foo_pod - Foobar2000 meets the iPod, iPod -> Foobar2000 0.8 Options

[jarsonic]

Aero -

What is error #76 or #78? I get it on occasion (especially lately...) when trying to add music to my ipod using foo_pod - I have room to spare on the ipod, but it won't let me add more, citing that error. Any ideas?

This post has been edited by jarsonic: Sep 15 2004, 20:54

[Aero]

What is error #76 or #78?  I get it on occasion (especially lately...) when trying to add music to my ipod using foo_pod - I have room to spare on the ipod, but it won't let me add more, citing that error.  Any ideas?

Would you post the relevant section of the Foobar console output, so I can see the error in context?

[FreydNot]

First of all, I cleared up another entry in the iPod database (Otto, if you're out there, mhit::unk6 is the bookmark time, in milliseconds).

While I have not seen an actual Apple brand audio book, it is my understanding that they have several pre programmed "bookmarks" at the chapter stops. I am guessing these are not temporary like the bookmark the iPod sets on its own.

That could account for more of those unknown entries in the database.

So while the good news is that I can create bookmarked in foo_pod, the bad news is, like I mentioned before, that Foobar isn't set up to handle .m4b files.  So my earilier suggestion to transcode to file extension "m4b" won't work, since Foobar can't update the metadata after transcoding, so the transcoding fails.  I added a temporary workaround in foo_pod to make this work for testing, but the real solution is to get Peter to add m4b to the list of supported file extensions in mp4_parser.cpp, or at least find someone to rebuild foo_input_std.dll, and add M4B to the list of extensions.

This is consistant with my xcopy.exe hack. For some reason it worked once for me (when I had already loaded a handful of m4b files via itunes first), but its not working now on a blank iPod. Could a simple hexedit on foo_imput_std.dll give us a stop gap solution by changing a currently suported (but not often used) format into "m4b"? I'll have to give that a try.

[Aero]

While I have not seen an actual Apple brand audio book, it is my understanding that they have several pre programmed "bookmarks" at the chapter stops.  I am guessing these are not temporary like the bookmark the iPod sets on its own.

That could account for more of those unknown entries in the database.

If there is more than one bookmark, then there must be some unknown list in the database, because there aren't that many unknowns left. Or they could be creating multiple database entries, each pointing to the same audio file, with a start/stop time for each chapter. Without knowing any more, I'd bet they are doing it like that.

Edit: BTW, is it possible to actually create/modify a bookmark on the iPod? In my limited testing, I only saw that you could seek to a certain point in iTunes, and the iPod would start playing from that point.

This is consistant with my xcopy.exe hack.  For some reason it worked once for me (when I had already loaded a handful of m4b files via itunes first), but its not working now on a blank iPod.  Could a simple hexedit on foo_imput_std.dll give us a stop gap solution by changing a currently suported (but not often used) format into "m4b"?  I'll have to give that a try.

Yeah, you will need to do 2 substitutions:

1. Look for "*.MP4;*.M4A;*.M4P". Change the MP4 to M4B.
2. Then approximately 16 bytes later, there will be the string "M4P M4A MP4" (the spaces shown here are actually the null (0) value). Again, change MP4 to M4B.

I actually just tested this to make sure I was giving the correct information, and uploaded the modified version of foo_input_std.dll (from Foobar v0.8.3). If you want to try this out, make a backup copy of foo_input_std.dll, and realize that by adding support for .m4b files, supported for .mp4 files was removed.

This post has been edited by Aero: Sep 15 2004, 21:56

[FreydNot]

I must have been mistaken about the multi bookmarks. I downloaded some free audio books from the iTMS (just search for 9-11 hearing) but I didn't see any indexing bookmarks at all. Oh well. That would be a good idea for the future.

Thanks for the link to the patched foo_input_std.dll file. I loaded it up and it works great. I don't have any mp4 files so I don't care that they are gone. And its easy enough to rename them if I ever need to support them.

[Otto42]

(Otto, if you're out there, mhit::unk6 is the bookmark time, in milliseconds).

