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How does Randomize work on smartlists?
gvanbrunt:
I don't mean what it does, but how is the randomization accomplished? The reason I ask is it seems to be somewhat "unrandom". I often see two or three tracks from an album close together together etc. I know randomization can be difficult to accomplish effectively on computers, but is the current implementation optimal?
Or does it work just fine for others and I'm just crazy?
Wait. Don't answer that part...
rick.ca:
--- Quote ---I often see two or three tracks from an album close together together etc.
--- End quote ---
That's how you know it is random. If you didn't see that (in a large enough sample), you should wonder if it's the result of an algorithm that's intentionally avoiding it. And that, of course, would not be random.
JustinChase:
I remember a thread from a couple years ago where this was discussed, and Matt confirmed it was truly random, which does result in some 'grouping', as you've described.
However, I think Matt said he would tweak it to try to avoid that, since most people don't really want that when they select random, even though it's 'accurate'.
Perhaps he didn't tweak it, maybe it's been changed again, I can't say, sorry.
I guess it's been 8 years :o
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=20600.msg151784#msg151784
gvanbrunt:
It isn't random though. I almost never hear tracks together from different albums. I often hear some together from the same album. In a system that is truly random that would not be the case especially when there are more tracks from the artist available than just those from the album.
Also an exported smartlist that I randomize on my phone with other playback software does not do this. I think whatever algorithm is in use is flawed.
gvanbrunt:
One other pattern I notice. I often notice some songs it plays much more often than others. On 3 or 4 plays through a smartlist after refreshing it brings up some songs over and over. Others it never plays at all...
There shouldn't be patterns if it is random.
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