• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Foobar 2000 [OT]: Have your cake and eat it too

Status
Not open for further replies.
1

1stStrike

Banned
There are a lot of media players out on the market, but over the years I've found that Foobar 2000 is one of the best available. I'm going to show you how to setup Foobar to not only look good, but sound good as well with the help of some modules.

You can, of course, customize it any way you'd like - but, the purpose here is to help people get Foobar setup initially as many find it generally confusing at first.

Why should I use Foobar 2000?

Foobar is a media player that offers a lot of advanced functionality often not found in other media players. Due to how flexible and customizable it is, this has made it very popular amongst PC audio enthusiasts. However, it is not the easiest player to setup - and thus the reason I've put together this guide.

1. Download Foobar 2000 Here.

- Install it as a Standard installation
- Choose "Move components to my personal component folder" (if prompted)
- When opening the application do the quick setup and choose Columns UI (if you aren't prompted for this, install Columns UI as per the link below)

Dude, the default player is ugly.

Yeah, it needs a little re-skinning. The skin we're going to use is this one:

foonight_v1_1c_by_qwasdfqp.jpg


Download it Here. Extract the files in this archive to your Foobar 2000 directory.

2. Now, we need to install some specific modules to get this skin to work as it relies on them. Download the following and copy them to C:\Program Files(x86)\Foobar 2000\components\

- Columns UI - Enable it by doing: File > Preferences > Display > User interface module. Choose Columns UI and hit Apply.
- Channel Spectrum Panel - Copy and paste this link into your browser to avoid the 403.
- Library Tree - Copy and paste this link into your browser to avoid the 403.
- Quick Search Toolbar
- Textbox

Other components you may need:

Get Panel Stack Splitter, ELPlaylist, and Biography View here
Lyric Show
WSH Panel Mod

Got these copied over? Good, now close Foobar and restart it and the components will be automatically activated.

3. Once Foobar is back up and running you want to go to File > Preferences > Columns UI. Under "FCL importing and exporting" click on "Import..." and choose the "FooNight v1.1c.fcl" file that should be in your Foobar 2000 folder at this point.

If everything goes well, the skin should be applied and your interface will change accordingly. It should now look something like this:

foobar20000dpu.jpg


You can customize it from there. Also, make sure you go to Preferences > Media Library and add the folders Foobar 2000 should be monitoring (as well as filter out anything it shouldn't add to the library).

But wait! We're not done yet. Now that we have Foobar looking good, it's time to make it sound good as well.

4. Read this post for information on what to download and how to set them up. If you scroll to the bottom, there's also some equalizer presets, but I prefer to run mine flat.

You can also see an older, but still pretty relevant, guide on Foobar 2000 at TechSpot's website. as well.

iPod Users: Sync/Convert your entire iPod library (as well as album art) and import it into Foobar 2000. You can also synchronize your library from Foobar 2000 to your iPod.

1. Download and install the following plugin: - iPod Management Component - Works with most iPhone/iPod models
2. Download and install the Nero AAC Codec
3. Visit this page for the entire guide.

Other recommendations:

- Use headphones? Download this plugin: Bauer Stereopohonic-to-Binaural DSP
- Turn your Foobar 2000 into a UPNP server that will allow you to stream to your iphone or PS3/360!
- Import Winamp ratings into Foobar 2000

For more see the Foobar Components Page

There are, of course, many other themes that you can use as well. Here are some others out there which you may find more appealing than the one I'm using:

Ribbon UI

ribbon_ui_by_libraemy-d2wr963.jpg


FooAero

fooaero_dui_v1_4_6_by_extremehunter1972-d30x7y5.png


DUI Theme

dui_theme_1_1_final_by_razor_87-d4btndw.png


Find more here.

Remember that each theme has different requirements, so you may or may not need other plugins for them to work properly. Also, not every theme will work on the newest version of Foobar 2000, so make sure you either install the appropriate version or download themes that are compatible with the latest (1.1.8 as of right now).

