foobar2000 - UI Configuration Primer

[PJPro]

I've had a quick look. Mine orders by track number. I didn't do anything to achieve this....I thought it was default behaviour. I've had a quick look round the preferences but can't see anything obvious.

If I get time, I have another look tomorrow.

 

[mattjax05]

PJPro - I found the answer. When you select an album from the filter search it puts it in the playlist in the 'file name' order (my files were named as the track title only). I have just re configured EAC to name each file by track number first followed by the track name, so before where I had for example 'All My Life' I now have '01 - All My Life' as the file name.

I have however another question. Not to do with configuration though. My songs are in the FLAC format, played in Foobar2000 and sent via HDMI (as it's my only digital output) to my Home Cinema Receiver. At what point is the FLAC file format converted so that the receiver recognises the data?

Matt

 

[mattjax05]

PJPro - I found the answer. When you select an album from the filter search it puts it in the playlist in the 'file name' order (my files were named as the track title only). I have just re configured EAC to name each file by track number first followed by the track name, so before where I had for example 'All My Life' I now have '01 - All My Life' as the file name.

I have however another question. Not to do with configuration though. My songs are in the FLAC format, played in Foobar2000 and sent via HDMI (as it's my only digital output) to my Home Cinema Receiver. At what point is the FLAC file format converted so that the receiver recognises the data?

Matt

 

[PJPro]

I've just spent a frustrating hour or so trying to create a dynamic playlist. I've done this before but had forgotten how to do this and there doesn't appear to be any guides on line (that I can find)....so I'm going to record it here for my benefit as much as anyone else's.

A auto playlist is a playlist that has a filter associated with it. For example, genre IS "Festive" will produce a list of tracks that have the genre equal to Festive. This is static and reflects the collection of tracks meeting the filter criteria at the time of the playlist creation.

A dynamic auto playlist will refilter the music library every time foobar2000 is opened. So new tracks which are ripped to the library which meet the criteria will be added to the playlist.

To create a dynamic auto playlist.....

1) Click File | Preferences. The Preferences dialog opens
2) Expand the Media Library node and select Album List. The Album List sheet is displayed
3) Click the Activate Album List WIndow / Media Library View. The Album List dialog is displayed showing the library tree with the All Music node as the root.
4) Click the All Music node.
4) Place a filter into the Filter textbox e.g. NOT Genre IS "Festive" (or all tracks except xmas stuff)
5) Right click the All Music node and click Create Autoplaylist from the context menu. A new playlist is created and added to the Playlist View.

If you now right click this newly created playlist, you'll see the option to select Autoplaylist (Album list branch - properties). This allows you to edit the filter. Everytime this playlist is selected, this filter is applied to your whole library.

Until now, I've not used autoplaylists much. However, I have used it to autofilter based on track rating. My new WDTVLive thingy (and it's rubbish library) means I'm going to have to use them a lot more, so I needed to sort this functionality out.

Anyway, I hope this is also of use/interest to others. If not, at least I'll have somewhere to look if I forget how to do it again. I must be getting old!

 

[pete321]

Thanks PJ, I've managed to the Chronflow working and all set up as per your Primer instructions Now the tweaking starts, a couple of questions:

[*]What's the 2nd Horizontal Tab for, there's nothing in it?
[*]Can you get bigger buttons for the stop, play, etc.

Thanks.

 

[PJPro]

pete321:
Thanks PJ, I've managed to the Chronflow working and all set up as per your Primer instructions

Cool! That's a good start.
pete321:

Now the tweaking starts, a couple of questions:

[*]What's the 2nd Horizontal Tab for, there's nothing in it?
[*]Can you get bigger buttons for the stop, play, etc.

Thanks.

Well, the 2nd tab will hold the UI below

 

[kena]

pete321:

Thanks PJ, I've managed to the Chronflow working and all set up as per your Primer instructions Now the tweaking starts, a couple of questions:

[*]What's the 2nd Horizontal Tab for, there's nothing in it?
[*]Can you get bigger buttons for the stop, play, etc.

Thanks.

Check out here for buttons , note post re some not working due need to be exported from an older version of Foobar but you should fine something suitable

 

[PJPro]

OK. So, the second UI.

File | Preferences. Preferences Dialog appears

Expand the Display node and select Columns UI.

Click the layout tab.

Scroll to the second horizontal splitter.

You need to insert panels to reflect the following structure....

Horizontal splitter (this is the second horizontal splitter)
Vertical splitter
Playlist switcher
Item properties
Album Art
Vertical splitter
Horizontal splitter
Filter
Filter
Filter
NG Playlist

That sorts out the panels required. Give me a shout once you're done.

 

[pete321]

PJPro:OK. So, the second UI. Give me a shout once you're done.

OK, thanks, got those panels in place.

 

[Anonymous]

Since I'm using my TV for the GUI, I need a very simple layout so my middle aged eyes can read at a distance

I'm thinking two panels, side-by-side. LHS would be the library list displayed by folder structure. RHS would be the track listing and details of the album selected.

I've seen both of these whilst browsing the pre-defined layouts, but can't for the life of me seem to identify which panel name they are when I'm editing / adding using the columns UI.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[PJPro]

pete321:
PJPro:OK. So, the second UI. Give me a shout once you're done.

OK, thanks, got those panels in place.

The background colours are set using....

File | Preferences.

Expand Display | Columns UI and select Colours and Fonts

I have the following settings...

