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    #31
    That is too bad that it did not work. I've attached a development version that will show the playlists as they are buffered after a setup page update and when they are selected by Now Playing. This should give us some more insight where the disconnect is.

    An except from my log when the plugin was loaded (Buffering) and when Now Playing was open (Showing) and a playlist then selected (Building).

    This version has the xAP and sliMP3 support which is not fully checked out yet. Hopefully it will not interfere with basic operations if slimp3 is not selected.

    <pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheDoors of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheEagles of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheKinks of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheMoodyBlues of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheRollingStones of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheWho of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~ThreeDogNight of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~TopClassical of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~Various of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~VariousArtists of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~On The Mountain of type pla
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~On The Mountain of type m3u
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~Ways of type m3u
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~Aerosmith of type m3u
    1/10/2004 10:59:40 PM~!~Buffering~!~BeeGees of type m3u
    1/10/2004 10:59:41 PM~!~Info~!~Web Server started on port 81
    1/10/2004 10:59:41 PM~!~Info~!~Local IP address is: 192.168.0.200
    1/10/2004 10:59:41 PM~!~startup~!~Initializing text to speech
    1/10/2004 10:59:43 PM~!~Device Restore~!~Device state XML file failed to load.
    1/10/2004 10:59:43 PM~!~Info~!~Occupancy Sensor set to "occupied"
    1/10/2004 10:59:43 PM~!~MOTION~!~&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt; Motion Sensor Devices Initialized
    1/10/2004 10:59:47 PM~!~mcsMusic~!~Using xAP port 3642
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Showing Playlist Filter for player 14~!~Type='m3u'
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Showing~!~On The Mountain
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Showing~!~Ways
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Showing~!~Aerosmith
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Showing~!~BeeGees
    1/10/2004 11:00:01 PM~!~Building~!~
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Showing Playlist Filter for player 14~!~Type='m3u'
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Showing~!~On The Mountain
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Showing~!~Ways
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Showing~!~Aerosmith
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Showing~!~BeeGees
    1/10/2004 11:00:12 PM~!~Building~!~beegees
    </pre>
    Attached Files

    Comment


      #32
      Ok, I downloaded the updated version and put it in place. The NowPlayign screen still isn't showing any play lists when I bring it up in IE. But at least I know why it's doing it now. I've pasted the mcsMusic portions of my ah.log below.

      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~mcsMusic~!~Version 1.2.9 Registered with Homeseer
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~BufferPlaylist~!~Path=\\RENEGADE01\Storage\Data\HomeSee r\mcsMusic\Playlists_m3u\
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~3DoorsDown of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~50Cent of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~AvrilLavigne of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~B2K of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Beyoncé of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~BloodhoundGang of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~BrianSetzerOrchestra of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~BritneySpears of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~BustaRhymes of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Chingy of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~ChristinaAguilera of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Comedy of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Coolio of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Creed of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~CrystalMethod of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~DefLeopard of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~DixieChicks of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Dope of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~DreamTheater of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~FountainsofWayne of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Godsmack of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~IronMaiden of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~JaRule of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~KellyClarkson of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~LeAnnRimes of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~LynyrdSkynyrd of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~MarilynManson of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Megadeth of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Metallica of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~MorbidAngel of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Mya of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Nickelback of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~NineInchNails of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~other of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~other001 of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~P.O.D of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~PuddleOfMudd of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Queen of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~RaversOfDope of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Santana of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~SarahMcLachlan of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~SkidRow of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~SlavesOnDope of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Staind of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~TheOffspring of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~TimMcGraw of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~TobyKeith of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~Unknown of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:46:04 PM~!~Buffering~!~VariousArtists-TheMatrixReloaded of type m3u
      1/11/2004 12:47:37 PM~!~Info~!~ Web Server authorized local login successful from: 192.168.2.17
      1/11/2004 12:47:38 PM~!~Showing Playlist Filter for player 0~!~Type='pla'

      As you can see from the above, it's finding and buffering the m3u playlists. But when I bring up the NowPlaying screen it's trying to use pla types. I didn't see anything obvious in my settings or the ini that would make it do that. Let me know if there is something else you'd like me to try.

      Comment


        #33
        It is setup to use the same player as previously selected based upon the IP of the browser. The gotcha is that it defaults to 0 on first access which is CDJ/pla.

