Audio Player Hell

[Ambrosia7177]

I do not understand audio players?! Why are they so complicated??

Here is what I am trying to do, but struggling with...

I have a "beep.mp3" file which I need to play when I am recording a phone call to protect me legally. (And, YES, what I am doing is legal and ethical...)

In my Windows days, I would set Windows Media Player to "repeat", double-click on "beep.mp3" file, and it would play forever.

Well, when I try and do this in iTunes 12.8 on macOS Sierra, when the beep.mp3 is done playing the player goes to the next item in my list which happens to be an Internet radio station I was listening to. (Like you'd want that coming up on a call?!)

iTunes is so fricking confusing as far as the UI goes I cannot begin to describe the pain it causes me. (I don't like Microsoft, but actually miss Windows Media Player!)

Then I tried VLC 3.0.3 but am equally confused. At first, when I opned VLC, my Internet radio station playlist keep kicking off. I have since disabled that, but I cannot find a way to make beep.mp3 repeat. Also, I have to navigate to it on my hard-drive each time - which is no small feat?!

Why is all of this so damn hard?

In my Windows days, I'd go to Wndows Explorer, find "beep.mp3", double-click on it, and Windows Media Player would...

1.) Play it
2.) Play it in a repeating loop
3.) NOT play anything else, unless I clicked on a new file or whatever
4.) Store the beep.mp3 file so when I opened WMP up later on, all i would have to do is click the file in the player itself and it would play.


Since I ned this for business phoe calls, I need a solution where I can double-click on a shortcut to the file (or inside the player itself) and I am good to go. (I do NOT want to have to tell the caller/callee, "Hang on for a few minutes while I figure out where my "beep.mp3" file is on my computer and how to get it running so I can record this call...")

There has to be an easier way?!

 

[Meuti]

To make VLC repeat your beep.mp3 you need to toggle the repeat button to "loop one". It will then play that file over and over again. If you don't see the loop button you can also choose it from the menu (it should be under playback, not sure because I use the German version).

To access the file fast why don't you just save it (or put an alias) on your desktop? If you only need it to play once when your call starts you could then just click it once to choose it and hit the spacebar which will play the file with preview. That should be the fastest and easiest way in my opinion.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Interesting. Where are you calling that playing a "beep" absolves you from any legal issues?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@Meuti,

Hello.

Let's back up and talk about what I have right now...

So I just opened up VLC, and it loads to "Playlist" which is a playlist of about eight Internet radio station that I listen to. (Really terrestrial stations with Internet streams.)

Originally when I opened VLC, that Playlist would open up and the first radio station would start playing.

Yesterday I did a Cmd + , and went to: Show All > Playlist > AutoStart and unchecked that box.

So I guess the next thing I need help with, is how do I get "beep.mp3" into VLC so it is in essence "bookmarked"?

(Note, that unlike iTunes, I do NOT want this file being copied or duplicated, but rather I just want it to be "bookmarked" in VLC so I can see it.)

How would I do that?

 

[Dave Braine]

Quicktime has a "Loop" function, in the View Menu.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Quicktime has a "Loop" function, in the View Menu.

Except that you have to manually choose it each time - it isn't associated with a file when you open it.

I am open to using iTunes but am thinking VLC would be the best way to go.

So do you know the answer to my question above?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Maybe try another MP3 player?

I use WinAmp on Windows... and it has a repeat function that is persistent.

There must be other MP3 player for the Mac.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Maybe try another MP3 player?

I use WinAmp on Windows... and it has a repeat function that is persistent.

There must be other MP3 player for the Mac.

Are iTunes, VLC and QuickTIme not MP3 players?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Are iTunes, VLC and QuickTIme not MP3 players?

They are... but is there another MP3 player that keeps Repeat PERSISTENT?

That's what I was suggesting.

You already know Windows Media Player will keep Repeat persistent... and I just told you that WinAmp does too.

So... there might be another MP3 player for Mac that does as well.

You're saying you don't want to manually click Repeat every time... so I was simply suggesting that there might be another MP3 player that keeps Repeat selected.

That's all I was saying.

 

[Meuti]

I am afraid I don't have the answer to your question. I don't really use VLC very much... I just tried something and if you put the MP3-File into the Media-Library (again... I'm using the German version so I'm not sure if it's the right name) it will stay in there even if you close VLC and open it again. Here's a screenshot:

To loop it just do as I stated in my previous post (Menu Playback - Repeat one).

I'm not sure if I understood your purpose correctly tho. To me it still seems to be the easiest way to simply click the MP3 file on your desktop and press the spacebar to preview it. It will play without the need to open a mp3 player. Of course you can't loop it like this, but you can access is it faster than having to open vlc, choose it and play it manually.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I just tried this in VLC on Windows... though it should be the same on a Mac.

