Posted: April 19 2003 at 17:19 | IP Logged

I went back to Winamp from QCD for playing whole-house audio since the new version has a few issues on my new machine, and, I found this handy utility...

http://www.flippet.org/wacommand.html

It is a command-line util that controls Winamp (like the one built-in to QCD, or, like Dave's Volume app). Winamp has, I think, three command-line options, none of which control the darn thing!

Posted: April 28 2003 at 09:44 | IP Logged

Tony,

I started playing around with a new macro for WinAmp control.  It works really nice in the new version because you can now call a macro with the first five local variables prepopulated.  I can now make a call like: ph_macroparm("WINAMP CONTROL","PLAY",0,0,0,0) and the macro will cause Winamp to play.

You can get close to the same functionality without the parm passing however and not have to use an external program if you like using Windows messages.  Here is a link to the Winamp documentation for external control: http://www.winamp.com/nsdn/winamp2x/dev/sdk/api.jhtml

Here is a way you can roll your own Winamp control:

1.  Declare a global variable called "WINAMP CONTROL"

2.  Declare a macro called "WINAMP CONTROL".  The detail is below:

insert into macroheader values ('WINAMP CONTROL','WINAMP CONTROL',4,4,252,96,0,0,0,12632256,0,0,1,'');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CONTROL',1,15,'[LOCAL1]',NULL,'"{WINAMP CONTROL}"');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CONTROL',2,15,'[LOCAL2]',NULL,'ph_findwindow("Winamp v1.x",0)');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CONTROL',3,16,'',NULL,'if([LOCAL2] = 0,999,1)');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CONTROL',4,38,'',NULL,'ph_sendmsg([LOCAL2],273,case(upper("[LOCAL1]") when "PREV" then 40044 when "NEXT" then 40048 when "PLAY" then 40045 when "STOP" then 40047 when "PAUSE" then 40046 else 0),0)');

The above macro assumes that WinAmp is already running.  It could be easily modified to launch Winamp if it isn't running.  Also, it currently only has support for previous, next, play, pause, and stop.  It would be easy to add the others.

This should keep you playing for a while .

Dave.

Posted: April 28 2003 at 12:20 | IP Logged

Looks good, Dave.

WACommand is small, so, it's not bad. You should handle that kind of thing like a plugin, so as not to get stuck supporting only one media player. Right now, I'm bouncing back and forth between WinAmp and QCD for various reasons.

Posted: April 28 2003 at 20:52 | IP Logged

Hmm. After further review, that looks like a nice hint at Windows Messaging in  general!

...what am I doing wrong? I just tried to bring that SQL code in, and got an error: "Modifications to the CONTROL table are not allowed".

Posted: April 29 2003 at 09:31 | IP Logged

Tony,

My bad.  PowerHome has some rudimentary code to prevent direct SQL updates to the CONTROL table.  The CONTROL in WINAMP CONTROL was confusing the check routine.  I changed the macro slightly so that it should import fine now:

insert into macroheader values ('WINAMP CTRL','WINAMP CTRL',4,4,252,96,0,0,0,12632256,0,0,1,'');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',1,15,'[LOCAL1]',NULL,'"{WINAMP CTRL}"');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',2,15,'[LOCAL2]',NULL,'ph_findwindow("Winamp v1.x",0)');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',3,16,'',NULL,'if([LOCAL2] = 0,999,1)');
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',4,38,'',NULL,'ph_sendmsg([LOCAL2],273,case(upper("[LOCAL1]") when "PREV" then 40044 when "NEXT" then 40048 when "PLAY" then 40045 when "STOP" then 40047 when "PAUSE" then 40046 else 0),0)');

Also, change the Global variable to "WINAMP CTRL".

This should get it working.

Dave.

Posted: April 29 2003 at 09:34 | IP Logged

Also....

I forgot to mention how you would typically call this macro for control.

If you wanted to pause WinAmp...just execute the formula:

ph_setglobal_a("WINAMP CTRL","PAUSE") + ph_macro("WINAMP CTRL")

This will set the GV to "PAUSE" and then execute the macro which will read the GV and send the appropriate Windows message.

Dave.

Posted: April 26 2004 at 15:10 | IP Logged

Hi Dave...I was looking at this Winamp tip but apparently it's broken with the new DB structure for 1.03.2....

Thoughts?

Pete Fanning

Posted: April 27 2004 at 10:35 | IP Logged

Nevermind.....I went the route of ph_playsound anyway after I looked at the latest phsample.db macros......

I eventually settled on Mary in TTS anyway!

Posted: April 27 2004 at 11:46 | IP Logged

Pete,

Sorry to take so long responding.  Ive updated the above macro so that it will work with the new database structure as well as take advantage of the new ph_macroparm function.  The new SQL is:

insert into macroheader values ('WINAMP CTRL','WINAMP CTRL',4,4,252,96,0,0,0,12632256,0,0,1,'',10);
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',1,15,'[LOCAL2]',NULL,'ph_findwindow("Winamp v1.x",0)',0);
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',2,16,'',NULL,'if([LOCAL2] = 0,999,1)',0);
insert into macrodetail values ('WINAMP CTRL',3,38,'',NULL,'ph_sendmsg([LOCAL2],273,case(upper("[LOCAL1]") when "PREV" then 40044 when "NEXT" then 40048 when "PLAY" then 40045 when "STOP" then 40047 when "PAUSE" then 40046 else 0),0)',0);

You would call this function using the following:

ph_macroparm("WINAMP CTRL","PLAY",0,0,0,0)

This would cause WINAMP to play.

Let me know if this works for you or not.

Dave.

Posted: April 27 2004 at 12:02 | IP Logged

Okay...thanks....I've been playing with WinAmp too lately so this will be neat.......I've really let Powerhome slide since Christmas and want to get back into the swing of things......I have a whole box of X10 modules just itching to get installed :)

Posted: April 27 2004 at 18:25 | IP Logged

Works like a champ!  Was ooohhhhing and ahhhhing the wife and kids by starting and stopping an MP3 with WinAMP 5 by my keychain remote.....

Thanks Dave....ordered my RedRat3....should be here in 5-7.....

Posted: April 29 2004 at 15:13 | IP Logged

Hehe,

Yeah, its pretty cool.  I plan on ordering a Ramsey electronics FM transmitter so that I can receive my MP3's from any FM stereo around the house.  It'll be pretty cool when people come over and it appears that Im listening to the radio and decide that I want to change the song without changing the station...all from a keychain remote.

You'll be happy with the RedRat3...it's an excellent little IR controllers.

Dave.