Any questions? Feel free to ask.
 
T

The Friendly Monster

Member
It already feels weird to imagine a world where Spotify didn't exist for me, so glad I don't have to go back to that.

BTW this was the best of a bad bunch when it came to pc music software.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
The Friendly Monster said:
It already feels weird to imagine a world where Spotify didn't exist for me, so glad I don't have to go back to that.

BTW this was the best of a bad bunch when it came to pc music software.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is geared more towards audiophiles as it allows you to really get the most out of your music. I still much prefer Foobar 2000 over any other solution out there today.
 
C

Cindres

Vied for a tag related to cocks, so here it is.
I just use the default skin, used Foobar for quite some time now. Love that it lets me show my music by folder structure as i went through painstakingly one time to make sure everything was organised My Music>Artist>Albums in my folders.
 
moojito

moojito

Member
Every now and then I get an urge to look at my music player and then I download this and go "oooooh, pretty". Then I remember that most of the time I have winamp just in a tiny bar up the top of my screen, and already have all my songs rated on there, etc. So I go back to that.
 
R

runningjoke

Member
When I still used a Logitech Z5500 5.1 set, this was the only player that could convert mono to stereo and stereo to 2xstereo. I hate listening to a podcast with the audio only coming from the center speaker.

Now that I've gone all audiophile with my set up(Asus Xonar Essence soundcard, Marantz stereo amp, Kef XQ20 speakers), I still use Foobar. It handles large libraries and playlists the best and it has Asio output support (with a component).
 
Z

Zeppelin

Member
I've been using it for like 7-8 years. In my mind it's the only dedicated music player worth bothering with (aside from Spotify, before they got all fucked up) and I like it as it is. Tried did the custom UI stuff for a while but found it quite disgusting. It mostly stays minimized anyway.
 
T

thatbox

Banned
I've been using Foobar for a couple months now, and am taking this opportunity to finally skin it by following your guide. To anyone else having trouble with the first two modules links, copy the URL and paste it into your address bar on the 403 error page and the download should come up.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
Zeppelin said:
I've been using it for like 7-8 years. In my mind it's the only dedicated music player worth bothering with (aside from Spotify, before they got all fucked up) and I like it as it is. Tried did the custom UI stuff for a while but found it quite disgusting. It mostly stays minimized anyway.
Click to expand...

It completely depends on the theme you use, as some of them are quite terrible. I like how I can easily change between a stylized interface or go back to the full song listing that I'm used to with this theme.

Also, as I use two monitors I usually have Foobar on the other monitor so I can look at album art, keep track of songs, etc.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
thatbox said:
I've been using Foobar for a couple months now, and am taking this opportunity to finally skin it by following your guide. To anyone else having trouble with the first two modules links, copy the URL and paste it into your address bar on the 403 error page and the download should come up.
Click to expand...

Good call, thanks. I've added a note in the OP for anyone else that downloads these.

RaginRoss said:
You've got the wrong album art for August And Everything After :)
Click to expand...

So I do :p
 
Z

Zeppelin

Member
1stStrike said:
It completely depends on the theme you use, as some of them are quite terrible. I like how I can easily change between a stylized interface or go back to the full song listing that I'm used to with this theme.
Click to expand...

Well, almost all the Columns UI stuff were quite buggy back then.

1stStrike said:
Also, as I use two monitors I usually have Foobar on the other monitor so I can look at album art, keep track of songs, etc.
Click to expand...

Yes, I can understand that you want something a little bit more pretty when you're rolling a setup like that. :)
 
T

thatbox

Banned
WYaYn.png


Ugh, now I remember why I gave up the first time I tried to make it look pretty. I guess I have to hunt down and install all of these?
 
T

thatbox

Banned
ybnAV.png


Up and running! It would be nice to be able to work on the top and bottom bars that are still light colored and to get rid of the alien in the bottom right, but it still looks way better than it has since I first installed it. Thanks 1stStrike!
 
