[Gromit]

Firstly: Thanks to Chris & the team for uploading the all new mp3 sound machine. I think it's great and always thought that it'd be better if they supported .mp3 files.

HOWEVER! I've noticed a little snag! (sorry!) When the machines ran on .wav files, whenever you pressed a different button whilst one sound was playing, the initial sound would automatically cut off to let the other sound play. But this doesn't happen now, and in some ways, I think it defeats the object of having the sounds on the machine. With the mp3 machine, you have to wait for the first sound that's pressed to stop before you can activate another one, or otherwise you'll have multiple sounds playing at once, and that can sound a bit dodgy!

This message might sound as though I'm just being picky, but that is honestly not my intention! As I say, I think the machines are great fun, but I thought I'd better make this issue known just incase the MoylesWorld Team hadn't realised.

Cheers,
James.

[Chris]

It was designed like that so you could do exactly what you just said! It's supposed to be a neat new feature.

Hmph.

[Eddie]

Yeah - i noticed some problems with teh MP3 machine as well.

1) Theres a delay before each track starts

2) Same as Gromits post above

3) You can't repeatedly play the beginning beat to each file repeatedly and very quickly ala Chris (e.g you can't play shut up will like s - s -s -s -s -s -shut up will thsi is because of the delay mentioned in point 1

4) the new machine doesn't look as good and closes as soon as you left click on it - it shoudl have the usual cross to close

This is all solved however by

a) making all the files into Wav files (As well as editing/ cutting off the 1 second (ish) pause/silence at the beginning of each MP3 which meade the delay) and using it in the old Sound machine - much better but then we aren't complaining Chris - I was just pleased to have the new sound files for sound machine 3

[Chris]

Right, I've reuploaded the SoundPaks - topped and tailed.

1> Solved in new SoundPaks
2> By design (do you *really* prefer it the old way?)
3> Solved in new SoundPaks
4> It's the same design as the SM2 was - it's supposed to close on a left click.

[Eddie]

I agree with Chris that its better that you can play oen file over the top of another - just like Moyles would over a record for instance but I still think that the original sound machine looks better and that closing on a left click thing is annoying because if you're using another application and then click back on teh sound machine (like you usually would to re-use an application is shuts down...very annoying...Sorry Chris, thanks for "topping and tailing" the MP3's, you've got to admit, there was some big pauses before each file started!

[Eddie]

Hey, Chris,....Ive just realised - even with the changes you still can't repeatedly press the same button (play the same sound) theres still a BIG delay! as you know Chris always plays sounds repeatedly in quick succession so this is a feature the sound machine really should have

[Chris]

Just for you, I've created two different version - with different designs. See the Be Moyles page.

Repeat sounds> On my system you can bang away as many times as you like - are you sure you can't?

[Funky Drummer]

You heard it here first everyone: on Chris' computer you can bang away as many times as you like. Sounds like fun

Anyway, what I actualy posted this reply for was to say...STOP YOUR MOANING!!!

It's never going to be perfect, however much you bitch and moan at Chris for making mistakes when he's actualy done a bloody good job writing the thing in the first place! Whatever he does it's never going to be as realistic or as fantastic as when we hear Chris do it on the radio, and the reason for this is simple: we are downloading and running an application that's free, was not (compared to other pieces of software, and no offence intended Chris) that tricky to write and all over is under 300kb. This is quite a strong contrast to Mr Moyles who is using a piece of equipment designed specifically for broadcast purposes and costs in the region of a few thousand quid.

ARIGHT?

Rich~

P.S. If anyone is that interested as to what Chris will actualy be using in the studio, it'll be the 360 Systems' Instant Replay, most likely the 2.0 model.

P.P.S. Hope you appreciate this Chris - I'm tryin to get them all of your back!

[Gromit]

Sorry Chris, but yes, I really prefer it the old way.

I don't think Moyles himself has them operating in that way on whatever equipment he uses - he often sets a sound effect off and then disturbs it with another - and the initial one doesn't continue to play.

Obviously, if I'm in the minority, and people don't mind having them operating in the "sound continues to play" way, then fair enough, but I personally perfer them the old way.

