyone can find a way to call events in one form from another, please let me know. Thanks.

why are the buttons so big, why can't i open multiple MP3s at a time, why can't i import multiple items to the playlist at a time.

dunno why the buttons are so big, maybe it's your screen resolution.
As for not being able to open multiple mp3s at the time, why would you want to.
And as for adding multiple items to the playlist at one time, well, i'm working on that.

One known bug so far: The color schemes don't fully work now after i enlarged the interface with the playlist. i forgot to do that, and will be fixed shortly.

I thought I'd download this, just to make fun of you, so I did, and now I will.

OH MAN ARE YOU SLOW OR SOMETHING?

Firstly your volume "slider" which is really just a scroll bar, makes about the difference of 1/4 of a volume point up or down, and IT IS ACTUALLY UPSIDE DOWN.

So the volume "slider" basically does nothing, but the balance meter(which always gets a ton of use in a media player) consists of a slider with a range of 3600 leftmost to rightmost.

The buttons are huge and pixelated, the reason they are huge is because THE IMAGES DEFINED AS BUTTONS ARE THAT BIG! Resolution has nothing to do with it.

You can't add multiple files at once, nor can you add a directory. This means if you wanted to compile a playlist of a 12 song album, get ready to "add to playlist" the 12 individual songs.

The open file function opens a file but doesn't add it to the current playlist, why not? If it's playing a file, it should be in the active playlist, that's common sense.

The program doesn't appear in the toolbar or tray, maybe that's for a reason, but it's not very user friendly.

Ok, so I'm done making jokes and now I will give you some constructive criticism.

I think the idea of a small, media player(or music player because mplayer only plays music files), is a good one. More need to come out, if only to keep the more well known small media players on their toes.

You should can the idea of "adding to playlist" and "open file" as seperate functions. Have one button, a + or whatever, that lets you open multiple audio files, all opened files get added to the active playlist by default or ask if they want them to be added to current, or make a new blank one. Use the same kind of slider as the balance slider for the volume, a scroll bar for volume just doesn't work well or look good. Also, make the volume work properly, not only is it upside down, and produces only a barely noticable change in volume, but it doesn't appear to actually change any of the windows volume settings. I'm taking that as some kind of sign that you aren't changing the master volume, but the wave volume which isn't going to function the same on everybody's PC.

Eh I'm tired got shit going on, don't take the insults personally, it's just that the app is retarded. Get working on the problems and suggestions I mentioned, gotta start somewhere right?

I think Im Dead wrote:
Firstly your volume "slider" which is really just a scroll bar, makes about the difference of 1/4 of a volume point up or down, and IT IS ACTUALLY UPSIDE DOWN.

Well, if you can reverse a scroll bar, be my guest. And it does make more then just a very slight difference.

I think Im Dead wrote:So the volume "slider" basically does nothing, but the balance meter(which always gets a ton of use in a media player) consists of a slider with a range of 3600 leftmost to rightmost.

That's all you need. On every computer I tested it on, it worked fine.

I think Im Dead wrote:The buttons are huge and pixelated, the reason they are huge is because THE IMAGES DEFINED AS BUTTONS ARE THAT BIG! Resolution has nothing to do with it.

They're meant to be that size. If you don't like 'em, create your own, email them to me, and I'll put them into the next version of MPlayer.

I think Im Dead wrote:You can't add multiple files at once, nor can you add a directory. This means if you wanted to compile a playlist of a 12 song album, get ready to "add to playlist" the 12 individual songs.

That's something that I'm going to take a look into and try and implement, alright.

I think Im Dead wrote:The open file function opens a file but doesn't add it to the current playlist, why not? If it's playing a file, it should be in the active playlist, that's common sense.

If you bothered to look, there is an option that says "Auto-Add on Open". The description reads: "You must manually add the track to the playlist" when not selected and "The song is automatically added to the playlist upon opening" when selected. Common sense ITID.

