Lesson 20 : Creating an Audio Player

In the previous lesson, we have learned how to program a CD player. Now, by making some modifications, you can transform the CD player into an audio player. This player is created in such a way that it can search for sound files in your drives and play them.

In this project, you need to insert a ComboBox, a DriveListBox, a DirListBox, a TextBox and a FileListBox into your form. We Shall briefly examine the function of each of the above controls. Besides, you must also insert Microsoft Multimedia Control(MMControl) into your form , you may make it visible or invisible. In my program, I choose to make it invisible so that I can use the command buttons created to control the player.

• ComboBox- to display and enable selection of different type of files.
• DriveListBox- to allow selection selection of different drives available on your PC.
• DirListBox - To display directories
• TextBox - To display selected files
• FileListBox- To display files that are available

Relevant code must be written to coordinate all the above controls so that the application can work properly. The program should follow in the following logical way:

Step 1: User chooses the type of files he wants to play.

Step2:User selects the drive that might contains the relevant audio files.

Step 3:User looks into directories and subdirectories for the files specified in step1. The files should be displayed in the  FileListBox.

Step 4:  User selects the files from the FileListBox and click the Play button.

Step 5: User clicks on the Stop button to stop playing and Exit button to end the application.

Figure 20.1: The Audio Player

The Code

Private Sub Combo1_Change()
' to determine file type
If ListIndex = 0 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.wav")
ElseIf ListIndex = 1 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.mid")
Else
Fiel1.Pattern = (";*.*")
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Dir1_Change()
'To change directories and subdirectories
File1.Path = Dir1.Path
If Combo1.ListIndex = 0 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.wav")
ElseIf Combo1.ListIndex = 1 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.mid")
Else
File1.Pattern = ("*.*")
End If
End Sub

Private Sub play_Click()
'To play WaveAudio file or Midi File
If Combo1.ListIndex = 0 Then
AudioPlayer.DeviceType ="WaveAudio"
ElseIf Combo1.ListIndex = 1 Then
AudioPlayer.DeviceType ="Sequencer"
End If
AudioPlayer.FileName = Text1.Text
AudioPlayer.Command = "Open"
AudioPlayer.Command = "Play"
End Sub

Private Sub stop_Click()
If AudioPlayer.Mode = 524 Then
 Exit Sub
 If AudioPlayer.Mode <>525 Then
 AudioPlayer.Wait = True
 AudioPlayer.Command = "Stop"
 End If
 AudioPlayer.Wait = True
 AudioPlayer.Command = "Close"
 End Sub

Private Sub Drive1_Change()
'To change drives
Dir1.Path = Drive1.Drive
End Sub

Private Sub File1_Click()
If Combo1.ListIndex = 0 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.wav")
ElseIf Combo1.ListIndex = 1 Then
File1.Pattern = ("*.mid")
Else
File1.Pattern = ("*.*")
End If
If Right(File1.Path, 1)<>"\" Then
filenam = File1.Path + "\" + File1.FileName
Else
filenam = File1.Path + File1.FileName
End If
Text1.Text = filenam
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
'To center the Audioplayer startup page
Left = (Screen.Width - Width) \ 2
Top = (Screen.Height - Height) \ 2
Combo1.Text = "*.wav"
Combo1.AddItem "*.wav"
Combo1.AddItem "*.mid"
Combo1.AddItem "All files"
End Sub