Make my own music

byteful · 05-11-2010, 02:23 AM

How do I, or even can I make MP3 files into the type that MA3 uses???? I like the music file that comes with the screensaver "stock" but would like to either add to it or replace it on occation.

Thanks
RW

feldon34 · 05-11-2010, 05:52 AM

My understanding is, Marine Aquarium 3 will play back any standard mp3 file. Is this not what you are experiencing?

Dale · 05-11-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by byteful:

How do I, or even can I make MP3 files into the type that MA3 uses???? I like the music file that comes with the screensaver "stock" but would like to either add to it or replace it on occation.

Thanks
RW

Perhaps you are assuming that it must be a ".sgt" file like CanonGuitar.sgt

Try adding your own .mp3 (or other) music files, in the Music Playlist.

Oh, use the latest "Beta" version (11f at this time) available here, or you may be confused with how to add the music.

Let us know how that works.

byteful · 05-11-2010, 08:44 PM

Thanks Yall. Will check it out and let ya know how it goes.

Pepper · 06-01-2010, 10:04 AM

I am running a Windows 7 pc, 64 bit, 4 Gb RAM, 1680 x 1050 display, and my MA3 version 3 will not let me use an MP3 music file. I like the guitar music, but I'd like to vary it if possible with my own MP3s. I right click on the desktop, select Personalize, select Preview for my MA3. While the Aquarium is running I press spaebar to call up the Controls, I then select Music, browse to my MP3, but if I select it, it does not play, and if I go back into the Aquarium Controls I see that my music file is no longer there.

Please advise - I hope you can help me resolve this or tell me what I'm doing wrong

feldon34 · 06-01-2010, 12:38 PM

Pepper,

Welcome to the forums.

Where did you get this mp3 file, or if you created it, what program did you use?

Dale · 06-01-2010, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by feldon34:

Pepper,

Welcome to the forums.

Where did you get this mp3 file, or if you created it, what program did you use?

Morgan, the problem is almost certainly not with the mp3 file.

See the very bottom of page 1 of https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=5164

Pepper, thanks for describing precisely what you were doing. The bug is present in earlier versions of MA3 (like version 10d) - and only appears if you access this way:

"right click on the desktop, select Personalize, select Preview for my MA3. While the Aquarium is running I press spaebar to call up the Controls, I then select Music,"...

One solution is to run MA3 by clicking on the desktop icon (if you have one), or just let it start as a screensaver. Then press the spacebar, etc....

I think the bug has been fixed in the latest Beta, although I didn't test it in 11i. If you would like to try that, see https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=4385

Be sure to follow the directions for where to put the files, etc. etc.

Oh, and please come back and let us know if that works.

JohnWho · 06-01-2010, 02:36 PM

Also, after you "select" an MP3, and it shows in the list,

make sure you exit that screen by using the "OK" button.

"Cancel" pretty much ignores any changes or additions you've made.

Pepper · 06-02-2010, 08:29 AM

Many thanks for your help with this problem.

I first made myself a desktop icon, then I followed that through to Marine Aquarium, where I clicked the SpaceBar, music, and added my MP3. It now works fine, but strangely the music only seems to stay put as my chosen song if I click Cancel - if I click OK the music reverts to the guitar. Could the buttons be inverted somehow?

Incidentally, the MP3 was originally an m4a song which I bought from Itunes and converted to MP3 with All Music Converter 4.0.2 I hope this is acceptable and allowed

Dale · 06-02-2010, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by Pepper:

Many thanks for your help with this problem.

I first made myself a desktop icon, then I followed that through to Marine Aquarium, where I clicked the SpaceBar, music, and added my MP3. It now works fine, but strangely the music only seems to stay put as my chosen song if I click Cancel - if I click OK the music reverts to the guitar. Could the buttons be inverted somehow?

What version are you using? (Start MA3 using the desktop icon, and then press the "S" key while MA3 is running).

Pepper · 06-02-2010, 10:30 AM

I started MA3 using desktop icon, pressed s and got #0 Beta 10D

Is there a later version?

I also found that the song I wanted was no longer staying selected - the Aquarium was reverting back to the guitar. I seem to have fixed that by removing guitar from the list in music. I hope I will be able to put it back when I want to use it again

Jim Sachs · 06-02-2010, 11:05 AM

You can download version 11i, which fixes this problem. The full installer version is not available yet, but you can simply replace the exiting file with the new one. More info here: https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=4385

Dale · 06-02-2010, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by Pepper:

I also found that the song I wanted was no longer staying selected - the Aquarium was reverting back to the guitar. I seem to have fixed that by removing guitar from the list in music. I hope I will be able to put it back when I want to use it again

All of the songs that are in the list will play. I think in version 10d, they just play in order. But in the latest version (11i), there is a checkbox to make them play randomly.

