My Jukebox Experiences [bug]

[nullus]

Hi Tom,

now that I've spent half the day with tagging/retagging/sorting of my mp3's I've come to the conclusion that there must be a little bug in GameEx . I'm using ID3-tagging for all my mp3 and I generally put version 1 and version 2 to the files.

Whatever I do, some albums don't show up in GameEx. The funny thing is that you see all the titles in the "titles" list (even the album art is displayed when highlighted), but you neither see them in the "artist" listing nor in the "album" listing (and also not in the new "artist/album). I swear that the files are properly tagged, I did it for at least a dozen times for these albums just to check out different freedb entries and I even tried it by manually typing the tags and by using different tag-editors.

You see me a little desperate about this cause I don't have a clue what the problem is. My assumtion was that it could possibly be some kind of "overflow" cause it's quite a lot of albums. Therefore I created a different folder where I put simply three of the affected albums an one working one. This folder was then specified as location for the music in the GameEx coniguration editor but the result was the same a before. If you feel that it makes sense I could zip together these small JukeboxData.dat and JukeboxFiles.dat files and PM them to you... .

Another point that was already mentioned before is that GameEx has some problems with different albums having the same names. I.e. you have "Bush - Best Of" and you have "Creed - Best Of" then you'll find all songs from both albums with "Bush" and with "Creed" album view. The workaround is of course to name the albums a different way (i.e. "Best Of Bush" and "Best Of Creed") but anyway I think it's an issue worth to mention...

Since I've installed Vers. 6.57 I have problems with the playlist in terms that any time I choose "view actual playlist" it always shows me all the mp3 I have and not only the ones I've actually chosen for playing. Additionally I cannot clear this list.

Obviously I have a general problem in understanding the concept behind the playlist in GameEx. Why does it always automatically start playing the (alphabeticvally) first song in my mp3 list when starting the jukebox??? This doesn't make sense in my eyes as I would like to choose first what I want to listen to an then actively start the playback. Did I miss something ?

Last point is that radio doesn't stop playing for me when switching to jukebox. It simply continues to play in parallel to the jukebox sounds. This is NOT due to a specific radio station but true for all stations. No way of turning them off... .

Thanks for listening to me! I wouldn't write that much if I wouldn't like GameEx that much

Nullus

[nullus]

*push*

No comments on this? Am I the only one?

[jthompson]

Hi Tom,

now that I've spent half the day with tagging/retagging/sorting of my mp3's I've come to the conclusion that there must be a little bug in GameEx . I'm using ID3-tagging for all my mp3 and I generally put version 1 and version 2 to the files.

Whatever I do, some albums don't show up in GameEx. The funny thing is that you see all the titles in the "titles" list (even the album art is displayed when highlighted), but you neither see them in the "artist" listing nor in the "album" listing (and also not in the new "artist/album). I swear that the files are properly tagged, I did it for at least a dozen times for these albums just to check out different freedb entries and I even tried it by manually typing the tags and by using different tag-editors.

You see me a little desperate about this cause I don't have a clue what the problem is. My assumtion was that it could possibly be some kind of "overflow" cause it's quite a lot of albums. Therefore I created a different folder where I put simply three of the affected albums an one working one. This folder was then specified as location for the music in the GameEx coniguration editor but the result was the same a before. If you feel that it makes sense I could zip together these small JukeboxData.dat and JukeboxFiles.dat files and PM them to you... .

Another point that was already mentioned before is that GameEx has some problems with different albums having the same names. I.e. you have "Bush - Best Of" and you have "Creed - Best Of" then you'll find all songs from both albums with "Bush" and with "Creed" album view. The workaround is of course to name the albums a different way (i.e. "Best Of Bush" and "Best Of Creed") but anyway I think it's an issue worth to mention...

Since I've installed Vers. 6.57 I have problems with the playlist in terms that any time I choose "view actual playlist" it always shows me all the mp3 I have and not only the ones I've actually chosen for playing. Additionally I cannot clear this list.

