My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary 'features'?
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary 'features'?
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'. The convention of hitting
the Stop bar doesn't work. There is no easy way of deleting tracks
because the program copies the files into its memory before playing
them. (They can be deleted if you are prepared to go through multiple
key presses and sacrifice a chicken at midnight.)
On 29 Mar 2026 at 19:42:57 BST, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as
possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary
'features'?
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'. The convention of hitting
the Stop bar doesn't work. There is no easy way of deleting tracks
because the program copies the files into its memory before playing
them. (They can be deleted if you are prepared to go through multiple
key presses and sacrifice a chicken at midnight.)
I've been using IINA for quite a while:
https://iina.io
Not much to say - does me.
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary 'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files -
onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's
ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary 'features'?
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'. The convention of hitting
the Stop bar doesn't work. There is no easy way of deleting tracks
because the program copies the files into its memory before playing
them. (They can be deleted if you are prepared to go through multiple
key presses and sacrifice a chicken at midnight.)
The good old Quicktime Player is still there too, that is about as
simple as it gets. Although there's no stop button, it does work with Spacebar to paus/play, and a simple Command-W closes the window.
For both of those, you could use your own folder storage system.
...Music is most likely the wrong app for your needs or
preferences anyway.
I don't want any kind of playlist or storage; it isn't for pleasure listening, it is for auditioning individual sound files (usually on a
MicroSD card in AIFF) to check for quality before they are sent to a customer.
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'.
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[...]
The good old Quicktime Player is still there too, that is about as
simple as it gets. Although there's no stop button, it does work with
Spacebar to paus/play, and a simple Command-W closes the window.
That sounds like what I need, I have discovered it is in Applications
(didn't spot it earlier).
For both of those, you could use your own folder storage system.
I don't want any kind of playlist or storage; it isn't for pleasure listening, it is for auditioning individual sound files (usually on a
MicroSD card in AIFF) to check for quality before they are sent to a customer.
...Music is most likely the wrong app for your needs or
preferences anyway.
Absolutely !
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary 'features'?
On 30 Mar 2026 at 1:21:49rC>pm BST, "Liz Tuddenham" <Liz Tuddenham> wrote:
I don't want any kind of playlist or storage; it isn't for pleasure listening, it is for auditioning individual sound files (usually on a MicroSD card in AIFF) to check for quality before they are sent to a customer.
Audacity?
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'.
In the context of a digital music player, what would you expect Stop to
do that Pause doesn't?
Calum <com.gmail@nospam.scottishwildcat> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'.
In the context of a digital music player, what would you expect Stop to
do that Pause doesn't?
Stop the track and return to the beginning.
Pause (which is what the space bar conventionally does) stops the
playing but keeps note of where it is - then a second press continues
from that point.
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue.[snip]
Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move
the arm off the record ;-).
In message <10qdkl3$2c6e5$1@dont-email.me>
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[snip]
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue.[snip]
Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move
the arm off the record ;-).
A Dansette will sort that for you:-)
(Well, if people are willing to go for cassettes...)
Frederick <fred@ypical.demon.invalid> wrote:
In message <10qdkl3$2c6e5$1@dont-email.me>
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[snip]
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue.[snip]
Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move
the arm off the record ;-).
A Dansette will sort that for you:-)
(Well, if people are willing to go for cassettes...)
Ooh no, IrCOve seen too many tangles of cassette tape to go back to that, and spent too long twiddling pencils in the reels ;-).
My TT doesnrCOt even auto return, itrCOs a fully manual SL-1800 - which in hindsight appears to be a sensible choice when buying vintage stuff (so
much less to maintain).
Andy H <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
Frederick <fred@ypical.demon.invalid> wrote:
In message <10qdkl3$2c6e5$1@dont-email.me>
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[snip]
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue.[snip]
Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move >>>> the arm off the record ;-).
A Dansette will sort that for you:-)
(Well, if people are willing to go for cassettes...)
