RadioFree

Introducing the new and very much improved RadioFree! Following the same basic layout as my previous release, this version is built on C# and allows for things not possible in the older version.

This program was greatly inspired by Gnomeradio for Linux.

Screenshots:

Main Screen

Recording Window

Options Window

System Tray Menu

Windows Live Messenger 'Now Playing...' Feature

Many thanks go to the kind people over at The Code Project who helped me get through a lot of the hurdles I faced, especially the recording feature for which I owe Ianier Munoz heaps of thanks. John Galloway for pointing me in the right direction regarding the PLS converting.

This program uses LAME to encode the audio into the mp3 format on the fly and is included under the LGPL license.

The .Net 2 framework must be installed in order for this to work. I have included a few sample radio stations to get you started.

Update:

Version 1.4.7 - Updated March 16, 2007

Fixed the volume bug. (For good this time).
Fixed a few minor UI bugs when changing volume.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.4.6 - Updated March 16, 2007

Fixed volume bug. (didn't work - check new update)

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.4.5 - Updated March 14, 2007

Added buttons to change volume. Now clicking the speakers will raise/lower the volume.
Automatically sets the selected station to last played station.
Added an About RadioFree window.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.4 - Updated March 08, 2007

Added global hotkeys for total control of RadioFree even when minimized to the system tray.
Fixed a few minor bugs in the coding.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.3 - Updated March 06, 2007

Fixed the volume slider overlap.
Added a 'Get more...' button to the Options window which will bring up Radio-Locater in your browser.
Added 'Now Playing...' feature for Windows Live Messenger. Now the current station will be displayed in Windows Live Messenger.
Changed drag and drop. Now user will be asked whether to add the station to preset.
Changed the icon for a better display in the system tray.
Added station info by clicking the station ID on the display.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.2 - Updated March 05, 2007

Fixed the exception error when starting from the shortcut.
Added more error handling code which should hopefully reduce the amount of errors appearing.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

Version 1.1 - Updated March 03, 2007

Fixed a few UI glitches (still can't recreate the volume slider overlap though, sorry).
Added the ability to drag-and-drop a .pls file in to RadioFree and it will automatically strip out the link and start adding it the list.
Radio stations are now arranged alphabetically in the lists.

If you have already made a list of radio stations and want to keep them, copy the stations.xml file found in the RadioFree application folder before installing the update. When complete, simply drag it back into the folder and run RadioFree.

If you're having trouble with the recording feature, make sure the recording source is 'Stereo Mix' (Right-click the volume icon in the system tray and 'Open volume control' from the menu. Go to 'Options' > 'Properties', select Recording and make sure 'Stereo Mix' is ticked).

I've also noticed that the audio becomes distorted if the recording volume is set any higher than 30%. It's most likely a value I overlooked in the recording code so I'll have a look.

Download from: Attached zip file.

RadioFree_Setup_1_4_7.zip

Attachment: RadioFree_Setup_1_4_7.zip

#444797

Cool!!

Tiny Bug:

There seems to be a conflict with the volume slider and a few of the buttons.

Also:

Maybe upload it as an attachment instead of to Rapidshare, as some people have problems downloading it.

#444827

oooo this seems pretty cool, I will try it this weekend.

#444838

@Mushu: That is most likely a theme-related problem. I've tested this on about a dozen or so themes and they all work properly. Which theme is that so I can test it on my end?

#444859

The theme in the Screenshot is Royale Vista. But it also does it in:

Luna (Xp Standard)

Windows Classic

Royale (Media Center)

RhodiumX

Those are the only Msstyles I have tested, because those are all I have installed.

So, maybe it just dosn't like me.

#444863

@Mushu: That's strange because Luna is one of the themes I tested it on and it worked fine. Maybe it's a screen resolution problem. Who knows...

#444872

I guess if others have this problem, the solution would be to move the row of buttons down like 5 pixels. However, it's hard to know if others will until more people see this awesome app.

#444885

Just make better than it and i'll be using your programm.

#444919

@1Dan: Working on it but they've had a little more time than I have. Any suggestions on what needs to be improved?

@Mushu: Okay, I'm at a loss as to why that overlap is occurring. I thought it might have been a resolution problem because on my brother-in-law's computer (running Vista) I noticed the same thing. But reducing the resolution here had no effect and wouldn't reproduce the problem. It's one of those strange things I guess...