I think Im Dead wrote:The program doesn't appear in the toolbar or tray, maybe that's for a reason, but it's not very user friendly.

This is for a reason. At school most computers have are monitored by a system called Networx Manager. This looks at all programs running in the taskbar. If the person in charge doesn't like what you're doing, he locks your screen. By not having it in the taskbar, he can't see it. I am however, looking at putting an icon into the notification area (aka system tray for Win 9x users)

I think Im Dead wrote:I think the idea of a small, media player(or music player because mplayer only plays music files), is a good one. More need to come out, if only to keep the more well known small media players on their toes.

Thanks, but I intend to take this one all the way and make it as big as Winamp.

I think Im Dead wrote:You should can the idea of "adding to playlist" and "open file" as seperate functions. Have one button, a + or whatever, that lets you open multiple audio files, all opened files get added to the active playlist by default or ask if they want them to be added to current, or make a new blank one.

Check my above note on this if you haven't already.

I think Im Dead wrote:Use the same kind of slider as the balance slider for the volume, a scroll bar for volume just doesn't work well or look good.

I'll get more feedback on this and then change it.

I think Im Dead wrote:Also, make the volume work properly, not only is it upside down, and produces only a barely noticable change in volume, but it doesn't appear to actually change any of the windows volume settings. I'm taking that as some kind of sign that you aren't changing the master volume, but the wave volume which isn't going to function the same on everybody's PC.

I don't know how to change the master volume. That's another thing on my to-do list. Right now it just changes the WMP control volume.

Just as an end-note, i'd like to thank you for the feedback.

Since you seemed to trivialize everything I said, consider this free advertising for your crapfest.

I'll go through each picture one at a time:

Pic 1) As I said, all that scrollbar does is change the WMP control's volume control. There isn't much I can do until I find the time later in the holidays to write my own mp3 player. The main reason I don't want to is because I'm not sure how i'm going to play midi files.

Pic 2) I considered 1800 each way was enough to totally block out the other speaker. That's what the balance control is designed to do, is it not?

Pic 3) Only the Edit Comments, View Album Art and Help Contents menu items do that. The Check for Updates is in progress, and the Skin Chooser is pointless because there are none.

Pic 4) And that's exactly what it does. Got a problem?

Pic 5) a. In case you accidentally clicked that menu item in stead of another.
b. They're text files because that's all that I can easily make it open. If you're so smart, then what are lyrics files? I've never heard of them.
c. That's what it's meant to do, silly.

Since you seemed to trivialize everything I said, consider this free advertising for your crapfest.

I wouldn't call it a crapfest. If you're so good, make your own. I seriously doubt that you could do half the things I've done in my program in the amount of time I've had to work on it.

And on another topic, i'm going away on holiday tomorrow (10/12, damn time zones), and won't be back until the 21st. Keep the feedback coming, but don't expect a reply for a while. I'll do the suggested improvements when I get back. See you all soon!

007bond wrote:If you're so smart, then what are lyrics files? I've never heard of them.

Going out on a limb here, are they files which contain the song lyrics?

And if you've never heard of them, why is there an option to display them?

Wow, ITID was quite calm in that first post.... I'm amazed!

To make a scrollbar reverse all you have to do is the logical:
top = 0 or 1 right?
bottom = 500 say...
so:
onchange:
volumevalue = 500 - bar.value
(when bar.value = 1 or 0, it'll be the highest volume when it's 500, it'll be the lowest).

This is the most trivial problem here... The opening of multiple files - I think the dialog will allow you to select multiple files - not sure... Maybe there's a setting there somewhere.
To put it in the system tray (it is still the "system tray" in XP you know) you just set the option you used to remove it from the taskbar - it's 0 for none I believe, 1 for taskbar and 2 for system tray.... maybe... It puts the program icon into the tray.
Those are pretty big-assed buttons... And not in the logical place I'd put them compared with the position slider.