Ooh no, I|ore4raove seen too many tangles of cassette tape to go back to that, and
spent too long twiddling pencils in the reels ;-).
Wait until you have seen the snarl-up that occurs when a wire recording tangles during rewind at about 10 feet per second. It can take days to untangle.
My TT doesn|ore4raot even auto return, it|ore4raos a fully manual SL-1800 - which in
hindsight appears to be a sensible choice when buying vintage stuff (so
much less to maintain).
My latest one is a parallel-tracker and contains an analogue computer
for de-clicking and de-crackling 78s..
http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Turntables/parallel-tracker.htm
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't >>> had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as
possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary
'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files -
onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's
ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
I found that if you try to select one track from the window by single-clicking on it, it just opens that track. You have to draw a box around it to select it for deletion. This goes completely against all
the Apple conventions.
On 30/03/2026 10:11, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't >>> had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of >>> cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as >>> possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary >>> 'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files - >> onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's
ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
I found that if you try to select one track from the window by single-clicking on it, it just opens that track. You have to draw a box around it to select it for deletion. This goes completely against all
the Apple conventions.
From the Playlist window?
Right click, Delete works here.
On 30/03/2026 22:03, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Andy H <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
Frederick <fred@ypical.demon.invalid> wrote:
In message <10qdkl3$2c6e5$1@dont-email.me>
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[snip]
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue.[snip]
Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move >>>> the arm off the record ;-).
A Dansette will sort that for you:-)
(Well, if people are willing to go for cassettes...)
Ooh no, I|ore4raove seen too many tangles of cassette tape to go back
to that, and spent too long twiddling pencils in the reels ;-).
Wait until you have seen the snarl-up that occurs when a wire recording tangles during rewind at about 10 feet per second. It can take days to untangle.
Not something I have seen for sure. Although a tangled tape was often
ruined at the same time too.
My TT doesn|ore4raot even auto return, it|ore4raos a fully manual
SL-1800 - which in hindsight appears to be a sensible choice when
buying vintage stuff (so much less to maintain).
My latest one is a parallel-tracker and contains an analogue computer
for de-clicking and de-crackling 78s..
http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Turntables/parallel-tracker.htm
That's nice, I love seeing old tech like that.
Never been sure about
going with a linear tracker
...(it appears to be a similar mechanism -
different terminology for the same thing?) now though, I suspect any
repairs or maintenance could be tricky and expensive.
I recently found a replacement spindle thrust bearing for mine, it's
taken a couple of years of hunting, and I managed to obtain what I think might be the last one there is for mine (a Mk1, only made in 1977-78 and
the bearing housing is different to all the later ones that followed).
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 30/03/2026 10:11, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't >> >>> had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of >> >>> cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as >> >>> possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary >> >>> 'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files - >> >> onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's >> >> ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
I found that if you try to select one track from the window by
single-clicking on it, it just opens that track. You have to draw a box >> > around it to select it for deletion. This goes completely against all
the Apple conventions.
From the Playlist window?
Right click, Delete works here.
How does a one-button mouse right-click?
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as >possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary >'features'?
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'. The convention of hitting
the Stop bar doesn't work. There is no easy way of deleting tracks
because the program copies the files into its memory before playing
them. (They can be deleted if you are prepared to go through multiple
key presses and sacrifice a chicken at midnight.)
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't >> > had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of
cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as
possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary
'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files -
onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's
ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
I found that if you try to select one track from the window by >single-clicking on it, it just opens that track. You have to draw a box >around it to select it for deletion. This goes completely against all
the Apple conventions.
On 2026-03-31, Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 30/03/2026 10:11, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
On 29/03/2026 19:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't
had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of >>> >>> cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as >>> >>> possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary >>> >>> 'features'?
vlc <https://www.videolan.org/vlc/>
Just drag and drop sound files - or a directory containing sound files - >>> >> onto the window and it plays them.
