PCA109.

20tips 20/6/02 7:15 pm Page 40

20 tips Windows
Media Player
Solutions
PCAnswers

Make more of your music by tweaking Windows

Media Player. Mary Branscombe plugs in.

W
indows Media Player has
gone from being something
you only use in Internet
Explorer to a full-fledged media player
that copes with video, audio, and
organising your files. You can change
the look with skins, listen to the radio,
chill out with wacky visualisations or
hide it away inside Internet Explorer 6.
But whatever you do, don’t leave it on
the default settings that lock your
music to your own PC.
Media Player is free and there are
versions for Mac and Pocket PC as well
as Windows, but XP users get the best
deal because while you can get the
Windows Media Player 8 codecs in
version 7.1 on Windows 98 and Me, you
don’t get all the best features and You can get themed skins, minimalist skins, and fun skins: this one is called Portals. Use
extras. Partly that’s because Media the Skin Chooser tab to give Media Player a new look.
Player is integrated into XP so you get
music and video tasks in the task panes you transfer files to your portable making it sound like you have larger
of folders, but there are also extra player, saving space. Use Help, About speakers that are further apart. If you
features in the player itself like being Windows Media Player to check don’t notice any real improvement,
able to edit song properties from inside your version – if it says version turn SRS WOW and the graphic
the Media Library and being able to 7.01.00.3055 – that’s actually version equalizer off and you’ll save memory.
choose how Media Player constructs 7.1. Help, Check for Player
the file names for tracks you copy. Upgrades tells you about new Turn it Down
Windows Media Player 8 isn’t components rather than new versions. Media Player has keyboard shortcuts for
perfect either; you’ll have to lay your controlling the volume – [F8] for mute
hands on MP3 encoders and DVD Pump up the Bass and unmute, [F9] to lower the volume
playback codecs from other sources, but If your digital tracks are sounding a and [F10] to turn it up – but they only
at least you can plug them in. Plus little flat, use the graphic equaliser to
there’s the PowerToys and Bonus pack – add more bass, tweak the treble or
for Media Player 7.1, too. change the balance between the The servers don’t
Software is what speakers. Pick the Now Playing tab
makes your PC go Media Player 7.1 and choose View, Now Playing get any personal
Download it Tools, Show Equalizer and
round, and the If you haven’t got Windows XP and you Settings, Graphics Equalizer (or information from
Solutions section is haven’t updated Media Player recently, look for the icon with the pop-up tools Media Player
designed to help your head over to www.microsoft.com/ menu below the visualisation pane).
windows/windowsmedia/ There are presets for various musical
PC go round that little
download and get Media Player 7.1. genres or you can set the frequency work when Media Player is the active
bit faster and with You get the same CD-burning codec as sliders and balance yourself to get an application, not when it’s minimised
more panache. Media Player 8 for better audio fidelity effect you like. and playing in the background. It’s
when burning CDs plus better video Try the SRS WOW effects as well – faster to use [Alt] + [Tab] and [F8] to
playback and Smart Transcoding to these enhance the lower frequencies in turn it off than to fiddle around with
automatically reduce the bit-rate when the music like a software subwoofer, your mouse, but for fine control look

