Foobar2000:FAQ

A rather extensive FAQ is available at the SH/SC Wiki.

Playback

Available output modes are DirectSound, waveOut and Kernel Streaming. Which output one should I use?

It is recommended to use default settings (waveOut), it should be safe to use anywhere. DirectSound may give better performance (less CPU overhead), especially under Windows 2000, Windows XP or newer, but there shouldn't be any audible difference between the two. In certain rare cases, Kernel Streaming may produce better results than DirectSound/waveOut (if for some reason you need data sent through digital out to be bit-identical to source stream); but bit-identical results with DirectSound have been reported on soundcards capable of mixing multiple streams in hardware (with hardware mixing enabled in DirectSound settings). Please note that Kernel Streaming is an experimental feature, it has known issues and using it is *not* recommended unless you have a major reason to - most of perceived "sound quality differences" between DirectSound and Kernel Streaming are related to the fact that Kernel Streaming usually bypasses windows volume control / wave volume slider. Also, Kernel Streaming works only on Windows 2000, Windows XP or newer.

I get an error message saying "referenced file doesn't exist" on the console. What does that mean and how can it be fixed?

This error is caused by an outdated or broken CUE sheet or APL link. You have to find those and repair or remove them. After that, run "Remove dead entries" from the database preferences.

Miscellaneous/Unsorted

Q: Album list shows dead entries after a restart, even though I used "Remove dead entries" before. Why is that?

A: The files are probably still contained in one of your playlists or in the history (only if you are using an older version of foo_history). Use "Playlist/Remove dead entries" from the main menu on all your playlists, or remove the dead entries manually. As long as the files are on a playlist, they will be in the database and thus will show up in album list.

Q: Menu items for some plugin don't show up. I reinstalled but I still don't see them, and the plugin is shown as a Loaded Library

A: If you delete a menu item for a plugin, and then add the plugin back, it won't readd the menu items, the solution is to goto Core > Main menu items, and add the items back manually

Q: Which version of foobar should I download?

A. Well it depends on you. If you're a crazy music listener download the special version If you just want a thing that plays music but nothing else, download the lite version

Q: Is foobar still in development?

A. Yes, the 0.9 release will exist, for more precision: go here, fb2k 0.9 beta feature suggestions, feature requests go here or 0.9 beta bug reports, Bug reports only!

Q: I have no sound at all for my mp3 while the song is played perfectly in other readers, What is the problem?

A. Just disable Use peak info to scale down tracks that still clip after applying replaygain (in preferences, playback, replaygain). It should work now.

Q: How can I put the album arts and Co above my playlist?

A; To set the panels above your playlist, just use list all toolbars, then add the panels/toolbars/visualiszations that you want to use. Organize them as you want them to be displayed. And finally just use the minimum height values of the corresponding panels. As it is not an usual way to use the toolbar, you may have some crappy things. Use it knowing that it may create some dislaying problems. Musicmusic may fix this into the next version of UI columns.

Q: How to get G-force in a panel/in a tab?

A. To get G-force without any edge or in a tab/panel, just go to your "Documents and settings/<username>/G-force" folder open the Preferences (foobar2000).txt file and change the line from "NoBo=0" to "NoBo=1". You won't be able to resize the window so, choose precisely the position and size of the window. to put it as a tab, just create a fake tab called G-Force and place precisely the window. (The window without border will take the place of the window with borders included before the change).

Q: How to get tabbed panels?

A. To have tabbed panels, just use uie tabs. Uie tabs

Q: I want to change the playback buttons, where is it?

A. Preferences, display, UI columns, Other, Use custom buttons

Q: Is the sound really better with foobar?

A. As the author of foobar says himself, foobar doesn't have a better sound than the other players like winamp and Co. From a theorical point of vue, the sound from foobar2000 is not different from the sound given by other softwares, a player isn't able to improve the sound incredibly, (it can only alter them if not correctly setted). Your hardware is much more important (audio card, speakers, headphones, even cables..), as is the audio source (audio CD, lossless encoding, quality of the lossy encoding process). The software part is only secondary. And even if DSP or other sound modifiers are used, it only widens the gap between the source and the listening, which may prove to only degrade the sound itself.

Q: Foobar always takes between 5min and several hours to open all my files in the same playlist, is there a way to reduce this time?

A. Sure, just enable the database (Preferences, Core, Database). You will be able to add thousands of files in only 30-40 seconds. If you don't want to activate the database, just save your playlists with the fpl format.

Q: I have seen marvelous foobar, but I don't know how to get such a beautiful foobar, is it the end for me?

A. Of course no, just try to visit these links: Foobar Gallery, Everyone post your foobar, the UI forum, Navigator-Suite Feedback, questions, bug-reports or just chatting, Azrael, Feedback, bug reporting and more. OLiGhT, foobar 2000 formatting

Q: I have updated my tags but foobar still shows the old tags, how to mend this?

A. Foobar only adds the info in the database if it is enabled, so you have to update the info in it, select the concerned files, right click, database, reload info from files.

Q: I use the volume control toolbar but it doesn't work, what's the problem?

A. I think that you use kernel streaming or ASIO. Change your outpout, those two output modes are not consistent with the volume control toolbar.

Q: There is always a latency time between my DSP changes and their effect, it's really annoying.

A. Just try to reduce the buffer length of your output mode. But do not put it to the minimum length, 300ms should be already good (more if you are using several DSP)

Q: Is there a way to make MSN 7 show now playing the song I'm listening with foobar?

A. Yes, you can use different plug-ins/softwares: AMIP, Foo_msn, msn now playing plugin

Q: I have seen some people using something which pops-up to display the song we are listening to, where could I find it, How does it works?

A. It's called foo_prettypop. Note that it requires .Net Framework to work.

Q: Is foobar really better than winamp

A. Well, there is no answer, from the public opinion, foobar is great for people wanting a minimal reader and on the opposite the people using advanced features but the medium users are lost between the profusion of settings and components to find. Some links: Tell us why have you chosen foobar2000, or why don't you like it, could foobar2000 replace winamp?

Q: I want to publish my playlist in HTML format like in winamp, Where could I find such a component?

A. Just use foo_playlist_output, Output your playlist to Text or HTML or a customizable version (needs foo_playlist_output) foo_playlist_output_custom, Custom formatting 4 foo_playlist_output

Q: How to send my files from explorer into a specific playlist so as not to erase my current playlist?

A. Preferences, Core, Commandline, always send to playlist (name). It should work.

Q: I won't leave i-tunes as it manages my I-pod perfectly

A. Maybe this can change your mind: foo_pod - Foobar2000 meets the iPod, iPod Foobar2000 0.8 there is a good manual here

Q: I want to create a temporary playlist, is there a way to do this?

A. Yes with foo_temple, a temporary playlist for foobar2000