Lean mean media player

I have a friend that is pretty much home bound due to health problems.

His hobby is downloading and playing music.

His win98 computer is a 200mhz 128 megs Ram.

He downloads usually MP3 but then converts to WMA for further size reduction.

I have totally maxed it to run as fast as possible. And it does very well except quite often it will stutter when playing music. I know that it is maxing out resources so, I need some suggestions as to:

A Lean mean Media player that is lighter on resource usage.

Can use MP 6.4 but thought there may be something better for him.

I have searched the BBS and have a few ideas. But how about any additional suggestions on what you all have tried.

mike

 

Hi Mike

Doesnt MS have a extra (forget what its called) bonus pack or power toys, with cdnow that is less cpu and resouse intensive ?
Or have you though of that already? dont know what its capable of format wise, I would have tried it but to old for win me.

Afraid I cant be much help, I dont stream or listen to music with our pc, to intencive ,cant do many other things at same time.
even with a 733 mhz(celleron)
(I must be getting OLD)
Lonny

 

Thanks Lonnie

No he don't usually stream. He just downloads and plays locally!

Thanks for replying.

Mike

 

What Lonny is referring to is FlexiCD, from the Win95 PowerToys. I am currently running it now while responding. It uses .20 to .15% during playback, jumps to 2.4% during switching tracks, or when you right click on the icon in the systray, according to WinTop, another of those toys.
I am currently using a 200MMX with 96 mb 98SE, and use 6.4 to play mp3's that I have created using CD,n,GO. I am aware that it uses 40% while doing this.
The max bitrate that I use is 128,000, about equal to CD quality. Now that could a consideration as to which files to download.
If you do find one I will watching this thread, as I would be interested in this, also.
I have no doubt that you already eliminated 7.1 (70%), you can eliminate Sonique also. It will start out at 45%, then jump to 85% and stay there. It has to do with the graphics that it displays.

 

Thanks Mark

I had forgotten Flexi.

I will post results found inside and outside this thread!

Mike

 

jetAudio (supports all the usual formats plus RealMedia too).

 

Thanks Brett.

Lonnie and Mark you may want to look at this.

But I think I hit the jackpot here.

Because he only wants it to play music (not even CD's) just mp3,wma etc. No video either.

So a little searching found TrayPlay

http://www.chime.tv/multimedia.shtml

Amazing 37K no frills but seems to have almost no CPU impact.

It is totallly stand alone single exe (no installation).

The only thing I found is that sometimes it will not reopen frm the system tray and has to be stoped by task mgr (in win2k) appearently somthing that I ran after it loaded. But no such problem in 98.

Remember only older low resource computeres should need it, and it is not a replacement for WMP.

Mike

 

Thank you, mflynn.
I downloaded TrayPlay, and used it, with the following information on it. According to Wintop, TrayPlay it self uses anywhere from 5% to 8% processor time. An interesting aside to this it also loads Rundll32.Exe with the resulting additional 26% to 30% processor usage. Slightly less resources, though I didn't check out which Dll file is being run with Rundll32.Exe. From the webpage downloaded "require VB6 Runtime Dll & Ocx files ".
The pro of it is that runs in the systray.
The only con to it is that it doesn't do m3u playlists, but then again it is a small app.
It uses about the same processor time as 6.4 when playing mp3's, it will random play all the mp3's in a folder. It runs well in 98SE.
It creates the follow key in the registry to retain it's settings.
Hkey_Current_User\Software\VB and VBA Program Setting\ChimeTrayPlay
I would say all in all it is equal to 6.4, with the advantage of running in the systray.

 

I also needed a small player for w95 computer. Downloader "Trayplay ", had VB6 on system previously. Moved over a .wmp song (created on WMP 9.0 / XP via network) from my system. Trayplay loaded nicely, linked it with the .wma file, associated the file, Trayplay acknowleged. But NO music, no VB errors. Just sits there. Trayplay is displaying the .wma file in the lower view of program, while the upper view for the song is highlighted. When I double clip on the song file , get a 2 second busy cursor. The bottom "Time meter" never advances. Any suggestions?

EDIT / UPDATE
Can't try it out using a CD, player went south a year ago. That's why this little player was interesting. Just going to setup a "share folder" for music to the network.

 

Hmmmm

Mark that makes me think it may actually be using the media player engine?

Dennis I am running it on 2K and it plays both mp3 and wma??

Perhaps try a different wma and a mp3?

Also you might try it on your XP to see if it plays the same wma there.

If that does work then and still no go on the w95 maybe there is a chance the VB runtime is whacked in some way, reinstall?

Possibly even a DirectX issue.

Mike

 

Created a mp3 using EAC, moved it over to the w95, "Playtray" jump right on it and we had music. Think this boils down to a "codec" problem. The same song recorded in mp3 is... 13557KB , .wma is 9306KB. That is using WMP 9.0 newest compression version for .wma at 128kbps. I use this version for the obvious, almost a 50% file reduction with no audio loss (my opinion). There are two other .wma file types available... "variable bit rate" (40-75kbps) and "Lossless" (470-940kbps). With a 37KB download program (Playtray), codec's to convert the file must be resident to the computer... again my guess. Next question, can I load the newest .wma codec onto the w95 without WMP present... keep in mind, it just has to play the file, not have the ability to record with it. If yes, does anyone know the codec file name and where do I install on the w95.

 

Hi Dennis

I don't know the name right off but if someone does not then I will find out.

But tommorow, time for ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz now.

But how was the performance of the Trayplay in comparison to what you were using.

Mike

 

Just fine, it played the mp3 as good as any other player. I use WMP 9.0 for convenience, it is fast and brain dead easy. Wth the new compression scheme it's a nice combination. But I do NOT use it for playback. I prefer "UltraPlayer ". Skins are friendlier in minimized mode per what info / controls are furnished and how nicely it tucks and displays in non used portions of the screen. For now, get them ZZZzzz, much more important.
Thanks

 

Codecs for Media 8 and 9
The above page also has a link to the Media 9 Encoder, but need XP or W2k with DirectX9 to use.
Dennis L, I believe you want the Media 8 codecs download.

Yes it does seem to use the MP codecs, it is too small of an app not to.

I would hazard a guess the Dll might be Msvbvm60.Dll, with a slim chance of Msvbvm50.Dll, maybe Vbar332.Dll
The Msvbvm60.Dll is a required file for running executables created with VB, if I remember right, along with a few others.

Visual Basic Runtimes below;
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];vbruntime&
Note: The brackets in the above URL does not allow it to show correctly, copying and pasting into the address bar should work.