Classic VB - How can I play MP3/WAV songs?

[Harsh Gupta]

The simplest method to play MP3 or WAV songs through a VB project is to use the Windows Media Player Control. In fact, you can use this control to play all file formats supported by the Windows Media Player, the default player in your Windows OS. But let's now focus on MP3 and WAV ! :)

(See below for alternative methods using <a href="#post2141184">DirectX</a>, or <a href="#post2840118">sndPlaySound, or MMControl</a>)


You can access this control through Project->Components (or press CTRL+T to open the Components Dialog box). Under the Controls tab, tick the box next to "Windows Media Player".

Place one instance of this control on your form of the project (I renamed it to mp3 in the attached project). The 4 basic controls you need to play a song is PLAY it, STOP it, PAUSE it, and of course to start with you must OPEN it in the control.

The Methods used by this control for the above-mentioned operations are:

1 -> .Play to PLAY a song;
2 -> .Stop to STOP a song;
3 -> .Pause to PAUSE a song; and
4 -> .FileName to OPEN a song in the Media Player control.

Various other useful Methods supported by this control are as follows:

(a) .Cancel -> Cancels the Open method before the file completes opening.

(b) .FastForward -> Scans rapidly forward through the current clip.

(c) .FastReverse -> Scans rapidly backward through the current clip.

(d) .GetCodecDescription -> Retrieves the descriptive name of the given codec.

(e) .GetCurrentEntry -> Retrieves the current clip being played.

(f) .GetMediaInfoString -> Retrieves show or clip information like that of ID3 tags.

(g) .Next -> Jumps to the next clip in a playlist.

(h) .Previous -> Jumps to the previous clip in a playlist.Please note that this is not the full list, these are just the ones which are most useful in this situation.


There are several Properties available to you, which you can use to determine (or set) features of the player or sound file. These include:

(a) .AllowScan -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying whether scanning is enabled for files that support scanning (fast-forwarding and rewinding).

(b) .AutoRewind -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying whether the Windows Media Player control automatically returns to the clip's starting point after the clip finishes playing or has otherwise stopped.

(c) .AutoStart -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying whether to start playing the clip automatically.

(d) .Balance -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value indicating the stereo balance.

(e) .Bandwidth -> Read-only Retrieves the bandwidth of the current clip in bits per second.

(f) .CanSeek -> Read-only Retrieves a value specifying whether the current file has the ability to seek to a specific time.

(g) .CreationDate -> Read-only Retrieves a value specifying the date and time when the clip was created.

(h) .CurrentPosition -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value representing the clip's current position, in seconds.

(i) .CurrentState -> Read-only Specifies the playback file's current state: stopped, paused, or running.

(j) .Duration -> Read-only Retrieves a value indicating the clip's playing time in seconds.

(k) .Enabled -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying whether the control is enabled.

(l) .FileName -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying the name of the clip to play.

(m) .HasError -> Read-only Retrieves a value specifying whether the control currently has an error.

(n) .Mute -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value indicating the current mute state of the Windows Media Player control.

(o) .PlayCount -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value indicating the number of times a clip plays.

(p) .PlayState -> Read-only Retrieves a value indicating the state of the Windows Media Player operation.

(q) .Volume -> Read/Write Sets or retrieves a value specifying the volume, in hundredths of decibels.
If you still have any queries, please use the following link for more documentation on the Windows Media Player Control: MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wcemultimedia5/html/_wce50oriwindowsmediaplayercontrol.asp)



The project attached is an example of how you can use the control. Hope it helps you !!!!
NB: to select the file to play, this example uses the Common Dialog control.

[Jacob Roman]

By using DirectShow, which is part of DirectX, you can play Mp3's and other media types, even videos. This is another simple way to play media. The major difference between the Windows Media Player control and DirectShow is that DirectShow gives you more control over your media. Like for example, the speed of it, which in effect changes the pitch. You can have it play in slow motion, giving it that errie and evil kind of sound (speed 75 is ideal for this), or you can have it play in fast motion, making it sound like a chipmunk. To access DirectShow, all you do is go up in the menu to Project > References... and add Active Movie Control Type Library into your references.

Then add a module into your project and put this code in:

Option Explicit

Private Const MAX_VOLUME As Long = 100
Private Const MAX_BALANCE As Long = 100
Private Const MAX_SPEED As Long = 226

Public DirectShow_Event As IMediaEvent
Public DirectShow_Control As IMediaControl
Public DirectShow_Position As IMediaPosition
Public DirectShow_Audio As IBasicAudio

Public Function DirectShow_Load_Media(File_Name As String) As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler


If Right(File_Name, 4) = ".mp3" Then

Set DirectShow_Control = New FilgraphManager
DirectShow_Control.RenderFile (File_Name)

Set DirectShow_Audio = DirectShow_Control

DirectShow_Audio.Volume = 0
DirectShow_Audio.Balance = 0

Set DirectShow_Event = DirectShow_Control
Set DirectShow_Position = DirectShow_Control

DirectShow_Position.Rate = 1

DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition = 0

Else

GoTo Error_Handler

End If

DirectShow_Load_Media = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Load_Media = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Play() As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

DirectShow_Control.Run

DirectShow_Play = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Play = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Stop() As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