I wouldn't challenge ITID to make his own program - he'd probably do it just to spite you and make one that beat yours into the ground... Just for fun... Or make a joke program that just came up with boxes of "this won't work yet... neither will this." and still 0wn you.

Making an MP3 player is hard work... HARD mudda-fudding work. But if you're going to make one... atleast do it right. Also...

Double Oh Moron wrote:I intend to take this one all the way and make it as big as Winamp.

LMFAO!!!.... k... whatever

an MP3 player i was working on myself...

Didn't get very far on it though.... but notice my sexy custom scrollbar up there.

Once again, you've got photoshop and I don't. And once again, my development machine only has 98 with 800x600 screen resolution. I do however, now have Macromedia Studio MX, whcih comes with Fireworks, so I'm halfway there!

At least Zelimos understands how hard it is to make. I'll let you into a little secret. The longest procedure in the program is the one that lets you open files. It's about 6 or 7 screens full at 800x600 screen resolution, and probably at about 4 or 5 at 1024x768. Just out of interest Zelimos, what were you going to call yours?

[EDIT] Forgot about this question when I posted: The Open Lyrics function opens text files moron. If you had bothered to use it, you would know.

[EDIT 2] CW, I tried the thing you gave me with the volume scrollbar. It seems like a good idea to me, but when i try to change the volume, it just gives me an error.

I think the idea of a small, media player(or music player because mplayer only plays music files), is a good one.

Actually, I don't. I'm fine with the players I have. Your reasoning isn't bad though...although I highly doubt microsoft is gonna say "Wow, 007bond is making a crappy player; WE GOTTA HURRY AND UPGRADE WMP!" Anyways, I didn't even look at his; Why waste my time downloading a handmade problematic player when I have professional ones? Though, I must say, for a privately-made player, zelimos, yours looks pretty cool!

This is for a reason. At school most computers have are monitored by a system called Networx Manager. This looks at all programs running in the taskbar. If the person in charge doesn't like what you're doing, he locks your screen. By not having it in the taskbar, he can't see it.

Yeah, what are you gonna listen to already that the guy is gonna lock your screen? Listen to "Dirty" songs?

Thanks, but I intend to take this one all the way and make it as big as Winamp.

Okay, I was looking for a emoticon that was laughing so hard it was about to die, but I couldn't find it. So all I'll say is OOOOKKKKK THEN!

Actually, I don't. I'm fine with the players I have. Your reasoning isn't bad though...although I highly doubt microsoft is gonna say "Wow, 007bond is making a crappy player; WE GOTTA HURRY AND UPGRADE WMP!" Anyways, I didn't even look at his; Why waste my time downloading a handmade problematic player when I have professional ones? Though, I must say, for a privately-made player, zelimos, yours looks pretty cool!

I don't expect MS to do that. And the only reason zelimos's player looks better is because he has a really good graphics programs to do it with! So there's no point trying to compare the look of the player with mine. At least mine is released and working, even if it might have a few small bugs

You don't need something about Adobe Photoshop to design graphics like that. You could find free image software that would produce something as good.

If you seem to know about it, then give me a URL where I can get it. I've got Fireworks, and I've tried The GIMP, but that doesn't seem to work well on my computer. I've also got Paint Shop Pro, but that's more for dealing with photos then for creating small images.

The code I typed isn't 100% right... You actually need to work out what is what... Like what the name of your bar is. What the actual variable for value is (although I'm pretty sure it IS value). Make sure the number is right (not just using 500).

If you knew how to program VB, then you'd figure out why you're getting these error messages... You need to know how to program first.
I suggest you get a copy of QBASIC (actually widely available over the internet last time I checked), or some other free BASIC interpreter. Go from that to VB. Really easy step.

1. I know, and I did change the names and values accrodingly to the controls. I think the reason is that VB doesn't like the maximum value of the scrollbar to be lower then the minimum value.

