Play arcade ambience files from a random start point?

[Diewrecked]

Hi guys,

I've been looking with interest at Andy Hofle's Ambience project http://arcade.hofle.com/ and TheShanMan's Ambience App http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82754.0 - very nice work you guys 

I was wondering, given that the ambience files are so long, and given that they start at the same point every time you play them, do any of you know of a way of randomising the start point when they play at all? (or TheShanMan is this something that could be incorporated into your app?) It's just I become very aware of hearing the same part of the file (ie the start) over and over again when I fire up my cab, it would be nice to hear some random part of it instead.

Just a thought.

Thanks guys
Jon

[protokatie]

Not a full fix: But does your computer support Hibernate? If it does, then you could hibernate the computer instead of shutting it down. When you start it back up, it will start from where it left off. If anything else, this will prevent the repetition.

[Ginsu Victim]

I use Arcade Ambiance '83 in my frontend, and you really can't tell one part from the next. You won't be listening close enough to tell where you're at in each track.

[TheShanMan]

Better than hibernate: standby. That's what I use and I love it. I kinda agree with Ginsu though. I don't pay close enough attention to be able to notice where in the file it is. Aside from that I could look into the request. I would imagine it's possible for me to tell the sound engine where to start playing a file, and maybe it's also possible to ask the sound engine where it is in the file at any given moment (maybe a better option would be to start up where it left off).

[Diewrecked]

(maybe a better option would be to start up where it left off).

How doable do you think that would be please TheShanMan? Sorry to be so anal but I subconsciously really pick up on these things!

Cheers buddy   

[Ginsu Victim]

Here's an option:
Chop up the file.

Make the MP3 into several different MP3s, starting at different points in the track. Then have them play randomly.

[protokatie]

(maybe a better option would be to start up where it left off).

How doable do you think that would be please TheShanMan? Sorry to be so anal but I subconsciously really pick up on these things!

Cheers buddy   

Maybe by having your computer go to hybernate or standby instead of shutting it down.... (I think I already said this )

Oh wait, I am not shanman... NM Noone listens to good ol' PK... 

[protokatie]

Here's an option:
Chop up the file.

Make the MP3 into several different MP3s, starting at different points in the track. Then have them play randomly.

chopping is easy with audacity, but having them play randomly...? Any clue on how to do that?

[HaRuMaN]

chopping is easy with audacity, but having them play randomly...? Any clue on how to do that?

Play them in Winamp (or the like) and turn on shuffle as well as repeat

[protokatie]

chopping is easy with audacity, but having them play randomly...? Any clue on how to do that?

Play them in Winamp (or the like) and turn on shuffle as well as repeat

HarumaN FTW!   Duh! Why didnt I think of that....   

[protokatie]

Added note: How do you get winamp to start a playlist when started at boot? If it doesnt start the "shuffled and repeated" playlist at boot, then it isnt worth this guys time.

[Ginsu Victim]

Most frontends will play MP3s in the menu, and will shuffle them if needed.

Are we talking about playing the MP3s just in the menu, or during gameplay, as well?

[TheShanMan]

My Ambience app can shuffle them too. Diewrecked, I'd be glad to look into it, but not sure how soon it might happen because I'm a bit overloaded with multiple projects atm. Do you like the "chopping up" idea in the meantime?

[Necro]

Better than hibernate: standby. That's what I use and I love it. I kinda agree with Ginsu though.

Just something to be aware of - Hibernate turns the computer off completely, writing RAM to disk and then reloading from there.  Standby doesn't.  It just shuts all non-essentials down and keeps power running to 'necessary' parts.   

Point being that if your trying to save energy costs by shutting down the cab, hibernate is a better option

[TheShanMan]

Good point, but if you play your cab as often as my family and I do, it's well worth it to have the super fast startup and shutdown times!

[Diewrecked]

Hi guys

Apologies for the prolonged absence.

Yeah that's a great combination of ideas: chopping the file and playing the parts randomly. I'll go with that.

Many many thanks for all your help guys