...But you're the boss! (and like I say, I really don't want to sound like I'm being picky! - that's not what I'm trying to be!!!)

Cheers,
James.

P.S. I'll give you an example of why I think it's better the old way: I downloaded some of those Who Wants To Be A Millionaire SFX that you very kindly uploaded the other day (thanks again). When I'd dowlnloaded them, I put them on to a sound machine. Now, with the old one, what I'm able to do (and I sound a bit sad now, but I assure you, I'm not!) is have the "asking questions" bed going & then interrupt it with the "final answer" effect. However, with the new one, if I was to do the same, the "asking questions" bed continues & that just aint right. Now, fair enough, it's me that's made that particular sound machine and so perhaps I shouldn't complain, but I just think it's better the other way - even with the sound paks you've created.

Hope you don't mind me putting my opinion across! - & that's all it is, as I say, I don't want you to think I'm just shouting the odds for the sake of it....if people prefer the newer one, then OK!

[Eddie]

On my system which is fairly fast (pentium 2 660, 128 MB ram etc etc) you can replay the files as many times as you like on the new sound machine they just don't start instantaneoulsy (or a split second) after each other like they should...but Well done anyways Chris, coz like i said I can just use the old one if I'm not happy..You make the sound machines to please all and obviously not just me

[Chris]

At some point there will be a version 3 which will do things totally differently and should please you all.

For now, enjoy what there is - and feel free to make suggestions

[gregs]

new system at bbc manchester means that all jingles/sfx r selected on computer and start to play wen u open the fader.


just if u'd like 2 know!


gregs

[Chris]

The application has been rewritten from scratch - hopefully it should solve both the speed and size problems.

Look at the news on http://chrismoyles.net for a summary of the changes.

Let me know how you go with it ...

[Chris]

(for those who never read the main MW page):

Made a small update to the application and reuploaded it.

Created SoundPak 4.

[Matt]

I can't get the bloody thing to work.

I chose a sound pack, it says "Please wait", and that's it.

Any ideas? Could be this PC since anything I make in VB for doing audio stuff always screws up...

Matt

EDIT: It's not just my machine, won't work on another either...

[Chris]

Can you try copying unzip32.dll to your windows\system folder (system32 if you're on NT, 2000 or XP) and let me know if that helps?

[Chris]

If that doesn't help, make sure the directory structure has cache/ soundpaks/ and lame/ directory under the main one.

If that doesn't help try:

http://rtcw.no-ip.org/SoundMachine.exe overwriting the old exe. Tell me what it says.

[Matt]

Thanks Chris.

None of the above work, here's the output from the test SM:

1: Set invisible
2: Set invisible complete
3: Reset images
4: Empty cache directory
5: Set ziptarget
6: Done with zip
7: Start decoding

Then it sits there as before saying "Please Wait".

Things I noticed:

When you close the app (cross in top right) it disappears, but stays open in task manager.

The app is making all the right mp3 files in the cache folder.

Using Win98SE and ME.

Any ideas?

Matt

[Jonathan]

Hiya,

I get exactly the same. Have tried exactly the same, and get the same dialog boxes pop up (1-7 then stays on Please Wait). I am on Windows 2000.

thanks

[Chris]

Okay - can you download http://rtcw.no-ip.com/SoundMachine.exe and again overwrite the old file.

Let me know if it works.

Thanks,
C.

Edit: I've actually bothered to test this one, so I'm pretty certain it'll fix the problem - but let me know

Edit2: I've changed the main distribution to this new version too

[Guest]

Hello,

Nice little program that Sound Machine, just to let you know that if you try and change sound paks while a jingle etc is playing the program fails.

Well Done though !

Paul

[Chris]

Doesn't here (using the 4.02 version)

[Guest]

Yep, that's all worked for me now Chris. Thanks.

[Jonathan]

That's me by the way. I've signed up now.

[Burning_Feet_Man]

Help....I have downloaded all the recent sound machines and still it will not work!!!

The first 3 soundpaks appear but when i click on one and press a number key...nothing happens at all.

Please Help Chris if you can....