• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Winamp alternative

Muse

Muse

Lifer
I often play MP3s off my server via wireless connection using my laptop. These are often long MP3s, sometimes 3 hours (recordings of radio programs). I sometimes decide to put the laptop to sleep, closing the cover (goes to sleep when I do that). When I reopen the top the MP3 starts playing again, but it's locked in a tight loop, sounding like a 5x/second cycle, it just stays there. To get it working again I have to stop the playback, restart it, find where I was, etc.

Is there a workaround for this?

Is there a player that won't have this problem?
 
same thing, just switched as the old Winamp lacked some features and the new winamp is bloated. Switched to foobar. I am not exactly thrilled about it but whatever it's just an mp3 player, simple and free with no ads or nags
 
I'd play with the audio output plug-ins in Winamp to see if the problem can be corrected there. Possibly update sound drivers too.
 
I love Foobar2000. I wish it were libre software so I could use it on GNU/Linux. If I ran Windows, there's no question, Foobar2000 all the way.
 
Muse said:
I often play MP3s off my server via wireless connection using my laptop. These are often long MP3s, sometimes 3 hours (recordings of radio programs). I sometimes decide to put the laptop to sleep, closing the cover (goes to sleep when I do that). When I reopen the top the MP3 starts playing again, but it's locked in a tight loop, sounding like a 5x/second cycle, it just stays there. To get it working again I have to stop the playback, restart it, find where I was, etc.

Is there a workaround for this?

Is there a player that won't have this problem?
Click to expand...

I have used WinAmp Pro forever. I do not have the issues you mentioned with start up. Perhaps you need to reconfigure some of the settings in WinAmp so it does not "autoplay". All I can say is I've never had that issue and I use it all the time. I tried FooBar2000 once and I did not like it. Also there is a WinAmp forum perhaps post your problem there and they will be glad to help.

A lot of people highly recommend VLC and it's freeware as well. You can get it at Gizmo website and check out all the free players and ratings.
 
On a previous build I remember having the same problem the OP has, but it was long enough ago that I don't remember the solution.

+1 VLC, though I prefer Winamp's playlist management.
 
mikeymikec said:
On a previous build I remember having the same problem the OP has, but it was long enough ago that I don't remember the solution.

+1 VLC, though I prefer Winamp's playlist management.
Click to expand...
I don't use the playlist stuff. There are a few reasons I've stuck with Winamp. One is the graphic equalizer, not huge issue... sometimes it's useful for me, other times not so much depending on my equipment. The other is the fact that it's used by my MP3 editing software, Trackmaker. However, I could probably find another freebie MP3 slice-up utility I'm OK with, plus I can just opt to open MP3s with Winamp in the event I want to use Trackmaker.

I'm going to give Foobar and maybe VLC a spin and see how I do with them, maybe move on if I'm not satisfied and try some other audio players. Winamp is just not working for me in this usage. Even pausing playback before putting the machine to sleep does not prevent the problem.

Edit: Actually, looking I see that I already have VLC (installed Oct. 2011) on this machine. I'll see how it works, I've only used it for video in the past IIRC.

Edit2: VLC (at least the version from 10/12 I have installed, has the similar issues. Not pausing and pausing still don't let me resume from where I was in playback when taking the machine out of sleep. Foobar is somewhat better, but I have to pause first. However, I'm getting quirky problems such as messages like this:

Decoding failure at 16:11.110 (Network not reachable):
"\\thought2\wd20ears (e)\Mp3\TR20130429_010600.mp3"

I just got an unprovoked pause in playback for a few seconds that spontaneously resumed. Hmm. I wish I had a robust playback program. Maybe there's one out there.

Edit3: I tried my recording software, Total Recorder Standard Edition (not free but pretty cheap at ~$20). It has problems too. Maybe if I run actual server software on my server machine, maybe Windows Home Server, I have no idea. The machine's running WinXP Pro.