DirectShow_Control.Stop

DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition = 0

DirectShow_Stop = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Stop = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Pause() As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

DirectShow_Control.Stop

DirectShow_Pause = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Pause = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Volume(ByVal Volume As Long) As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

If Volume >= MAX_VOLUME Then Volume = MAX_VOLUME

If Volume <= 0 Then Volume = 0

DirectShow_Audio.Volume = (Volume * MAX_VOLUME) - 10000

DirectShow_Volume = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Volume = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Balance(ByVal Balance As Long) As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

If Balance >= MAX_BALANCE Then Balance = MAX_BALANCE

If Balance <= -MAX_BALANCE Then Balance = -MAX_BALANCE

DirectShow_Audio.Balance = Balance * MAX_BALANCE

DirectShow_Balance = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Balance = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Speed(ByVal Speed As Single) As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

If Speed >= MAX_SPEED Then Speed = MAX_SPEED

If Speed <= 0 Then Speed = 0

DirectShow_Position.Rate = Speed / 100

DirectShow_Speed = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Speed = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Set_Position(ByVal Hours As Long, ByVal Minutes As Long, ByVal Seconds As Long, Milliseconds As Single) As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

Dim Max_Position As Single

Dim Position As Double

Dim Decimal_Milliseconds As Single

'Keep minutes within range

Minutes = Minutes Mod 60

'Keep seconds within range

Seconds = Seconds Mod 60

'Keep milliseconds within range and keep decimal

Decimal_Milliseconds = Milliseconds - Int(Milliseconds)

Milliseconds = Milliseconds Mod 1000

Milliseconds = Milliseconds + Decimal_Milliseconds

'Convert Minutes & Seconds to Position time

Position = (Hours * 3600) + (Minutes * 60) + Seconds + (Milliseconds * 0.001)

Max_Position = DirectShow_Position.StopTime

If Position >= Max_Position Then

Position = 0

GoTo Error_Handler

End If

If Position <= 0 Then

Position = 0

GoTo Error_Handler

End If

DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition = Position

DirectShow_Set_Position = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Set_Position = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_End() As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

If DirectShow_Loop = False Then

If DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition >= DirectShow_Position.StopTime Then DirectShow_Stop

End If

DirectShow_End = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_End = False

End Function


Public Function DirectShow_Loop() As Boolean

On Error GoTo Error_Handler

If DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition >= DirectShow_Position.StopTime Then

DirectShow_Position.CurrentPosition = 0

End If

DirectShow_Loop = True

Exit Function

Error_Handler:

DirectShow_Loop = False

End Function


Public Sub DirectShow_Shutdown()

Set DirectShow_Audio = Nothing
Set DirectShow_Event = Nothing
Set DirectShow_Control = Nothing
Set DirectShow_Position = Nothing

End Sub

As you can see, all I setup was some very simple functions for Play, Stop, Pause, Loop, Speed, Volume, Balance, Position, etc. Now in your Form, put this code in, and you are all set:

Option Explicit

Private Sub Form_Activate()

'Change the file path of your mp3 in here.

DirectShow_Load_Media "C:\Jacob's Stuff\Music\Mp3's\Black Metal\Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant - 10 - A Succubus In Rapture.mp3"

'You don't need to do this part, but it's nice to be
'able to control it.
'------------------------------------------------
DirectShow_Volume 100
DirectShow_Balance 0
DirectShow_Speed 100
DirectShow_Set_Position 0, 0, 0, 0
'------------------------------------------------

DirectShow_Play

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)

DirectShow_Shutdown

End Sub

That's all you really need. DirectShow_Load_Media and DirectShow_Play. It's that simple. ;)

To play videos, here is a sample project: Video Player (http://www.vbforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38374)

Feel free to add to my DirectShow engine. I only added the basic functions that is perfect for making your own media player.

[Jenova]

Two other ways that you might find helpful are the sndPlaySound API and the MMControl that can be added in VB.

sndPlaySound

This function plays the sound specified by 'lpszPlaySound' parameter. This function is limited to .wav files. An example of use is shown below.


Option Explicit

' Plays the sound specified by
' lpszPlaySound. This function is
' limited to .wav files.
Private Declare Function sndPlaySound _
Lib "winmm.dll" _
Alias "sndPlaySoundA" ( _
ByVal lpszSoundName As String, _
ByVal uFlags As Long) _
As Long

Private Const SND_NOWAIT As Long = &H2000 ' Don't wait if the driver is busy
Private Const SND_SYNC As Long = &H0 ' Play synchronously (default)
Private Const SND_FLAGS As Long = SND_SYNC Or SND_NOWAIT ' Combination of two constants above

Private Sub Command1_Click()
' Call sndPlaySound to play our file
Call sndPlaySound(App.Path & "\Chimes.wav", SND_FLAGS)
End Sub


MMControl

This is a control that can be added through Visual Basic 6.0 by going to Project > Components and selecting 'Microsoft Multimedia Control 6.0'. This control can play a mixture of sound types and is of more use than sndPlaySound if you are playing music through VB. An example on using this is below:


Private Sub Form_Load()
With MMControl1
.FileName = App.Path & "\Sound.wma" ' Set the file to be played
.Command = "Open" ' Open the file
.Command = "Play" ' Play the file
End With
End Sub


Hope this is of some help :wave: