Use of Foobar as a Media Player

[mahler10th]

Right.  I saw pics of Foobar in the Media Player thread, which led me to download it.  The pics I saw were of the app having cover art, it being very colourful and seemingly informative etc.  I downloaded Foobar because I liked what I saw and this is what I got...

What have you done to your Foobars to make them look better than this desert of creativity?

[Mark]

This is one of the most customisable media players around, but you have to play with the settings and scan the help files online for a few tips.

Try doing the following:

1) Download the file here: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c08a753ba0d7d6e995af63b7d44918aa46717231725e61a0 - put it on your desktop.

2) Launch foobar2000 and hit Ctrl+P

3) Click once on the option, 'Default User Interface'

4) Under 'Theme Management', click 'Import Theme', then navigate to the file you put on your desktop.

5) When you see the window, 'Choose Theme Selections To Import', click OK. (Make sure everything is checked.)

6) Now click 'Save All', then 'Close' ... and you're done.


There. That'll get you started.

[mahler10th]

Thank you very much.  It looks better, that's for sure, I'll google for Foobar themes, go through them in the manner you've indicated, and mess around some more.
I very much appreciate your help there Mark.

[Mark]

All you need to do now is click on 'Layout Editing Mode' in the top right-hand corner of your screen, then right-click on various parts of the interface and start playing around. But first, download the Facets .dll from the foobar2000 components page, and put this in the 'components' folder in foobar2000's main folder in Program Files. And don't forget to change colours and text settings by hitting Ctrl+P and using the appropriate menu item.

[mahler10th]

I am very happy with this - I am now a Foobar fan.  Thanks Mark.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

What have you done to your Foobars to make them look better than this desert of creativity?

This is exactly what I have been (not) looking at the last few years. But I don't mind.

Though I'll make a mental note of Mark's postings...

[Holden]

Does Foobar burn CDs?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Does Foobar burn CDs?

As far as I know - no. But it can rip them.

[Mark]

Does Foobar burn CDs?

If you have Nero on your machine plus the right .dll file in the 'components' folder, then yes, it does.

Jez, how do you make it rip CDs (I've yet to try, to be honest)?

[Mark]

I am very happy with this - I am now a Foobar fan.  Thanks Mark.

Get comfortable with this, then install the Columns UI .dll - it'll blow your mind.

[mahler10th]

I installed it, (columns.dll) didn't fully develop it, dropped it and stuck to what I've got.  Can a clock be put on it?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

If you have Nero on your machine plus the right .dll file in the 'components' folder, then yes, it does.

Jez, how do you make it rip CDs (I've yet to try, to be honest)?

Click on File (left, at the top). You see a menu, with Open Audio CD. Click on it and the rest is easy...

[Mark]

I installed it, (columns.dll) didn't fully develop it, dropped it and stuck to what I've got.  Can a clock be put on it?

No idea about the clock, sorry.

Here's my latest config: an update of 'Cool Grey' (shown yesterday in the 'Media Players' thread), this time using Columns UI rather than Default UI. The config file is here if anyone wants it.

[Iconito]

Does Foobar burn CDs?

As Mark said, it does, with the added benefit that you can apply things like Replay Gain and DSP filters (maybe some equalisation? Perhaps a little pitch correction?) to your burned disc, which is waaaay cool.

As for the looks, I think the attached image shows unmistakably how little I care for them. Foobar won me with all the cool, invisible, geek-wet-dream-come-true bunch of features.

[Mark]

Oh yes, Iconito, the features beyond the UI!

I particularly like those DSP components which do a convincing job of converting mono to some sort of credible stereo output, up-scale stereo to four speakers, and provide invaluable crossfeed when using headphones. These last two add a greater sense of depth and space to the stereo image when you're wearing cans, greatly reducing listening fatigue.

BTW, Trilok Gurtu is a favourite artist of my father's.

[Iconito]

BTW, Trilok Gurtu is a favourite artist of my father's.

Your father knows good! 

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

you can apply things like Replay Gain and DSP filters (maybe some equalisation? Perhaps a little pitch correction?)

You can apply whatever is available before postprocessing (conversion). Pitch correction? Yes: foo_dsp_soundtouch from Acropolis.
As there are VST wrapper dsp's available, you could simply use any VST effect and as you may know, there are millions.

I've once told it here: The most important plugin for me as a classical listener is foo_dsp_vlevel. It permanently alters the volume in order to keep an even volume level. No more fiddling around with the volume knob. This is a must have if you listen to classical music e.g. in your car. Put this into the converter chain when converting stuff for car! BTW my settings for car are 80/20/2.

Decription from vlevel.sourceforge.net:

VLevel keeps your music from making you jump out of your seat, and it keeps you from having to fiddle with the volume constantly. It's different from other dynamic compressors because it looks ahead. You can think of VLevel as someone who knows your music by heart, and turns the volume up during quiet passages, but smoothly turns it back down when he knows a loud part is coming. It's great for making CDs to listen to in your car, or to play background music on your computer.

[Mark]

Does Foobar burn CDs?

Just a quick tip for anyone expecting to burn CDs using foobar2000 if they have Nero 7 Ultra Edition installed - it doesn't work!

But upgrade to Nero 8, and all's well again.


Here's a slightly tweaked/improved version of my Columns UI 'Cool Grey' theme. Ideal for those who are used to the iTunes interface.

[Holden]

Just a quick tip for anyone expecting to burn CDs using foobar2000 if they have Nero 7 Ultra Edition installed - it doesn't work!

But upgrade to Nero 8, and all's well again.


Here's a slightly tweaked/improved version of my Columns UI 'Cool Grey' theme. Ideal for those who are used to the iTunes interface.

Can you print covers using Foobar?

[Mark]

Can you print covers using Foobar?

Not sure.

But then, if you have Nero, that function comes as standard.