Speaking about Vista...all I an say is I need to do some more testing on there before I can say this is 100% compatible. I noticed that it was spotty at best with errors complaining about security rights. Bleh...

#444924

Wow this is pretty cool, thanks I can listen to my Fav station without using FF.

Couple of small things. First one when I first click the drop down arrow on the preset, the list snaps to the top left of the screen, pressing is again puts it in the right place. Press the preset name button works first time. Not a major problem.

Next one might be a bigger problem. I can't load from the start menu. I'm getting a MS .NET Framework Error I can click "continue" and it loads ok. I've got the code if you'd like to see it. I can however load directly from the folder without the error.

XP Home SP2

P4 3.00 Ghz

512mb

.Net 2 Framework installed

#444936

@mps69: Thanks for the comments and feedback. If you don't mind sending me the error-code to my email that would great, thanks. I'll see what I can do.

#444942

Hey... really great work... I like the pure concept... I used iTunes only for my Radiostations... but this tool is now my favourite... Perfect... really perfect

EDIT: ups... it seems to record my microphone and not the stream i am listening to ^^

#444947

@Angryman: Yeah...you have to set your recording source to 'Stereo Mix' as per the instructions on the first page. That should get it working. Great to hear you're enjoying it.

#444952

Another thing:

I just didnt know what the id had to do... so i gave it names (less than 10 chars)... It really doesnt make sense to me yet why the user should see the id or be able to set it. As in a normal database shouldnt this be a floating number? Anyway... I think i messed it up ^^

Heres the failure message:

System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection.

Parameter name: index

EDIT: Un-installed and re-installed it... same problem i cant add a new station ?? It crashes if i start the program again after that (Windows XP SP3)

#444957

IDs are more like frequencies or in the case of net only radio, the group that puts out the station (ex: All the radio stations from Digitally Imported get an ID of di.fm and the name of the station then is the....yeah, name of the station).

The error seems to be from either a non-selected item when trying to edit/delete or...I'm not sure. I'll have a look.

Edit: SP3?

#444960

ups i meant SP2

#444961

Sranshaft, probably You know it already, in bug with buttons is guilty volume trackbar. It simply blocks buttons - it is possible to lower buttons a little or to change height of trackbar. A lot of errors in RadioFree but I understand that this is beginning of this remarkable project. Successes!

#444963

Okay - a quick update to those having trouble with the shortcut. It turns out it's not an error in the program. It's a problem with the shortcut itself. Apparently the installer I'm using (Inno Setup) doesn't fill in the Start Up folder automatically. When I added this in, it worked perfectly.

I'll now see if I can't work with Inno Setup to get the shortcut to work correctly. If not I'll add the shortcut creation into the program itself. Not the best way to do it but at least I know I can do that if it comes down to it.

Should have an update soon-ish. Working on something else at the moment but mps69 got me thinking. Had to take a break from the other stuff and clear my mind as it were.

Edit: New version is up which should fix the startup error. Enjoy!

#445032

A new version of RadioFree is now available. Check out the first message for the download.

Sorry for the bump.

#445425

thanks Sranshaft

now get back over to videoshelf and hurry up !

my movies won't catalogue themselves ya know

#445461

Can confirm that in my case the bugs are fixed...

Radiofree starts up after adding a new station.

THX A LOT... I really waited for this great app^^

EDIT: AND ONE MORE GREAT THING... ALSO AAC PLUS STREAMS WORK FINE ^^

#445723

@Angryman: Great to hear everything is working for you! Looking to add web support (ie. D&D of radio links directly to RadioFree from the web) and file association. These are my next major updates at least.

#445725

I've been using this since the new release and all is working great now, many thanks for this cool little app.

I've got a couple of request/suggestions. First one is the volume, can you make the speaker icons into buttons, decreasing/increasing by 5-10% a time.

Next one I'd like to be able to just press the play button when I launch the app, at the moment I've got re-select via the drop down.

#446526

Definitely. Those sound doable. I'll add them in to a quick update tonight.

Edit: Check the first page for a new new update.

#446669

Tiny bug with new version, set the volume to lowest, then hit the 'lower volume' button, it throws "Value of '0' is not valid for 'Value'." error.

#446755