Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

OK... I'm a long time Winamp 2.x user and I waited for a couple releases to try out Winamp 5.x. Conclusion? It's not ready for prime time. Why?

1) Install problems in Winamp Setup. There was a problem installing components. CD Ripping/Burning may not function properly. '-1' This non-descriptive error msg sucks and immediately gave me a bad feeling.

2) A reboot is required? What the heck for? I run Windows XP Pro... there is almost never a good reason to have to reboot the whole darn system just to install an *app*. Poor programming.

3) Ordinal not found. What the hell is this? The ordinal 373 could not be located in the dynamic link library PX.dll. Gee, that's informative. How about telling us what this means and how to fix it? Bad feeling is getting worse by the minute.

4) Features. Where's the options for the spectrum analyzer (Thin, line-style)? Where's the built-in crossfader? What about about a built-in compressor/limiter function? Why make people search for 3rd party plug-ins for basic functions like this?

5) Numerous crashes... Sorry, an error occured and Winamp needs to close. Heh... sorry, Winamp 5 is currently kakaa and needs to be removed from my system immediately.

I'll check back with you guys in a year or so. Meanwhile I'm going back to a model of programming efficiency that actually works... Winamp 2.91.
- mikebo

Um, first of all, which version of WA5 do you have(there's a couple of releases already)? And did you buy the rip/burn version or get the free one?

1) winamp502_full.exe
2) free, I use CDex to rip and Roxio to burn... doesn't everybody? ;)

- mikebo

I do :D:up: I got um... don't know which version, lol. But, I haven't had a problem with it. I had WA2, loved it, but now adore my WA5. Some of the more tech savvy guys should be around here shortly, and will be able to help you out better than I could ever dream. I'm a computer idiot:D

Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

First of all, for the spectrum analyzer just go to "Classic skins" in preferences, and you can change everything there. Mine worked fine without a reboot, and I even think the install of 2.91 had the message.. maybe not, but I dont really think thats a big deal. As for the rest, either bring it to the tech forum, or post more information about your computer. I love winamp 5 for the improved media library, new skin support, and some other things, but if you dont, maybe you should just stick wtih 2.91. It was still awesome ;)

Well, we're all so sorry to hear you had problems.
However, this doesn't mean that everyone is experiencing the same (system-specific) problems. Alas, where these particular issues are concerned, you are in a very small minority of the overall Winamp 5 users...

1-3) If you weren't ever going to use it, then why did you install support for burning & ripping in the first place? On most systems, a reboot is required for the Sonic Burning Engine/Drivers to be registered. Sounds like you might have a conflict with some other installed software which also uses the Sonic Engine. Note, those error messages are generated by Windows code, not Winamp code.

Tech Support forum > sticky: Troubleshooters

Sonic Burning/Ripping Engine errors/problems
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=160147
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=160169
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=157326 (px.dll - ordinal 373 error)
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....37#post1202637 (px.dll - ordinal 373 error)

4) As pointed out by HaloHQ, the spectrum options are still there for classic skins
(the 2.9x base skin is still the base skin in 5.x).
The built-in crossfader is in the exact same place as it was in 2.9x (Prefs > Plugins > Output > DirectSound > config > Fading tab). There's even an on/off toggle switch and an xfade value button in the Modern skin > main window > config > Equalizer.
Normalization/Limiter wasn't in 2.91 either.
If you need this feature so badly, then the same plugins are still available.

5) Clean install

Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

Sounds rare, I've never seen this before.

The Sonic ripping/burning engine requires a reboot to install. So blame these guys. I'm guessing it's because it installs some manner of driver, but I've never really looked into it.

PX.dll is part of the Sonic engine, and so I'm guessing this is due to point 1).

For Winamp Modern skins, this is decided by the skin author. For Classic skins, it's in the preferences under Classic skins.

Preferences->Plugins->Output->DirectSound->Fading.

I wouldn't call it a basic function, most people wouldn't even know what a compressor is, much less how to use one.

Thanks so much for the helpful bug report. Most appreciated.

Re: Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

I wrote:
There was a problem installing components. CD Ripping/Burning may not function properly. '-1'

OK, this may be the root of all my other crash problems. It just seems that the installer should give a more informative error msg so users can pass the info on to the techies... '-1' hardly qualifies.

but the point is well taken - why install anything but the lite version, since I don't want to use Winamp for ripping/burning anyway.

OK... again, not using Winamp for this so...

