Webuser Forums: Want to try out a Better Media player

Did you know that there is a semi hidden CD player on Some computers?
And It has better Performance Audiowise than either Windows Media Player or RealPlayer. Not tried Winamp because of Spyware issues

There are several clues as to its Presence First, have you got no soundcard fitted, and you have got Quality Sound without the need to fit a sound card?
If the answer is yes, you have a dedicated Sound chip fitted and Nearly every maker on current Motherboards Fits the Realtek AC'97 Audio chip & program (32MB unzipped) off the Sound driver Disk

Next...Open up the Start Menu and see if there is anything labelled Realtek Sound Manager

Its Principal function is to sense which audio Plugs Go in which sockets and Set up the Speaker System as regards environment (Very simple to use) Good if you have a Multi Speaker System to set up

I have a Hi-end ASUS Motherboard with 5 possible sockets for Sound and 1 for a Microphone and does get confusing with the similar colour codes and the graphics on the Backplate are hard to read even in good light! But I think even a Person without a wiring Diagram or colour vision problems can wire this up in
a few minutes

Has a Microphone test Facility With a surprise setting (See "Key" Slider later in this Topic)

Now the Realtek Media Player. It does not appear on the Program access/Default list
Return to the Realtek Sound Manager entry on the Start Menu click on it and its submenu has only 1 Item
Has a Dark Blue stylised "X" and the Word AvRack Click on it...
A Grey WinAmp Type Audio Player Appears...with NO ads or Channels can be changed to a "Classic" Blue box skin if you prefer
There are No hidden advance setting Menus Just hover your mouse ponter over an Icon to reveal what its function is
Now the Features (Do Play around with them Idiot proof)
You will have spotted the Equaliser in the Right "Oval" This is a Full range 10 band Version and It is very good

All the other Media Players Give you a 3 or 5 Band Version at most ,and its a Pay upgrade to a 5 or 7 band Version Wow!

All the Satellite "Ovals" can be closed on the Middle Oval via clicking on the Squared Buttons marked R,P and E (they turn red when closed) R= Recorder,P= Playlist, E- Equaliser
Now the Play controls are Basic.Can figure them out in a few seconds
Next up Pop a Music CD in and start it playing. The Play list will show the Track numbers (No titles)
The Volume Slider can be set Now and Whats the other Slider With "Key" purpose ? Try it... click on the "0" and "=" buttons to move the setting ...Regular Kenny Everett?
And theres more...move to the Right above the R,P,E boxes and try the 2 icons there. The rightmost Square icon goes back to the Envionment Controls Have fun(I find setting it to "Living Room" is the best setting for normal use) Though there are a lot of choices on the List
As to the other Icon Its a Real good effect Not spoiling it for You (again very professional)
The Track list can be scrolled by pulling the white dot along the track backwards from the 6 o'clock position (turns Blue when dragging it )

Oh 2 last items ...
To "close" the program the button is located on the left of the middle oval The button below it is the "Minimise" button (both are coloured Black) The "x" button is the Close button
And, to bring up the Input source selection sliders (from Windows Volume Control) click on the far left "cable" avatar in the Recorder "Oval"

Not got it and missing out on the Fun or cannot see it Well Look what I found Here is the Entire Program for Download and its Freeware!

(11.6 MB) Unknown if the Plug sensor is included?
www.techspot.com/downloads/76-realtek-media-player-rtlrack.html
see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realtek_Media_Player (Has a Clear screenshot)
Note I Imagine this will work with all setups(Cards too?)

Ps Is NOT listed on the FileHippo site. Only on the Link above and Realteks site.

Tell us what you think of it?

Edited by Hello_There (Sun Apr 13 2008 07:03 AM)