Obviously I have a general problem in understanding the concept behind the playlist in GameEx. Why does it always automatically start playing the (alphabeticvally) first song in my mp3 list when starting the jukebox??? This doesn't make sense in my eyes as I would like to choose first what I want to listen to an then actively start the playback. Did I miss something ?

Last point is that radio doesn't stop playing for me when switching to jukebox. It simply continues to play in parallel to the jukebox sounds. This is NOT due to a specific radio station but true for all stations. No way of turning them off... .

Thanks for listening to me! I wouldn't write that much if I wouldn't like GameEx that much

Nullus

Hi Nullus, I think I'm the guy that replied to your earlier post regarding "best of" albums and re-naming them to Best of Cure, best of Bush, etc. The problems I have had in the past with ID3 tags sounds similar to what you are experiencing, but not necessarily with GameEx. I had some songs, or sometimes whole albums, depending on where they came from, that my audio player couldn't see. The only thing I found that worked to fix the tags was to completely remove the tag altogether and re-create it. To avoid incompatability with my Audiotron I had to use either ID3 ver 1 or 2 but not both. I chose ver 2 as it seems like you can store longer song names on these. Another thing I noticed is that windows media player seemed to take control of my tags sometimes and add ID3 ver 1 tags to any songs I played with it (which is why I now use winamp). Anyhow, to make a long story short, I am not surprised you are having ID3 problems as they have plagued me as well, but I'm not sure they are specifically GameEx related. As for the Jukebox functionality, my take is that Tom created the jukebox function to be a simple way for someone to find and play a song while in GameEx, but for a true MP3 collector you will need to let GameEx open a dedicated jukebox program such as SK Jukebox. Just my 2 cents. I still use GameEx jukebox occasionally since it is built into GameExand it plays web radio, but I prefer SK's layout and use that on my cab to play MP3s more often than not.

Jay T

[nullus]

Hi Jay,

thanks for replying and some comments on this:

Hi Nullus, I think I'm the guy that replied to your earlier post regarding "best of" albums and re-naming them to Best of Cure, best of Bush, etc.

Yepp, that's right Still an issue for me...

The only thing I found that worked to fix the tags was to completely remove the tag altogether and re-create it.

This is what I did a couple of times already...

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I am not surprised you are having ID3 problems as they have plagued me as well, but I'm not sure they are specifically GameEx related.

Hm, I'm not soooo sure for this. I tried (as you mentioned/suggested) the SKJukebox as an external program and all of my albums were readily recognized (in ID3 mode!!) so I think it could have something to do with the way GameEx handles the tags?!?

Basically I don't like to set up external progs for all the stuff cause GameEx is close to be perfect for me and external progs means external problems and additional resources . Additionally it's very charming that GameEx does everything including webradio (thank you so much Tom for having back my beloved "please wait" indicator with version 6.60). I simply love the program for all these neat features and Tom does a really great job on it! I like the idea to have it all under one roof especially cause it increases the WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor) of my cab in our living room

Last not least SKJukebox (even though a nice program) is not very well suited for being used with a limited number of controls from my CP.

Regards

nullus

[jthompson]

Hi Jay,

thanks for replying and some comments on this:

Yepp, that's right Still an issue for me...

This is what I did a couple of times already...

Hm, I'm not soooo sure for this. I tried (as you mentioned/suggested) the SKJukebox as an external program and all of my albums were readily recognized (in ID3 mode!!) so I think it could have something to do with the way GameEx handles the tags?!?

Basically I don't like to set up external progs for all the stuff cause GameEx is close to be perfect for me and external progs means external problems and additional resources . Additionally it's very charming that GameEx does everything including webradio (thank you so much Tom for having back my beloved "please wait" indicator with version 6.60). I simply love the program for all these neat features and Tom does a really great job on it! I like the idea to have it all under one roof especially cause it increases the WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor) of my cab in our living room

Last not least SKJukebox (even though a nice program) is not very well suited for being used with a limited number of controls from my CP.