The only way to get a song to not play, is to remove it from the list. If you want to get the CanonGuitar.sgt song back (after removing it), ask in this forum for instructions - it's not obvious.

(JohnWho - consider putting instructions in the readme).

feldon34 · 06-02-2010, 01:18 PM

Jim,

It seems a lot of users are running Beta 10D and don't realize there's a later version. Didn't you put an expiration date?

Jim Sachs · 06-02-2010, 01:25 PM

No, 10d is still the official version on SereneScreen.com.

JohnWho · 06-02-2010, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by Dale:

The only way to get a song to not play, is to remove it from the list. If you want to get the CanonGuitar.sgt song back (after removing it), ask in this forum for instructions - it's not obvious.

(JohnWho - consider putting instructions in the readme).

Good idea.

Could you point me toward the steps, or add it to the help me with the Readme thread?

I will check the final beta to see what happens when there are not files in the list and "music on" is selected, too, and add an appropriate note in the readme.

Dale · 06-02-2010, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by feldon34:

Jim,

It seems a lot of users are running Beta 10D and don't realize there's a later version. Didn't you put an expiration date?

This suggests that perhaps there should be a way to (at least) tell whether someone is running Beta or "Production". I absolutely agree with your point, and I think you just made an excellent suggestion.

Beta 10d expired almost a year ago.
Installer 10d doesn't expire, but has had several builds.

After 11x and 12y and 13z come out, it's going to be really complicated for technical support.

A partial discussion (which you commented had no point to it) is at:

https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=5198

And you also know that people who purchased and installed 10d (or previous versions, for that matter) will not be automatically notified when there is a new "installer" version.

Ralph · 06-02-2010, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by Dale:

This suggests that perhaps there should be a way to (at least) tell whether someone is running Beta or "Production".

There already is. A beta displays the stats by default and will expire; a production version does not display the stats by default..... except for a few recent betas that Jim posted. (and those have expired)

JohnWho · 06-02-2010, 08:12 PM

In any case, doesn't the information show in the Statistics display?

The installer version of "beta 10d" shows that, doesn't it?

Ralph · 06-02-2010, 08:20 PM

That... goes back to the naming convention.. that Jim said he would change with the next stable production. Up to now.... ALL versions were labeled as BETA (which evidently bothered a lot of people) but PRODUCTION versions had the statistics off by default and do not expire...

05-11-2010, 02:23 AM	#1
byteful Registered Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Make my own music How do I, or even can I make MP3 files into the type that MA3 uses???? I like the music file that comes with the screensaver "stock" but would like to either add to it or replace it on occation. Thanks RW

05-11-2010, 05:52 AM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	My understanding is, Marine Aquarium 3 will play back any standard mp3 file. Is this not what you are experiencing? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

06-01-2010, 10:04 AM	#5
Pepper Registered Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	I can't get MP3 to play in MA3 I am running a Windows 7 pc, 64 bit, 4 Gb RAM, 1680 x 1050 display, and my MA3 version 3 will not let me use an MP3 music file. I like the guitar music, but I'd like to vary it if possible with my own MP3s. I right click on the desktop, select Personalize, select Preview for my MA3. While the Aquarium is running I press spaebar to call up the Controls, I then select Music, browse to my MP3, but if I select it, it does not play, and if I go back into the Aquarium Controls I see that my music file is no longer there. Please advise - I hope you can help me resolve this or tell me what I'm doing wrong

06-01-2010, 12:38 PM	#6
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Pepper, Welcome to the forums. Where did you get this mp3 file, or if you created it, what program did you use? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

06-01-2010, 02:36 PM	#8
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	Also, after you "select" an MP3, and it shows in the list, make sure you exit that screen by using the "OK" button. "Cancel" pretty much ignores any changes or additions you've made. I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

05-11-2010, 07:45 AM	#3
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by byteful: How do I, or even can I make MP3 files into the type that MA3 uses???? I like the music file that comes with the screensaver "stock" but would like to either add to it or replace it on occation. Thanks RW Perhaps you are assuming that it must be a ".sgt" file like CanonGuitar.sgt Try adding your own .mp3 (or other) music files, in the Music Playlist. Oh, use the latest "Beta" version (11f at this time) available here, or you may be confused with how to add the music. Let us know how that works.

05-11-2010, 08:44 PM	#4
byteful Registered Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks Yall. Will check it out and let ya know how it goes.