So this is just the last time that the file was at? Cool. I'll rename it to something more useful.

For what it's worth, I use my own M4B files all the time on the iPod and iTunes. Essentially, the iPod simply remembers the last point at which it was playing an M4B file. This transfers in both directions with iTunes, near as I can tell. I figured it was in there, but I had not found it yet.

I *think* that the one weird "timestamp" field in the Play Counts file contains the last point that the iPod played an M4B and this is how it transfers the info back to iTunes.

This post has been edited by Otto42: Sep 17 2004, 15:31

[Aero]

I *think* that the one weird "timestamp" field in the Play Counts file contains the last point that the iPod played an M4B and this is how it transfers the info back to iTunes.

Yep - I checked, and PCEntry::unk1 is the bookmark time/last played location on the iPod.

So not only is another MHIT unknown discovered, but PCEntry is now also completely fleshed out.

[Otto42]

Yep - I checked, and PCEntry::unk1 is the bookmark time/last played location on the iPod.

So not only is another MHIT unknown discovered, but PCEntry is now also completely fleshed out.

Sweet. I've changed iPodDB to rename both of those entries to "bookmark". Seems descriptive enough.

[FreydNot]

I've just started to use the Smart Playlist Editor and I must say it does everything I could hope for. I was able to create all kinds of interesting smart playlists for both music and my talk radio clips.

The problem I am having is that my Smart Playlists disappear from the iPod after every sync. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?

If this is normal, would it be possibile to add an import and export feature to the Smart Playlist Editor so we don't have to re-enter the lists constantly?

[Aero]

I've just started to use the Smart Playlist Editor and I must say it does everything I could hope for.  I was able to create all kinds of interesting smart playlists for both music and my talk radio clips.

The problem I am having is that my Smart Playlists disappear from the iPod after every sync.  Is this normal?  Am I doing something wrong?

If this is normal, would it be possibile to add an import and export feature to the Smart Playlist Editor so we don't have to re-enter the lists constantly?

It isn't normal - the smart playlists should persist until you delete them. Are you using iTunes or any other program (other than foo_pod) with your iPod?

I am currently working on adding support for import/export - not only of smart playlists, but of the whole iTunesDB database. You can already export the database as XML, but I'm adding the ability to import it from XML as well. Then I will create a subset of those functions to only include the smart playlists.

[mobyduck]

Is it normal that when I go to Components --> foo_pod --> Smart Playlist Editor the two dropdowns (where I define the rules) aren't working?

I have to use the keyboard (arrows or first letter) to select an item because clicking on arrow button doesn't expand the field (hope this is clear ).

Please note that the Match All/Any dropdown is functioning correctly.

Thanks.

Alessandro

[FreydNot]

It isn't normal - the smart playlists should persist until you delete them.  Are you using iTunes or any other program (other than foo_pod) with your iPod?

Nope. Just foo_pod. I do have iTunes installed, but I haven't used it for quite some time.

I have two playlists on my PC which I use to load up my iPod. One holds all of my music and the other holds some talk radio shows. I have them both loaded in foobar (and no other play lists are loaded).

I create some SPL's which work okay. I can mount and unmount my iPod all day long and the SPL's stay in place just fine.

If I go to the foo_pod menu and select "Sync All Playlists" it does it work and then comes back (if I haven't changed anything (like a rating) then no files are moved, but the iPod database gets rebuilt). Now if I to do the SPL Editor, everything is blank and I have to start over with my SLP's.

I've done this twice now with the same results. Next I will do a foo_pod "Delete all iPod music and playlists" and then a "Sync All Playlists", build some SLP's, sync again, and see if they still come up missing.

I am currently working on adding support for import/export - not only of smart playlists, but of the whole iTunesDB database.  You can already export the database as XML, but I'm adding the ability to import it from XML as well.  Then I will create a subset of those functions to only include the smart playlists.

Cool. That will do exactly what I am looking for.

