What music program to use

MOnline · 11-07-2007, 08:44 AM

Hi,

I am currently developing a frontend and still working out how I want to play music. As far as I know I have 4 options:

Winamp: Booting winamp just like roadrunner does and controlling it trough my program.
Windows Media Player: Same as winamp just booting and controlling
iTunes: Boot and control

Write my own independand plugin: More control and no need to install extra programs.

So tell me what I should use

.

With kind regards,

FG van Zeelst

RedGTiVR6 · 11-07-2007, 08:48 AM

If you're going to mind the audiophiles out there you'll go with either WinAmp or Foobar2000

Both allow for quality reproduction of music without letting Windows K-mixer mutulate the audio stream.

Both allow for a VAST number of plug-ins to help enhance the audio and add additional functionality above and beyond anything that WMP or iTunes allows for.

malcom2073 · 11-07-2007, 01:32 PM

Use the BASS Sound engine if you can. It's a really nice engine, and is capable of playing all sorts of media types. There is even a .NET interface floating around, thats what I used for mine. It has a small memory footprint and even allows for visualizations if you know how to program FFT's into pictures

Another option is VLC, if you're writing your own front end, they have a class you can use to interface with their DLL's.

MOnline · 11-07-2007, 03:38 PM

Thanks for the reply's.

Still thinking about what I should add winamp seems a good choice but still I wonder if running an extra program is wise. Still it will reduce errors programmed by me :P.

As for VLC it is a nice option to. But have to say I am not that good programming FFT's :P.

With kind regards,

FG van Zeelst

dmart23 · 11-07-2007, 03:45 PM

i prefer i tunes

2k1Toaster · 11-07-2007, 03:55 PM

itunes = crap.

from your list the only option is winamp. If you do it yourself, and you want to use windows media player, you can look into the winmm.dll. I am pretty sure it does the same thing wmp does and is super easy to code for like controlling volume and so on. Might be something to consider.

MOnline · 11-07-2007, 04:15 PM

Thank you for your reply,

I am thinking about using Winamp but I wonder why do most program's use winamp and not windows media player. Also I don't really get why you would want to use an external program for handling your music. As far as I can see the only big plus is that you will instantly support multiple file types and stuff.

With kind regards,

FG van Zeelst

2k1Toaster · 11-07-2007, 04:22 PM

the reason is because winamp can be configured to have perfect audio output. WMP hass loss in the music. To me, I cannot tell, and to the majority of people, probably can't tell. An audiophile however like Red or XC or turbocad, or others will notice instantly and not use it. So you either program for the majority and use WMP or program for everyone and use Winamp. That is the reason I am aware of. That and no liscensing problems with winamp whereas wmp might have some limitations legally, I am not really sure.

MOnline · 11-07-2007, 04:44 PM

Thank you,

As of now I will definitly go for winamp. But to keep on the safe side I will program a module to control winamp this way if winamp changes the way it should behave I only have to change it once

. Also this way I will be able to create a iTunes / Windows Media Player / Whatever module 2 when I want to and not having to rewrite a whole lot of code

.

With kind regards

,

FG van Zeelst