Winamp
Winamp [ wɪnæmp ] is available for Windows audio and media player of the Belgian company Radionomy SA
- 3.1 Media Library
- 3.2 stream playback (Internet Radio and Internet TV )
- 3.3 Plug -ins 3.3.1 Input plug-ins
- 3.3.2 DSP-/Effekt-Plug-ins
- 3.3.3 Output plug-ins
- 3.3.4 visualization plug -ins
- 3.3.5 General (General Purpose ) plug-ins
- 3.3.6 media libraries plug- ins ( since version 5:22 )
- 3.3.7 Encoder plug- ins ( since version 5.0)
- 3.3.8 Portable Media Device Plug -ins ( since version 5.2)
- 3.3.9 Auto- Tagger ( since version 5.5)
Features
Winamp is able, MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, ( Ogg ) Vorbis, AAC, MIDI, MOD ( and many derivatives ), MPC ( via plug -in), WAV, WMA, WMV ( since version 5:12 with DRM) to play FLAC and NSV files, and also supports ReplayGain. With input plug-ins can be a list of the supported file formats of nearly any size. Winamp can also customize your own taste in its look by skins. By further plug-ins Winamp can supplement with additional functions, such as extensions to the user interface or encoding and converting to other file formats.
In addition, modules can be integrated for visualization, get the music or sounds as input and generate mostly by complex algorithms to identify "appropriate", very abstract images. At least the rhythm of the music so that you can "see".
Another function is the media library that will help you manage all your media files stored locally and can create your own compilations. In the Media Library Audio CDs can be copied and burned on the computer, music and playlists also can be replaced with portable players.
Since version 5.3 Winamp supports Unicode, making it a to alternatives such as AIMP, foobar2000 or XMPlay. Also Winamp Media Library support since version 5:33 fully Unicode format.
Winamp runs on Microsoft Windows from version 2000. The last runs under Windows 98/Me/NT4 version was 5.35.
History
Winamp was released in May 1997 as shareware. Was programmed Winamp by Justin Frankel, Dmitry Boldyrev and Gianluca Rubinacci, which the company Nullsoft founded to market and securing the rights.
In April 1999, Winamp was translated into German by the MP3 info page MPeX.net, first from version 2.10 in the form of a retrofit language file. As of version 2.72, the program appeared as a complete package in German language. It was the official German version, which was authorized by Nullsoft. The last official, fully translated into German version version was 2.91c.
On 1 June 1999 Nullsoft was acquired by AOL for $ 80 million dollars. A few months later was 2:50 Winamp freeware with the version. The support of the program by AOL is considered failure. A former manager of the company commented in retrospect that Winamp would have around 2000 had the potential to reach the position in the music market, which had obtained later iTunes.
After the flop, the third Winamp version was released in December 2003, version 5, the "best of 2 3 = 5" represents the manufacturer and should connect with familiar things again. Prior to the Version 2 was parallel to the Version 3 further developed, so that, for example, the version 2.9 was released only after the version 3.0, which is also due to a lack of acceptance of the third version by users.
Many users also used after the release of Winamp 5 continues the version 2 of the program, as these should have a significantly lower consumption of resources; Winamp 5 attained with the "Classic Skin" in memory and CPU usage almost identical values . The " Modern Skins ", however, offer a lot of different designs and can be downloaded for free from the Winamp site.
On 27 January 2004 left Frankel Nullsoft and AOL. Winamp but was still actively developed.
In recent years, especially new functions for optional display of loaded from the Internet information about the tracks played, links to additional online content in the media library and the display of banners have been added. The number of input plug-ins has been continuously increased, so Winamp often already can play the new audio formats. Since version 5.5 you can choose the language directly in the program, which was previously possible only via voice, wrote the free programmer himself.
End of November 2013 was carried out by AOL 's announcement, Winamp set for December 20, 2013 and no longer offer to download from this date. A short time later, Microsoft expressed interest in making a purchase of Winamp. Despite the announced deadline was on December 20 no shutdown Winamp services.
