ZARA help

I just looked at the help search on my version and it shows a couple of ways to do this. Probably the simplest is to drag the folders to the playlist and under the playlist dropdown menu select shuffle. I have never done this so I might not understand this completely but there are some real experts here who may be able to give you better advice.

Neil

At the top of the ZaraRadio player, click on "playlist" and then "add random track...".  At that point the drop down window will let you select a folder and will play the contents at random.  

It will not repeat a file until all have been played.

MRAM is correct in his reply, except for the repeating part.  There is no guarantee in random folders that songs will not repeat before all are played - it does happen (although it's generally not a problem, particularly when you have a large numbers of songs so it's not obvious).  The only way to guarantee not repeating is to basically do what Neil said - create a rotation (.rot) of songs and when you see that you're getting towards the end of its play, shuffle it and restart (or let it repeat if that's OK with you).

When a random track play is created, Zara generates a reference file to keep track of which files have played.  In this way files don't repeat.  After all files have played , the reference file is purged and regenerated.  At that time any new entries to the folder will be included in the reference file to be played.

At least that is the explanation given in the Zara documentation.

I was curious as to how Zara accomplishes the "non-repeat" claim so I started looking for the reference file mentioned above.

In the "C:Documents and SettingsOwnerLocal SettingsApplication DataZaraRadiorandom" folder are files named "antirepeatN.txt" where 'N" is a number associated with the random play selection.

As files are played they are added to the text file list.  Zara checks the list before picking the next file at random.  Files in the list are not played.

The documentation goes on to say files added to the random play folder after the fact for random play will be placed ahead of files on the list and will play before restarting the list.

I'm not sure at what point the "antirepeat" file is purged as I found several "antirepeat" files saved.  Perhaps when there are no unplayed files this happens.

I remember reading in earlier Zara documentation that there was no guarantee about repeating files.  Perhaps the documentation has changed, but that doesn't change the fact that in my experience, songs ARE repeated.  Sometimes quite a lot after Zara has been running a while (but a Zara restart helps).  I've found that occurs both in Zara 1.6 and in Zara Free.

I suppose eventually once all the files in the folder have played it will have to repeat.  At that point I don't know if it would repeat in the same order or produce a new random playout.

OK, here's the problem.  We're talking about 2 different versions of Zara.  So let's compare apples to apples.

The last free version of Zara is 1.6.2, which I (and probably most others) use.  It works as I described, where it is entirely possible (and probable) that randomized tracks will repeat before all are played.  And that has been my experience (as well as others - you can see by using google).

The documentation being quoted earlier in this thread is for the paid version of Zara - 2.2.  It appears that they have improved the randomization in this version.  Is it worth paying the 165 euros?  I don't know enough about the improved features.  I just find that the free version is good enough for what I do, and certainly the occasional repeating of random tracks is acceptable, particularly for large numbers of songs.

The documentation quoted earlier was from the manual for version 1.4.4 posted on my website.  It was translated from Spanish.  

I'm using both v. 1.4.4 and 1.6.2.  As v. 1.4.4 supports plugins, it fits some of my applications better.

From the v. 1.6  English manual:

• Add random track...: Opens a window that allows selecting a directory folder whose 
contents are played randomly. ZaraRadio tracks which files are played to assure random non-repeating play.

Checking this PC which has v. 1.6.2, I haven't found the "antirepeat" files yet.  Either they changed the way v. 1.6 works or I just haven't found the files yet.  As stated above, I did find the "antirepeat" files created by v. 1.4.4.

Never really needed to check the playout logs to verify non-repeat as it has not presented a problem.

I have a Zara related question... I have Version 1.6.2 and am only talking about this version.

Because V 1.6.2 doesn't support DSP Plug-Ins, which I very much need to run Shoutcast Encoders for stream serving and StereoTools for audio processing, which cannot be done in a convenient way with Zara V 1.6.2, I therefore run Winamp for streaming and transmitter broadcasting.

However, on another thread someone said they use Zara and Winamp together, which is an appealing idea... but is that possible?

That's my question: can Zara and Winamp be combined?

We're kind of beating a dead horse here.  In 2.2, you can actually change the way randomization works, which is why I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that they changed things.

I do know that I've found that there are issues with the random playing on 1.6 as well as 1.44.  I guess everyone's mileage varies, but I've definitely seen songs repeating multiple times, well before all have played.  A quick google confirmed that others have had the same problems.

As for combining Zara and Winamp, the only way I know after version 1.44 is to use Virtual Audio Cable - I use it to combine Zara and standalone EdCast (the latest version of OddCast).

Come to this weeks ALPB meeting and I will explain all I know about the tricks and workings of ZaraRadio.

 Contact mram1500 about teamspeak and how we have our meetings.

I'll post a simplified version and a very-detailed version of the problem, and maybe someone will know the solution.

SIMPLE VERSION

When setting Zara v1.6 Audio Air Output, the output that goes to the transmitter or stream, there are several choices in the Options window: Sound Card Output # 1, Sound Card Output # 2, and in my case it also has Virtual Cable # 1.

Zara has a Master Volume Control right in the center of its window which controls the audio level to whichever Sound Card Output is selected, but when outputting to Virtual Cable # 1 the Master Volume Control has no effect and the audio level is full-open with no apparant way of controlling it.

This wide-open volume level is too much by the time it reaches the other end of the line at Virtual Cable #1's output, and over-drives the input to Winamp.

The question is, can the output level of Zara be reduced when feeding Virtual Cable?

COMPLICATED VERSION

The above question applies again, but I will explain why the volume cannot be adjusted AFTER going through Virtual Cable:

I installed Line_In Plugin, which inserts in the Winamp Playlist and allows a live line input along with all the MP3 audiofiles in that Playlist.

The Winamp volume control is set to an exact point that drives the output of audiofiles at the correct level for Stereo Tools Audio Processing and stream encoding/ output to radio transmitters, and therefore cannot be changed.

The instruction for Line_In Plugin emphasizes the need to set the level of line signals before they reach the plugin, and of course an actual Line-In signal from a mixer would have a level control, but Line_In Plugin also recognizes Virtual Cable and passes audio from that path, but right now it's coming in too loud and I don't know how to trim it back appropriately.  

Solution?

SAVED BY LUCK!

Within 1-minute of writing this book length problem, I discovered that "Vol Ctrl" can be checked on Virtual Cable and it turns on the Master Volume Control in Zara!

Write that down.

As promised by Johny in Post # 13 - "Come to this weeks ALPB meeting and I will explain all I know about the tricks and workings of ZaraRadio." Johny kept that promise and my Zara question was fully answered and it got things going. That was at the last meeting.

At the new meeting coming up Feb. 7 I'll be back with questions even more complicated than any asked so far in this thread...

I have Zara v 1.6.2 running through Virtual Cable and into the Line_In Plugin of Winamp, excellent performance!

But Zara can become a talking clock much like WWV the National Bureau of Standards Time Radio Station, and this feature is described in the manual in such a way that after four days of continual study, I haven't caught on.

I know that ALPB Chairman MRAM has the Zara time feature running on his LPFM station, which testifies to his higher IQ.

Join the ALPB and learn more than you can.