General features

Track handling

Moving and skipping tracks

With the Next button you can move a selected track to the position after the currently playing track. To exclude a track from playing select it and press the Skip button. Skip and Next can also be found in the file context menu. A selected track (not the playing one) can also be moved up or down with Shift+(Page) Up/Down. To select a track click it once with the left button or use the (Page) Up/Down keys. If the folder is changed, reloaded or resorted any exclusions or position changes will be forgotten.

Tip: If you want the player to continue at another position in the list after the currently playing file simply press skip on the current file and select the next track to be played.




Sort and shuffle files

You can sort your tracks in the file list with the tabs as you know it from the explorer. The current sort mode is shown in the tab button with the sort direction (+) or (-). In shuffle mode no tab is marked because sort is disabled.

Shuffle (random file listing) is enabled by the Shuffle button in the button bar. To re-shuffle press the same button. To leave the Shuffle mode simply press one of the sort tab buttons.

Jumping into random directories is not possible. If you want to play a whole path shuffled it is recommended to use the file finder (see below).




Repeat modes

• Regular play ("1by1"), one track after the other
• Repeat all files of the folder or the whole drive (depending on "Auto search dirs" set)
• Repeat the current track (works not with Cue sheets)
• Play only one file (works not with Cue sheets)

Find and list

Directory finder

1by1 can scan for folders, playlists and Cue sheets which contain known file types. Which folder will be found next depends on depth and alphabetical order of the folders.

To search a folder forward or backwards press the Find previous/next folder button (between track skip and repeat button). If "Auto search dirs" is enabled 1by1 will search the next folder when it reaches the end of the current.

If you don't want the searcher to find playlists and Cue sheets (e.g. to prevent files from being played twice) check the "Search skips playlists/Cue sheets" option in the control settings.




File finder

The find dialog can be reached by F3, Ctrl+F, the main menu or the tree context menu. It searches under the current path (always including subfolders) for files with supported types (MP3 and plugin depending).

You can enter a search string (e.g. a part of a track name, an artist or an extension) in the text field, a date range, a size range or a combination of all ("AND" combined). To list all (supported) files in a path press Search with no search text. Note: You can't interrupt the search process. On large folder structures, many files or on network drives the search may lock the program for some seconds. Scanning all drives at once is not possible.




Playlists and Cue Sheets

Playlists (*.m3u) and Cue Sheets (*.cue) appear like folders in the tree. A playlist shows names and path of each file. The list can be shown original order, sorted by filename or path or be shuffled. Cue sheets are used to display large files, e.g. CD images or DJ sets with track indices and titles. A Cue sheet can only be played in the given order. Start times must always be ascending.

Note: Cue sheets used together with VBR files will usually create incorrect cue positions. It is not possible locate exact positions in VBR files by time values. There also may be small time differences between an MP3 which is decoded by ACM/mglib or by a plugin.




Playlist View

A second list can be opened to compile playlists from different folders. Use the Playlist button in the toolbar (or Shift+F5) to switch it on or off. Initially the playlist view is always disabled. If you quit 1by1 with open playlist view the content will be restored. If you close the list it will be cleared.

To add files simply select them in the file view and press the Enqueue button showing an arrow up (or Shift+F6). You can also enqueue a file at the command line by starting 1by1 with the command line option /enqueue (see Command line options). Files can also be dropped over the playlist view.

Playlist files (*.m3u) selected in the folder tree do not appear in the playlist view. But you can simply copy whole lists from the normal view to the playlist view by selecting all (Ctrl+A). If the file of a playlist entry does not exist it will not be copied to the playlist view. To export any list or selection to a playlist file open the context menu over a file and select "Save/append ... to playlist" (depending on what you want to save - selected files or the whole list). This works even in the normal file view.

Shortcuts and external control

Keyboard shortcuts

Up/Down/Left/Right PgUp/PgDown Home/End, Tab	Navigate
Return or [x]	Play
Space or [c,v]	Stop/Resume
Left/Right	Track position (or folder tree control)
Ctrl+Up/Down or Numpad [+] / [-]	Volume
Ctrl+Left/Right or Numpad [≈] / [╫] or [y,z] / [b]	Play prev/next track
Shift+Left/Right or [,] / [.]	Search prev/next folder
Shift+Up/Down Shift+Page up/down	Move track up/down
Ins	Move track after current
Del	Skip track
Alt+Return or Ctrl+I	File info window
Ctrl+A	Mark all
Ctrl+D	Auto search dirs on/off
Ctrl+G	Gapless mode on/off
Ctrl+H	Go home (to current track)
Ctrl+O	Cycle track order type
Ctrl+P	Toggle order direction / re-shuffle
Ctrl+Q	Quit program after current track
Ctrl+R	Cycle repeat mode
Ctrl+T	Show remaining/elapsed time
Ctrl+U	Show upcoming/current file
Ctrl+V	Add current track and position to Favorites
F1	Main/Favorites menu
F2	Rename/move file
F3 or Ctrl+F	Find files
F4	Toggle tree view
F5	Rescan tree and file list
F6 or Ctrl+S	Settings window
F7 or Ctrl+C	Toggle compact view
Shift+F5	Toggle playlist view
Shift+F6	Enqueue file(s) after playlist view selection
App key	File menu