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for the Media Player tray control (in (C:\Documents and Settings\All
the XP Bonus Pack) or use TrayIt!
(www.teamcti.com/trayit/
Users\DRM in XP or C:\Windows\DRM
in Windows 98/Me), restore your Skins and views
trayit.htm), which enables you to licenses (and if you haven’t backed the
minimise Media Player to the System licenses up you have to go back to your Compared to a lot of other MP3 tools, Windows Media Player is clunky,
Tray rather than the Taskbar. old PC or CPU to do it), then run the blocky, and ugly, but you can change that with a different skin. There are
utility that updates licenses from Media a handful of skins on the Skin Chooser tab and more in the Bonus
Stay Anonymous Player 7 to another PC at Packs (or click the More Skins button to check out the Skin Gallery on
When you install Media Player 7.1 as www.microsoft.com/windows/ the WindowsMedia Web site).
well as the usual license agreement you windowsmedia/WM7/DRM/ You can find a lot more exciting skins on the Web, but some of the
have to tick a privacy agreement pluwiz.asp. It’s a tedious process and sites are chock full of pop-up ads. Check out these sites – you’ll find a lot
because Media Player generates a it’s far simpler to turn off DRM in of duplication and some really interesting looks:
unique ID for your PC that it sends to Media Player for the tracks you create
Web servers that you’re getting yourself. Choose Tools, Options, CD ■ www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=9
streaming audio and video from. The Audio and uncheck Enable Digital ■ www.deviantart.com/browse/?section=wmp
content providers can use the ID to Rights Management (you’ll find it as ■ www.neoteck.com.au/WMP
check whether you’re getting a good Tools, Options, Copy Music, ■ www.lotsofskins.com/?page=skins&type=10
connection. The servers don’t get any Protect Content in Media Player 8 ■ http://deskmod.com/?show=showcat&cat_name=wmp7
personal information about you from in Windows XP). Plus DRM content isn’t ■ www.skinz.org/skins.phtml?category=23
Media Player, but it’s possible to use transcoded when you transfer it to a ■ The official Star Trek skins (www.startrek.com/homeskins.asp)
JavaScript to track what you’re portable player. If you’ve got paid-for ■ www.customize.org/list/wmp/0/5/date-desc
watching. If you don’t like the idea, content with licenses, use Tools, ■ Teeny tiny skins (www.anthonyj.co.uk/wmp7)
turn off your ID with Tools, Options, License Management, Backup
Player: under Internet Settings Now and keep the backups safe. Download skins to C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\Skins
clear Allow Internet sites to and they’ll show up on the Skin Chooser tab. If you want to have a go at
uniquely identify your player. Check the Connection designing your own skins, check out the Media Player SDK at
You’ll still be able to get streaming When you’re playing songs or video http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/
media: Media Player just generates a from the Internet, choose View, en-us/wmplay/mmp_sdk/windowsmediaplayerskins.asp.
random identifier each time. Statistics, Advanced to see exactly If you’re using skins and you haven’t upgraded to Media Player 7.1 or
how fast your connection is and XP, make sure you get the security patch that stops you getting
Turn Off DRM whether you’re losing frames and malicious code with skins (www.microsoft.com/Downloads/
By default, when you copy files from packets. The Quality bar gives you a Release.asp?ReleaseID=27961).
CDs into your Media Library they’re quick idea of how much of the data If you’re happy with the standard look, you can change what shows
‘protected’ by a digital rights you’re getting. up with View, Now Playing Tools. You can get rid of the big anchor
management license that means you button in compact mode from Tools, Options, Player (in Media Player
can only play them on your PC. If you Increase your Buffer 8 use View, Full Mode Options. Pick Auto Hide Menu Bar to strip
change your CPU or upgrade to a new If you find that streaming media tends away the menu bar and wasted space around the main player.
PC you have to delete the DRM folder to stop and start while you’re playing

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choose which file types Media Player is mp3-to-all-convert.htm). But before