PS, I'm still trying to figure out exactly how the ratings, play count, and time of last play values are exchanged between the iPod and foo_pod. I've read through the thread for the details, but it seems the thoughts were never completed. I'm working with ratings now. From what I can tell, I have to do the ratings in foo_pod and then load those into the iPod. Is there any exchange of ratings from the iPod back to Foobar?

[FreydNot]

Okay, I wiped my pod, did a sync all playlists, made a SPL entry, did another sync all, and the SPL was missing again. That should pretty much rule out intervention from an outside program like iTunes.

What can I do to help now? I'm running windows XP SP2, foobar 0.8.3, and a 4th gen 20Gig iPod. I'm not sure how to tell what version of foo_pod I have, but its 384,000 bytes and dated Spet 10th.

I'd post a XML dump, but I'm not sure its relevant quite yet.

[Majdas]

Hi, I would like to thank the author of this plugin, it's awesome.

There's just one little thing I would like to ask about if it's possible. Since the iPod likes to arrange the songs by the song title in the id3 tag if there's no tracknumber it gets kinda messy sometimes. Is it possible that the plugin can edit mp3s "on the fly" when transfering them and add a tracknumber? Lets say I have some songs that's name 01 - something.mp3 02 - something.mp3 and when transfering it adds 1 as tracknumber in the id3 tag if there isn't one without changing the mp3 on the harddrive? That would've been awesome.

Thanks again!

[Aero]

Hi, I would like to thank the author of this plugin, it's awesome.

Thanks!

There's just one little thing I would like to ask about if it's possible. Since the iPod likes to arrange the songs by the song title in the id3 tag if there's no tracknumber it gets kinda messy sometimes. Is it possible that the plugin can edit mp3s "on the fly" when transfering them and add a tracknumber? Lets say I have some songs that's name 01 - something.mp3 02 - something.mp3 and when transfering it adds 1 as tracknumber in the id3 tag if there isn't one without changing the mp3 on the harddrive? That would've been awesome.

Yes, that would be very possible, since the iPod relies solely on the database for metadata.

There are a couple of ways that this could eventually be implemented. First, I have been planning all along to embed a Lua scripting engine into foo_pod, so users could write simple scripts to do exactly what you are looking for. It is more of a long term goal, though.

Another way to do it would be to use the (upcoming) XML database import feature. Or I could extend the Pod interface so developers could create Foobar components that could better interface with foo_pod. Finally, I could borrow code from Foobar's MassTagger to guess at missing metadata.

Out of those possibilities, adding the scripting support would probably be the best solution. I'll get around to adding it sooner or later!


FreydNot and mobyduck - I'll look into your smart playlist problems tonight.

[Aero]

Is it normal that when I go to Components --> foo_pod --> Smart Playlist Editor the two dropdowns (where I define the rules) aren't working?

I have to use the keyboard (arrows or first letter) to select an item because clicking on arrow button doesn't expand the field (hope this is clear ).

That isn't normal, but I can't reproduce it on my system, either.

One question - when you press the tab key until the first drop down box is selected (Edit: or just click in the box), then press F4, what happens?

This post has been edited by Aero: Sep 23 2004, 05:15

[mobyduck]

Is it normal that when I go to Components --> foo_pod --> Smart Playlist Editor the two dropdowns (where I define the rules) aren't working?

I have to use the keyboard (arrows or first letter) to select an item because clicking on arrow button doesn't expand the field (hope this is clear ).

That isn't normal, but I can't reproduce it on my system, either.

One question - when you press the tab key until the first drop down box is selected (Edit: or just click in the box), then press F4, what happens?

Exaclty the same thing that happens when I click on the arrow button.

To be more precise, the item "loses focus" (it isn't highlighted anymore) and a black line appears below the combo.

As I said, all ohters combo are behaving correctly, su I suspect it may have something to do with the "repeat region" where the rules are drawn (BTW, tab order should be arranged, I think).

Using Win2K SP4 (no problem on XP).

Thanks for your time.