Global Hotkeys

With global Hotkeys you can reach the most important play functions without switching to the application. Hotkeys can be enabled in the Control section of the settings window. The Hotkeys are F8 - F12 (see table), optionally combined with Alt or Ctrl. In Windows 2000/XP F12 may not work as an individual Hotkey so you should use the Alt or Ctrl combination.

(Ctrl+ / Alt+) F8	Stop/Resume
(Ctrl+ / Alt+) F9	Previous track
(Ctrl+ / Alt+) F10	Next track
(Ctrl+ / Alt+) F11	Volume down
(Ctrl+ / Alt+) F12	Volume up




Command line options

Usage: 1by1.exe <audio file / folder / Cue sheet / playlist> <options>

	Auto Resume options:
/r	Resume the last track and position
/rt	Play the last track from the beginning
/rd	Play the last directory from the beginning (depending on how it is sorted)
	Other options:
/close	Close the program after playing one track
/hide	Hide the window and enable the Systray icon
/enqueue	Enqueue the given file to the playlist view
/newinst	Starts a new instance ignoring the 'Only one instance' setting

Configuration

Settings window

The Settings dialog can be reached with the Settings button, by pressing F6 or Ctrl+S or from the Main/Favorites menu which is opened with the right mouse button in the control button area or F1.




Supported MPEG audio decoders

ACM Codec for mp3: recommended for mp3 decoding. Decodes Layer 3 only. It must be installed in the system. See under Multimedia settings / Audio Compression Codecs if you have one.

mpglib.dll: alternative decoder with good sound quality but more cpu usage. Must be in 1by1's folder or your path. Version 0.92 decodes Layer 3 and Layer 2. It is available at 1by1's homepage.




Winamp Input Plugin Support

1by1 can use Winamp 2.x input plugins for playing different file formats.

Usage: put the needed plugin DLL files (in_*.dll) into your 1by1 directory. The program scans for them at startup. The additionally supported files will be shown in the file list, too. Without plugins the program shows only mp3 and mp2. For playing mp3 it's recommended to use an ACM rather than a plugin.

The plugin support is not 100% and the several plugins behave very differently. I have tested the following plugins - some in detail, others briefly. These plugins seem to work reliably: in_wave (2.0+2.06), in_vorbis (1.2b19+1.32), in_CDReader (1.95). Even working well: in_vorbis (1.13a), in_mp3 (2.75j, 2.81b, 2.91; problems with seek on VBR files with no "TOC" in the header), in_mp3pro (1.1), in_mod (2.2.10b29), in_mad (0.14.2b, 0.15.1b; problems with seek on CBR; 24/32 bit output may work but I can't test it). At least playing a file (not further tested): in_mpp (1.7.9f), in_mod (1.3).

Plugins which don't use wave output are also supported. But note that waveout features like volume control, gapless or audio enhancer are not working with (the non-waveout mode of) these plugins. Successfully tested: in_midi (0.6), in_midi (3.01 - but slightly strange in mode "DirectMusic with output"), in_cdda (2.90a).




Audio settings

Maximum wave buffer: Maximum size of a single wave buffer. The default value is 32 KB. Enlarge it if a longer buffer time is needed, e.g. for Overlap usage or on low resources (play interruptions). You can also try to vary this value if the output is disturbed by periodical clicks.

Number of buffers: Default is 8. Increase if a longer buffer time is needed, e.g. for Overlap usage or on low resources (play interruptions). Values below 4 are not recommended.

Gapless output: This option allows continuous audio output when the program starts the next file. E.g. when using the CDReader plugin the transitions of mixed CD tracks will not be interrupted. Gapless enables the additional options Silence skip and Overlap.

Note: All gapless functions work only if the samplerate and the channel number do not change. This means: A song with 44.1 kHz and another one with 48 kHz cannot be played gapless. In such a case 1by1 will reinit play after a short freeze until the old track is finished. Gapless works only with 16 bit output. Problems: switching from ACM/mpglib played files to plugin played files in gapless mode may be faulty in some cases (especially if samplerate or stereo mode change).

