[RESOLVED] Is there something that acts and loops like sndPlaySOund, but can play .mp3 files?

I need something that can loop perfectly like sndPlaySound does, but i also need something that can play .mp3 files... I dont want to have to use a control though. Any ideas?

If i have to use a control(like the ones in the tools...), then let me know.

The problem is that the .wav files are just WAY to big. I put them into a .res, and it makes the project HUGE. So, i want to try .mp3. Tried it with sndPlaySound(ik u cant use 'em. Just foolin around) and of course didnt work.... so.. yeah. plz help. i need this help so bad!

MMC (Microsoft Multimedia Control) should be able to play *.mp3's...



Good Luck

yeah, but how would u get those to loop, like start again RIGHT as the song ends?

mmc uses mci, there is a "repeat" command for mcisendstring,
but if i'm not mistaken,
there is some delay between each loop.
you can try it, the command is:

Code:

---


Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetShortPathNameA" (ByVal lpszLongPath As String, ByVal lpszShortPath As String, ByVal lBuffer As Long) As Long
Declare Function mciSendString Lib "winmm.dll" Alias "mciSendStringA" (ByVal lpstrCommand As String, ByVal lpstrReturnString As String, ByVal uReturnLength As Long, ByVal HwndCallback As Long) As Long
Declare Function mciGetErrorString Lib "winmm.dll" Alias "mciGetErrorStringA" (ByVal dwError As Long, ByVal lpstrBuffer As String, ByVal uLength As Long) As Long

Public Const MAX_PATH = 260

Public LastMCIError As Long


Public Function LenZ(ByVal Str1 As String) As Integer
    LenZ = InStr(1, Str1$, vbNullChar)
End Function


Public Function RTrimNull(ByVal Str1 As String) As String
    Dim iNum As Integer

    iNum = LenZ(Str1$)
    If iNum <= 0 Then
        iNum = InStr(1, Str1$, Chr(13))
        If iNum <= 0 Then
            RTrimNull$ = RTrim(Str1$)
            Exit Function
        End If
    End If
    RTrimNull$ = Left(Str1$, iNum - 1)
End Function


Public Function GetShortPath(ByVal Str1 As String) As String
    Dim strBuf As String * MAX_PATH

    Call GetShortPathName(Str1$, strBuf$, MAX_PATH - 1)
    GetShortPath$ = RTrimNull$(strBuf$)
End Function

Public Function MCIGetError(Optional ByVal lErr As Long = -1) As String
    Dim Str1 As String * 1024

    If lErr = -1 Then lErr = LastMCIError
    'retrieve the error string
    Call mciGetErrorString(lErr, Str1$, 1023)
    'strip off the trailing spaces
    MCIGetError$ = RTrimNull$(Str1$)
End Function

Private Function Mci_(ByVal sCommand As String, Optional Ret As Long = vbNull) As String
    Dim Str1 As String * 512

    LastMCIError = mciSendString(sCommand, Str1$, 511, 0)
    If Ret <> vbNull Then Ret = LastMCIError
    Mci_$ = RTrimNull$(Str1$)
End Function


Function MCIOpen(ByVal fName As String, Optional ByVal sDevice As String = "mpegvideo") As Boolean
    Dim Num1 As Long
    Call Mci_$("open " & GetShortPath$(fName) & " type " & sDevice$ & " alias MediaStream", Num1)
    Call Mci_$("set MediaStream time format milliseconds")
    If Num1 Then MCIOpen = True
End Function

Sub Main
  MCIOpen "my_mp3.mp3"
  mci_ "play MediaStream repeat"
End Sub

---

Yeah. there is a time laps b4 it loops again... i dont rly want that.... is there another way?

for mp3 i think the repeat method can be good enough.

you can also try these methods:
using a timer and check the playing state.
using notify command, mci will call your form, when it finish playing.

i checked these 2 methods with tiny wav files and it doesn't work as i want,
sndplay does it for waves the best, except that it can't play more than one file per app.

but as i said for mp3, i think the mci is good enough.

you can also try other dlls,
on my signature there is a very good audio library, that has many features, like effects, etc...

also there is a very good app in the forum code bank, called "monoton".
this a full audio library, written in vb, and it's very good.