Regards

nullus

Understood. Thats whats so great about GameEx. It gives you everything you need and the option to not use everything if you don't like. Just for me, the jukebox is a little too simple for my taste. I do love the Karakoke function of GameEx though and couldn't imagine a better way to have a Karaoke menu than through GameEx. After looking at SK I see how you could have problems using it with a basic CP. I use my trackball as a mouse to navigate it, although the more authentic arcade experience cab building purists dislike mouse navigation as it looks too much like windows, which I agree with but don't mind for this one task. Besides anyone who visits to play on the cab will probably end up in the GameEx Jukebox menu anyhow. I'm not sure but I think Tom has built mouse emulation into GameEx so you could launch SK and move the cursor with a joystick but I've not tried this myself as I just use my trackball for these tasks.

About the tags being weird thing, I just wanted to be clear that I didn't just strip the tags of info and re-type them. I actually removed the tags altogether. The best program I've found to manage my ID3s (for my taste) is called Dapyx. The downfall is that its $20. Its very easy to use and has an explorer type interface and makes managing ID3s a breeze. Worth checking out anyhow. You must be doing something good if you got the wife/girlfriend to let you move it into the living room, still working on getting mine to approve.

Jay T

[Tom Speirs]

The playlist issue with a bug, and Im uploading a new version now that fixes it.

[nullus]

The playlist issue with a bug, and Im uploading a new version now that fixes it.

Yepp, that one's fixed with 6.65.

THX

[nullus]

Understood. Thats whats so great about GameEx. It gives you everything you need and the option to not use everything if you don't like.

And all this with a very nice, customisable, easy to handle GUI!!

Just for me, the jukebox is a little too simple for my taste.

Let put it like this: It used to be not very album-orientated which made it inconvenient for bigger collections but since Tom included the "sort by artist/album" feature it's great... .

I do love the Karakoke function of GameEx though and couldn't imagine a better way to have a Karaoke menu than through GameEx.

I've never done that. Most probably for two reasons:

1. I can't sing (notv even in the bathtub)

2. so far I haven't registered GameEx as the jukebox is a central point for me which has to run like silk

Anyway I'm going to register for a pay-pal Account shortly and than I'll donate just to honor all the work Tom is doing and for the great reponsiveness to complaints and feature requests.

After looking at SK I see how you could have problems using it with a basic CP. I use my trackball as a mouse to navigate it, although the more authentic arcade experience cab building purists dislike mouse navigation as it looks too much like windows, which I agree with but don't mind for this one task.

Yes, SK requires a mouse. I also thought about the trackball option but I don't like the idea to have a new CP just for an external application...

On the other hand it makes me think about this nice little tutorial I found in the net on building your own spinner which could nicely be arranged on a new CP together with a trackball, a joystick and three buttons...

I'm not sure but I think Tom has built mouse emulation into GameEx so you could launch SK and move the cursor with a joystick but I've not tried this myself as I just use my trackball for these tasks.

??? More details please. I'n not aware of such an option but it could be a workaround for me... .

About the tags being weird thing, I just wanted to be clear that I didn't just strip the tags of info and re-type them. I actually removed the tags altogether. The best program I've found to manage my ID3s (for my taste) is called Dapyx. The downfall is that its $20. Its very easy to use and has an explorer type interface and makes managing ID3s a breeze. Worth checking out anyhow.

OK you convinced me to give it a FINAL try with a few albums that do not show up for the moments. I don't put to much hope in this as I really think it's somehow due to GameEx but I'll give it a try tonight.

You must be doing something good if you got the wife/girlfriend to let you move it into the living room, still working on getting mine to approve.

Well this was easy. First I involved her in building the cab (she is responsible for all the artwork like marquee, sideart and instruction cards) and second I converted her CD's to mp3 first and put the originals to the attic.

nullus

[jthompson]

And all this with a very nice, customisable, easy to handle GUI!!

Yes and you don't have to fiddle around with all those INI files.

Let put it like this: It used to be not very album-orientated which made it inconvenient for bigger collections but since Tom included the "sort by artist/album" feature it's great... .

Yeah I took another look at it since you were so impressed with it and it don't look too bad now. I wasn't so crazy about it back when I first registered though. Its definetly a better Jukebox now.

