Alchemy Desktop - touch friendly control interface for HQPlayer for Windows

[dean70]

Hi Dean, thanks for your response.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31390[/ATTACH]

 

I am not able to access any of the highlighted menu items. I checked to see whether it is related to folder mode, and it isn't. I still can't access the menu items in library mode.

 

I am using Windows 10, with no "audiophile enhancements" (like Audiophile Optimizer, etc). If there are other things about my system you would like to know, just ask.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31391[/ATTACH]

 

As for this screen:

 

1: I have to manually set this every time I load a new disc, because it defaults back to "Auto".

 

2: This is the track selection window. It is too small. As you can see, it only shows 2 1/2 tracks of the 36 tracks I have loaded. If the Folder/Library selection pane on the left could be collapsed, you could use it to display many more tracks. You can also see how the standard windows scroll bar interferes with the aesthetics of the program (which I really happen to like, by the way!)

 

3: This pane does not need to be displayed all the time. It can be hidden or collapsed. Showing it all the time wastes space that could be used to display more useful information, IMO - like a larger folder/library display for example.

 

As for those volume control buttons, do you have a suggestion as to how I might get it to work?

 

I have noticed the library mode is set to Direct. This a legacy mode. Try setting to Local and you should be able to access the DAC Modes tab.

 

2. You can resize the window vertically to give you more visible tracks. It will show about 12 on a 1080 res screen at 100% scaling.

[dean70]

Hi Dean, thanks for your response.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31391[/ATTACH]

 

As for this screen:

1: I have to manually set this every time I load a new disc, because it defaults back to "Auto".

 

- This is the current default when no filter maps are defined. I can change this to load the HQPlayer default selection in this case.

2: This is the track selection window. It is too small. As you can see, it only shows 2 1/2 tracks of the 36 tracks I have loaded. If the Folder/Library selection pane on the left could be collapsed, you could use it to display many more tracks. You can also see how the standard windows scroll bar interferes with the aesthetics of the program (which I really happen to like, by the way!)

 

- I can reproduce this on Windows 10 with 150% display scaling. I will look at making the playlist larger by compacting empty space in the transport area above. The scrollbars can be colored to blend in better with the background.

 

3: This pane does not need to be displayed all the time. It can be hidden or collapsed. Showing it all the time wastes space that could be used to display more useful information, IMO - like a larger folder/library display for example.

 

- The info displayed in this pane can be made into a "tooltip" that is displayed when you mouse over an album selection. This will free up this area into a single line for application wide status messages. I can then make the album/folder list bigger.

 

As for those volume control buttons, do you have a suggestion as to how I might get it to work?

 

- I will investigate adding the volume keyboard button hooks for Explorer to enable keyboard volume control.

[dean70]

New 1.0.3.1 version is available. The list of changes below:

 

1.0.3.1 - 8/01/17
- Fixed: All setup tabs locked when direct library mode selected. Changed to lock only the library setup tab
- Fixed: Default filter entry not showing in filter map list. Unable to delete or change default filter entry
- Fixed: Folders view with muliple paths under same folder tree - back button was not handled correctly
- Changed: Improved Browse folder window behaviour when browsing typed UNC paths
- Changed: When no filter maps are defined, defaults to current HQPlayer filter selection
- Changed: Moved filter dropdown to top of main window. Aligned filter selection panel closer to dropdown
- Changed: Moved drive cache and volume/replay gain status to right of track status section
- Changed: Compacted transport control area and cover art image to allow for larger playlist display
- Changed: Album summary info has been moved to a tooltip display near the selected album icon
- Changed: Reduced space taken below the album display and expanded the album list
- Changed: Filter selection now shows invalid combinations with a ---
- Changed: Install no longer requires a local HQPlayer instance to run. Can run as remote HQPlayer connect only.
- Changed: Scrollbars and track list updated to match theme colors.
- New: Control volume up, down and toggle mute with keyboard multimedia keys
- New: Additional 'Not Played Since' Album view filter
- New: Additional color scheme: 'Charcoal'

[AudioPhil]

Hello

 

Sorry it took me so long.. The first beta of AO 2.20 will finally have the Alchemy Shell Replacement as requested!

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[Letuchkin]

I have issue with files and folders in cyrillic even in latest version of Alchemy Desktop.

[dean70]

I have issue with files and folders in cyrillic even in latest version of Alchemy Desktop.

Can you post an example of the issues you are having?

[Letuchkin]

Can you post an example of the issues you are having?

 

My OS is Windows 8.1 Pro.

Its hard to describe but I'll try. I made some screenshots and sample from my Library.