Select all and delete to remove the track list from the Window and it's >>> >> ready to go again. The files on disc are untouched.
I found that if you try to select one track from the window by
single-clicking on it, it just opens that track. You have to draw a box >>> > around it to select it for deletion. This goes completely against all >>> > the Apple conventions.
From the Playlist window?
Right click, Delete works here.
How does a one-button mouse right-click?
Control + Click,i.e. Hold down the control key and click at the same time.
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
On 30/03/2026 22:03, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Andy H <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
Frederick <fred@ypical.demon.invalid> wrote:
In message <10qdkl3$2c6e5$1@dont-email.me>
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[snip]
When I really want to listen, it's good old turntable and analogue. >>>>>> Space bar doesn't work there either, I have to actually get up and move >>>>>> the arm off the record ;-).[snip]
A Dansette will sort that for you:-)
(Well, if people are willing to go for cassettes...)
Ooh no, I|a-o|o-e-4|o-a-ove seen too many tangles of cassette tape to go back
to that, and spent too long twiddling pencils in the reels ;-).
Wait until you have seen the snarl-up that occurs when a wire recording
tangles during rewind at about 10 feet per second. It can take days to
untangle.
Not something I have seen for sure. Although a tangled tape was often
ruined at the same time too.
Acetate tape was preferred by broadcasters because it snapped cleanly
and could be re-joined without much effect on the sound. Polyester tape
was stronger but it 'bootlaced' when pulled and the sound could not be recovered.
My TT doesn|a-o|o-e-4|o-a-ot even auto return, it|a-o|o-e-4|o-a-os a fully manual
SL-1800 - which in hindsight appears to be a sensible choice when
buying vintage stuff (so much less to maintain).
My latest one is a parallel-tracker and contains an analogue computer
for de-clicking and de-crackling 78s..
http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Turntables/parallel-tracker.htm
That's nice, I love seeing old tech like that.
It's actually less than 2 years old but solidly built in the older way.
Never been sure about
going with a linear tracker
I took some convincing that the results would be worthwhile but Pete
Thomas (when he worked at the BBC's Engineering Department) was very insistent that I should try it; I have never regretted it. At first I
didn't notice much difference but then I realalised that it was showing
up all sorts of other faults in my replay chain. As these were put
right, the benefits of the parallel tracker became more and more
apparent.
...(it appears to be a similar mechanism -
different terminology for the same thing?) now though, I suspect any
repairs or maintenance could be tricky and expensive.
As I made that one myself, I can make any spares if they are needed.
Parallel (or linear) tracking is essential for the analogue computer to
work. The computer compares the sound on the two walls of the groove ,
any difference between them indicates surface noise. The two contact
points of the stylus on the two groove walls must be in exact alignment, otherwise there will be a time difference between the two channels and
the computer will interpret this as unwanted noise. The changing angle
of a swinging arm generates far too much 'azimuth' error.
I recently found a replacement spindle thrust bearing for mine, it's
taken a couple of years of hunting, and I managed to obtain what I think
might be the last one there is for mine (a Mk1, only made in 1977-78 and
the bearing housing is different to all the later ones that followed).
That's always a problem with commercial gear.
Andrew Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
[...]
The good old Quicktime Player is still there too, that is about as
simple as it gets. Although there's no stop button, it does work with
Spacebar to paus/play, and a simple Command-W closes the window.
That sounds like what I need, I have discovered it is in Applications
(didn't spot it earlier).
For both of those, you could use your own folder storage system.
I don't want any kind of playlist or storage; it isn't for pleasure >listening, it is for auditioning individual sound files (usually on a
MicroSD card in AIFF) to check for quality before they are sent to a >customer.
...Music is most likely the wrong app for your needs or
preferences anyway.
Absolutely !
How does a one-button mouse right-click?
Control + Click,i.e. Hold down the control key and click at the same time.
So it becomes a *two*-button mousey?