2. I've already got a copy of QBasic, and I used that for about a year before I really started using VB.

What are you talking about "maximum value below the minimum value"... You don't change ANYTHING related to that.

EG:

|| --- MAX = 500
||
||
||
||
||
||
|| --- MIN = 0

dim newval as integer ' You put this at the top, usually along with option 0 or whatever that thingy is.

Onchange {

newval = 500 - scrollbar.value
mediaplayerpluginthing.sound.volume = newval
}

Where in that do you CHANGE anything to do with the scrollbar?
Where in there do you make the max smaller than the min?

... Answer to both is NOWHERE - do not try to do the impossible.

::EDIT::
There's a little thing wrong with the stuff I said above....... the subroutines have no {} and instead use sub...end sub - which I forgot.

Anyway, I installed VB6 and quickly threw together this little project in about 3 minutes (I didn't even bother to customize it or anything).
http://www.compwhizz.freeserve.co.uk/007_dumb.zip
open it, it works - you don't.

I'll let you in on a little secret. The MediaPlayer control's volume value's max is 0. The minimum is slightly under -1000, so I just use -1000. To reverse a scrollbar, you need to set the min value higher then the max value. But VB doesn't like it when you do that. So i'm stuck. Obviously you thought I was having trouble with the actual code that changed the volume.

Oh, and I'm not dumb. If you had any brains you'd know that to be dumb means that you can't speak. I can.

You might not be dumb, 007Bond, but you sure do a damn good impression of it.

You might not be dumb, 007Bond... [cut good joke]

I doubt that highly!

007dumb.

So I show you how to set the top to zero and the bottom to 1000.... By default the top is 1000 (well actually 32??? - the max signed integer value I think) and the bottom 0.
Did it ever occur to you to SUBTRACT 1000?

So the top is 0 and the bottom becomes -1000?

IE:
newval = vscroll.value - 1000

Hmmmm, how hard can THAT be!?!?

::EDIT::
Oops - my mistake.
By defaut it's upside down (0 at top, MAX at bottom).
So infact it is:
newval = 0 - vscroll.value

Therefore when it's at the top it's 0, at the bottom it's -1000.
Jeez, how hard is THAT to figure out?

I've done exactly what you said. But VB still doesn't like it.

Actually - the mplayer plugin I have (erm, probably the 10 plugin) is 0 to 100....

You are setting the correct volume setting aren't you.
in mplayer.settings.volume (at least that's where they are here).

I don't have mplayer 6.4 in my list unfortunately... Kind of odd since I swear it should be available...

YOU are still doing something wrong though - not the other way around.

It actually turns out that i'm not using Media Player 6.4, just the Classic Media Player. Thus meaning that it works on windows 95 and upwards. Not sure about 2003 server or Windows Longhorn though.

On a somewhat related topic, you may have seen the news about Microsoft now having to sell a version of XP that does NOT come with Windows Media Player, therefore making it slightly cheaper. Companies have said that it's unfair competition because the best media player around comes free with windows, not giving users much choice. I wonder if this might affect MPlayer.

unfair competition because the best media player around comes free with windows

A-huh, so Winamp comes with windows now!?

'Best' is objectionable... Most of the "pro"'s are in Winamp's camp from what I can see!

That news is old, and it's actually EU - so I don't know if it applies in the US.

Computer Whizz:

Most of the "pro"'s are in Winamp's camp from what I can see!

Just out of curiosity, what do you like about winamp? I've tried using it before, but found that it isn't very convenient to use, or user friendly. Plus, the features weren't that great. I don't know if I'm talking about the latest version, but it can't be too old; I last updated my winamp about two months ago. ---ebayfan414

Winamp 5... it lies there quite nicely along the bottom of my screen actually - like a status bar. The playlist comes up (semi-transparent) when my mouse goes down there.