Item Background - Black
Selected item Background - Light Blue
Inactive selected item Bacground - Darker Blue

But you can set them to whatever you like.

 

[PJPro]

You may also need to configure the NG Playlist.

File | Preferences.

Expand Display | Columns UI and select Palylist view

Click the General tab

At the bottom you will see Artwork (NG Playlist only).

Tick the following checkboxes...

Display artwork in groups
Show reflection

I have the column width set to 113 px

Please complete the above instructions and then tell me how it looks, reporting any issues. Thanks.

 

[pete321]

PJPro:Please complete the above instructions and then tell me how it looks, reporting any issues. Thanks.

All done, but the Chronoflow background is still white, not black like yours.

 

[kena]

pete321:

PJPro:Please complete the above instructions and then tell me how it looks, reporting any issues. Thanks.

All done, but the Chronoflow background is still white, not black like yours.

Easy to change File, Preferences -> Highlight Cronflow (Under Components/Display) then select Display Tab then change Background colour.

 

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say thanks to PJPro for the guide.

It's been a great help to me as a Foobar newbie.

 

[PJPro]

You're welcome!

 

[PJPro]

kena:pete321:

PJPro:Please complete the above instructions and then tell me how it looks, reporting any issues. Thanks.

All done, but the Chronoflow background is still white, not black like yours.

Easy to change File, Preferences -> Highlight Cronflow (Under Components/Display) then select Display Tab then change Background colour.

So pete321, is everything sorted?

 

[pete321]

PJPro:kena:Easy to change File, Preferences -> Highlight Cronflow (Under Components/Display) then select Display Tab then change Background colour.

So pete321, is everything sorted?

Yes, looking good, thank you both for your help. It's the WASAPI bit perfect playback that's putting the smile on my face. Only trouble is as of today I'm having to rely on my Asus phono outs . I've sent my DacMagic off to AudioUpgrades again for it's final mod, it's already had the Burson opamps, now it's getting the full Level 3 treatment. It's amazing how much I'm missing it already, especially as I've just ripped some hi-resolution discs for playback!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

pete321:
PJPro:kena:Easy to change File, Preferences -> Highlight Cronflow (Under Components/Display) then select Display Tab then change Background colour.

So pete321, is everything sorted?

Yes, looking good, thank you both for your help. It's the WASAPI bit perfect playback that's putting the smile on my face. Only trouble is as of today I'm having to rely on my Asus phono outs . I've sent my DacMagic off to AudioUpgrades again for it's final mod, it's already had the Burson opamps, now it's getting the full Level 3 treatment. It's amazing how much I'm missing it already, especially as I've just ripped some hi-resolution discs for playback!

Pete, have you thought about adding a stereo amp to your excellent system. I just think that you might not be getting the best out of your set up even though you have a brilliant receiver.

 

[Anonymous]

Hate to do this - but bump!

Since I'm using my TV for the GUI, I need a very simple layout so my middle aged eyes can read at a distance

I'm thinking two panels, side-by-side. LHS would be the library list displayed by folder structure. RHS would be the track listing and details of the album selected.

I've seen both of these whilst browsing the pre-defined layouts, but can't for the life of me seem to identify which panel name they are when I'm editing / adding using the columns UI.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[pete321]

Gerrardasnails:Pete, have you thought about adding a stereo amp to your excellent system. I just think that you might not be getting the best out of your set up even though you have a brilliant receiver.

The idea was in my mind when I got a refund on my AVR600. I had £1400 after exchanging it for the Z7 and I was thinking of the Naim Nait XS or Cyrus 8XP. I did listen to a Roksan Kandy K2 just before getting the Z7 through a pair of Proac Studio 140's, but when I got the Z7 with it bi-amped and music fed via the modded DacMagic, I thought it compared quite well to the Kandy K2. Obviously the Cyrus or Naim should be a step up, but I decided it wasn't worth spending £1200 to get that. A stereo amp connected to an AV will obviously improve music, but for movies your front L&R will sound different from the centre and they'll be a power shortfall, plus no bi-amping unless you spend mega amounts.

I would like to try and get some mods (opamps, capacitors) in the Z7. The DacMagic has taught me you can get big gains for relatively little spend by upgrading internal components.

 

[kena]

ratty_uk2000:

Hate to do this - but bump!

Since I'm using my TV for the GUI, I need a very simple layout so my middle aged eyes can read at a distance

I'm thinking two panels, side-by-side. LHS would be the library list displayed by folder structure. RHS would be the track listing and details of the album selected.

I've seen both of these whilst browsing the pre-defined layouts, but can't for the life of me seem to identify which panel name they are when I'm editing / adding using the columns UI.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Right click your splitter Insert Panel , Panel, Album List and same again but add Playlist switcher , think this is what your after...

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Kena - that's got it!

 

[pete321]

PJPro:So pete321, is everything sorted?

Hi PJ, I'm having a bit of trouble with the random playback, I've created some playlists, but if I play it back in random mode and then skip a track I don't fancy, it goes back to playing in order rather than continuing in random as WMP would. Any ideas on how to rectify this? Thanks.

 

[kena]

pete321:

PJPro:So pete321, is everything sorted?

Hi PJ, I'm having a bit of trouble with the random playback, I've created some playlists, but if I play it back in random mode and then skip a track I don't fancy, it goes back to playing in order rather than continuing in random as WMP would. Any ideas on how to rectify this? Thanks.

Recall seeing somewhere that Shuffle is more random, don't know if this would help you.