Easy Player Version 3.20 Release Notes

Changes to the Easy Player (Sound Mill v.r 3.20) are significant, adding some key new features and modifying some existing features for improved productivity with editing and managing Playlists. Existing users should read this page to understand the changes.

Backup Sound Lists Recommended

We recommend that you backup your Sound Lists before opening them with this new release. The first time you load a Sound List with this release, it will make migration changes to the Sound List. Once the Sound List is saved you will not be able to regress to the previous release with that Sound List, should you want to for any reason. Better safe than sorry.

Options Export Recommended

We recommend that you Export your existing Options before starting this new release code as well (for the same reasons as Backing up Sound Lists). Before installing the new release go to Tools > Options Port > Export.

New Features

Figure 1. Common Solo Performer Player Configuration

Play Position Time Readout (Figure 1, upper right) is added next to the Play Controls Panel. Now you can see the current playback position or time remaining for the playing cue. Cue duration time is optional on the readout. (Learn more )
Play Position Progress bar has been added underneath the Position Time Readout. (Learn more )
Replace Opened Playlist Attributes with Default Attributes - Makes it easier to keep all your playlists in sync with a favorite default appearance. Previously Default Attributes could be applied to new playlists only. (Learn more )
View Summary of All Playlists The summary shows the list of cues and the total duration of the Playlist. (Learn more )
When Opening Player, Open Most Recently Used Playlist - New productivity option. (Learn more )
Edit Player Elements - New main menu containing menu items for new features. (Learn more )
- Play Position Time Readout - Text will always show the current playback position and duration of the current playing cue. When nothing is playing it will show the duration of the current selected cue. (Learn more )
- Player Color Theme - Quickly changes the player colors for: Player background, Playlist Title, Playlist Description, Playlist Cue Buttons. (Learn more )
- More Options for the above controls have been added to this menu to set appearance attributes. (Learn more )
Import/Export Playlists - This will allow you to share Playlists between Sound Lists. Export a Playlist, then open another Sound List to import the Playlist. (Learn more )
Halt/Reset Player - This new action does an abrupt halt to player actions and resets the Player control structures. (Learn more )
Repair Broken Cues - This new tool will attempt to fix Cues that cannot locate their target Sound Item or Script. Broken Cues are typically caused by deleting a Sound Item, then re-adding it. (Learn more )
Go To Playing Cue - New action moves cue selection to the current playing cue. (Learn more )
Continuous Play mode with Scripts - Automation scripts can now be run in this mode. Previously this mode ignored scripts. (Learn more )
Continuous Play mode - Wraparound Play - This new setting allows you to use Continuous Play in two ways: 1) Play all cues once starting at current selected cue (Wraparound); 2) Play cues starting at current selected cue and continue to the end of the Playlist. (Learn more )
Solo Performer Playlist Cookbook - A new help page was added to the Help to aid Solo Performers/Presenters quickly learn how to create Playlists and operate the Player. (Learn more )
Record Remote Key Signals - Key signals from your remote control device are recorded and a status message is displayed for each signal. Useful for: 1) verifing remote control is working prior to a show, 2)discovering the key signals of a new remote control device, 3) as a problem diagnostic aid. (Learn more )

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Changes to Existing Features

From a user perspective, the basic operation characteristics of the Easy Player have not changed. Some of the underlying control structures have changed and this changes Playlist editing in some ways -- yielding a more productive editing experience.

Playback Controls Panel Attributes moved - The large buttons for Play/Pause/Resume/Stop are now managed at the Player level. This means you set the attributes once. Previously, you had to set its attributes in every Playlist.
Cue Button Font - This font is now set once in the Playlist Attributes and all Cue Buttons for the Playlist will get that same font. Previously, a different font could be assigned to every Cue Button. This should make it much easier to manage the cue font and save a bit of memory space as well.
Options moved from Playlist to Player - The following options are now set at the Player level. Previously, they were options in every Playlist. This should make it easier to manage the Player behavior and appearance. Options Include: Auto-Number Cue Button Text; Use Default Background Image on Cue Buttons; Use Playback Controls Panel Default Background Image.
Pause Indicator Icon moved - It is now located to the right of the Play Position Progress Bar.
Ad Hoc Shortcuts moved - These shortcuts have not changed functionally. However, they are now stored at the Sound List level making them accessible to any playlist within the current Sound List. This should help reduce editing chores for these Shortcuts. (Learn more )

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