Use with plugins: Means that the gapless feature will be used for plugin played files, too. In some circumstances gapless play with plugins may be faulty. So the feature can be disabled seperately for plugins.

Skip silences: If enabled parts below -55 dB will be shortened. On plugin usage silence skipping may cause play interruption in rare cases. This function also improves the Overlap feature on tracks with pauses at the beginning or the end.

Overlap: Allows mixed track transitions. Disabled by default. As the maximum mixing time depends on the total wave buffer size, you need large buffer settings, e.g. 20 buffers with a size of 64 KB. With the Threshold value you can adjust the level of the ending track from which the new track will be started and mixed over. The default value is -9 dB. Note: Overlap works only with ACM or mpglib, not with plugins. As Overlap depends on fixed wave block sizes, small gaps could occur after tracks with no end silences (e.g. mix excerpts).

Auto space: Waits the entered time (in millisecons, 1 second = 1000 ms) before starting the next track. Maximum is 10 seconds. Disables the Gapless output. Disabled by default.

Reverse balance (internal): Even 1by1 doesn't allow to adjust the balance it can store it if set somewhere else (e.g. in the Windows mixer). And some sound devices need a swapped balance. Only for these cases this option may be useful.




Built in audio enhancer and stereo wider

The DSP gets rid of tracks in different volumes. Depending on the settings and the audio material it can also drastically enhance the sound of tracks which already have full level. Note: The enhancer works only with 16 bit output (mono or stereo).

Max amp: maximum amplification (up to 20 dB = 10x)

Amp raise: time the enhancer tends towards the maximum amplification level. Faster raise will enhance more but can also cause more distortions on some input material. To keep the sound of dynamic music natural choose longer values (500 ms or more), to enhance the presence try shorter values (130...80 ms) combined with a faster 'Amp reduce' value (0.6...0.8 ms).

Amp reduce: if the maximum output level is too high the amplification will quickly be reduced with this speed. To minimize distortions it must not be too slow but even not too fast. Recommended values are from 0.6 ms to 1.0 ms.

Threshold: if enabled the enhancer tries to look ahead to reduce the amplification if the output level would pass the adjusted value. The output level is not generally limited to the threshold. It rather represents a 'headroom' to catch audible distortions if 'Amp reduce' does not react fast enough.

Input HP cutoff: if enabled the compressor uses a highpass filtered (less bass) analyze signal. This can help to reduce ugly "breathing" or "pumping" sounds of the compressor output. The result may sound more stable and fuller. On the other hand it may create bass distortions (especially on soft scenes with much deep bass). So a higher cutoff frequency may often require to lower the Threshold value.

Stereo separation: enhances the channel separation on a scale up to 50% before passing the compressor. On no extra stereo enhancement it shows "normal".




Other options (Control/Display)

High Priority: Disabled by default. Only recommended if other applications interfere with 1by1 and setting larger buffers and more buffers does not help.

Show created date: Disabled by default. If enabled the last row of the file list shows the creation date of a file instead of the date of the last modification.

Month colors: This special feature may be interesting for people who care for the date of their tracks (as me). It associates a color range to the 12 months of the year to allow a better overview of the seasons the files are dated. If the extension "Allow sort by month" is enabled you will have an additional sort option in the date row (indicated with "->M") which sorts the list at first by month and then by year.

What's new

v1.46, 2004-08-31
- File info dialogs are now independent from the current file
- Restoring playlist view if the program was closed with active list
- Playlist View equeue correction
- Finder: date range did not work in some cases
- Plugins: Favorites with start times did not work
- Tree menu: explore did not explore correctly under XP - Thanks Miles
- Several corrections and enhancements

v1.45, 2004-07-08
- Playlist View
- Enqueue command line option
- National language characters now sorting correctly - Thanks Peter
- Multiple file selection enabled (working on some operations)
- Faster sorting of loaded lists/folders, no reload
- Finder does not need a temp file anymore
- Favorites ordered by lists and files
- List Favorites do not autostart anymore
- Tree View menu extended
- Compact view extended: options for hiding status bar and title,
  always on top; position independent of full view
- Moving tracks in playlists did not work, fixed
- Silence skipper now skips only at the beginning and end of songs
- Ability to play growing files recovered
- View divider could not be moved on enabled text button style
- Several other modifications

v1.44, 2004-01-24
- Overlap stablized against possible confusion
- Silence skipping works with overlap
- Path in Cue sheets and playlists shown separately
- Independent row widths of file list, cue sheet and playlist
- List and tree correctly hidden in compact view
- Some minor enhancements and corrections