06-01-2010, 02:35 PM	#7
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by feldon34: Pepper, Welcome to the forums. Where did you get this mp3 file, or if you created it, what program did you use? Morgan, the problem is almost certainly not with the mp3 file. See the very bottom of page 1 of https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=5164 Pepper, thanks for describing precisely what you were doing. The bug is present in earlier versions of MA3 (like version 10d) - and only appears if you access this way: "right click on the desktop, select Personalize, select Preview for my MA3. While the Aquarium is running I press spaebar to call up the Controls, I then select Music,"... One solution is to run MA3 by clicking on the desktop icon (if you have one), or just let it start as a screensaver. Then press the spacebar, etc.... I think the bug has been fixed in the latest Beta, although I didn't test it in 11i. If you would like to try that, see https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=4385 Be sure to follow the directions for where to put the files, etc. etc. Oh, and please come back and let us know if that works.

06-02-2010, 08:29 AM	#9
Pepper Registered Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	Many thanks, but maybe a new question? Many thanks for your help with this problem. I first made myself a desktop icon, then I followed that through to Marine Aquarium, where I clicked the SpaceBar, music, and added my MP3. It now works fine, but strangely the music only seems to stay put as my chosen song if I click Cancel - if I click OK the music reverts to the guitar. Could the buttons be inverted somehow? Incidentally, the MP3 was originally an m4a song which I bought from Itunes and converted to MP3 with All Music Converter 4.0.2 I hope this is acceptable and allowed

06-02-2010, 09:52 AM	#10
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by Pepper: Many thanks for your help with this problem. I first made myself a desktop icon, then I followed that through to Marine Aquarium, where I clicked the SpaceBar, music, and added my MP3. It now works fine, but strangely the music only seems to stay put as my chosen song if I click Cancel - if I click OK the music reverts to the guitar. Could the buttons be inverted somehow? What version are you using? (Start MA3 using the desktop icon, and then press the "S" key while MA3 is running).

06-02-2010, 10:30 AM	#11
Pepper Registered Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3	more details I started MA3 using desktop icon, pressed s and got #0 Beta 10D Is there a later version? I also found that the song I wanted was no longer staying selected - the Aquarium was reverting back to the guitar. I seem to have fixed that by removing guitar from the list in music. I hope I will be able to put it back when I want to use it again

06-02-2010, 11:05 AM	#12
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	You can download version 11i, which fixes this problem. The full installer version is not available yet, but you can simply replace the exiting file with the new one. More info here: https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=4385 Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

06-02-2010, 11:28 AM	#13
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by Pepper: I also found that the song I wanted was no longer staying selected - the Aquarium was reverting back to the guitar. I seem to have fixed that by removing guitar from the list in music. I hope I will be able to put it back when I want to use it again All of the songs that are in the list will play. I think in version 10d, they just play in order. But in the latest version (11i), there is a checkbox to make them play randomly. The only way to get a song to not play, is to remove it from the list. If you want to get the CanonGuitar.sgt song back (after removing it), ask in this forum for instructions - it's not obvious. (JohnWho - consider putting instructions in the readme).

06-02-2010, 01:18 PM	#14
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Jim, It seems a lot of users are running Beta 10D and don't realize there's a later version. Didn't you put an expiration date? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

06-02-2010, 01:25 PM	#15
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	No, 10d is still the official version on SereneScreen.com. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

06-02-2010, 01:52 PM	#16
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	Originally posted by Dale: The only way to get a song to not play, is to remove it from the list. If you want to get the CanonGuitar.sgt song back (after removing it), ask in this forum for instructions - it's not obvious. (JohnWho - consider putting instructions in the readme). Good idea. Could you point me toward the steps, or add it to the help me with the Readme thread? I will check the final beta to see what happens when there are not files in the list and "music on" is selected, too, and add an appropriate note in the readme. I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

06-02-2010, 02:55 PM	#17
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by feldon34: Jim, It seems a lot of users are running Beta 10D and don't realize there's a later version. Didn't you put an expiration date? This suggests that perhaps there should be a way to (at least) tell whether someone is running Beta or "Production". I absolutely agree with your point, and I think you just made an excellent suggestion. Beta 10d expired almost a year ago. Installer 10d doesn't expire, but has had several builds. After 11x and 12y and 13z come out, it's going to be really complicated for technical support. A partial discussion (which you commented had no point to it) is at: https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...ead.php?t=5198 And you also know that people who purchased and installed 10d (or previous versions, for that matter) will not be automatically notified when there is a new "installer" version.

06-02-2010, 07:58 PM	#18
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	Originally posted by Dale: This suggests that perhaps there should be a way to (at least) tell whether someone is running Beta or "Production". There already is. A beta displays the stats by default and will expire; a production version does not display the stats by default..... except for a few recent betas that Jim posted. (and those have expired)

06-02-2010, 08:12 PM	#19
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	In any case, doesn't the information show in the Statistics display? The installer version of "beta 10d" shows that, doesn't it? I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

06-02-2010, 08:20 PM	#20
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	That... goes back to the naming convention.. that Jim said he would change with the next stable production. Up to now.... ALL versions were labeled as BETA (which evidently bothered a lot of people) but PRODUCTION versions had the statistics off by default and do not expire...