ZC w/Media Players

[LinkMaster500]

I know this sounds like a strange question, but I'll ask it anyway.

Is there a way that you run ZQuest or ZC itself while listening to audio files (such as MP3s or WMAs) using a standard media player (like Windows Media Player or iTunes)?

It used to be that I could run ZC fullscreen while listening to media on iTunes, but now when the media player is running, when I start ZC or ZQuest, I no longer hear the audio from the media player. It is not a serious problem, but when I work on my quest, I want to listen to something other than MIDIs.

[Gleeok]

Mine plays mp3's just fine...Just select a file that's not midi. :shrug:

[Nicholas Steel]

yep, midi cant be shared between programs like "direct sound" can be... make sure your audio players uses direct sound and not wave out.

[LinkMaster500]

I am using Version 2.10, not one of the Shardstrom betas. Will that be a problem if you are suggesting opening an MP3 with ZC?

One more question: Franp what do you mean by "making sure your audio player uses direct sound and not wave out?"

[Nicholas Steel]

im talking about the audio device its setup to use.

[Dark Nation]

If, when you run ZC, it steals the audio device (it works but the media player doesn't work anymore), then try running it first, and then running the media player afterwards.

[LinkMaster500]

I have tried that. I open up ZQuest, then I minimize that, and load the media player (e.g. iTunes, Windows Media Player). But when I go back to ZC, the media playing still stops.

[Dark Nation]

Probably a change in Allegro. If that's the case, there's nothing we can do.

[Majora]

ZQuest plays MP3's just fine, although you have to select another MP3/media file for it to play every time a song ends.

Also, there should be no reason why opening ZC prohibits the Media player from playing the file. Unlike MIDI's (which will not play at all if a media app is set to "pause" while playing a MIDI) MP3's/Media files can be played simultaneously. I myself prefer not to use any other application while running Zelda Classic or ZQuest, as the colors get messed up.

[LinkMaster500]

One final thing. Going back to this whole business of "making sure your audio player uses direct sound and not wave out," how can you tell which setting is active and how can you change it?

And if ZC/Zquest plays MP3s, how can you play one if you are playing or working on a ZC quest?

[Nicholas Steel]

well winamp you can go in the options then click on output devices on the left frame (or whatever its called) and choose between them there... im not sure of other programs tho.

[LinkMaster500]

And Franpa, do you have the exact steps to set that?

[Nicholas Steel]

yea use the classic winamp 2 style theme then do the following steps...

1. right click on the player (not the play list) and choose OPTIONS -> PREFERENCES
2. in the left frame choose OUTPUT
3. in the right frame higlight how you want sound to output then press ok.

[LinkMaster500]

What's this "Classic Winamp 2 style," and what version are you talking about?

[Nicholas Steel]

well when intalling winamp 5.5 and pretty much EVERY version down to v2.x, you get the choice during installation to use the classic interface or the new interface :P choose the classic one.