- Double-click "beep.mp3"

- VLC Player opens

- Repeat stays selected


Is that what you're looking for? This seems to be exactly what you're wanting to achieve.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

They are... but is there another MP3 player that keeps Repeat PERSISTENT?

That's what I was suggesting.

You already know Windows Media Player will keep Repeat persistent... and I just told you that WinAmp does too.

So... there might be another MP3 player for Mac that does as well.

You're saying you don't want to manually click Repeat every time... so I was simply suggesting that there might be another MP3 player that keeps Repeat selected.

That's all I was saying.

But WinAmp is for Windows only, right?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@Michael Scrip,

All of this applications have very unintuitive interfaces... :-(

Okay, so I have been playing around with VLC, and trying to read some of the manual, and this is what I have figured out so far, but please correct me if I'm wrong...

In the left margin under "Library" is "Playlist' and "Media Library".

Under "Playlist", I have a playlist I created somewhere (iTuens? VLC?) long ago that has maybe 8-10 Internet rdio stations in it.

Under "Media Library", I see "Beep". It appears that if I go into Finder, and right-click to open an mp3 using VLC that it gets added to the "Media Library".

You can also apparently right-click in the main pane of VLC, and choose "Add File", which will add a file to your "Media Library" similar to how when you right-click on a file in Finder.

I guess that is how I recall Windows Media Player working, but I haven't used that in a decade.

And to your point, and @Meuti's point, if I go to Playback > Repeat One then when you play a given file under "Media Library", it does appear to keep playing over and over.

So I think that is what I want...

********
What is confusing is that you can go to "Playlist", and right-click in the main pane, and choose "Add File" these as well.

I'm not sure the purpose of that?

What is also strange - and annoying - under "Playlists" is this...

1.) Why isn't there a way to choose something like File > New Playlist?

When I added two test files under "Playlist", and then I chose File > Save Playlist, VLC ended up taking those two files PLUS my original Internet radio station playlist, and creating a new playlist with everything in it.

The only way I could get the second "Test_Playlist" to just have my two test files, was to fire up BBEDit and edit the .m3u file, which is screwed up?! (Like Mrs. Jones would know how to do that?!)

2.) If you double-click on a Playlist and have Playback > Repeat One chosen, then only the 1st item in your Playlist repeats.

Intuitively, if you double-click on a Playlist and have Playback > Repeat One chosen, you would expect THAT Playlist to repeat over and over again, right?

Maybe you have two Playlists: "Workout Playlist", "Relaxation Playlist"

One would expect there is a way to not only play a given Playlist, but to be able to put THAT gievn Playlist in a loop, right?

3.) Lastly, it appears that everything under "Playlists" and "Media Library" are merely text files that POINT to the actual media files, but I'm not 100% certain. (I know I found it really annying that trying to do the things I talk about above in iTunes ends up creating duplicate files on your hard-drive, which is a horrible idea?!)


Anyone who knows more about VLC (and iTunes) and what I am trying to do, feel free to chime in.

But I *think* I have a working solution...

 

[Michael Scrip]

But WinAmp is for Windows only, right?

I think there is a version of WinAmp for MacOS.

But my point all along was... find some MP3 player that lets you simply play a file and keeps it looping. This can't be that difficult.

In fact... if you look at my post above... I achieved it using VLC.

You want to open "beep.mp3" and repeat it... as easy and as quickly as possible. You shouldn't need to bother with iTunes, media libraries, playlists, or any heavy stuff to loop a damn file.

Looping an MP3 is a very common task and any MP3 player should accomplish this.

 

[Meuti]

And to your point, and @Meuti's point, if I go to Playback > Repeat One then when you play a given file under "Media Library", it does appear to keep playing over and over.

So I think that is what I want...

Very well! =)

Intuitively, if you double-click on a Playlist and have Playback > Repeat One chosen, you would expect THAT Playlist to repeat over and over again, right?

No, Repeat One will do as it says: Play ONE song again and again. If you choose Repeat All instead, it will repeat the songs in the playlist once they all played through.

3.) Lastly, it appears that everything under "Playlists" and "Media Library" are merely text files that POINT to the actual media files, but I'm not 100% certain. (I know I found it really annying that trying to do the things I talk about above in iTunes ends up creating duplicate files on your hard-drive, which is a horrible idea?!)

That's right. Usually the playlists are simply text files that show your player which songs to play. iTunes does not necessarily create duplicate files. That is something you can adjust in the settings.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@Meuti,

No, Repeat One will do as it says: Play ONE song again and again. If you choose Repeat All instead, it will repeat the songs in the playlist once they all played through.