associated via Tools, Options, you do, remember that you won’t get
Formats (Tools, Options, File the same quality because you’re
Types in Media Player 8). compressing and resampling an already
compressed file: not all the information
Visualise More Clearly is there for the WMA encoder to work
If you like to run your visualisations in with. Take the time to re-encode from
full screen (View, Full Screen), check your CDs and you’ll get better audio.
that you’ve got the right resolution set.
Choose Tools, Options, Play QuickTime
Visualizations and click Properties Because Media Player can’t play new
for each set of visualisations that you QuickTime files, it isn’t listed as a
use and choose your screen resolution supported format, but you can play
under Full Screen Settings. some QuickTime 1 and 2 files. Drag and
drop the file from Explorer onto the
WMA or MP3? Media Player window to see if it works.
Media Player can play both formats,
but you can only create MP3 rather Media Player Shortcuts
than WMA files with Media Player 8 in By default Media Player opens where
Pick a preset on the graphic equaliser or Windows XP, and even then you need you were last, but you can control that
fine-tune the effect to add bass. to buy a plugin MP3 encoder (because by adding command-line options to the
otherwise Microsoft would have to shortcut. Use wmplayer.exe /play to
it, increase the buffer so that Media charge for the codecs). Some portable make a file start playing straight away
Player downloads more of it in MP3 players can play WMA as well. If and /close to close the player
advance. You’ll have to wait longer for you’re just creating files to listen to on afterwards, or /open to open the file,
files to start playing, but they won’t be your PC, do your own test to see if you
as jerky. Choose Tools, Options, like WMA – we think it sounds just as
Performance and under Network
Buffering select Buffer and increase
good as MP3 and sometimes better at
lower bit rates, so you could save some
If you’re getting
the default 5 seconds to 10. space. You can hear tracks in all formats crackles when you
at www.microsoft.com/windows/
Pick the File Type windowsmedia/windowsxp/ play CDs, switch to
You may not want to use Media Player mp3compare.asp, but you’ll get a
Above – turn off the unique identifier to for everything (CD players that check better idea if you encode music you analogue playback
stop Web sites tracking what you watch, Freedb.org get track listings for more like on your own system.
turn off the Media Guide startup, and lose CDs or you might have separate DVD but not start playing it. You can select
the anchor window. player software): you can pick and Convert to WMA a skin with /Layout:skin.wmz or set
If you make the switch to WMA and Media Player to open on a particular
you want to convert existing MP3 tab with /Task:MediaLibrary,
tracks to save disk space, try a utility /Task:RadioTuner,
like the MP3 Audio Converter in the /Task:SkinViewer,
Media Player Bonus Pack or MP3 To All /Task:PortableDevice,
(www.audioutilities.com/ /Task:CDAudio “d” (to copy files
mp3-to-all-convert/ from CD drive D), and

Left – if you play WMAs on more than one Below – check if you’re getting the frames
PC, turn off Personal Rights Management. and packets with View, Statistics, Advanced.

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Media Player Bonus

Pack and PowerToys
You’ll have to hunt through the WindowsMedia site to find it
(www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/
bonuspack71.asp), but there’s a Bonus Pack of tools for Media Player
7.1 with handy PowerToys like the Most Recently Used Cleaner and the
PowerToys skin, as well as the Bonus Pack for XP (www.microsoft.com/
windows/windowsmedia/download/bonuspack.asp).
They both have the Audio Converter tool for turning MP3s into
WMA files and the WinAmp skin converter, but it’s almost worth
upgrading to Windows XP to get the extra PowerToys like the tray
control that lets you pause, skip tracks, and control the volume. The
Media Library Management wizard is great for tidying up your Media
Library without having to delete it and start over – it can update meta-
Visualisations default to 640 x 480 resolution at full screen. Enjoy your swirling, melting data or find files you’ve moved, or you can export your playlists to Excel
graphics at full resolution. to rearrange them.
There’s a PowerToy to grab album art from the WindowsMedia site
/Device:AudioCD “D” (to play a CD). visualisations working, but it also cures for tracks you’ve already ripped and several ways of creating playlists
In Media Player 8 you can open a gaps between tracks (irritating on from your files or organising your files to match playlists you’ve already
playlist with wmplayer.exe /playlist classical and dance music, cured in made. These are the kind of tools that should have made it into Media
“playlistname” or wmplayer.exe Media Player 8) and enables you to Player 8 itself, but they’re free to download so grab them now.
/play “playlist.file” for playlists hear audio through the headphone jack
you’ve exported as a file. on your CD drive.
video coders and encoders (codec for
Digital or Analogue? Internet Radio short) you have installed. When you try
Digital playback is better if your CD The Featured Stations list on the to play a file that you don’t have a
drive can cope with it and you’ll Internet radio tab changes regularly so codec for, Windows Media Player will
definitely want it for ripping tracks if you find a station you like, don’t just try to download it, but there are a lot
because you don’t have to wait for the play it, add it to My Stations. That way of codecs, identified by the FOURCC
CD to play in real time and you won’t you’ll also find it in the Radio Tuner (four character code) that you’ll find in
pick up stray audio noise. But if you’re Presets section in Media Library and the error message. Check out
getting crackles and skipping when you you can drag it into a playlist – make a www.webartz.com/fourcc/
play CDs and Tools, Options, CD playlist of your favourite stations and fcccodec.htm for a list with download
Audio, Error Correction doesn’t you can easily find some good music. links. If you get an error message about
help, you can switch to analogue security settings when Media player
playback in the same dialog (Tools, Download Codecs tries to download a code automatically,
Options, Devices, Properties in The different file types that Media you need to change your Internet
Media Player 8). This will stop Player can handle depend on which Explorer settings (Tools, Internet

stepbystep
Burning CDs from Media Player
Take your MP3 files with you as audio CDs: you can burn directly from Media Player.

