"Toggle Crossfade" hotkey and panel button

[Josh K.]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I couldn't find this hotkey in the list. It would also be useful to have a button in the Player Controls bar, together with Repeat and Shuffle buttons. Maybe even with a slider to set the crossfade time, like in Winamp's Equalizer pane, but that would be too much work I guess. So, at least a hotkey would be great enough.

[KangNi]

Hi There,

I just would like to bring up this topic again - especially the wish for an additional "Crossfade Toggle Button" in the player controls bar.

That's how it could look like:



In the following, there are 4 alternate designs for just ONE proposed toggle button.
The (curve) shapes are chosen from a designers perspective and should NOT necessarily represent the real cross-fade behave.



Would be wonderful to see this implemented.

Greetings

[Mayibongwe]

All the functions needed to set up the hotkey as a plugin were already available, so I have created one here:
https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=41310.0

I just would like to bring up this topic again - especially the wish for an additional "Crossfade Toggle Button" in the player controls bar.

The current API does not provide access to the player controls bar, but you can link the above hotkey to some toolbar button which you can dock somewhere in the top panel.

[KangNi]

Hi Mayibongwe,

thanks a lot for providing this workaround.

However, i think it would be a even bigger benefit for the whole community, if a cross-fade toggle button could be provided at a prominent place by default - like in the player controls bar.

I'm looking forward for that : )

Greetings

[Zak]

I'm neither for nor against - as long as it's optional - but would guess that 95% of users have no idea what those pictures mean.
And adding a new controller button isn't a trivial task, given it would need to be supported by each existing skin.

I'm not sure the icons on the right-hand side are accurate anyway - that suggests a non-linear crossfade, which I don't see represented in the MusicBee settings.

[KangNi]

Hi Zak,
thanks for your reply.

... guess that 95% of users have no idea what those pictures mean.

Well, that's probably true, especially if it's newly introduced. But there are plenty of other symbols where anyone could claim the same. It's subjective and of course the context is always important. Just feel welcome to create another proposal.

And adding a new controller button isn't a trivial task, given it would need to be supported by each existing skin.

That's probably the biggest challenge here, but i'm confident there will be solution too.

I'm not sure the icons on the right-hand side are accurate anyway - that suggests a non-linear crossfade, which I don't see represented in the MusicBee settings.

That's of course an important detail - IF - you know what the symbol means, which most likely "95% of the users" aren't able to interpret . No offense.

Greetings

[hiccup]

And adding a new controller button isn't a trivial task, given it would need to be supported by each existing skin.

That's probably the biggest challenge here, but i'm confident there will be solution too.

Sorry, to burst your confidence balloon, but Zak's completely right about this.
It's not realistic to assume that MusicBee's developer is willing to add a feature that will require all existing skins to be modified to accommodate for  a single new feature that only one user has asked for.

Just appreciate the fast and solid solution that Mayibongwe has created, just for you?

[KangNi]

Hi,
I absolutely understand that some changes would mean a tremendous effort or just aren't compatible with some grown structures. If that applies to this specific request, I am equally satisfied with this explanation and i'm still happy to be able to exchange innovative ideas in this forum.

And hey, confidence is a positive thing 

Greetings

[hiccup]

All the functions needed to set up the hotkey as a plugin were already available, so I have created one here:
https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=41310.0

That's some impressively fast and good service/solution.

Just a thought about it from a technical perspective:
Perhaps it would be useful if it allowed for having separate icons for disabled and enabled status?
Like this:


Not sure if that's even possible for a shortcut like this one (and I personally don't care since I wouldn't use this feature) but I thought to mention it anyway.

[KangNi]

+1

[Zak]

I'm not sure the icons on the right-hand side are accurate anyway - that suggests a non-linear crossfade, which I don't see represented in the MusicBee settings.

That's of course an important detail - IF - you know what the symbol means, which most likely "95% of the users" aren't able to interpret . No offense.

I know what the symbols mean. My point is that MusicBee currently only offers fade-in and fade-out times (i.e. the left-hand icon examples):



So a full implementation your suggestion would also require a rethink/rewrite of how the cross-fading is actually done, not just the addition of some new buttons.
Will just have to see if Steven thinks it is worthwhile.

[KangNi]

Hi Zak,
sorry - I expressed myself bad ...

I'm not sure the icons on the right-hand side are accurate anyway - that suggests a non-linear crossfade, which I don't see represented in the MusicBee settings.

That's of course an important detail - IF - you know what the symbol means, which most likely "95% of the users" aren't able to interpret . No offense.

I know what the symbols mean. My point is that MusicBee currently only offers fade-in and fade-out times (i.e. the left-hand icon examples):

... when I wrote "you", I didn't meant "you" in person but "users" instead. Stupid mistake - I know.

My mockup symbols where just a suggestion from a designers perspective.
I never had the intention to suggest changing the way, how MB should exactly process the cross-fade.

I'm astonished how sometimes every detail is getting interpreted, even if there was no intention behind
That lead me to add a comment to my initial post now.

Greetings