Regarding a compressor/limiter:
Among other things, this is useful for maintaining a constant volume when playing a mix of old/new tracks. Older tracks tend to be much quieter, so without this feature, you are constantly messing with the volume. Therefore, I think it is a basic feature of any good player. If it were included, more people would learn how indispensible it really is...

Yes, well... I was being a smartass, so I deserve the sarcasm. Sorry... I was frustrated.

FYI, I'm running Windoze XP Pro SP1, P4 3GHz, 1GB mem, ATI AiW 9600 Pro. Not much to tell... never had a problem installing anything else. If anyone is really interested in looking at this bug, I'll be happy to post dxdiag output or whatever in the appropriate forum. Unfortunately, there's not much to tell you about the err except what I originally posted. :(
- mikebo

Did you read DJEgg's post?

Uninstall WinAmp, delete the whole WinAmp folder in Program Files, then run the installer. In the custom installation options, you can remove Sonic ripping/burning support.

For the needle thin FFT visualizations, you'll need to switch to a classic skin & modify the classic skin preferences. And I'm sure you can find a compressor plugin somewhere if you wish. Personally, I use MP3Gain (not a plugin) on my MP3s to equalize the loudness of all the files, but it doesn't do compression.

Exact Audio Copy for ripping, no CDex here! ;p

Yesh... I read everyone's replies and thanks for all the suggestions! I'll try them all...

I've heard EAC is great, but it's a two-stage program - rips to WAV, them runs an external compressor to generate MP3 or whatever. I like CDex cuz it uses Lame DLL which yields a one pass process - rip and compress on-the-fly. I'm only using --alt-presets standard anyway.

Sorry for the off-topic...
- mikebo

hmm ive got almost the identical system specs and when i installed the FULL installer with ALL options excluding AOD i never had to reboot nor was i notified to do so.

i dont think i have any sonic apps,...nope none.

maybe its because ive enabled my system to run as a corporate machine wich allows it to insall alot of things that nomrally would require a restart but it does it real time instead, not all things can be done without a restart but most can, such as windows updates (as long as they dont update ntoskernal)

Just a wild stab in the dark here, but try uninstalling Roxio (and using something decent, like Nero? :P) and see if the installation error still occurs.

I've got Winamp Pro, and I've found that it's a much more efficient ripper/encoder than CDex is, and it supports AAC and M4A, which CDex/LAME doesn't.

CDex can be configured to use any commandline encoder, and there are commandline aac encoders...therefore the obvious conclusion is that CDex can rip to aac, just not right out of the box. Lame is only for mp3s, so of course it wouldn't support aac ;). CDex uses the paranoia ripping engine, which I trust more than Winamp's sonic engine...if your cds are not scratched or otherwise damaged it shouldn't matter, but if they DO have errors, CDex will try harder to correct them(if at all possible) than Winamp will. I like Winamp's ripper, it's easier to use than CDex, even for a deepgeek like me. But I keep CDex around and still crack it open for the occasional disc. Another difference to note is that CDex supports the alt-presets (tuned encoder presets which yield optimum quality-to-filesize). Winamp soon will support these too, so that point will soon be moot.

-=Gonzotek=-

Re: Re: Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

There's actually something more useful and less-pain-in-the-ass to work with: ReplayGain

This is what I call indispensible.
Of course, any relatively new innovation invites criticism, but the more you use it the more you will like it.

Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

I had exactly the same problem, though I think the cause of the px.dll error in my case was that Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 seems to install the same dll file. If you haven't already seen it, the following thread also covers install and px.dll issues:

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=157326

Re: Oh, the problems with Winamp5
 

Thanks for the pointer, but... replaygain relies on metadata stored in the ID3V2 tag. I only use ID3V1, plus I have over 1000 albums ripped. Having to analyze and store volume meta data on 10,000+ individual songs makes this an unworkable solution. I currently use a compressor/limiter and crossfader plugins from http://www.sqrsoft.com.ar - a much better solution as it works in real time.

Now if only Winamp had stuff like this built-in... and the fader controls that *are* built in are not even in the same league.
- mikebo

Yes. That is why there's a HUGE plugin database... for people who want all those extra features. If they were to be included in the default distro, then we'll end up with people moaning about 10mb+ packages, bloatware, etc etc.
I'm not just talking Advanced XFader and ReplayGain/Normalization, but things like DSP Stacker, FLAC/MPC/etc support, Lyrics, Covers, and all the other gay little things people constantly whine about in the Wishlist forum.

Of course, some of us have been asking for native ReplayGain and DSP Stacker support for quite some years now, but at least there's plugins available...