Relaunch after Radionomy takeover
In January 2014, the purchase of Winamp through Radionomy, a Belgian Radio Platform was known. Currently (February 1, 2014) is a website relaunch with completely revised design held in HTML5. The advance online Asked draft - with a photo of a Lama ( the company's original mascot of Nullsoft ) and the words " There's more coming soon" - shows an optimized structure for the touch-screen operation.
Functions
The following designs are based on the version 5, in earlier versions to be reckoned with restrictions.
Considering Winamp without the plug-ins, so only one player program with basic functions ( play / pause / stop, etc. ) are provided and a simple module to edit the playlist ( Playlist). Only through plug-ins Winamp gets the ability to play as audio CDs or videos. However, are automatically installed many of the most important plug-ins when you install Winamp.
Media Library
The included and Version 5.5 default to the main window integrated media library is similar to programs such as iTunes, the management of all playable media. She is also able to check specified directories and subdirectories on a regular basis or manually for changes. A real-time search is available as well as the " smart playlists ", which are mentioned in Winamp " My Views " and allow yourself ( with pre-established criteria) updated Playlist. For example, can have its own view for audio and video files are created, but also for " all files that are longer than four minutes and added in the last two weeks to the library ." The measurement of songs and videos ( 1-5 stars ) is possible.
For the media library are numerous plugins available that extend the functionality.
Stream playback (Internet Radio and Internet TV )
Another special feature of Winamp had been around since the earliest versions playback of SHOUTcast streams ( internet radio), as other player programs this function is not yet offered. Today, however, stream playback is a standard feature of virtually all media players.
Winamp has these features integrated into the Media Library. The search for radio streams and TV channels is done directly in the Media Library window without the appropriate web pages need to be called.
Plug -ins
The plug-ins can be divided into nine ( originally five, see below) distinct categories. Each plug- in works autonomously and independently of the other. Because of this independence Winamp keeps a high degree of dynamism. Through a clever combination of plug-ins for example it is possible to provide files in MP3 format with echo effects, convert it to a WAV file and then burn to a CD -R.
A number of plug- ins will be included that are most demands.
Input plug-ins
The input or input plug-ins ensure that Winamp can handle a wide variety of file formats. These include, for example, audio files such as MP3 or WAV, but also video formats like AVI, WMV or MPEG, even playing music CDs is made by the appropriate input plug- in possible. On the Internet, various input plug-ins available to support even the most unusual formats such as SPC, SID or NSF. For many common file formats already provided input plug-ins.
For example, if a WAV file to be played, so is looked up in the list of the registered input plug-ins, whether one supports the WAV format. If that's the case, then leaves Winamp this plug-in processing this file. The plug-in converts the data stored in the WAV file data into audio signals. These signals are not output through the sound card, but first handed back to Winamp.
DSP-/Effekt-Plug-ins
The extracted from the input plug- in audio signals are first Winamp - if activated - passed to the equalizer and then to the selected DSP / Effect plug- in. These plug-ins change the signals and adapt them to the user's wishes. Here, for example, basses can be amplified or noise be removed. It is also possible to add the Hall effects, or to reduce the quality of a telephone.
Normally, only one or no DSP-/Effekt-Plug-in may be selected simultaneously. There are also plug-ins of this type which do not change anything even at the sound, but send the audio information gradually by multiple selected DSP-/Effekt-Plug-ins. For Winamp, it still looks as if only a plug-in selected.
The now modified sound information is then passed to the active output plug- in.
Output plug-ins
As the name suggests, control output plug-ins output from the audio data. They are usually used to output the sound through the sound card and so make them audible to the user. It is also possible to redirect the output to a WAV file and for example to convert an MP3 file to a WAV file. Still other plug-ins allow own radio streams or crossfading to run two tracks into one another, or the simultaneous use of multiple output plug- ins.
Visualization plug -ins
Audio visualization plug -ins to make music in the truest sense of the word visible and vividly. In a window over the screen or even as a desktop background abstract, moving graphics are drawn. The appearance of the graphics is selected by both the plug-in as well as the music dependent. The visualizations change rhythmically with the music, move quasi them.