 

If you look at this screenshot:https://yadi.sk/i/hX1iLLrF3ALCGV and compare it with the sample (https://yadi.sk/i/KUXCrsGk3ALCHe) you will see some differences in album and tracks names (I made some comments in sample file).There is an obvious difference in description of the album in floating window and library view:https://yadi.sk/i/XrJAd8Rt3ALCFY

But the worst of all that I discovered a new issue after adding some more folders to my library. Alchemy has stopped starting correctly and permanently crushes during Loading library:https://yadi.sk/i/-osgcEUA3ALCDr with reported error:https://yadi.sk/i/Lq0jRm1b3ALCBA, https://yadi.sk/i/LAS2d8tq3ALCCj.

In addition I add my library file which is a cause of crushes the Alchemy:https://yadi.sk/d/8eaPtNSz3ALCJ7 and library scan log which looks not fully filled by results of scanning:https://yadi.sk/i/PzdKjMk23ALCKr.

 

At the end I should say that I was playing with different versions of MSVCR100.dll without any success.

Just library file deleting allows Alchemy to start and work in "Folder" mode with empty Library but issue with cyrillic names still has taken place.

 

[dean70]

My OS is Windows 8.1 Pro.

Its hard to describe but I'll try. I made some screenshots and sample from my Library.

 

If you look at this screenshot:https://yadi.sk/i/hX1iLLrF3ALCGV and compare it with the sample (https://yadi.sk/i/KUXCrsGk3ALCHe) you will see some differences in album and tracks names (I made some comments in sample file).There is an obvious difference in description of the album in floating window and library view:https://yadi.sk/i/XrJAd8Rt3ALCFY

But the worst of all that I discovered a new issue after adding some more folders to my library. Alchemy has stopped starting correctly and permanently crushes during Loading library:https://yadi.sk/i/-osgcEUA3ALCDr with reported error:https://yadi.sk/i/Lq0jRm1b3ALCBA, https://yadi.sk/i/LAS2d8tq3ALCCj.

In addition I add my library file which is a cause of crushes the Alchemy:https://yadi.sk/d/8eaPtNSz3ALCJ7 and library scan log which looks not fully filled by results of scanning:https://yadi.sk/i/PzdKjMk23ALCKr.

 

At the end I should say that I was playing with different versions of MSVCR100.dll without any success.

Just library file deleting allows Alchemy to start and work in "Folder" mode with empty Library but issue with cyrillic names still has taken place.

 

Thanks for the sample. Does the "Failed to load tracks" error still appear in Folder view when selecting J:\Music\WAV\Песняры\Зачарованная моя?

[Letuchkin]

Thanks for the sample. Does the "Failed to load tracks" error still appear in Folder view when selecting J:\Music\WAV\Песняры\Зачарованная моя?

 

Just checked. In Folder view all tracks from any folders loading correctly.

[gixxer]

Hello,

 

I've got the Alchemy Desktop trial started.

 

And trying to validate if what i'm doing is even possible, which is, have Alchemy Desktop change these 4 settings, on the fly, in HQPlayer's main window, remotely,

 

a) Resampling filter

b) Dithering/noise-shaping algorithm

c) Sampling rate

d) Sample format/type

 

 

In other words, i've got HQPlayer running remotely in separate PC, in Windows.

 

Alchemy Desktop verified connection saying found 3.14.4 HQPlayer.

 

As a test, i can see the HQPlayer running in remote PC. And i would like to be able to cause above 4 settings to change remote, from Alchemy Desktop.

 

Is that supported?

 

And is that change only tied to playing of the music?

 

I'm in the Filter Maps setting in Alchemy Desktop, but not clear how to cause above 4 settings to change.

 

Perhaps getting the HQPlayer settings to get set is only possible if first playing the music from Alchemy Desktop?

 

 

Thanks much.

[dean70]

You can only set the filters (either manually or via Filter Maps) once tracks are loaded into HQPlayer from Alchemy Desktop either from a created playlist, folder view or an album imported into the Alchemy Desktop library.

[kaufenpreis]

Think of the remote connect doing a search and replace on \\DISKSTATION\public\ and replacing with /media/samba/ so the paths become /media/samba/Music/..

[dean70]

Just checked. In Folder view all tracks from any folders loading correctly.

 

Looks like I have a solution to the crash and missing letters - just needs some more testing. Should be able to sort mixed English and cyrillic in the album list. ☺

[Letuchkin]

Looks like I have a solution to the crash and missing letters - just needs some more testing. Should be able to sort mixed English and cyrillic in the album list. ☺

Sounds great!

 

If you find it reasonable I am ready to help you in your testing on my library.

