Rockbox committed: A-B recording; "horizontal scrolling" patch

[Mike]

Just committed:

AB-repeat mode for software codecs. Accessible through menu as a repeat mode, with buttom mappings much like those on other rockbox targets for now.

Horizontal scrolling patch

Know the button operation for the A-B feature, and what the horizontal scrolling patch does?

[the_winch]

The horizontal scrolling patch allows you to scroll from side to side in the file list. Use play+left to scroll left and play+right to scroll right.

I think that the A-B feature doesn't yet have buttons assigned on iriver so you can't use it but I might be wrong.

[Mike]

iRiver's A-B looping function is now back, with the latest Rockbox bleeding edge build! This allows one to play a section of a file repeatedly, until the looping is cancelled.



OK, you study-ers of language and music, get back to work--there is no excuse now!

To use the feature:

1. Go to the Rockbox Quickscreen, and set the repeat mode to A-B.

2. To set the "A" point, while a file is playing, press ON/Pause and move the play joystick to the left, at the same time. (Note that the player refrains from pausing, if you somewhat coordinate your simulataneous button pressing.)
To set the "B" point, next press ON/Pause and move the play joystick to the right, again at the same time.

And the loop begins!

3. To clear the set-points, press ON/Pause and click the play joystick.

As you will see, there is a very nice and clear image on the status bar as to the looping--an unexpected and nice surprise.

Now, the "bad" news: with this set, you won't be able to advance forward or back between folders, using the ON/pause + play left/right combination. However, the good news is, who really cares: you still can switch between folders using the much better (IMHO) short press left/right + long press left/right joystick combination.

The only thing I would have preferred would have been a simpler key sequence for the setting of the "A" and "B" positions, such as the use of the record button alone (similar to iRiver's simple use of the A-B button). But this is new, and perhaps if others find, as do I, that the current key combination is a bit ponderous (definitely 2 hands are needed), it might be able to change that, if the technology allows, including when key assignments on the iRiver players are re-thought. (The Rockbox devs had wanted key assignment feedback earlier--here is some.)

A nice device. As far as I can tell, now, the only feature that iRiver has that Rockbox doesn't is FF and REW with sound (which I truly think is needed--otherwise, it's like rewinding a videotape to find your place without seeing the picture; at least, it should be an option).

Thanks again, devs!

[schwab002]

cool, i'm glad the feature is back.

and i was almost got mad that they removed the folder skip by pressing play + left/right function that i use fairly often...until i realized it's only removed when youre in A-B mode.

good work devs!

[Alec]

Ok, I'm a goose, but could someone elaborate on the 'forlder skip by play+left/right' bizzo?

And am I missing something, or is Rockbox also missing a Study feature (being able to jump forward/back in a track by a predefined time span) like the original FW has?

[Sando]

Originally Posted by Alec

Ok, I'm a goose, but could someone elaborate on the 'forlder skip by play+left/right' bizzo?

Both play+left/right and left/right+hold left/right skips to the previous/next directory. When A-B repeat is enabled, the play+left/right keybind is replaced with the A set/B set functions, leaving you with only the left+hold left combo to skip directories with.

[Mike]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it looks like, if you set the A-B Repeat option to on, even if the A and B points aren't set, you can't use FF or REW to move between songs and the same song just keeps on repeating.



If that's the case, it's a severe limitation, as it makes the looping function one that can't be used on the spur-of-the-moment when listening to music or text.

Wish the unused REC button just had been used instead, as was an option--a simple and elegant solution for the iRiver players, it would seem.

Or am I missing something?

[Mus]

I agree. Nice to see the feature is possible but it's completely impossible to use when driving.

[Mike]

Good to hear I'm not alone. There seems to be antipathy to this, including even though the record button is not otherwise being used (and could be used this way even with the addition of record functions).

[Mus]

Yes, I'd fight a hundred giants for this feature.

Seriously, as a songwriter I loop sections of backing music to work on lyrics all the time, but ONLY in the car. Seems odd to implement it this way. Why not add a third button press to be used with the big toe?

Ha!

I do appreciate the devs efforts on a truly great alternative firmware though.

[Mike]

I think the idea was, this is a little-used feature, so don't devote a button to it. But, the button is there ...