I've never done that. Most probably for two reasons:

1. I can't sing (notv even in the bathtub)

2. so far I haven't registered GameEx as the jukebox is a central point for me which has to run like silk

Anyway I'm going to register for a pay-pal Account shortly and than I'll donate just to honor all the work Tom is doing and for the great reponsiveness to complaints and feature requests.

Yeah, Tom does a lot of good hard work on GameEx and paying him a little bit to be able to justify all the time he spends on it is the least we can do. Its not too often when you find a product that has the support that GameEx has.

Yes, SK requires a mouse. I also thought about the trackball option but I don't like the idea to have a new CP just for an external application...

On the other hand it makes me think about this nice little tutorial I found in the net on building your own spinner which could nicely be arranged on a new CP together with a trackball, a joystick and three buttons...

Yes build your own by all means. Hard drive spinner, thats what I did and it works great (the washers are the key, and don't worry about the super glue, it really holds well). The hardest part is trying to figure out how to route out your CP to make it fit. Route a test panel first.

??? More details please. I'n not aware of such an option but it could be a workaround for me... .

Here is how it looks in the config.

App 1 Emulate mouse = Disabled

or = Enabled speed 1

or = Enabled speed 2

or = Enabled speed etc etc

The help button says:

For registered users this setting will emulate the mouse on a gamepad. When set pressing the directional pad will move the mouse. Button 1/CTRL will left click. Button 2/ALT will right click.

OK you convinced me to give it a FINAL try with a few albums that do not show up for the moments. I don't put to much hope in this as I really think it's somehow due to GameEx but I'll give it a try tonight.

Good luck! The MP3s I was having trouble with were uh, lets say they were aquired in a few different ways. The ones I didn't get from my CDs, well I'm not sure who ripped them if you know what I mean.

Well this was easy. First I involved her in building the cab (she is responsible for all the artwork like marquee, sideart and instruction cards) and second I converted her CD's to mp3 first and put the originals to the attic.

Cool, I would like to see what she looks like, the cab I mean

I still need to post pics of my cab but I was kind of waiting until I made a web page for it and submitted it to Cabs Running GameEx stickie and BYOAC. Do you have pics of your cab? I'd like to see what it looks like.

Later

Jay T

[nullus]

Cool, I would like to see what she looks like, the cab I mean

I still need to post pics of my cab but I was kind of waiting until I made a web page for it and submitted it to Cabs Running GameEx stickie and BYOAC. Do you have pics of your cab? I'd like to see what it looks like.

Well, I guess we're running a little OT with this so I make it short (for an exception) .

I have a very widespread universal cab from a german manufacturer named TV-Ideal-Twinline. Not really for collectors but suited me perfectly (very smart to convert it into a mame cab)... . It's still work in progress so I don't have anything to present right now (I will when the time is right). Only that much: As I am on very low budget with this project (yes, it's the WAF) everything had to be as cheap as possible. I got the cab nearly or free, did a lot of cosmetics on it, had a 1GHz, 256MB lying around, did a (nicely working) keyboard hack for the 2P 3Button CP and have a 19'' Computer-CRT inside. I only run MAME and no other emulator (the golden era is more than enough for me and reminds me of my youth...). Sound is coming from a 2.1 system I've integrated into the cab. The cab is on WLAN and complete administration is done via RealVNC (great program!!). For emergencies there's a wireless keyboard/mouse available.

Planned/in progress:

- wireless connection to my Hifi (found an affordable 2.4GHz radio transmitter/receiver for audio and video signals)

- some soldering and PCBing to have the cash acceptor working together with my PC

- upgrading my mobo and/or some more RAM for GameEx & Co. (have to do some mobo/RAM spotting )

- illumination of marquee with two CCFL taken from two slaughtered scanners

- bring some lightshow to the buttons (chaselight effects etc...) with the help of some TTL-chips I've on stock...

- optimize software components (kill some unused XP processes etc. to free up some more RAM)

- last not least, and to be ON topic again : Praying for some minor optimisations of GameEx concerning the jukebox like mentioned in post no. 1 of this thread

Now I'm off for some days of vacation in the sun (cause it's f*cking rainy and cold for the moment).

Ciao bello ,

nullus