        Should be 3 ways to fix this. Any of these should work.
        1. Add the following to your mcsMusic.ini where the 127.0.0.1 is the IP of the client you are testing with. This is localhost which is used if you get to Now Playing via the plugin menu. 14 is WMP #1.
        [Player]
        127.0.0.1=14
        2. Enable a second player. For example a remote WMP. The Now Playing display will now show two WMP icons. Select the local one and this should have the effect of the manual operation performed with technique #1.
        3. Download the slimp3 evaluation and replace the hspi_mcsMusic.ocx. It is at the Network Player thread of this forum. I corrected the default to be the plugin selected default rather than 0 for the player on first browser access.

        Comment


          #34
          Sweet! I'm listening to one of the playlists in my broswer right now. I added another player in the mcsMusic setup copied of the mcsMusicServer.exe and ran it, and fired up IE. Thanks for all the help so far.

          The only other thing I've noticed so far is when trying to use the track pulldown to switch playing tracks. No matter which track I choose in the current playlist, the next one actually starts playing instead. The below error appeared in my ah.log a couple of times too. I'm not sure if it showed up when I was trying to switch tracks, or playing with one of the other buttons though.

          1/11/2004 2:25:44 PM~!~mcsMusic~!~Remote Error from Player 15 : [mcsMusic: WMP 2 GetLibraryInfo Object variable or With block variable not set]


          ***Edit for additional info***
          BTW, just thought I would mention that after playing with everything for a bit, I closed out IE and left mcsMusicServer running. It's using up about 22 Megs of memeory. By no means is that the largest thing sitting in memory at the moment, just thought I would mention it.

          Comment


            #35
            I'm glad we finally ran that one down. I'll need to look into the others a little later. Another thing to be sensitive with WMP is that it reports information back to the plugin based upon the ID3 tags, but the plugin retains status based upon the database contents. Special characters and long names may be an area to keep your eye on.

            Comment


              #36
              Following Gordons initial testing it looks like the the SliMP3 support is safe to release. SliMP3 support depends upon an xAP connector application and an update to this is expected soon. This will improve the playlist content recognition and reduce the network traffic a little.

              Also included in this version is a cleanup of various problems reported including the WMP playlist selection offset and javascript error messages that turned out to be related to processing of the apostrophe character contained in titles.

              Global variables have been created to make it easier to communicate with the plugin objects. This is untested, but available to play with if anyone would like.

              <pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

              Global Variables

              When a player object is created by the plugin it will also provide access to
              this object via Homeseer Global Variables. The CDJ SlinkX object, the xAP
              control for SlimServer, the WMP Objects for each local player, and the Window
              handles for Winamp players. The variables will be created when the objects are
              created. They will be deleted when the object is terminated. All global
              variables are variants with object types in all except Winamp which uses a Long.
              The Global Variable names are:
              mcsMusic_SlinkX
              mcsMusic_SliMP3
              mcsMusic_WMPn where n is a value 1 through 4
              mcsMusic_Winampn where n is a value 1 through 4

              A global variable is read with the hs.GetVar script function.
              The following examples illustrate

              Set objWMP1 = hs.GetVar(“mcsMusic_WMP1”)
              longWinamp2 = hs.GetVar(“mcsMusic_Winamp2”)

              When communicating directly with these object they will use the methods and
              properties of the object. In Winamp’s case Windows API SendMessage or
              PostMessage is used to communicate and the handle obtained from the Global
              Variable is used to identify the message window.


              </pre>

              Comment


                #37
                Just for the record, I tested with Slim Server v5.0.1 and xAP Slimp3 Connector Service v1.2.7.1.

                - Gordon

                "God is gracious, God is fair. To some He gave brains, to others, hair." - anonymous

                "Don't look under the hat."
                - Gordon, 2004
                |
                | - Gordon

                "I'm a Man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." - Man's Prayer, Possum Lodge, The Red Green Show
                HiddenGemStudio.com - MaineMusicians.org - CunninghamCreativeMaine.website

                Comment


                  #38
                  Michael, thanks for the update. That seems to have taken care of all the problems I was seeing previously. Now that everything is working, I can start getting cover art together for all my CD's.

