Modify UbuStream menu?

[Taajuus]

Is there a way to edit UbuStream menu?

I was first using UbuRadio, but had too many problems with it (dont want to get deeper on that). Then I tried UbuStream and it's almost perfect since I can optimize it lots from config.

Only problem is that UbuStream has a bit too much features. I would like to cut down menu a bit. Basicly all I need is the first screen of UbuStream that would directly show my streams (all net radios) on the list. I dont need groups and they only give me one more useless step before I can click my stream. Menu would only need "Play", "Stop", and "Main Menu" buttons.

I am sure that menu layout can be tweaked somewhere, but could not find the right file myself

Another question. I have configured UbuStream to play net radio streams with Mediaplayer "Internal". If I start listening stream, then go to Music Libary and start listening some mp3, they both play at the same time. What player does Music Libary use and how could I configure UbuStream so that it stops playing streams if something is played from Music Libary?

[ubu]

Is there a way to edit UbuStream menu?

I was first using UbuRadio, but had too many problems with it (dont want to get deeper on that). Then I tried UbuStream and it's almost perfect since I can optimize it lots from config.

Only problem is that UbuStream has a bit too much features. I would like to cut down menu a bit. Basicly all I need is the first screen of UbuStream that would directly show my streams (all net radios) on the list. I dont need groups and they only give me one more useless step before I can click my stream. Menu would only need "Play", "Stop", and "Main Menu" buttons.

Well, that's one of the reasons I wrote the UbuRadio plugin: to provide a simpler UI front end to the underlying UbuStream functionality for people who just use audio streams. Why didn't UbuRadio work for you?

If you don't use groups, all your stations will show up in the "All Stations" group so, if you select that "group" you can just stay on that screen. You did give me an idea though (which I'll maybe implement for v2.2) which is, if no groups are currently defined, UbuStream would skip the first screen and jump straight to the stations display. (I think that's what you're asking for).

I am sure that menu layout can be tweaked somewhere, but could not find the right file myself

You could change the appearance and layout of the UI by creating a custom UbuStream skin file. The actual contents of the menu bar are, however, not skinnable. Nobody has ever asked that they be configurable before. Maybe they should be externalized into a config file which could be modified. But that would run the risk of allowing the user to really screw up the plugin functionality. :eek: I'll think about it.

Another question. I have configured UbuStream to play net radio streams with Mediaplayer "Internal". If I start listening stream, then go to Music Libary and start listening some mp3, they both play at the same time. What player does Music Libary use and how could I configure UbuStream so that it stops playing streams if something is played from Music Libary?

Duelling players. The Music Library uses GB-PVR's internal player. So does Timeshift Play in UbuStream. So, if you use Timeshift, you probably won't have this problem. The internal players, however, use a completely different playback mechanism so they aren't aware of the current playback state of GB-PVR's player. That's why you are experiencing this problem.

Currently, when you start a new station in UbuStream, it checks if any other station is playing (with any of the players) and, if so, stops it. But it only checks for playback that has previously been initiated by UbuStream. It should really check to see if anything else is being played (whatever its "parent"). I'll see if I can add that for v2.2.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Taajuus]

Why didn't UbuRadio work for you?

Main reason is that I have one important net radio stream that does not play in VLC player. I am not sure, but I think that no matter what I did UbuRadio tried to play streams always in VLC, not in WMP.

(I think that's what you're asking for).

Thats exactly what I had in mind and if you can do that change, it would be perfect for my needs

Maybe they should be externalized into a config file which could be modified.

Yes! Again

The Music Library uses GB-PVR's internal player. So does Timeshift Play in UbuStream. So, if you use Timeshift, you probably won't have this problem .... I'll see if I can add that for v2.2.

Ok, I'll try with timeshift play. But anyway this feature would be great also.

Thank you for your time and for taking these ideas under consideration!

[ubu]

Main reason is that I have one important net radio stream that does not play in VLC player. I am not sure, but I think that no matter what I did UbuRadio tried to play streams always in VLC, not in WMP.