Alessandro

[Majdas]

There's just one little thing I would like to ask about if it's possible. Since the iPod likes to arrange the songs by the song title in the id3 tag if there's no tracknumber it gets kinda messy sometimes. Is it possible that the plugin can edit mp3s "on the fly" when transfering them and add a tracknumber? Lets say I have some songs that's name 01 - something.mp3 02 - something.mp3 and when transfering it adds 1 as tracknumber in the id3 tag if there isn't one without changing the mp3 on the harddrive? That would've been awesome.

Yes, that would be very possible, since the iPod relies solely on the database for metadata.

There are a couple of ways that this could eventually be implemented. First, I have been planning all along to embed a Lua scripting engine into foo_pod, so users could write simple scripts to do exactly what you are looking for. It is more of a long term goal, though.

Another way to do it would be to use the (upcoming) XML database import feature. Or I could extend the Pod interface so developers could create Foobar components that could better interface with foo_pod. Finally, I could borrow code from Foobar's MassTagger to guess at missing metadata.

Out of those possibilities, adding the scripting support would probably be the best solution. I'll get around to adding it sooner or later!


FreydNot and mobyduck - I'll look into your smart playlist problems tonight.

Sounds good. I'll be waiting.

[.zolder]

Is it normal that when I go to Components --> foo_pod --> Smart Playlist Editor the two dropdowns (where I define the rules) aren't working?
I have to use the keyboard (arrows or first letter) to select an item because clicking on arrow button doesn't expand the field (hope this is clear ).
(...............)
To be more precise, the item "loses focus" (it isn't highlighted anymore) and a black line appears below the combo.

I have that too, and like mobyduck, i run on w2k sp4..

[Aero]

Is it normal that when I go to Components --> foo_pod --> Smart Playlist Editor the two dropdowns (where I define the rules) aren't working?
I have to use the keyboard (arrows or first letter) to select an item because clicking on arrow button doesn't expand the field (hope this is clear ).
(...............)
To be more precise, the item "loses focus" (it isn't highlighted anymore) and a black line appears below the combo.

I have that too, and like mobyduck, i run on w2k sp4..

I have a test version of foo_pod that might fix this problem. Try foo_pod_comboboxtest.zip and see if it helps.

[mobyduck]

I have a test version of foo_pod that might fix this problem.  Try foo_pod_comboboxtest.zip and see if it helps.

Nope, sorry: no difference here.

Alessandro

[richard123]

Great plug-in. Thanks so much!

A request: I like to have the music directory on my ipod arranged by artist and album (music\artist1\album2\song3), rather than F?? (music\f00\song3). Is there any way to do this in foo_pod? (I tried to read the whole thread, apologies if I missed this.)

[Aero]

Great plug-in.  Thanks so much!

Thanks!

A request:  I like to have the music directory on my ipod arranged by artist and album (music\artist1\album2\song3), rather than F?? (music\f00\song3).  Is there any way to do this in foo_pod?  (I tried to read the whole thread, apologies if I missed this.)

You can not currently control how foo_pod places songs on the iPod. I haven't done any experiments to see what you are requesting would actually work, but it might cause problems with other iPod utilities.

This isn't quite what you are asking for, but you can export songs from the iPod to your hard drive and have foo_pod place the songs in a directory structure like you suggested.. Just select one or more files in the iPod playlist, right click, and select Save iPod Files To Disk.

[richard123]

You can not currently control how foo_pod places songs on the iPod.  I haven't done any experiments to see what you are requesting would actually work, but it might cause problems with other iPod utilities.

There was an extensive discussion of this on some of the ipod forums a number of months ago. No one reported any problems using this method. People liked it because it made it easy to sync with a simple directory sync utility and because it made it easy to copy files to a hard disk without special software. This was before the latest gen Ipod and iTunes.

In any event, could I set up the directory structure and songs on my ipod as I want, then use foo_pod to create a new iTunesDB?

[SoulEata]

why not just make it so this could play music from any addon-harddrive?

Like thumb-drives, digital audio players , etc.

I know winamp has some plugin called gUSB that works like that