Latest project finished - Virtual Jukebox revised!

[VMJ Team]

Just finished my jukebox project.  It uses custom software "Virtual Jukebox"...which has been revised due to number responses.  The software now defines albums based on a directory structure of (ARTIST-ALBUM-TRACKS).

The Jukebox uses a 533 Mhz PC with 15" flat panel LCD monitor.

http://www.cybertechdesign.net/software/Jukebox/index.htm

[Chris]

VERY nicely done!

[VMJ Team]

Virtual Jukebox update:

I've updated the program with the following features:

1)  Pressing left and right arrow at same time will prompt to shut down the PC.

2)  The PAGE UP and PAGE DN buttons will jump to the next page of Albums for faster selection

3)  Added an "interactive" mode....when you TYPE the first three digits of the album, that album will be display full screen for easier viewing.  This feature was created to display longer track names and lists.  This feature is under Options.

4)  Hopefully fixed the install problems (needs to be tested on various platforms)...removed the Windows Media player ocx from install...this means that version 7+ of Windows media player needs to be already installed on the PC.

Future support for:

1) Mpegs and other filetypes is planned
2) Remembering last directory selected.
3) New installation program

The latest setup program can be downloaded from
http://www.cybertechdesign.net/software/Jukebox/index.htm

-or just the executable-

http://www.cybertechdesign.net/software/Virtual%20Jukebox.exe

I've also added a few final pics of my Jukebox hanging on a wall in my living room:
http://www.cybertechdesign.net/software/Jukebox/index.htm

[CM]

Great job.   Looks really good!  

[MrArcade]

This looks great!  I have not messed with it much yet....but I think I am gonna like it!

Here are some suggestions...

It would be nice to select the order of the songs in an album...so they are in the correct order....instead of being sorted alphabetically.  Maybe a txt file in the album folder....

On cd jukes you can usually enter the cd number with track 00 and it will play the entire cd...like 00400 instead of 00401, 00402, etc

I also think it would be nice if you could turn off the button panel on the monitor...if it is in a juke cabinet and the buttons are wired...the buttons on screen are redundant.

[MrArcade]

One more idea.  For those wanting to use this in a mame cab....it would be nice to have a key for exit....

In fullscreen esc gets you to a window, but you still need to use the mouse or alt+f and e to exit.  Many do not have trackballs or a keyboard handy...so a key to exit would be nice.

[VMJ Team]

These feature are already implemented in the software...I know, I know...documentation.  I'll get there eventually.  I don't have an "exit" feature, but I built in a "Shut Down" feature for my Jukebox.  You can prompt to shut down the system by pressing LEFT and RIGHT arrow buttons at the same time.  You can select the method to sort from the VIEW pull down menu:  Alpha by Artist, Alpha by Album Title, or by Number (The order you enter them into the software)

[MrArcade]

OK, I do not see how to play an entire disc...can you please explain how?

About song order...as far as I can tell, I can sort the order the albums are displayed, but not the order of the songs in a given album.  Maybe I am missing something....but here is an example of what I am saying...

Here is how this album is arranged...
Artist - Pink floyd
---------Album - The Wall
--------------------Songs-
1.  In The Flesh?
 2. The Thin Ice
 3. Another Brick In The Wall Part 1
 4. The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
 5. Another Brick In The Wall Part 2
 6. Mother
 7. Goodbye Blue Sky
 8. Empty Spaces
 9. Young Lust
 10. One Of My Turns
 11. Don't Leave Me Now
 12. Another Brick In The Wall Part 3
 13. Goodbye Cruel World

In this jukebox it will change the order of the songs to alphabetical...so the order is now:

1. Another Brick In The Wall Part 1
2. Another Brick In The Wall Part 2
3. Another Brick In The Wall Part 3
4. Don't Leave Me Now
5. Empty Spaces
etc

Some albums just HAVE to have the songs in the correct order.

Again, this looks like it wil be the best software for a cabinet jukebox,  Thanks!
 

[VMJ Team]

I'll add a feature to play an entire album to the next release...probably ready by tomorrow.  It will probably end up working like this:  Select the album and then enter 00 for the track (ie. 00200) will play the entire 002 album.

As for the track order...that will be a little trickier.  Since the program really just grabs all mp3 files in a folder...it pulls them in in the order that windows displays them.  So off the top of my head, the only way to order them as they appear on a CD is to prefix the filenames with the track number (ie, 01-In the flesh, 02-The Thin ice)....that would be a major pain in the butt...but let me see what I can come up with (unless any programmers have dealt with this issue before..please let me know).

There is a more in depth thread on the Jukebox/MP3 forum regarding Virtual Jukebox.  I started a thread in this forum when I created the software, and a thread in the other forum when I built a box for the software...please post any questions, issues regarding Virtual Jukebox in the other forum (Jukebox/MP3).

Thanx