Multiple Now Playing panes with assignable sound cards?

[windcrest77]

Can you please add the option to have two "Now Playing" panes open in MM at the same time. And also in the File menu of the Now Playing pane add a fly out menu that displays a list of all the sound cards on the system, making it so that the Now Playing pane(s) assign(s) itself to whatever sound card you selected for that pane.

I need to send sound to two sound cards from two Now Playing panes, but only want one instance of MM launched and want only one common library in view for updating/searching tasks. Being able to assign any sound card to multiple Now Playing panes would be a great help.

(I use one sound card to feed my headphone amp to preview songs, and the other sound card feeds the PA system).

I also would need the ability to drag songs from one Now Playing pane to the other Now Playing pane, so as I privately preview and approve a song on headphones (now playing pane 1 sound card 1), I can just drag it to the PA system's Now Playing pane (now playing pane 2 sound card 2), so it is played/cued publicly from that list.

[Lowlander]

Quick Audio Device selector in menu's or button has been requested, pretty sure multiple Now Playing panels too.

I'm not sure these types of request are right for MediaMonkey though as this would be for a specialized group of users and I am not sure that MediaMonkey would be able to effectively compete with Tracktor. Also it would add another level of complexity to MediaMonkey for users and probably gobble up loads of development time to get it right. Quick Audio Device switching capability should be implemented though.

[Lowlander]

Audio Device switching: http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=6456

[windcrest77]

True about competing with other multi device software. BUT that software cannot hold a candle for MM's database and music organizational abilities.

So adding device switching (and simultaneous device usage) and at least two now playing panes, would put it lightyears ahead of the products you mentioned.

I can find music (amongs 50,000 tracks) so fast and easy with MM it is amazing, but the only missing piece is ablity to playback two panes at once. Because of the fantastic organizational skills of MM I would MUCH rather use MM for DJ work. It only needs a way to do private/public sound and private/public queues as now playing lists.

How hard can it be, once you add device switching, to allow two devices to be switched "on" at once, but from different panes?

Not criticizing the MM product, it's database alone makes it the best, I'm just seeing opportunity by being able to instantiate the Now Playing pane.

[Lowlander]

It's not as easy as you think, because anywhere you control the Now Playing would now need to account for multiple Now Playing panes.

You might want to check out: http://mmfanbox.x10host.com/mmfanbox/audiomon.html by Peke
And the similar request recently made: http://mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=52144

[Peke]

Full usage tutorial can be found here http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2432

BTW I voted NO because there is no actual need for two parallel now playings due the these facts:
- MediaMonkey is Database/Collection organizer in essential means
- MediaMonkey is not designed for multi Zone playback (althru it would be nice and wishlist you actually want)
- MediaMonkey is not DJ all in one application (thing I miss most in MM and thus there is lots of my addition plugins to make me feel closer to that)
- MediaMonkey is not Radio Automatization software (as above I've created several scripts to close that gap as much as possible)
- MediaMonkey is not app that will not listen to users and will seek new ways to improve
- MediaMonkey is not app that forces users to accept it as is. Users actually can expand it and customize it.
- .....
- MediaMonkey is not an app that should be slowed down or have lower quality
- MediaMonkey is not an app that encourage lazy DJ (maybe an old school, but DJ that do not know how to spin LP is still a virgin to me)

NOTE: This is written by ex active DJ/Radio DJ who wishes that MediaMonkey have all DJ stuff noted above natively (out of the box) has armed himself with patience that wishes will be fulfilled.

P.S. This should not be read in offending way, and if someone find this offending I apologize. MediaMonkey is an app that should not rush into something unless quality is assured. Now what you wanna gain with multiple now playings and maybe I could help you?

[windcrest77]

Actually I've spun vinyl for years and still do occasionally, but prefer digital as I can respond much faster to the needs of the dancers and can have more depth to the content. (these are ballroom and swing dancers requiring a very wide variety of musical styles).

Actually only two (sound independent) Now Playing panes would be enough, and this is the full extent of the changes for this wish.

I just simply want that library to be able to feed two independent Now Playing Pane objects that allow drag and drop from the other panes and each other.

Other common-area buttons (play, stop, next, volume, etc) will act upon whatever Now Playing pane currently has the focus.


--------------------- reason...


What I mostly love about MM is the library and searching capabilities, that is where other so-called "pro" DJ programs fall flat, my work involves finding songs by many parameters beyond BPM and the style of dance (cha cha, rumba, foxtrot, swing, lindy, hustle, paso doble, tango, waltz, viennesse walts, argentine tango, merengue, salsa, samba, bolero, two step, charleston, etc, etc). So I like the search power. I dont neek junk like effects, and "scratching", and "beat synch" etc. in my use, that is all just garbage IMO, so I am glad to forego a "pro" DJ program and use one with a great library instead.

I may in the end just go with two laptops feeding two USB D/A converters on my panel. But that setup means using two copies of the library and how do you share the hard drive unless you use a NAT? Having MM able to support two Now Playing panes would allow a common library and two simultaneous play lists.

[Peke]

First of all I completely agree with you as I as spinning LPs and when I learned that along being tech guy I build my first sampler/player back in '95 when I completely switched to Digital. Again few years back I used MIXVibes with coded vinyls which brought me back to old glory days when I danced along with all the people in the discotheques I worked in.

Note that MediaMonkey 4 will have Tabbed browsing so you will be able to have two playlists open (Prepare 1 and Prepare 2) actually I see them as three (if exclude that Now Playing is separate), so with using my audio monitor I'm able to listen tracks on Monitor Sound Card before I add them into Now Playing or Prepare 1 or Prepare 2 or discard it and continue browsing tracks.

My personal opinion (no matter how much both of us wanted it) that MM is not yet matured as player to support two simultaneous players and events, and I see it more as better automatization software than essential DJ tool. To not discourage I also think that MM scripting and customization levels can support using External plugin/app in playing two simultaneous tracks at same time (My Quick play keys plugin from fan page proved that back in 2004 when MM was not close to powerful as today).