S

scorcho

testicles on a cold fall morning
for years (a decade?) i've been impressed by the level of customization of Foobar2000, but whenever i've tried it out i'm always stymied by something and go back to Winamp, iTunes or Zune.

has the user-experience improved in setting this stuff up?
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
thatbox said:
ybnAV.png


Up and running! It would be nice to be able to work on the top and bottom bars that are still light colored and to get rid of the alien in the bottom right, but it still looks way better than it has since I first installed it. Thanks 1stStrike!
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it! I have it maximized at 1920x1080 so the bars are really not that noticeable at the top/bottom.

The theme really goes a long ways towards "prettying" up the interface and that's why I wanted to share this :)


scorcho said:
for years (a decade?) i've been impressed by the level of customization of Foobar2000, but whenever i've tried it out i'm always stymied by something and go back to Winamp, iTunes or Zune.

has the user-experience improved in setting this stuff up?
Click to expand...

Foobar is still not the easiest player to setup. If you follow my guide, though, you'll be pretty much set. You won't need to mess with anything after everything has been setup, so from then on you can just enjoy it.

As far as modifying options in menus and such, those have always been pretty straight forward to me, so no issues there.
 
D

Deleted member 1235

Unconfirmed Member
can I put music on my ipod quickly and easily?
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
catfish said:
can I put music on my ipod quickly and easily?
Click to expand...

Yep. I updated the OP with the necessary module and a link to a guide for syncing your iPod library to/from Foobar 2000.

Also note that Foobar 2000 will automatically convert any music that isn't compatible with your iPod to the iPod format when you sync to it, so this way you can sync over any of your songs without any issues.
 
Jex

Jex

Member
"- Choose "Move components to my personal component folder"
- When opening the application do the quick setup and choose Columns UI"
I've never even seen these options.
 
S

SolidsnackooFoxhound

Banned
1stStrike said:
Yep. I updated the OP with the necessary module and a link to a guide for syncing your iPod library to/from Foobar 2000.

Also note that Foobar 2000 will automatically convert any music that isn't compatible with your iPod to the iPod format when you sync to it, so this way you can sync over any of your songs without any issues.
Click to expand...


1st strike what version of foobar are you using? I'm sure its not v1.1.8. When i open up foobar it doesn't give me the option to select columns UI. You might be using an earlier version and if i remember correctly later versions of foobar don't work with a lot of the skins out there.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
Jexhius said:
"- Choose "Move components to my personal component folder"
- When opening the application do the quick setup and choose Columns UI"
I've never even seen these options.
Click to expand...

Have you installed a recent version of Foobar 2000? The 1.1.8 installer has those options - though, I already had it installed previously so it's quite possible that it only prompts you to move modules if you're upgrading from a previous version.

Also, if you don't see any option for Columns UI you can always manually change to it by doing the following.

File > Preferences > Display > User interface module. Choose Columns UI and hit Apply.


SolidsnackooFoxhound said:
1st strike what version of foobar are you using? I'm sure its not v1.1.8. When i open up foobar it doesn't give me the option to select columns UI. You might be using an earlier version and if i remember correctly later versions of foobar don't work with a lot of the skins out there.
Click to expand...

I am using 1.1.8.

fooversiondepm.jpg
 
Jex

Jex

Member
1stStrike said:
Have you installed a recent version of Foobar 2000? The 1.1.8 installer has those options - though, I already had it installed previously so it's quite possible that it only prompts you to move modules if you're upgrading from a previous version.

Also, if you don't see any option for Columns UI you can always manually change to it by doing the following.

File > Preferences > Display > User interface module. Choose Columns UI and hit Apply.
Click to expand...
Nope, nothing in there. I guess I have to install it separately?
 
S

SolidsnackooFoxhound

Banned
1stStrike said:
Apparently. I must have installed this plugin a long time ago, as I don't recall downloading it separately (I've been using Foobar for 4 or 5 years now).



Thanks. I added it to the OP for people that are installing it fresh.
Click to expand...