Sounds like you were using "Timeshift play" to play the station. Timeshift uses VLC to transcode the stream to mp3 so that the GB-PVR player can play it. If you were using "Preview play" it should have loaded the correct internal player for the stream you chose. So if the radio stream shows up in the favourites list as being a WMP stream, UbuRadio will use the WMP player to play it. If you let me know the station you want to listen to (and its URL, if possible) I'll check it out for you. UbuRadio should be able to play just about any audio stream.

Ok, I'll try with timeshift play. But anyway this feature would be great also.

If you use Timeshift play, the stream must be playable with VLC (see above). Otherwise, just remember to hit the Stop button on your remote before switching between MusicLibrary playback and UbuStream playback.

Thank you for your time and for taking these ideas under consideration!

You're welcome. I've already implemented your suggestions in the v2.2 code (which I'm currently woking on) with the exception of externalising the menu button definitions. Still thinking about that one.

[pz1]

Why didn't UbuRadio work for you?

I stopped using it because it never played longer than an hour or so. The standard net radio will play much longer. I am using Timeshift mode, because MVP is my main client.

[Taajuus]

If you let me know the station you want to listen to (and its URL, if possible) I'll check it out for you. UbuRadio should be able to play just about any audio stream.

Problem was with NRJ Finland net radio stream. This is because there is no straight url for stream, but you have to first load WSX file that then forwards (?) you to real stream. WMP can play this correctly, but with UbuRadio I could not get it working. UbuStream with WMP Internal Player can play it just fine:

<Station name="NRJ" location="" description="Hit music only!" webSite="" player="Windows Media" speed="" streamUrl="http://82.118.200.188:80/od/NRJ_FI/LIVE.wsx?MSWMExt=.asf" />

[ubu]

Problem was with NRJ Finland net radio stream. This is because there is no straight url for stream, but you have to first load WSX file that then forwards (?) you to real stream. WMP can play this correctly, but with UbuRadio I could not get it working. UbuStream with WMP Internal Player can play it just fine:

The station's server seems to be up and down right now. I'll try again tomorrow. The WSX container URL "should" play fine with the WMP internal player (with both plugins - they're using the same internal player code). I'll let you know.

I stopped using it because it never played longer than an hour or so. The standard net radio will play much longer. I am using Timeshift mode, because MVP is my main client.

As I think I might have mentioned before in another thread , the 60 minute timeout when using Timeshift play is because the stream is being transcoded on the fly to an mp3 file and I don't want you to forget it and leave it playing all week, only to find that your hard disk is full. :eek: (And I figured that hitting the Play button on your remote to re-start the stream once an hour wouldn't totally ruin your listening pleasure. ) If you can think of a better way to stop this happening, let me know. I guess I could make the timeout interval user-configurable, or something.

If you are listening to a Shoutcast station, then Net Radio is a better option for MVP use since the stream is already in mp3 format. On the other hand, UbuRadio allows you to listen to non-Shoutcast stations that NetRadio won't play.

[stefan]

As I think I might have mentioned before in another thread , the 60 minute timeout when using Timeshift play is because the stream is being transcoded on the fly to an mp3 file and I don't want you to forget it and leave it playing all week, only to find that your hard disk is full. :eek: (And I figured that hitting the Play button on your remote to re-start the stream once an hour wouldn't totally ruin your listening pleasure. ) If you can think of a better way to stop this happening, let me know. I guess I could make the timeout interval user-configurable, or something.

What about deleteing and recreating the mp3 file, in effect starting over, at the time interval at hand (which still may be configurable).

[pz1]

As I think I might have mentioned before in another thread

Yes you did. I am a lazy listener, so I found myself listening more to netradio as a matter of fact. If the solution suggested by Stefan would work I will certainly try again. I am available as a guinea pig or testing if needed.

[ubu]

What about deleteing and recreating the mp3 file, in effect starting over, at the time interval at hand (which still may be configurable).

Good idea. It would also have the advantage that, if you were using the Snapshot recording feature, you could have a recording of longer than 60 minutes (if I could figure out how to reassemble all the recorded segments into a single mp3 when you stopped recording). I'll put that on the to-do list.

I need to revisit the UbuRadio plugin, in any case, because the underlying web site for the Find Stations feature has changed and the search pages for Europe all show up blank. I've been busy working on UbuStream v2.2 but I'll try to take time out to fix UbuRadio soon.