winamp/shoutcast fan here

winamp had a couple of nice plugins (izotope)

 mutepoint wrote: 
I have version a WinAmp on my home computer which I hadn't used for a while because I usually stream the music through the built-in, browser player.  Last week I noticed WinAmp no longer was able to stream RP, but I re-started the stream from the link on the RP home page and now it plays.  I assume the source address had changed or something.

 BoFiS wrote: 
This doesn't affect us at all.

Most MP3 & AAC streams use Shoutcast server software — which was created by the Winamp folks back in the pre-AOL days. Some Shoutcast streams — including RP — were relayed by servers at shoutcast.com as a service to Winamp users, at no charge to the stations.  This was a huge boon to us at one point, but gradually became less relevant as we transitioned into running our own stream servers. These days we use the open-source Icecast stream server software, running on RP servers in California, Texas, DC, & London.

We're also transitioning into using — whenever possible — the open-source Ogg Vorbis audio codec.  If you're listening via Firefox or Chrome, Ogg is what you're hearing. There are a lot of advantages to using actively-developed open-source software tools rather than dated proprietary tools like Shoutcast & MP3. 

Winamp is certainly an icon, and no doubt will continue a robust life after AOL officially pulls the plug. I already see plans developing for plug-in developers, skin artists, etc to continue working after its official demise. 

This is very sad as I totally use WinAmp on all of my computers and my Android Phone (though I also have the RP app on there).  If they do not sell WinAmp and Shoutcast to MS, and decided to shut down Shoutcast, how would that, if at all, affect RP?  I sort of always assumed ALL streaming mp3's were in some way using Shoutcast, or is that no longer true and RP is hosting their own streams at this point?

 kurtster wrote: 

 hobiejoe wrote: 
iTunes will play http://stream-uk1.radioparadise.com/aac-128 or did I install a plugin to play that? I dunno. I only know the PSD is a critical part of my RP enjoyment these days, even if I only hit it once a day. So I'll take lower quality if the PSD is included. I only have crappy computer speakers so it doesn't matter anyway.

============

But back to Schlabby's point, tho I think he mis-read the subject line, someone should at least make sure Bill's aware that WinAmp is going away. It will decay slowly so it's not a crisis for him (users will clearly be using it for some time to come) but at the very least he'll want to address it on his listening info pages here and here and maybe other places too, I dunno.

And while Bill's at it (the rewrite of the main listening options page), maybe he wants to mention that the built-in player and pop-up player use MP3. If, in fact, they do. I can't keep it straight. The whole AAC/AAC+/OGG/MP3/PFUNK/NSA thing cornfuses the hell out of me. 

 Steve wrote: 

Awesome !  Bookmarked !

Thanks for sharing this.

 sirdroseph wrote: 
It will work as long as a puter that will run it works.  Go and download the program file and stash it somewhere as a master copy off of your C drive so you always have a clean copy for new computers and to recover from crashes.  That's what I have done with my V2.something.  That file must be 10 years old by now.  Going to do the same thing with what I just grabbed yesterday.

Sidebar   For random playback of files I think I'm going to load up flash drives with files and use them for random playing.  I have noticed that my hard drives don't like being yanked around frequently and one started to groan in protest.  Maybe a justification for a solid hard drive down the road, hmmm.

and shoutcast?
and who will whip the llama*s ass?

 mutepoint wrote: 
If you'd like older versions of Winamp (or a bunch of other vintage software), try oldversion.com.

 kurtster wrote: 
About 10 years ago, I went on a mission to try every media player Windows would play and I think I may have succeeded! Anyway Foobar was the only other player other than Winamp that would allow me to randomize my playlist with a direct correlation from player to mp3 file.  Blew my mind that you could not load all of your mp3s and randomize them on any player except for these 2.  So Foobar would be my second choice, but Winamp format is so beautiful in its simplicity I will remain loyal till it will no longer function.

 FourFortyEight wrote: 
I agree but for the record I thought, from the title, that this thread was a stray bug report also, and I was going to make the same suggestion as Schlabby. I had to read the original post twice before it sunk in, then I quietly backed out of the room.   

There can be only one. VLC stomps everything else, and has for years.

 sirdroseph wrote: 

Correct.  Heck, I still have 2.8 or something on my XP machines and it works fine.  Uses no resources to speak of.  I went and downloaded the latest Winamp and a bunch of plugins for the future if needed and stashed them away.

I only use foobar now though.  Its windows only.  The sound is prolly the best available (bit perfect) and its easy to use once you get familiar with it.

 mutepoint wrote: 
Man, me too not only my favorite but the only one I have ever used.  I tried many of them, but none of them was as efficient and productive as Winamp. I has a major sad. This will not affect my ability to still use the player right, I just will not be able to get upgrades?

 mutepoint wrote: 
You reminded me that I needed to download it for Mac too.  Thanks!

 Red_Dragon wrote: 
I hear your logic - no disrespect taken.  But Winamp has nothing to do with a Radio Paradise bug.  It's a post related to the end of a piece of free software that served millions.   

Besides.  It really whipped the Llama's ass.  For fifteen years.  

Maybe I'm stupidly sentimental.   

 FourFortyEight wrote: 
I kinda think of the bug reports thread to be all-encompassing - no disrespect intended. that's the one Bill looks at; that's what he created it for.

 Red_Dragon wrote: 
Sorry... I respectfully disagree.  Winamp has been around for a long time.  A lot of people use it.  I still use it.  It's noteworthy of a simple thread.