Edit4: Tried Windows Media Player, also impossible. Actually Winamp's behavior seems the easiest to live with among these, although it's terrible, it's the least terrible. 🙁 Maybe if I go to actual server software I'll get better results. Networking is not my long suit.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a networking issue. I don't think a different server would work better unless you lucked into a good config at install. I'd guess it's a routing issue, or maybe wireless.
 
there are some settings in the directsound output plugin that you can play with. maybe turning hardware acceleration off will work..
 
lxskllr said:
Sounds like a networking issue. I don't think a different server would work better unless you lucked into a good config at install. I'd guess it's a routing issue, or maybe wireless.
Click to expand...
Um, I'll try it on my desktop, which is ethernet connected to the router... I also typically put that machine to sleep when not in use.

Yup, I can put the desktop to sleep in the middle of playback, awaken the machine and the sound proceeds, doesn't miss a beat, neat. Now, I'd love to be able to do that with my wireless machines. Even pause/sleep/waken/play would be nice.
wirednuts said:
there are some settings in the directsound output plugin that you can play with. maybe turning hardware acceleration off will work..
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can find that stuff.
 
Last edited:
lxskllr said:
I love Foobar2000. I wish it were libre software so I could use it on GNU/Linux. If I ran Windows, there's no question, Foobar2000 all the way.
Click to expand...
You can, as long as you have enough CPU. I use it with WINE. It eats up more CPU with Linux+WINE, but works. The lightweight ones native to Linux tend to maintain too many bugs across versions for my liking, but I can't stand media manager crap.

Muse said:
I don't use the playlist stuff. There are a few reasons I've stuck with Winamp. One is the graphic equalizer, not huge issue... sometimes it's useful for me, other times not so much depending on my equipment.
Click to expand...
FB2K has an add-on equalizer component with many more bands, called, of all things, "graphic equalizer." If it comes in a special package format, you install them from within the preferences, somewhere, else you can just copy the DLL into the components subdir.

Decoding failure at 16:11.110 (Network not reachable):
"\\thought2\wd20ears (e)\Mp3\TR20130429_010600.mp3"
Click to expand...
You need to have something connect to the network share before you try starting playback. Windows won't actually reconnect until there is a demand, and it can cause some funky behavior.

Try mapping a network drive, and see if that helps. I've gotten used to it enough that I habitually go there in Explorer, and get a directory listing, right after resuming.
 
Cerb said:
You can, as long as you have enough CPU. I use it with WINE. It eats up more CPU with Linux+WINE, but works. The lightweight ones native to Linux tend to maintain too many bugs across versions for my liking, but I can't stand media manager crap.
Click to expand...

Yea, I tried it, but don't use that for philosophical reasons. I try to keep my system as libre as possible, and I'll prefer a libre alternative when it's close enough.

Give DeaDBeeF a try for your GNU/Linux boxen. It's like a stripped Foobar2000. It has the core functionality I require from a player, but it isn't nearly as customizable as Foobar2k. I also use QuodLibet a bit. It has some nice features, but DeaDBeeF is my primary player.
 
Well, I have something of a workaround, not too bad, by virtue of help I got at Winamp Forums:

Technical Winamp Issue

I upgraded Winamp to version 5.63, installed Winamp Essentials 5.63 and have Autoplay Options set to Restore playing position. For this to work I have to close Winamp before putting the machine to sleep. Then when I awaken the laptop, I wait for the balloon that indicates that I have my wireless network connection up, then start Winamp and it automatically resumes play where it was. Way way better than what I was experiencing.
 
Last edited:
ive played with AMP3 a bit and i like it. however it needs better skin support or a way to change how it works in minimized mode. the main reason i stick with winamp is because i can make it look like this. it just sits up there out of the way all the time and is large enough to see everything i need, playlist will minimize so it only takes up 1 line. and i don't have to expand it all to browse

h2n9r5y.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top