                  I did notice one thing. Although, I'm not sure there is anything that can be done about it. After streaming some MP3's to my laptop using the mcsMusicServer, I hit stop and close my browser. If I try to hibernate my laptop, Windows Media Player comes up saying that if I hibernate, it will lose it's position in the file I have paused. Not a problem really, there's even a checkbox to tell it to stop complaining. Just thought I'd mention it.

                  Comment


                    #39
                    Renegade,

                    What should be possible is to unload the player when the stop button is pressed. You can do this from your end if you care to try. The plugin makes a call to mcsMusicPlayer.txt when a button is pressed on Now Playing. In the Stop function of this file make a call to the plugin's method to unload the player and return a false from the function to tell the plugin that you already performed the action necessary on this button push. This should result in the player being unloaded so when the laptop is closed there will be no active WMP instance.

                    After editing mcsMusicPlayer.txt the setup page needs to be open and closed because that is when the file is read by the plugin.


                    Gordon,

                    I reworked the player select logic to allow the user the specify the number of players of each type rather than using the fixed 1-9-4-1-1 mix. I know the physical mechanism by which I can communicate with multiple slimServers. I also know the mechansim by which I can communicate with multiple clients on each slimServer. What I do not understand is how a user will use such a two-tier server/client system and how the setup should be to specify what is desired.

                    Comment


                      #40
                      I appreciate the pointer, but I must be really dense tonight. If I put anything other than a simple hs.Writelog in the mcsMusicPlayer.txt, I get the below error.

                      1/16/2004 10:17:59 PM~!~mcsMusic~!~Remote Error from Player 15 : [mcsMusic: WMP 2 GetPlayerInfo 0 Object variable or With block variable not set]
                      1/16/2004 10:17:59 PM~!~mcsMusic~!~Remote Error from Player 15 : ; ProcessPacket Object variable or With block variable not set

                      I'm sure I'm just not seeing something pretty simple, but I for the life of me I can't figure it out. An extra hint would be appreciated.

                      Comment


                        #41
                        Michael, I'm not sure you need to support multiple Slim Servers, but the multiple clients on a single server is what I was getting at. Controlling them will allow multiple audio sources (players or clients) on the network to be controlled from a single point - your plugin. This gets us pretty darn close to whole-house audio with separate "sources" all under a single control.

                        The only other thing I'd like to see is actual source control for each source on the PC (ie. remote mixer control), but I undertsand this is mixer-hardware/software dependent and might be a can of worms to try to support more than a few sound cards. It would probably require an agent on each PC or device that interrogates the local AV hardware/software and reports that info to the central server.

                        Maybe I should just order that Denon server unit they showed at CES!

                        - Gordon

                        "God is gracious, God is fair. To some He gave brains, to others, hair." - anonymous

                        "Don't look under the hat."
                        - Gordon, 2004
                        |
                        | - Gordon

                        "I'm a Man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." - Man's Prayer, Possum Lodge, The Red Green Show
                        HiddenGemStudio.com - MaineMusicians.org - CunninghamCreativeMaine.website

                        Comment


                          #42
                          Thanks Gordon, that clarifies it.

                          I believe the volume aspect of mixer control is already implemented and for the special cases the volume actions can be handled with mcsMusicPlayer.txt.

                          In my mcsMusicPlayer.txt file I use the x coordinate of the Now Playing graphic as a volume slider as well as the volume up down icon buttons. Depending upon the player I will control IR to the AV Receiver or local to the sound card on the PC where the player is running. The volume level is displayed to the right of the player icons.

                          I'm think I implemented volume control for SliMP3, but I got no idea what SlimServer does with the mixer control inputs I provided. Can you educate me how the network players deal with the mixer. Do they have their own power amp or is their output into an exernal amp?

                          You may also need to clarify your intentions for mixer controls as well as what you like about the Denon server. Did you attend the show?

                          Comment


                            #43
                            The volumne feature of mcsMusic does control the volume on the Slimp3 player through the Slim Server. It's actually neat to watch or hear it respond to clicking the volume down or up buttons on the mcsMusic web page.

                            I have to get the latest version - mine doesn't show a slider.

                            I have not checked whether mcsMusic volume through Slim Server will control Winamp - I'll try that after getting the latest version in a few minutes and report below.

                            The Slimp3 player is a small device, about 3" high by 9" long, about 2" deep. It has a small wallwart-type power adapter, an Ethernet port, and Right and Left analog audio out RCA jacks. Display is florescent luminous 2-line alphanumeric dot matrix, I think it's 40 characters wide. It provides a line-level analog audio output through the RCA jacks. Comes with an IR remote control for setup and normal control use.