Cool. :)
On Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:42:57 +0100, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid
(Liz Tuddenham) wrote:
My Mac Mini came pre-loaded with "Music" 1.0.6.10; until today I haven't >>had any reason to use it. I've now discovered it is a steaming pile of >>cr@p * which is driving me mad and I would like to delete it as soon as >>possible. Can anyone recommend a program (like SoundApp) that just
plays .wav or .aiff files with no fancy playlists or other unnecessary >>'features'?
* There is no 'stop' button, only 'pause'. The convention of hitting
the Stop bar doesn't work. There is no easy way of deleting tracks
because the program copies the files into its memory before playing
them. (They can be deleted if you are prepared to go through multiple
key presses and sacrifice a chicken at midnight.)
https://www.startpage.com/do/dsearch?q=music+software+mac&cat=web&language=english
found me loads of alternatives, none of which I'm willing to try just
to be helpful. I'm too old and tired and retired.
I hope this helps,--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
J.
http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/other/Turntables/parallel-tracker.htm
That's nice, I love seeing old tech like that.
It's actually less than 2 years old but solidly built in the older way.
Wow, really, IrCOm impressed with that. Not often you see that now.
IrCOve been going down some rabbit holes with mine recently. Mainly
with cartridges and styluses (styli ?). Unfortunately budget and skill set prevents me going much further into that rabbit hole.
I have at least been discovering the importance of good setting up.
I am aware of the downsides of a swinging arm, and the argument over
straight or rCySrCO shaped too. I have an rCySrCO arm here, and have
got it set up pretty well I think - IrCOve checked it with a
protractor, but the Technics overhang gauge actually works well.
the old one lasted 48 years, and is still usable if needed,
so I should be fine for the foreseeable :-).
Andy H <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
Wow, really, I|o-C-Om impressed with that. Not often you see that now.
I cheated a bit: the box was a disco loudspeaker that I bought at a car
boot sale. My nieces husband, who is a specialist joiner, cut it into
two pieces - a body and a lid - on his fantastically accurate circular
saw. Then I added a carrying handle, clasps and unhooking hinges to
allow the lid to be removed when using it.
The deck was a secondhand Sony from eBay. I cut out and threw away all
the fancy electronic controls and replaced them with one switch and one
knob. The pickup and automatic lowering mechanism were no use to me, so
they went in the bin too.
When you are using it for a live public event, there is no time to mess around with fancy automatic controls, computer files or menu-driven
software. You have to be able to put the record on the turntable, set
the speed and lower the stylus - quickly! The frequency response characteristics can even be adjusted during the run-in or on the first
few notes to save time (older records didn't use RIAA, there were dozens
of different correction curves, some of which can only be guessed by listening).
[...]
I|o-C-Ove been going down some rabbit holes with mine recently. Mainly
with cartridges and styluses (styli ?). Unfortunately budget and skill set >> prevents me going much further into that rabbit hole.
I didn't have the skill set to start with, so I bought a Harrison L5
lathe and taught myself to drive it.
I have at least been discovering the importance of good setting up.
It is vitally important to get the mechanical bit right before worrying
about the other gadgets. People think you just play the records with
any old rubbish and the digitally correct it - absolute nonsense.
[...]
I am aware of the downsides of a swinging arm, and the argument over
straight or |o-C-yS|o-C-O shaped too. I have an |o-C-yS|o-C-O arm here, and have
got it set up pretty well I think - I|o-C-Ove checked it with a
protractor, but the Technics overhang gauge actually works well.
There are no 'right' settings, only slighly-less-wrong ones. Trying to
set up a swinging arm is like polishing a turd: at the end of the day
the worst bits may be smoothed over ...but it will still be a turd.
The shape of the arm makes little difference (except that bad designs
work even worse); it is the concept that is wrong to start with.
[...]
the old one lasted 48 years, and is still usable if needed,
so I should be fine for the foreseeable :-).
Some of my professional kit is over 50 years old and still working to
its original specification.
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