1 Media Player 7 uses the free Adaptec plugin 2 Media Player 8 changes the Portable 3 Media Player integrates with XP so you
to burn WMA files to audio CD-Rs. You have Devices tab to Copy to CD or Device where can burn WMA and MP3 files straight from
to make a playlist of the files you want to you can see which files will fit. You can Explorer. Choose View, Customise Folder
burn, then choose File, Copy to CD. make a playlist or select a section in the and pick a folder template if you don’t see
Media Library to copy from. the Music tasks in the task pane.

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Options, Security) to allow signed Media Player 8 Media Player as normal then right-click
ActiveX controls to download. DVD Hum the Media Player icon and choose Run
Media Player 8 can play DVDs – if you As. Note that while you have more
Clear Recent Files have the codecs, which you’ll either than one Player running, you won’t be
The list of recent files on the File menu have to pay for or get by installing able to add new content to the Media
tends to be out of date because it software like PowerDVD that comes with Library and you won’t be able to make
doesn’t include playlists, just files you your DVD drive. If your speakers hum changes to the player settings.
open directly. You can clear it using the while you’re playing DVDs, open the
PowerToys or you can delete the keys, Windows volume control (in the Stop Track Updates
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Sounds and Audio Devices Control Every time Media Player tries to get
Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\ Panel if it’s not in the Windows XP track details from the WindowsMedia
RecentURLList and notification area) and mute the CD site and can’t (because you’re offline or
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Audio mixer while you watch. the CD isn’t in the database), it makes
Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\ a note in C:\Documents and Settings\
RecentFileList. It’s worth getting the Run More than One Player %username%\Application Data\
PowerToy if you’ll do it often, as Media There’s not much point in listening to Microsoft\Media Player\
Player recreates the keys each time you two songs at once, but if you want to OfflineUpdates.dat. When you’re online,
run it. If you don’t want others seeing compare two videos or cue up several it will periodically return to the site to
what you’ve been watching in Media streaming video clips to watch one look for updates. Delete the
Player 8, choose Tools, Options, after another, you can run two copies OfflineUpdates.dat file every time
Player and clear Add items to of Media Player 8 in Windows XP (it you rip CDs that aren’t in the
Media Library when played. doesn’t work in Media Player 7). Run database to prevent it.

stepbystep
Organise your music files
Make the most of the Media Library and you’ll get your music collection under control.

1 Media Player sorts tracks into artist, 2 Use Tools, Search for Media to import all 3 The easiest way to clean up your Media
album, and genre using the meta-data in the music on your PC into the Library. You Library is with the Media Library
the ID3 tags embedded in the file when can search your entire PC or individual Management Wizard from the Bonus
you copy a track – make your own playlists folders. And tick Tools, Options, Player, Pack. Pick the folders you keep music in
to bring the tracks you want together. Add items to Media Library when played and it will update the Library for you.
to include files you play from Explorer.

4 If you have any WMA files that you’ve paid 5 The Media Library is an MDAC (Microsoft 6 The PowerToys skin in the Bonus Pack
for, make sure you back up your license Data Access Components) database that enables you to create playlists for your
files: choose Tools, Licence Management, you’ll find in C:\Documents and artists and albums, delete your playlists if
Backup Now. Put them somewhere safer Settings\All Users\Application Data\ you want to start again or create playlists
than My Documents – on a floppy disk or Microsoft\Media Index (a hidden for copying to CD, in order or randomly.
CD – in case of viruses and disk crashes. directory) or C:\Windows in Win98/Me.
Back it up if for safety.

44 PC ANSWERS.CO.UK AUGUST 2002