v1.43, 2004-01-05
- Track mixing feature implemented!
  ("Overlap", see Audio settings)
- File finder extended by date and size ranges
- Command line: File + /close or /hide did not work - Thanks Christopher
- Dir search buttons redrawn
- mpglib handling slightly modified
- Fixed: Repeat folder did not work properly - Thanks Lars-Ivar
- Some other corrections

v1.42, 2003-11-29
- File finder shows date and size
- File date modification feature implemented
- Special orientation feature: optional "Month colors" with opt. "sort by month"
- Auto space implemented
- Enhancer: optional highpass filter for input signal (see doc)
- Enhancer: treble shifter removed
- Enhancer: storing user settings enabled
- Favorite storing modified
- Icon re-designed
- Context menus slightly improved (app key usage, explore/edit in tree menu)
- Settings: scrollbars changed to trackbars
- Fixed: Numpad [≈] and [╫] did not work as described
- Fixed: In some cases opening the save-to-playlist dialog failed
- Fixed: Even parts of file extensions were accepted on find/playlists
- Fixed: MPEG 2.5 files had wrong calculated lengths
- Fixed: Next folder or list wasn't auto-started correctly in some cases

v1.41, 2003-11-02
- File finder implemented
- Finaly a Shuffle button in the toolbar
- File sorting improved
- Sort by extension added
- Command line option /rd did not work - Thanks Marco
- Optional oldschool text button style
- Some minor and cosmetic changes

v1.40, 2003-10-12
- Now supporting input plugins which don't use wave out, e.g. MIDI
- Minor keyboard shortcut modifications
- After renaming a file it was removed from list, fixed
- Minor changes

v1.39, 2003-09-20
- Files were locked after seeking positions and in some other cases, fixed
- Xing header reader worked only with mpeg 1 stereo, fixed
- Copy file function added to list menu
- Copy and Move remember destination
- Some minor and internal changes

v1.38, 2003-08-30
- Tab navigation in the settings window finally works now
- Now reading VBR "Xing" headers on ACM/mpglib play
  (accurate times, VBR files with header open faster)
- Faster moving tracks with Alt+Page Up/Down
- Track titles of Cue sheets shown in window title
- Accessing lists from Favorites did not work in 1.37
- No more useless times on Favorite folders/lists shown
- Some other thingz

v1.37, 2003-08-19
- Keyboard control for file list and folder tree improved,
  keys for volume and track position changed
  (see keyboard shortcut table)
- Hotkey function slightly expanded
- Settings button
- "Go home" function (Ctrl+H), returns to folder of current track
- Now reads unix-style playlists (with / instead of \)
- Some other modifications

v1.36, 2003-05-05
- Reduced disk access when playing with ACM/mpglib
- Gapless slightly improved: play continues (but with a gap)
  when samplerate or stereo mode changes
- Buttons for toggling tree and compact view added
- Button style of 'Skip' and 'Next' changed
- Compressor: fixed lookahead time is now 3.4ms (@ 44kHz)
- Fixed: Cue sheets/Playlist did not start when opened via
  command line - Thanks Horst
- Fixed: On command line open sometimes wrong folder was shown
- Fixed: Some Playlist entries beginning with special/cyrillic
  chars were still not shown
- Some keyboard shortcuts added/changed
- Minor corrections

v1.35, 2003-03-27
- Balance was full on left when program was started first time
- Reverse balance option added and saving volume for seperate
  channels enabled (1by1 has no own balance controller,
  but if changed from other appz)
- VU meter: enhanced bar for mono did not work
- Next, Move and Skip now disabled if auto reload used
  (because they make no sense then)
- Compressor: longer fixed lookahead time (2.3ms @ 44kHz)
  for less percussive distortions
- Option: show created instead of modified date
- Favorites: Add option now in file menu
- Favorites: 'Add list' option (for folders, Cue sheets, playlists)

v1.34, 2003-02-26
- Program recognizes volume changes from other appz
- VU Meter improved (better synchronized)
- Extended file list style: fullrow select and opt. gridlines
- Option for auto reloading file list
- File menu: Explorer option
- File menu: New info dialog with ID3v1 tag
- Playlists: save function creates relative paths
- Playlists: Files with some special or cyrillic characters
  where not shown - Thanks Anton
- Some more improvements

v1.33, 2003-01-19
- Optional Systray icon with menu
- Starting maximized or minimized via link possible
- Option "Quit after current track" or /close from command line
- Command line option /hide hides window and activates Systray icon
- Enhancer: Adjustable "Threshold" replaced checkbox
  "Reduce distortions" (for old "checkbox value" set to -0.5 dB)
- Enhancer: Combobox for presets
- About: buttons to call manual and homepage

Frequently asked questions