Put this code in module:wave:

Code:

---

  Option Explicit
  Private Declare Function GetWindowsDirectory Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetWindowsDirectoryA" (ByVal lpBuffer As String, ByVal nSize As Long) As Long

 Private Const HWND_TOPMOST = -1
 Private Const SWP_NOMOVE = &H2
 Private Const SWP_NOSIZE = &H1

 Private Declare Function mciSendString Lib "winmm.dll" Alias "mciSendStringA" (ByVal lpstrCommand As String, ByVal lpstrReturnString As String, ByVal uReturnLength As Long, ByVal hwndCallback As Long) As Long
 Private Declare Function WritePrivateProfileString Lib "kernel32" Alias "WritePrivateProfileStringA" (ByVal lpApplicationName As String, ByVal lpKeyName As Any, ByVal lpString As Any, ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long
 Private Declare Function GetPrivateProfileString Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetPrivateProfileStringA" (ByVal lpApplicationName As String, ByVal lpKeyName As Any, ByVal lpDefault As String, ByVal lpReturnedString As String, ByVal nSize As Long, ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long
 Private Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long
 Private Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetShortPathNameA" (ByVal lpszLongPath As String, ByVal lpszShortPath As String, ByVal cchBuffer As Long) As Long
Private Sub Pause()
    Call mciSendString("pause mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Public Sub Play(MpegAudio As String)
    Dim lngLen As Long, strShort As String * 255, strPlay As String
    Call mciSendString("stop mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
    Call mciSendString("close mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
    lngLen = GetShortPathName(MpegAudio, strShort, 255)
    strPlay = Left(strShort, lngLen)
    Call mciSendString("open " & strPlay & " type mpegvideo alias mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
    Call mciSendString("play mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Sub Resume_Play()
    Call mciSendString("resume mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Sub Speed_Slow()
    Call mciSendString("set mp3play speed 500", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Sub Speed_Normal()
    Call mciSendString("set mp3play speed 1000", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Sub Speed_Fast()
    Call mciSendString("set mp3play speed 1500", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Sub StopIt()
    Call mciSendString("stop mp3play", 0, 0, 0)
    Call mciSendString("close all", 0, 0, 0)
End Sub

Private Function length() As String
    Dim LengthA As String * 30
    Call mciSendString("status mp3play length", LengthA, Len(LengthA), 0)
    length = LengthA
End Function

Private Function Position() As String
    Dim PositionA As String * 30
    Call mciSendString("status mp3play position", PositionA, Len(PositionA), 0)
    Position = PositionA
End Function

Private Sub Mute(isMute As Boolean)
    If isMute = True Then
        Call mciSendString("set mp3play audio all off", 0, 0, 0)
    ElseIf isMute = False Then
        Call mciSendString("set mp3play audio all on", 0, 0, 0)
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub PauseRsm(rSm As Boolean)
 If rSm = True Then
    Call Pause
 ElseIf rSm = False Then
    Call Resume_Play
 End If
End Sub

---

Usage is here ... in the form write this code ...:eek2:

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load ()

Play("c:\windows\help\mysound.mp3") ' your mp3 file path


End Sub

---

okay tricker32.... how does this help me loop? xD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

okay tricker32.... how does this help me loop? xD

---

One post I found said to add repeat to the play string,...
Call mciSendString("play mp3play repeat", 0, 0, 0)

What about having your app download the .wav and/or .mp3 from the net.

Play("Http://www.windows.com/help/mysound.mp3")
Play("Http://www.windows.com/help/mysound.wav")

Hmm........... well, i was kinda wanting to avoid the overall size of the game. im using the .res to hold the .wav's, then exporting them. With the .wav's, its a HUGE game. like 196MB.

To avoid the overall size just check if a file exists

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim MyWav, wavFilepath, wavNetpath
MyWav = "mysound.wav"
wavFilepath = "??\???\????\"
wavNetpath = "??/???/????/"
If Not FileExists(wavFilepath & MyWav) Then download (wavNetpath & MyWav)

---

The .res can be 0MBs.

No. You don't understand. I don't want them to have to download something. I want to use the .mp3, for everything to be already there. I wanted to use the .mp3 to cut the size of the download for it. =S

Hi Gamemaster1494 :wave:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

No. You don't understand.

---

Yip I understand, I understood from the get go.

The next big trend, Cloud Computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

I wanted to use the .mp3 to cut the size of the download for it. =S

---

Good idear

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

I don't want them to have to download something. I want to use the .mp3, for everything to be already there.

---

They have to download something, your app, and the .mp3/.wav in the app,
then your app makes anther copy, so now you have two copy's on disk.

Therefor if there is no .mp3/.wav in the app it would cut the size of the download, and the copy's on disk to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

Any ideas?
so.. yeah. plz help. i need this help so bad!

---

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim Mymp3, mp3Filepath, mp3Netpath
Mymp3 = "mysound.mp3"
mp3Filepath = "??\???\????\"
mp3Netpath = "??/???/????/"
If Not FileExists(mp3Filepath & Mymp3) Then download (mp3Netpath & Mymp3)

---

Just an idea. ;)

Regards 5ms.

Okay. Another question then 5ms?. If i download it, can i download a .zip file? and can the mcisendstring thing play sounds from a .zip file?

Yip.
Yip.
Mmmm....No. ???????????

If you download a .zip, just unzip.

Yeah, i know that. im just wondering if it could do that. I'll think bout it. =)

Manual repeat: Since you know the length of the tracks. Why not just store the length of each track? Then you can call "play" again after the duration(see post #4 or #7).