                            The Slimp3 has bass and treble levels as well as volume in the software, but with usual use you wouldn't mess with those, using the receiver's controls instead. Short of the network setup, most all settings can be controlled or modified by the server software, I'm told. My unit is plugged into my AV receiver using the AUX audio in. There is no mixer on the Slimp3 player - it is simply an audio signal out to an external amp.

                            Mixer controls... If you double-click your tray speaker icon, it will usually open up a mixer window with volume and mute (in playback mode) for each sound channel on your system. Mic, line in, WAV, etc. and a master volume and mute switch are typical. Specialty sound cards like my Audigy have other special inputs and outputs, so there are more controls. Some mixers allow left/right panning or balance. Pic of mine is attached.

                            What I think would be a nice thing to provide would be remote control of those mixer controls. Something like this: imagine you have a PC in several rooms in the house (which I do) and you want to be able to announce something to someone other than yourself. Envision HSP's ability to route the audio announcement to the appropriate PC. Since that person is playing music, the automation mutes or lowers the music, plays the announcement, and raises or un-mutes the music.

                            What I'm aiming at is an intercom or even some phone functions all via the PC and it's sound gear. I guess it could also be described as telephony without the phone, but with the ability to script or intelligently control audio sources on remote PCs and devices. How do you do that? Control the local PC mixer device which controls the levels and sources of audio playing through the speakers.

                            Maybe I'm way off-base here. You can do this through a phone system with intercom and announce capabilities, like a Panasonic, for example. You could have an intercom system do it. You could also have some sort of external device between the PC speaker out and the speakers that switches to an alternate audio feed when an announcement is to be made. These are all solutions for some sort of whole-house audio while allowing personalized "channels". Son watches wrestling in his room, Mom is into the soaps in the master bedroom, Dad watches TechTV in the office. Phone rings, it's one of son's friends - system lowers or mutes his audio and plays the CID announcement, he picks up the phone, talks for a few, hangs up, audio comes back up to normal. Mom and Dad didn't have to hear it or suffer the audio changes.

                            I watched the TechTV Best of CES show. They showed the Denon unit that allows up to four independently streaming AV "channels" from a single central AV server on your network. The way it works is you put a remote unit in your audio/video chain at the place you want to hear/watch. The central unit streams AV to it, and up to 3 others. The key here is that remote unit - an independent player - and I'd like to see that replaced with with every-day PCs and their hardware instead of custom hardware. If someone could do that with regular MS MCS...

                            Ok, enough dreaming for now. Let me get the latest plugin and check out your enhancements.

                            - Gordon

                            "God is gracious, God is fair. To some He gave brains, to others, hair." - anonymous

                            "Don't look under the hat."
                            - Gordon, 2004
                            |
                            | - Gordon

                            "I'm a Man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." - Man's Prayer, Possum Lodge, The Red Green Show
                            HiddenGemStudio.com - MaineMusicians.org - CunninghamCreativeMaine.website

                            Comment


                              #44
                              Mixer pic.

                              - Gordon

                              "God is gracious, God is fair. To some He gave brains, to others, hair." - anonymous

                              "Don't look under the hat."
                              - Gordon, 2004
                              Attached Files
                              |
                              | - Gordon

                              "I'm a Man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." - Man's Prayer, Possum Lodge, The Red Green Show
                              HiddenGemStudio.com - MaineMusicians.org - CunninghamCreativeMaine.website

                              Comment


                                #45
                                Oh, and if you do want to support multiple Slim Servers each with mutliple players attached, perhaps a system like 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, where the first number is the server, the second number is the player on that server. Something like the hard drive or SCSI device enumeration.

                                You could also follow the Unix convention for devices - hda0, hda1, hdb0, etc.

                                Whatever you feel is comfortable if you do want to expand on that.

                                - Gordon

                                "God is gracious, God is fair. To some He gave brains, to others, hair." - anonymous

                                "Don't look under the hat."
                                - Gordon, 2004
                                |
                                | - Gordon

                                "I'm a Man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." - Man's Prayer, Possum Lodge, The Red Green Show
                                HiddenGemStudio.com - MaineMusicians.org - CunninghamCreativeMaine.website

                                Comment

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