No, thank you. I now have my foobar skinned :D.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
SolidsnackooFoxhound said:
No, thank you. I now have my foobar skinned :D.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it! If you haven't tried out any of the DSP mods, I highly recommend checking out the guide I linked to. It really does make a dramatic difference in the quality of audio - especially if you're using headphones like I am.
 
S

SolidsnackooFoxhound

Banned
1stStrike said:
Glad to hear it! If you haven't tried out any of the DSP mods, I highly recommend checking out the guide I linked to. It really does make a dramatic difference in the quality of audio - especially if you're using headphones like I am.
Click to expand...


Yea, I'm Using hd650's with a Nuforce icon hdp. So ill pass. :3

Edit: i read that wrong I WILL try it out then.


BTW what headphones are you using? I was in the headphone thread a lot and i recommended you the fischer audio f002 woodies. Did you ever receive them or did you cancel cause they took too long making them?
 
V

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Biggest cluster with this program is a lot of the mods relied on certain other components, and they'd break when foobar got updated sometimes. Then you'd have to wait for whomever made the component to come out with a fix which sometimes didn't happen. This meant a lot of the time you were almost better sticking with an older version.

Program has a ton of potential though, and file was supports basically everything under the sun. It's my back up music player when I'm not using zune I'll be honest.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
SolidsnackooFoxhound said:
Yea, I'm Using hd650's with a Nuforce icon hdp. So ill pass. :3

Edit: i read that wrong I WILL try it out then.


BTW what headphones are you using? I was in the headphone thread a lot and i recommended you the fischer audio f002 woodies. Did you ever receive them or did you cancel cause they took too long making them?
Click to expand...

Hah. I'm running Denon D7000's with a custom built amp ($400~ in electronics packed into it) and I still use the mods. I couldn't live without at least the crystalizer and the surround sound effect - it adds further clarity and broadens the sound stage without having any negative impact on my listening experience.

Edit: Just caught YOUR edit.

I canceled and picked up these:

JVC-Victor-HP-FX700-Wooden-In-ear-Headphones.jpg


JVC Victor FX700's
 
K

Kaladin

Member
Does anyone have a favorite remote app for android phones? I tend to use that feature often with whatever media player I am using and I noticed there are a few available. It needs to work over wifi.
 
S

SolidsnackooFoxhound

Banned
djsandman said:
Does anyone have a favorite remote app for android phones? I tend to use that feature often with whatever media player I am using and I noticed there are a few available. It needs to work over wifi.
Click to expand...

I'm trying some out right now but have to set it up.
 
S

SolidsnackooFoxhound

Banned
1stStrike said:
Hah. I'm running Denon D7000's with a custom built amp ($400~ in electronics packed into it) and I still use the mods. I couldn't live without at least the crystalizer and the surround sound effect - it adds further clarity and broadens the sound stage without having any negative impact on my listening experience.
Click to expand...


Then i will definitely try out the dsp then. The nuforce icon hdp gives my hd650 a very narrow sound stage.
 
1

1stStrike

Banned
SolidsnackooFoxhound said:
Then i will definitely try out the dsp then. The nuforce icon hdp gives my hd650 a very narrow sound stage.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured as much. I have a pair of hd550's and they're similar in that regard. Let me know how it goes!

Gvaz said:
Aww yeah, I got a virtual surround going through on foobar through my receiver. Sounds great!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's pretty awesome once it's setup right for your audio equipment. When I first set everything up I was totally blown away at the improvement.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Nvidia’s Chat with RTX is a promising AI chatbot that runs locally on your PC
13
2K
Chiggs replied
  • Locked
Concord: Accessibility settings detailed
23
2K
Saturn Dragon replied
Game Hubs Now Available for all PC Players
12
1K
Little Chicken replied
Memoirs of a PC NOOB! My journey into the PC world
2 3 4
151
4K
Radical_3d replied
Kotaku 2024 High/Lowlights plus Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo summary
4
684
Mr Hyde replied
Top Bottom