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More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 30 for Windows => Topic started by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 10:31:14 am

Title: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 10:31:14 am
Hi, everyone.

I'm happy JRiver user since build 27/28. I really like audio quality, and how the whole program is working.

I use it on systems Intel i5 NUC computers with connected USB DACs. One system is working with computer monitor. Second one is connected to large TV screen and I use Rii i25 remote for it.


Now is the question/suggestion.

Using JRiver on large TV screen is bit pain. I would be delighted if I could use JRiver with skin similar to Kodi with nice but simple graphic layout and use of arrows keys and enter to control basic things.

In the past I was using Kodi for playing my flac audio files. User interface on large TV screen was great and was able to use my Rii i25 remote to control most of the things on everyday use. I mean just a few arrow keys and enter to choose artist or album or any navigation or playing songs etc. But Kodi audio quality is not the greatest. This is why I purchased JRiver.

So, maybe Large TV Screen mode would be a good solution.

 
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: Awesome Donkey on January 03, 2023, 10:38:10 am
Theater view?

https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Theater_View
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 10:53:39 am
Theater view?

https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Theater_View

Thank you for quick answer. I use JRiver in Audio mode. I want to keep it as simple as possible. Tried all skins some time ago. Nothing was working for me as expected.

EDIT:

Silly me! ;-)

You are right... Theater View. Previously I was looking in skins instead of views.

Big thanks for this hint.

But now I will have another question.

I can browse my albums using arrows keys and open album using enter key. So far so good.

But to play single song is bit complicated. Tried browse songs of one album and was thinking that enter button will work like play button. But is not.

So far I discovered that ctrl+p will start play of any song which is currently highlighted. Then have to use ctrl+s to stop it and choose another song from this same album and hit ctrl+p to start playing it.

Any chance that this can be changed in config options?

I just need simple play/stop option for Theater View.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: badger on January 03, 2023, 11:23:39 am
So, maybe Large TV Screen mode would be a good solution.
Theater View is MC's "Large TV Screen" mode.  Pretty much arrows and enter to move around and play audio... or anything else.  Works great with most remotes.  Have you tried it?  View + Theater View...  You can still access it if you're in Audio Only mode.  You can also customize it (via Tools.... Options... Theater view) and remove most everything not associated with Audio.  I have it set up with only Audio, Playlists and Gadgets.  Pretty simple to use.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: badger on January 03, 2023, 11:32:16 am
So far I discovered that ctrl+p will start play of any song which is currently highlighted. Then have to use ctrl+s to stop it and choose another song from this same album and hit ctrl+p to start playing it.

Any chance that this can be changed in config options?

I just need simple play/stop option for Theater View.
All the controls you need (stop, pause, play, next, previous, etc) will show up top while song is playing.  If you will be using a keyboard arrows and return will do all that (or mouse click).  My keyboard has all the audio buttons which is nice... and they all work with MC.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 11:36:05 am
Theater View is MC's "Large TV Screen" mode.  Pretty much arrows and enter to move around and play audio... or anything else.  Works great with most remotes.  Have you tried it?  View + Theater View...  You can still access it if you're in Audio Only mode.  You can also customize it (via Tools.... Options... Theater view) and remove most everything not associated with Audio.  I have it set up with only Audio, Playlists and Gadgets.  Pretty simple to use.

I'm reading this answers and testing it in real time now.

So far:

Audio mode ON

Theater view ON

and I have my "Large TV Screen" mode.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 11:46:05 am
All the controls you need (stop, pause, play, next, previous, etc) will show up top while song is playing.  If you will be using a keyboard arrows and return will do all that (or mouse click).  My keyboard has all the audio buttons which is nice... and they all work with MC.

I just tried all what you suggested. It works. I use Rii i25 remote and programmed one of the keys as media stop key. So, now have play/pause key and separate key to stop.

But it would be great if enter key could just start playing new song without stopping the previous one.

Is there option to configure Theater View background? How much I can personalise this view mode?
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: badger on January 03, 2023, 11:59:05 am
Take a look at Tools... Options... Theater View...   Under "Appearance" there are several options (skins, background, Themes, fonts, etc.)
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: badger on January 03, 2023, 12:02:31 pm
But it would be great if enter key could just start playing new song without stopping the previous one.
Maybe program another remote key as "Next" (assuming you mean you'd like a key to play the next song in playing now).
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 12:18:53 pm
Take a look at Tools... Options... Theater View...   Under "Appearance" there are several options (skins, background, Themes, fonts, etc.)

Thank you again.

I just managed to find it. So many options to change now.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 12:28:02 pm
Maybe program another remote key as "Next" (assuming you mean you'd like a key to play the next song in playing now).

I have this key on my Rii i25 remote. The only thing I needed to add is STOP key.

But my point is that Enter key could start playing any song from the same album without using STOP key.

Now I can browse albums, then choose the right one, see the track list and using arrow keys can choose which track want to play. Then push PLAY button on my remote and enjoy song.

But if in the middle of song I will decide that I want to listen another one which is not the next one on the album track list. I have to push STOP button, then use arrows keys to choose another song and then push PLAY button.

It would be more simple if I could use arrow keys and enter/play button on any track without pushing stop button.

For example I'm currently on track 3, but I want to listen track 6 now. So I need to stop track 3 first using stop button. Then use arrow keys to change position on track list. Then use play button on track 6.

It would be just more simple to move from position 3 to 6 and push play button or enter button. But my guess is that it would affect pause function and PAUSE would need to be assigned to something else.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: badger on January 03, 2023, 01:48:39 pm
Yes, now I understand.  I think its a difference in remotes.  Yours appears to be a Keyboard remote... and yes pressing return would pause ( I think).  Mine is a Logitech Harmony hub.. and the remote handheld has a left, right, up, down pad with and "OK" button in the middle.  The OK button works like instant play.  I can browse anywhere while playing a track (another album, artist, playlist, etc.) and if I hit "OK" twice the selected track plays immediately.
Title: Re: JRiver audio only mode on large TV screen.
Post by: jmz on January 03, 2023, 02:46:59 pm
Yes, now I understand.  I think its a difference in remotes.  Yours appears to be a Keyboard remote... and yes pressing return would pause ( I think).  Mine is a Logitech Harmony hub.. and the remote handheld has a left, right, up, down pad with and "OK" button in the middle.  The OK button works like instant play.  I can browse anywhere while playing a track (another album, artist, playlist, etc.) and if I hit "OK" twice the selected track plays immediately.

This is the remote that I use.

I managed to configure Theater Mode and now it looks like I wanted. Way better than Kodi and most important benefit is that JRiver sounds much better than Kodi.

I also changed one option in configuration (jump on play) or something like that. So now it is easier to play another song.

I just need to learn new and forget old habits.

Overall it was great day as I managed to have JRiver for large TV screen.

One more time... thank you for all help.