The range of visualization plug -ins is at least as large as their possibilities, starting with the rather technical sounding oscillocope frequency analysis and simulation of flame up to the imitation of lighting effects in discotheques. Some plug - ins such as Nullsoft's Advanced Visualization Studio allow the user even to zusammenzubasteln its own visualization. Here are adequately supplied plug-ins.
General (General Purpose ) plug-ins
In contrast to the above extensions do not affect general plug-in to play, instead they add even more functionality to Winamp. So it is possible, for example using a plug-in, Winamp at any time and under any program to use the keyboard. Other plug-ins extend Winamp to media libraries in which music and videos can be cataloged and organized. Extensions to be included for both posed here tasks.
Media libraries plug- ins ( since version 5:22 )
The included media library (Media Library) is a general-purpose plug- in itself. Since Winamp Version 5:22 but it is also further divided into plug-ins, namely Media Library plug- ins. These represent the media library, for example, the local media management, access to online services, creating playlists or reading (ribs) and burn audio CDs. These functions although there was in earlier Winamp versions, but it is only since of version 5.22 the ability to them individually to uninstall in the form of plug -ins, such as the " Rip & Burn " plug- in on PC without CD burner.
A MusicIP Mix (formerly Predixis Music Magic ) software called the company MusicIP (s) for the automatic generation of harmonic playlists has been removed in version 5:35 from the installation package, but is available as an optional plug- in for integration into Winamp ready.
Encoder plug- ins ( since version 5.0)
Since version 5.0, there is for the various file formats in which audio CDs can be stored when reading on the hard drive, encoder plug- ins. Thus, for example MP3, the AAC/aacPlus-, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, and WMA format provided for the encoding of the audio CDs in the plug- ins. Using new encoder plug-ins, this list could be extended theoretically unlimited. Without the use of an encoder plug-ins Audio CDs can be stored in uncompressed WAV format.
Portable media devices plug- ins ( since version 5.2)
Since version 5.2, Winamp is able to access a variety of portable audio players. Also to be used plug-ins, namely the Portable Media Player (PMP ) plug- ins. Be supplied default plug-ins for devices from Apple's iPod series, for players of the company as well as for Creative players that support the standard " Microsoft PlaysForSure ". Since version 5.3 also simple USB flash devices are supported, as they are often as cheap mp3 player in the form of USB keys on the market.
Auto- Tagger ( since version 5.5)
Since version 5.5, Winamp is equipped with an auto - tagging feature. It provides that missing tag information ( descriptions such as title, artist, album, etc.) are completed via the Internet. This service is also possible, when no information on the tag data are available. The module scans the music file and compares their data with a person in the internet database. This service is available through Gracenote.
Winamp Pro
In addition to the free version of Winamp there is also a paid Pro version. This allows for example to copy CD tracks to MP3 format, as well as faster reading and burning CDs. Since version 5:57 decoding of H.264 video in NSV streams is also supported.
Winamp for Android
For the Android operating system, there is also a Winamp version, which first appeared in version 1.0 on March 10, 2011. Special features of the mobile version include the synchronization of Winamp and iTunes playlists over Wi-Fi as well as support services such as typical Winamp Shoutcast. Currently Winamp for Android is available in version 1.4.4 (29 November 2012).
Winamp Sync for Mac
Coinciding with the release of Winamp 5.622 also a beta version of Winamp for Mac OS X was presented. This is called " Winamp Sync for Mac " in order to emphasize that the focus of the application mainly on syncing with Winamp for Android, as well as the iTunes library. Claim to displace iTunes as a desktop media player for Mac OS X, Winamp Sync for Mac rises after the manufacturer's product description is not yet, although its own complete Winamp media library and playback functions are integrated. In Manufacturer Blog is noted, however, that "Winamp Sync for Mac " only the first step Mac and activities was to pave the way for future product development on Mac OS X.