Why not also allow users to play one Playlist again?

As mentioned above, maybe I have a "workout" Playlist and a "relaxation" Playlist.

Is there not a way to play a given Playlist either once, or to repeat that one Playlist over and over?

If there is not, then what would be the purpose of having multiple Playlists if your library melts together?

(As someone who helps design websites and software, these kinds of poor UI choices is why I hate iTunes...)

That's right. Usually the playlists are simply text files that show your player which songs to play.

Good.

iTunes does not necessarily create duplicate files. That is something you can adjust in the settings.

But I think that is how it was set up by default. And after using it on my old Mac for years, I had like 30GB of duplicate mp3 fill up my hard-drive for no logical reason!

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Interesting. Where are you calling that playing a "beep" absolves you from any legal issues?

@BrianBaughn,

Per your question...

Telephone call recording laws

 

[cdcastillo]

Have you tried to just "quicklook" the file on your desktop? meaning having the beep.mp3 on your desktop, select it and when you need it just press the space bar and it "previews" it (meaning, it plays it)

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Have you tried to just "quicklook" the file on your desktop? meaning having the beep.mp3 on your desktop, select it and when you need it just press the space bar and it "previews" it (meaning, it plays it)

Yes, I could do that, but then it won't loop.

Right now my beep.mp3 is 10 minute long. I could make it like an hour, but knowing my "giftfor gab" that wouldn't be long enough either?!

I think I have VLC set up to work like I need now, although I would be interested to get answers to my questions in post #16 from @Meuti or someone else knowledgable about VLC!

 

[BrianBaughn]

@BrianBaughn,

Per your question...

Telephone call recording laws

So I suppose you have to check the state laws (of where you calling from or to) to see if they accept the FCC (Federal) definition that a beep is sufficient?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

So I suppose you have to check the state laws (of where you calling from or to) to see if they accept the FCC (Federal) definition that a beep is sufficient?

Companies have been using "beeps" since the 1980s - it's hardly new news.

In modern times they usually just use some b.s. line of "For quality and training purposes this call may be recorded.." but it's all the same.

And, fwiw, I do have a phone tree set up with just such a message. But there have been times where maybe I've had issues with a company, and I had to call them, so in that cae, the beep works better.

 

[Meuti]

@Meuti,
Why not also allow users to play one Playlist again?

As mentioned above, maybe I have a "workout" Playlist and a "relaxation" Playlist.

Is there not a way to play a given Playlist either once, or to repeat that one Playlist over and over?

If there is not, then what would be the purpose of having multiple Playlists if your library melts together?

Actually I think this is how it works. Let's say you have your two playlists saved as Workout and Relaxation. Now if you want to listen to your Workout List you'd open it in VLC, set it to Loop All and it will play this one playlist again and again. You just need to make sure that no other playlists or titles are opened in VLC. So before you open your playlist remove all titles from the active playlist.

I think the confusing part is that VLC always uses a "playlist". Every song you add is in this playlist. So if you want to open an existing playlist without just adding it to what's already playing you need to clear the list first. I hope you know what I mean... It sounds more confusing than it actually is 😂

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Actually I think this is how it works. Let's say you have your two playlists saved as Workout and Relaxation. Now if you want to listen to your Workout List you'd open it in VLC, set it to Loop All and it will play this one playlist again and again. You just need to make sure that no other playlists or titles are opened in VLC. So before you open your playlist remove all titles from the active playlist.

Okay, but this is the part I feel is a poor design...

My hard-drive is maxed out, and I have a fodler structure that easily goes 10 dep in some places.

Who wants to have to spend all of that time navigating to a particular Playlist that I want? (e.g. "Relaxation Playlist")

My expectation is that you build VLC Playlists in VLC, and you leav Playlists in VLC and when you double-click on a given Playlist it eitehr plays once or in a loop.

I see what you are saying, but having to navigate to, open, listen to, and then close a given Playlist is a real PITA if that is how VLC works.

Follow me?

Sounds like that is how it is...

I think the confusing part is that VLC always uses a "playlist". Every song you add is in this playlist. So if you want to open an existing playlist without just adding it to what's already playing you need to clear the list first. I hope you know what I mean... It sounds more confusing than it actually is 😂

Yeah, I think both VLC and iTunes are fubars from a design standpoint!

Do you know of any players with more intuitive UI's?

 

[Fishrrman]

"Do you know of any players with more intuitive UI's?"

Try "Cog" (if it's still available, still runs here on Mojave).

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Didn't I answer this fully the first time you posted this? I tested the solution myself. Why doesn't iTunes work?