The plugins are VERY good, so I can play music files from PSX/PS2 games, SNES games, From the Atari/Amiga/NES/Sega/OGG/etc.
The install's simple, quick etc.
Loads of graphic stuff (although I hardly use that).
The shortcut-keys (now built-in) is really good, so I can press "alt+w" to play a song, or "alt+e" to stop, or "alt+r" to fastforward. etc...
You can FULLY customise the plugins (so, have low quality if you PC/laptop can't handle full-quality), customise the input/output plugins however you wish.
The default skin is nice, and the skins are wide and numerous. Most of WMP's skins are probably from MS.
It's quick, easy, small, customisable. Everything you'd want from a player. You can even get plugins for firefox to use it (although I have no need).
It's kind of like the firefox of music players I guess.... Oh, plus you can have it so it's either in the taskbar/system tray/nothing.

I'd have to agree with ebayfan here. I can't stand WinAmp. When I installed it, I found that it was just to complicated and the GUI was crap. Yes CW, you can get a plugin that plays it through Firefox, i've got the same plugin but i've set it to play through WMP. The main reason why I started MPlayer mainly is because my old computer runs Windows 98, only has WMP 7.1, and it really sucks. It takes ages to start WMP, then the visulizations slow it right down, making it take ages to load the mp3 file.

007Bond said:

my old computer runs Windows 98, only has WMP 7.1, and it really sucks.

Why don't you visit the WMP site and upgrade it to 9? It's free. As for all the reasons you listed, CW, they sound good, but WMP has basically the same things. (BTW, I'm not trying to tell you which player to use; I'm simply interested in comparing the pros and cons of Winamp to WMP) In WMP, they have LOTS of skins. I have tons of them. And not all of them are by Microsoft. But even if they were, I think that makes it all the better; They're made professionally. Shortcut keys? I think WMP's sound easier, such as CTR. + P for pause, etc. Graphics? The WMP ones are pretty cool, at least I think so. As for not having it in the taskbar, I don't see the Pro in that. Though I think that if you have WMP in Mini-mode, it also doesn't go in the taskbar. Anyway, these are just my opinions. I guess to each his own. I just prefer WMP. ----Ebayfan414

WMP 9 only works on 98SE and above. There's no 98 First Edition version avaliable. And if you have 9 or above then you can put it into the taskbar if you run XP. Right click on the taskbar, goto Toolbars and select Windows Media Player. Then minimize WMP, and a small mini-mode appears in the taskbar!

Right...
Reply to 007 - 7.1 sucks... I do believe that there are even memory leaks in that version. I'd go back to using 6.4 as that's the best WMP they ever came out with. Extremely fast, slik, allows you to customise codecs ALOT and resizes itself if it plays midi files.

Reply to Ebayfan - I know, you can't tell me which one to use.
I do infact use WMP for video stuff, as winamp isn't all that good for video files (or midi - the plugin for that in winamp is extensive, and I'm no music pro).
WMP does have a little plug-in support, but not to the extent Winamp does. Plugins can change the whole player - so it can output the text to an LCD display if you wanted to, and the same for input - you could use a self-made button or remote control if you wished, to control winamp. You have different file (codec) plugins, which are EXTREMLY wide in variety - much more so that WMP. The default skin in winamp is great (while in WMP it's random, and they all suck - looking like blobs or some other crappy shite). And the visualisations are much better and wider in variety (while WMP visualisations are stuck to being in that WMP window). It's faster, easier (the shortcut's are customisable - like everything else in winamp), smaller... And not having it in the taskbar means I don't have that added to the list of programs there... Instead I have it in my system tray, plus it's not behind any windows at all so I actually don't even need it in my tray - it just looks nice.

http://www.compwhizz.freeserve.co.uk/screenshot.gif

That's missing the white bar's that you usually get because the file wasn't playing at that time. But it sits really snuggly down there.

Howdy everyone, figured I'd bump this thread to explain a bit of my absence and encourage others.

