Slim Player (internet radio, mp3, wma, etc from SlimServer)

[koelec]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Hi Chris, thanks again! I followed your instructions. Please find the attached file which I have verified the variable names and their respective values.

Ok Michael,
I see from tthe results that the slimplayer-ai-eu.xml script is working in USA as well (at least for "blondie"). So please verify again that the default xml file is not working for you. I mean load up the slimplayer plugin in sage and see if you get bio and/or picture. If not enable debug logging in sage.properties and log4j.xml:
(set level=INFO to level=DEBUG) and drop me a private message.

- Chris

[mkanet]

Sure... I'll try it when I get home. However, I'm curious.. does the xml version in respect to the last slimplayer release access this data at different urls? If its the same locations, then there's a different reason why none of us can access biography and artist pictures. In that case, couldnt I even run a debug on the prior release of Slimplayer? It doesnt seem like the 1.3 release would be necessary since that would the URLS are the same.

Originally Posted by koelec

Ok Michael,
I see from tthe results that the slimplayer-ai-eu.xml script is working in USA as well (at least for "blondie"). So please verify again that the default xml file is not working for you. I mean load up the slimplayer plugin in sage and see if you get bio and/or picture. If not enable debug logging in sage.properties and log4j.xml:
(set level=INFO to level=DEBUG) and drop me a private message.

- Chris

[mkanet]

Some of you might have weird audio issues with slimplayer/softqueeze when playing back Internet radio; such as, audio not working until you press play multiple times or audio flip-floping back and forth between two different audio streams. You can download the fix with the instructions below:

Download from below link:
Softsqueeze3.8-Prerelease.zip

Instructions:

Unzip files into the following folder:
C:\Program Files\SqueezeCenter\server\HTML\EN\html\softsqueeze

and..

replace Softsqueeze.jar that's in your sageTV JARs folder with the one thats in this zip file.

I'll also post this on the non-sageMC Slimplayer forum thread...

-Michael

[koelec]

To everyone out there interested in slim player.
I'm currently working on the next release.
new features:
- artist info - multiple photo's (slide show)
- artist news - ticker tape showing latest news on playing artist
- new artist news page with all items and ability to read full story
- link to youtube video's (search by artist name currently playing in slim player)
- loopback channel support option - synchronous playback of slim player audio and Sage media player loopback channel gives ability to listen to slim player on extenders.

Currently finished features: all, but the loopback channel support.

I'm aiming for full release within two weeks.

- Chris

[pleyraki]

Originally Posted by koelec

I'm aiming for full release within two weeks.
- Chris

Hello and thanks for your efforts.

Is it possible, could there be some way, for the plugin to work with sage clients / placeshifters? I know it is almost impossible:

For that to work, I would imagine two possible ways:
1. Some way for sageTV to transcode the squezecenter output in order to "send" it to the client device
2. Use the mp3 stream from Squeezecenter (http://<squeezeserver>/stream.mp3)

Just an idea (maybe too crazy, but...)

[mkanet]

One of the features he is adding (the only feature left that he is working on currently) is adding extender support; as he just mentioned. Adding extender support will mean you can use it in SageTV Client and Placeshifter the same way (same difference). All you need is a working loopback channel.

The mp3 that comes from Squeezecenter is contantly saving/streaming, so the sageTV transcoder can never really get a hold of that file; hencing, using a loopback channel.

Originally Posted by pleyraki

Hello and thanks for your efforts.

Is it possible, could there be some way, for the plugin to work with sage clients / placeshifters? I know it is almost impossible:

For that to work, I would imagine two possible ways:
1. Some way for sageTV to transcode the squezecenter output in order to "send" it to the client device
2. Use the mp3 stream from Squeezecenter (http://<squeezeserver>/stream.mp3)

Just an idea (maybe too crazy, but...)

[pleyraki]

Originally Posted by mkanet

All you need is a working loopback channel.

Hello and thanks for your answer.

I am glad to learn that the plugin will work with clients/placeshifters, but could you please elaborate on "loopback channel"? What is that? Programmatically?

(It is great to learn new things if someone will be kind enough to help you!)

Thanks.

[mkanet]

You need an analog capture device. For example, I just ordered me one of these:

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_hvr950q.html

All you would do is connect the sound output of your sageTV server to the sound input of this capture device (you can do the same thing with svideo input/output if you if you want Netflix Watch Now on your extender as well).

Then just configure sageTV for any channel # for this input under Channel Setup.

With the new Slimplayer, you will have a configurable option to always tune into loopback channel XXX instead of the normal method of getting audio. Slimplayer will then secretly tune to this "loopback" TV channel when you want to listen to the radio on the extender. Slimplayer just just playback the audio only of this channel. On the Extender or placeshifter, you wouldnt even be able to tell how it works; just that it works finally

Originally Posted by pleyraki

Hello and thanks for your answer.

I am glad to learn that the plugin will work with clients/placeshifters, but could you please elaborate on "loopback channel"? What is that? Programmatically?

(It is great to learn new things if someone will be kind enough to help you!)

Thanks.

[deanm]

Originally Posted by mkanet

You need an analog capture device. For example, I just ordered me one of these:

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_hvr950q.html

All you would do is connect the sound output of your sageTV server to the sound input of this capture device (you can do the same thing with svideo input/output if you if you want Netflix Watch Now on your extender as well).

Then just configure sageTV for any channel # for this input under Channel Setup.

With the new Slimplayer, you will have a configurable option to always tune into loopback channel XXX instead of the normal method of getting audio. Slimplayer will then secretly tune to this "loopback" TV channel when you want to listen to the radio on the extender. Slimplayer just just playback the audio only of this channel. On the Extender or placeshifter, you wouldnt even be able to tell how it works; just that it works finally

Has anyone looked at this utility/plug-in?

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40637

It uses VLC to create a video file and there is no need for hardware.

This can then be played an extender.

Dean

[mkanet]

Yes. Chris already looked into other encoders. He decided to use the "loopback" channel method, since that seems to be the current choice for other plugins as well (Pandora and Netflix).

Originally Posted by deanm

Has anyone looked at this utility/plug-in?

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40637

It uses VLC to create a video file and there is no need for hardware.

This can then be played an extender.

Dean