[dean70]

New 1.0.3.2 version is available. The list of changes below:

 

1.0.3.2 - 26/01/17
   - Fixed: Intermittant display corruption when swipe scrolling lists
   - Fixed: Display issue or appcrash when loading library using Cyrillic alphabet
   - Changed: Sorts mixed Cyrillic and English album names in correct sequence
   - Changed: 'Initialising...' status message now caters for longer initialisation time for new filters
   - Changed: Status message shows 'Connection to HQPlayer lost' when HQPlayer connection unexpectedly drops
   - New: Added poly-sinc-xtr-* options to Filter Maps

[dean70]

Sounds great!

 

If you find it reasonable I am ready to help you in your testing on my library.

 

The update should do a better job during a new library scan. The entries that had artist as "WAV" should now extract the artist/album name from the folder structure for the .wav files with no tag information.

 

ps: these fields are editable from the library setup dialog.

[Keith_W]

Dean, I would like to thank you for listening to users and acting on feedback so quickly. Happy Australia day mate.

[dean70]

New 1.0.3.4 version is available.

 

1.0.3.4 - 24/02/17
- Changed: Modified track name display for non-tagged wav and dff files to full filename without the leading track number
- Fixed: Adding a track to an existing playlist when currently playing would clear the cover art image
- Fixed: Play status timer would flicker on some displays
- New: Filter map entries can be re-ordered
- New: Filter map entry output can be set to a specific rate
- New: Filter map genre list is scanned from the loaded library (if present). When no library is loaded, a default genre list is presented
- New: Playlists can be shared between users or PCs on the network

[AaronBodle]

Alchemy is exactly what I needed as the UI for my Carputer, it makes using HQplayer with Acuorate much safer. Right now I am on the trial version, Windows10 OS. I am not seeing any of my album art in Alchemy, even though it shows up in HQPlayer. Flac files, album art embedded in each track and a folder.jpg. 

[dean70]

6 hours ago, AaronBodle said:

Alchemy is exactly what I needed as the UI for my Carputer, it makes using HQplayer with Acuorate much safer. Right now I am on the trial version, Windows10 OS. I am not seeing any of my album art in Alchemy, even though it shows up in HQPlayer. Flac files, album art embedded in each track and a folder.jpg. 

 

Which view are you using? Does the album art show when you switch to Folder view or Library view?

[AaronBodle]

1 hour ago, dean70 said:

 

Which view are you using? Does the album art show when you switch to Folder view or Library view?

Im using Library view. Nothing shows up when I switch to Folder view. 

SOLVED. Its working,  In Settings I had tried all three, Direct, Local, and Shared folder. Only Direct would work. This morning I switched it to Local setting and no problems, the

 album art all came up. Thank You. 

[dean70]

9 hours ago, AaronBodle said:

Im using Library view. Nothing shows up when I switch to Folder view. 

SOLVED. Its working,  In Settings I had tried all three, Direct, Local, and Shared folder. Only Direct would work. This morning I switched it to Local setting and no problems, the

 album art all came up. Thank You. 

 

Direct mode will display the hqplayer media libary. When you specify path(s) to your music libary in Alchemy settings, the Folder view will be available. Running Scan under settings will show albums in Library view when Local or Shared mode is selected.

[AaronBodle]

A few questions, can a CD Drive button be added? The button could be programmed to reference wherever the CD Rom drive is at. 

 

Also is there a way, that with one press, or two, on an album folder it could load and begin playing?  I'm trying to eliminate as many steps as possible. Alchemy is so close to being perfect for the car audio environment.  Right now, as I understand it if I want to get to a new album I have to "delete" the playlist, right click with a mouse on the album folder to load it up, and press play. 

 

Id like to be able to just select the album folder and have it open and begin playing. Could something like that be done? 

 

 

[dean70]

8 hours ago, AaronBodle said:

A few questions, can a CD Drive button be added? The button could be programmed to reference wherever the CD Rom drive is at. 

 

Also is there a way, that with one press, or two, on an album folder it could load and begin playing?  I'm trying to eliminate as many steps as possible. Alchemy is so close to being perfect for the car audio environment.  Right now, as I understand it if I want to get to a new album I have to "delete" the playlist, right click with a mouse on the album folder to load it up, and press play. 

 

Id like to be able to just select the album folder and have it open and begin playing. Could something like that be done? 

 

 

A CD drive function is not possible due to the interface with HQPlayer.

 

You can right click (or long press on a touch screen) to replace the existing playlist when it is stopped (or completed) without the clear playlist step.

 

I can add an auto-play toggle by right click (or long press) on the Play button for the next release.

 

[Miska]

10 hours ago, dean70 said:

A CD drive function is not possible due to the interface with HQPlayer.

 

It is now possible in recent versions through the SetTransport method.

 

<SetTransport value="1" arg=""/>

 

Playlist is value="240".