Prefered Audio Player?

[Psyche911]

Looking for a recommendation. I've been getting by on iTunes for years because it's really quite decent, but the constant updates and added features of stuff I'll never use is getting old. It's kind of slow with a big library, not sure if other software has the same issue.

I just want something simple and basic. Something that can do playlists and lets me save stream URLs. I've tried Songbird but it doesn't work well with streams even with the add-ons that are supposed to add that functionality.

Not WinAmp. And yes, I have and use Spotify but I want something for local files.

[mrd]

itunes? wtf

Use foobar. It's lightweight and has about 69814 plug-ins of every variety. Totally customizable, blah blah. In short, why the fuck would you ever use anything else. Been using it for probably 10 years.

EDIT: http://www.foobar2000.org

[Transient]

Why not Winamp? I've been using it for some 17 years with no issues. It does everything you described.

[Captain]

After 15 years of Winamp, I switched to MediaMonkey because I wanted a player with proper album support.

[Silicone_Milk]

I just use VLC...

[mrd]

VLC is pretty good as well.

[obsidian]

I have no problems with iTunes, it's also been updated today to version 11, which is a complete rewrite of the entire program from the bottom up for much improved performance, so maybe perfect timing for you to give it a try. Most of my music is ripped to lossless ALAC. I find that it does a good job of managing my large collection, as well as music I have stored on other devices, it recognizes my Linux-based NAS and other computers (Mac and PC) in a snap so I can stream music easily over the network. I disabled all the extra features I never use, like videos, podcasts, etc. It's just a checkmark in preferences.

Otherwise, I also use Foobar for stuff that I leave out of my music collection for various reasons. It's simple, fast and customizable. Will manage MP3's, FLAC, AAC, ALAC, etc.

[bitWISE]

I've been using iTunes for a few years and I like it. My library is somewhere between 50-100 gb and it gives me the tools to manage it nicely. So far I'm liking the improvements in the new version, it does everything the way I always thought it should have now.

[U4EA]

Agreed, iTunes is great. Don't hate for no reason, or because you only tried it many years ago and didn't like it then.

[GONNAFISTYA]

I'm still with Winamp. IMHO it has the best digital EQ you can get with audio players.

VLC is pretty damned good as well, but it feels clunky as shit.

[Whiskey 7]

I just use VLC...

Me too, but media monkey or foobar look like a contender for a change

[Eraser]

I use either Spotify or WinAmp

[seremtan]

foobar2000

say no to bloat

[vesp]

foobar is probably great if you've customised it with plugins over the past however many years. The last time I tried it there didn't seem to be a library window, mucked about for about 10mins with plugins and went back to itunes. I'm sure it's great and takes up less memory etc but itunes is the best library manager i've used that just works from the start.

(to get into some seriously mixed up metaphors, for me foobar was linux and itunes was XP) :P

[seremtan]

foobar was linux and itunes was XP) :P

"...before turning the gun on himself."

[Unisaw]

I use my player (iPod touch) mostly for podcasts. It is the best player for podcasts by far. I've tried other apps on my android phone but nothing compares. Not impressed with the recent update to iOs 11.0 but I repeat.

[shaft]

iTunes 11

[Big Kahuna Burger]

I use my player (iPod touch) mostly for podcasts. It is the best player for podcasts by far. I've tried other apps on my android phone but nothing compares. Not impressed with the recent update to iOs 11.0 but I repeat.

yeah i hate the UI in iOS 11

[mrd]

I'm still with Winamp. IMHO it has the best digital EQ you can get with audio players.

VLC is pretty damned good as well, but it feels clunky as shit.

No offense to ya, but people (read: laymen) who EQ their music generally annoy me. Do you not think that the professional studio/mixing engineer and mastering engineer have a better idea of what constitutes EQ'ing than the average Joe? Unless you have studio monitors and are accounting for some imbalance in your room that you are perceiving, why not just leave it? Part of what lends a mix clarity is the way it's EQ'd. Apologies if you're genuinely doing very small tweaks (+ / - 2 or 3 dB here and there) but in my experience people who EQ their music do crazy shit like +15dB in the 80hz range or something. "sick dude its so bassy!" Just sounds like shit and you end up ruining what is usually a perfectly good expression. Anyway, somewhat off-topic but if you typically EQ your music heavily... Try it flat. Might take a bit to get used to but it usually sounds better. Also, for those that do EQ their bass side way up, keep in mind that unless you have a proper sub with a good cross-over circuit, bass frequencies require the most power to generate and so that leaves less power for the rest of the spectrum.

</rant>

[GONNAFISTYA]

I usually only tweak 2 to 3 dB...nothing major. And I'm only reaching for the eq for certain tunes or if I'm getting used to new headphones or speakers. And yeah...to my ears some products do need it.

And I have to disagree in some way about professional mixing: sometimes the original mix is indeed shit. For example, Metallica's "...And Justice for All" is THE worst mix I've ever heard in my life from any sound source I've ever heard it from. They've taken the 1 - 3k range and destroyed everything else with it.

I understand what you're saying about a flat response to get the "intended mix" but I don't see anything wrong with experimenting to roll back or add some tweaks to get the timbre that I like from certain instruments. Or like I mentioned, some products are indeed sub-par in reproduction.

[mrd]

I usually only tweak 2 to 3 dB...nothing major. And I'm only reaching for the eq for certain tunes or if I'm getting used to new headphones or speakers. And yeah...to my ears some products do need it.

And I have to disagree in some way about professional mixing: sometimes the original mix is indeed shit. For example, Metallica's "...And Justice for All" is THE worst mix I've ever heard in my life from any sound source I've ever heard it from. They've taken the 1 - 3k range and destroyed everything else with it.

I understand what you're saying about a flat response to get the "intended mix" but I don't see anything wrong with experimenting to roll back or add some tweaks to get the timbre that I like from certain instruments. Or like I mentioned, some products are indeed sub-par in reproduction.

Fair play. I agree some mixes do need it, but by and large, most stuff should be pretty bang on.

As for AJFA, the key you're missing out: it wasn't professionally mixed. Metallica did it themselves and they had no idea what they were doing. Obviously you can tell. Quite a bummer because musically that album is among the best.

And to be honest, if you can make a 2 or 3dB cut/boost in the spectrum and actually HEAR it, then you already have pretty good ears. Most people can't even hear a change in overall volume with anything less than a 3dB change, never mind a small tweak inside the spectrum, so kudos to ya.

[GONNAFISTYA]

lol I've always wondered if I've destroyed my hearing from so many years of cranking tunes.

And I had no idea Metallica mixed it themselves, no wonder. And yeah...some of their best music.

[mrd]

Well, detecting differences in volume has more to do with your brain than your ears. Unless you are truly very impaired or near-deaf, then anyone can train themselves to be more sensitive to small changes. Back when I started working with sound, I was like I mentioned above: I needed a change of at least +/-3dB to hear a noticeable difference. Now I can hear small 0.3dB tweaks in a narrow spectrum band simply because I've spent so much time messing around with sound. Practice makes perfect as they say.

edit: I've always had a secret dirty wish that Metallica would go back to their sound archives and dig up the raw tracks for AJFA and let someone who knows wtf is going on re-mix that entire album, but I think that will never happen. Feel sorry for Newsted. You can barely hear a shred of any of his playing on the entire album.

[GONNAFISTYA]

Fuckin nerd.

And to the remix idea.

[mrd]

nerdStatus++;