For the holidays it would appear I was bad, and was gifted with the termination of my HSI(high-speed internet) and an untimely virus/worm combo which corrupted and ultimately forced the formatting of both my hard drives and my lovely 220gigs of various information(thanks to IE, ActiveX, and my uncautious fiance for literally ruining "my internet").

So as is now, my computer can do nothing but play the games I've amassed on cd and run development software, Visual Studio & Visual Studio.net 2003 has been occupying my time.

Honestly an mp3 player is easy when based on the windows media core, it's basically three clicks and two lines of code to "tell teh buttan too plae". If I weren't posting this from dial up at a relatives house, and had internet of my own, I'd have all kinds of examples and debug apps to throw in all your faces but as it is I can only encourage you to keep things up. Right now I'm working with the DX9 SDK and messing around with all kinds of overly complicated crap and it's great.

Also, I'm a longtime Winamp user, it truly is the easiest to use and most customizable, but other power-users also favor Foobar2000, it's well suited for you if you collect music in true COLLECTIONS(even if just digital) rather than a large number of various artists/groups mp3s.

Best wishes everyone.

Sorry to hear that ITID.

As for CW, I never knew WinAmp could do that. That truly is a good look for Windows. You even have the same Firefox theme as me! There's just one thing I hate about that: It's Win XP with a 2000 theme. I can't stand it!

Sucks doesn't it ITID. But all I can say is... HA! I would however, had empathised, but after all the crap you've given me in the past, it's not like I'm going to care about your fortunate absence. Good day.

Nice of you to kick a man when he's down, Zelimos.

I have to say I'm sorry you lost your internet connection ITID - but rather have to laugh at you using IE still... Bet you'll be locking that application from ever opening again eh!?

Winamp can do basically anything you want to - because it allows true "plug-ins".

And, eh. I like the Win98 look I have right here. I totally customised everything, so I have purple, blue, yellow, and a light blue for the backgrounds of most text programs (instead of harsh white).

Much btter than the retardedly large XP styles IMO. That another thing that struck me when I loaded Linux (somewhere after Redhat 4), the style as all big and crap... Must be a Mac influenced thing?

ITID - yeah, I started looking into DX8.1 SDK once, still have it here on CD actually... I only got into sound, recording, making buffers, output. Not very much at all, but the graphics will be harder.
I'm going more into C++ with graphics first, understand it at that lower level, then learn it in VB - much easier.

Good luck with you anyway!

Actually, CW, I LOVE the large xp style theme! I love everything about it! Even their backrounds! Though my backrounds are usually snapshots I've taken from dvd's. But I think the theme is colorful, and fun. I only wish that there would be more than 3 color schemes...(blue, olive, and silver)As for the winamp/WMP competition, I'm gonna stick with WMP. I guess winamp has more plugins, but still, I've never had a problem with WMP, and it suits me just fine. -Ebayfan414

A couple of things to note:
1) I've finally got my good graphics card working, along with my sound card, and I got a new DVD Burner, which means I can play Warcraft 3 and Icy Tower now!
2) My copy of WMP 10 has just stopped working. It just stays in Skin Mode, and I can't get it out of it!

As for the Win 98 Theme, I guess it's personal preference.

As for you Ste (yes, I'll call you Ste), you are a horrible little man who is evil. You show no remorse, and you have no idea how to forgive. You people will probably of heard of the Asia earthquakes and the tsunamis, and how now over 100,000 people have died? Well Ste, you should have been one of them.

007bond wrote:
As for you Ste (yes, I'll call you Ste), you are a horrible little man who is evil. You show no remorse, and you have no idea how to forgive. You people will probably of heard of the Asia earthquakes and the tsunamis, and how now over 100,000 people have died? Well Ste, you should have been one of them.

And that makes you even worse than him, 007Bond. Jesus Christ, have you heard yourself sometimes? Wishing someone on an internet forum was dead because you don't like him.

You ought to get a permanent ban for that sort of thing.

I agree - no more wishing people dead please. This thread is now closed.