Yeah. I have done that, but, it still had a delay. What if i put that code in a .dll? Would it go faster?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

Yeah. I have done that, but, it still had a delay. What if i put that code in a .dll? Would it go faster?

---

Did you actually check the difference between say, Timer, or GetTickCount(good, accurate enough for this)? Or did you iterate a 'static' variable in a timer(bad, not accurate enough)?

...Static.... xD um. How would i try to do that first one?

Create a 'static' variable(or private, or a property), but instead of iterating it on a timer, you add the length of the track when the track plays(like sVariable = Timer + length_of_track). Then you simply check: If Timer >= sVariable Then PlayNextSong.

Timer is built in to VB, and is accurate to the nearest hundredth second.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gamemaster1494

I need something that can loop perfectly like sndPlaySound does, but i also need something that can play .mp3 files... I dont want to have to use a control though. Any ideas?

If i have to use a control(like the ones in the tools...), then let me know.

The problem is that the .wav files are just WAY to big. I put them into a .res, and it makes the project HUGE. So, i want to try .mp3. Tried it with sndPlaySound(ik u cant use 'em. Just foolin around) and of course didnt work.... so.. yeah. plz help. i need this help so bad!

---

the size problem also can be solved.
you can zip your files, then insert them to the res file,
and on run time, unzip them.

you can easily build the zip and unzip functions your self,
using for example zlib.dll
or use third party zip/unzip like 7-zip for example.

another simpler solution is to insert the files to the res, as they are,
and at the end, zip the big exe file, with upx, it will get much smaller,
as if you packed the files with zip utility.

Are you sure your MP3 doesn't either have some blank lead-in or lead-out as part of the file? Using the mciSendString with repeat as part of the play command there should be no delay between the when the file ends and when the file starts again.

I am positive MartT because i edited them with Audacity. No blank lead-in's or outs.

@FireXTol: I'm not certain what you are saying, but are you saying, to have a timer add to a variable, then if the variable is longer than the length of the track, start it over?

There must be more to your file than you think. Attached is a quick sample project that shows using repeat in the play command for mciSendString will play without a pause. Excuse the choice of mp3 but it was the first small file I found that didn't have a lead in and out to demonstrate with.

MarkT. I have a feeling that due to the amount of code that i have in a different timer, that, it delays it to know when to loop. Because on my only timer, it has 1445 lines of code in it. Some of them are Calling a function.

Also MarkT, there is a problem with your .zip. Says can't find project or library. and highlights strFile = IIf(Right(App.Path, 1) = "\", "Duck.mp3", "\Duck.mp3")

the Right in it is what it highlights.

You have other problems if VB6 does not recognize the Right function. To get past it in this example try replacing these 2 lines

Code:

---

    strFile = IIf(Right(App.Path, 1) = "\", "Duck.mp3", "\Duck.mp3")
    strFile = App.Path & strFile

---

with

Code:

---

    strFile = App.Path & "\Duck.mp3"

---

Would it be because you have 2 II in IIf?

No, IIf is a function. About the only place I have found I like to use it is in this example where you are testing app.path. In this case I know that app.path will not end with a \ so we can just hardcode it here.

It recognizes the Right function because i lowercased it, and went away from that code and it automaticly uppercased it..... Hum... werid. Now it is highlighting Chr and saying the same thing.... wth is wrong with my vb!?

You have something wierd going on. The Chr function is a common one. To get past this one remove the Length and Position functions in the module since they aren't being used.

Hold on. Im going to restart my computer. It has been on for a while. Maybe that's the case. Idk.

Still not working. This is super weird.... Any idea y this would be happening? It doesn't even recognize Trim().....

Attached is the stripped down example that addresses all the error you have seen. Let me know if it runs.

Hold on... I opened up References, and it is saying:
MISSING: Micorsoft Fax Service Extended COM Type Library
MISSING: faxcom 1.0 library types

IS that why it is not working!?

Remove those references. Do you have these four selected.

Yes i do. I was able to find thoes 2 .dll's that caused it to say Missing, and it fixed it. =D

You don't need those DLLs referenced. That was something I had been working on earlier and forgot to exclude them before I zipped the project.

Hum...... It works with your sound, but not with my .mp3 music. =(

Do you want to post a copy of the file?

werid... because when i attached them, it worked with Right, and Chr....

oh. nvm. got it to work. xD now i just have to try it with my game.

what does
If InStr(MpegAudio, " ") > 0 Then
MpegAudio = Chr(34) & MpegAudio & Chr(34)
End If
do? does it clip spaces on the end of the actual .mp3 file? or just the name?

That wraps the filename in double quotes if the filename contains spaces. It doesn't do any trimming.

Okay. just making sure. =)

WOW! It works! I am surprised! I looked at some of my music files with Audacity again, and it looks like there was some things at the end that were silent. And, what i was trying to do before was play it, then check if it was done playing, then play it again. XD I didn't know there was a repeat function. Thanks MarkT! You were a real help. =)