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Topic: Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture (Read 6438 times) previous topic - next topic
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Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture

Reply #25 –
Quote from: tagtypedisplay on
I then patiently try to explain that Queue isn't displayed anywhere, and the noob grumbles and rumbles, "why is there no visual feedback as to the contents of the active AND Queued songs, and while we're here why is there no easy way to return to the active song ?" asks the noob

If you add the column "Playing" in your Playlist view, you see the queue position (1), (2), (3) etc. Also you can add the component foo_queuecontents which lets you view the queue in the same way as a playlist. The latter might be considered a "power user" thing as you should know the difference between a playlist and the queue (and the library).

However I cannot see how the playback queue can be a problem. You are not forced to use it, it just there if you want to.
As an example here's what I do. I made a Keyboard Shortcut for [context playlist] Add to playback queue. This works easy without confusion. (BTW double clicking a track is something completely different = forcing it to play and wipe the queue).

In a playlist (with nothing queued) check the playback menu -> Playback follows cursor (and learn what is does).

If you double click music files in Windows Explorer (hardly necessary if you use the Library Search, Album List or Facets, but a typical newbie might do that) check Preferences->Shell Integration [Set "enqueue" as default action] and [Always sent new files to playlist:]. I prefer the first of those checked and the second unchecked.
When it happens to you that you "wipe" a playlist, just use Edit->Undo.

Oh and going back to the now playing song, is double clicking the status bar what you mean?

To me foobar2000 is a tool (to play music) and as with any tool, you must know how to use it. This is not a Power User only thing.


BTW: What player did the OP use before f2Kbar, that was so intuitive?
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.

Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture

Reply #26 –
Quote from: dhromed on
The problem is that you're viewing the queue as a "now playing" playlist. I don't know why, but I advise to stop viewing the queue as a "now playing" playlist.
Exactly!


What is fb2k's queue and how does it work and why does it work that way?
Best answer: It is exactly the same like the queue in Winamp and also works exactly the same way for the same reasons!

And if someone don't believe then go to winamp and check the functionality of the queue!


Here an very old screenshot from me that clarifies the different usage of names in different programs:
https://imageshack.com/i/eunames2oj

Re: Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture

Reply #27 –
I'm pleased that my initial (very, VERY long) elicited so many responses.  I want to close out the discussion from my side by saying that I was STILL very frustrated with the user interface in FooBar 2000, I decided with some apprehension to try YET AGAIN to find something easier to use.  I've spent (wasted!) so much time doing this,...  But I thought I'd try again. 

The fantastically wonderful news is that I immediately zeroed in on "MusicBee", (http://getmusicbee.com/ ) and while it might be slightly premature to render a judgment, it appears to have EVERY feature I would want.  In fact, it seems as close to perfect as I could ever hope. 
Specifically, it does the following:
1) If I search for an artist, song, genre, whatever, and find a song I want to play, I can right click and get an INTELLIGENT context sensitive menu offering the following options:
  a) Play now (Starts a new "Now Playing list" based on whatever is in the Search results window, and starts playing the selected song in its appropriate position in the Search results list.  (any other songs in the search results are included on the (new) Now Playing list as well....  maybe even some you don't want.       
  b) Queue Next (inserts an the selected song immediately after the song currently playing, assuming you already have some songs in the "Now Playing" list.  Does NOT interrupt the song currently playing).  Love, love, love it!!!
  c) Queue Last (Adds the selected song to the very end of the Now Playing list  (Oh my, my, my, my, my.... !!) 
  d) Play More....  (offers some intelligent options to play some related music.  For example, you can select to Queue the full album the song is from, either immediately or at the end of the list, and many other options.  Any relevant song is added to the Now Playing list. 
  e) Edit (Opens Tag editor in a separate window)
  f) Rating (where you can assign rating of 0 to 5 Stars, in 1/2-star increments, plus "Love" and "Ban" ratings).  (I gave up looking for an add-in for Foobar to do this.) 
  g) Send To...  (offers a bunch of useful options, say, for creating a separate folder containing the source files!!!! ) 
  h) AutoTag    (Searches online databases)...    AND
  i) Search (Offers intelligent additional search options.  For example you can search for other songs from the same Album, by the same artist.  You can search for similar artists etc.  These songs are not added to the Now Playing list until you tell it to add them. 

2) Regarding the "Now Playing" list, the songs do not disappear after they play.  You can save the entire list at any point.  You can also click and drag within the list to reorder songs, or select other songs in the queue
3) And once you've created a list you like, if you want to save it send your "Now Playing" list to create a new Playlist. 

In addition to these song selection features, you have options for Replay Gain control, including the ability to restore original levels. 
You can display lyrics window, album art, artist info from Last.fm  and so much more....  all in a VERY SIMPLE, and VERY intuitive GUI

And on and on.  I'm so, so happy.  FINALLY have found a music player that has all the features I want, without useless trappings....  Sorry...  no offense intended against Foobar2000.  It's just that I've installed and uninstalled so many music players looking for the perfect one, I could never understand why it was so hard to find a player offering the features described above.  NOW, if I can ONLY find a player having similar features that runs on Android!    The closest I've found (ironically) is "GooglePlay Music", which is super annoying in other ways...  always trying to steer me to Streaming services....  but I'll keep searching.  I've probably tried and deleted a dozen or so by now.  (Why should this be so difficult??!!)  Any recommendations will be welcome.   

So happy!!!             

Re: Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture

Reply #28 –
And we're happy that you're happy and that this discussion can be closed. A discussion that essentially boils down to a user problem and not a foobar problem. I must say, it's a nice sales pitch for musicbee.

Re: Playlists, Playback Queue, and other instruments of torture

Reply #29 –
Until I noticed the date I was wondering the reason for the rant, since I can remember replying to similar questions in another thread by the OP (which wasn't further responded to for some reason).

And neither thread was locked by mods. Glad the OP found something they're happy with out of the box :)