Shuffle list starting with track - MM2024 [#21468]

[Mindfish]

I'm trying out the new version of MM (2024.0.0.3082) after sticking with non-beta MM5 for a long time. I have my music arranged in playlists. Most of the time I want to play a certain song by double clicking it in the playlist and then shuffle the entire playlist after that.

I have some trouble getting the new shuffle to do this. It will play the selected song but then only shuffle over songs AFTER that song the in playlist.

So for example I will have have a playlist:
Song 1
Song 2
Song 3
Song 4
Song 5

I want to play Song 3 first and then have Songs 1, 2, 4 and 5 in random order after that:
Song 3 <-- playing
Song 5
Song 2
Song 4
Song 1

But instead the Now Playing will be starting at Song 3 and only shuffle Songs 4 and 5:
Song 1
Song 2
Song 3 <-- playing
Song 5
Song 4

Songs 1 and 2 will never be shuffled and will never get played.

I've tried fiddling with the playback rules and play now actions, but I can't seem to get MM to shuffle over the entire playlist. Help!

[Peke]

Hi,
There is few ways to do that, but here is one I often use.

1. Set playback rules for Music to "Clear & play selected only"
2. In Player options for default actions I have set Not playing -> Pay now, Playing -> Queue next.
3. Open Playlist -> Double click on track I want to play first -> Playing started
3a. (optional) I repeat double click on any other track I want to be played in order they are queued next
4. Select Rest Of Playlist (CTRL+A) -> Deselect track that is playing -> Right Click -> Play Shuffled -> Queue Last

Sometimes I add Multiple playlists Using Queue Mixed Which Will add shuffled selected tracks mixed with tracks below playing track.

You can randomize Now playing by Selecting all tarcks in Now Playing then Right click Play Shuffled -> Play Now.

[Mindfish]

I mean sure CTRL+A and Play Shuffled works, but it's not exactly the easiest workflow.

If there was a playback rule called "Clear & play selected + previous + subsequent" that would work better with the new shuffle. And the devs might even be able to add that in pretty easily as it doesn't change existing functionality.

I think I am probably better off sticking with MM5 for now.

[Peke]

If there was a playback rule called "Clear & play selected + previous + subsequent" that would work better with the new shuffle.

Can you please elaborate a bit, not sure how to define this functionality for implementation?

I mean sure CTRL+A and Play Shuffled works, but it's not exactly the easiest workflow.

That is why we set it for further improvement, in MM4 that option have not existed

[Mindfish]

Can you please elaborate a bit, not sure how to define this functionality for implementation?

Well, if "Clear & play selected + subsequent" (without shuffle) would add the tracks like (selecting Song 3):

Song 1
Song 2
Song 3 <-- playing
Song 4
Song 5

Then "Clear & play selected + previous + subsequent" would do this instead:

Song 3 <-- playing
Song 1
Song 2
Song 4
Song 5

Though now that I describe it, it occurs to me that it would be kind of annoying for that to be the default behavior even when not shuffling.

Maybe it would only do it when Shuffle is enabled then.

[Mindfish]

Another option could be to have a dedicated setting called "When doubleclicking a file with shuffle enabled" and that could be a dropdown with two options: "Shuffle entire list" and "Shuffle only subsequent files."

I do feel that the default should be to shuffle the entire list. This was the behavior in MM5 and I thought the new shuffle was only supposed to change visibility of the upcoming files. Not change how shuffle works altogether.

But I am sure you have a lot of plans for the shuffle feature already.

[martinmggm]

Version: MediaMonkey 2024.0.0.3082

Description:
When shuffle mode is on and a song is manually started, playback is limited to the tracks below the selected song in the playlist or album. Tracks above the manually started song are not played.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open a playlist or album.
2. Turn on shuffle mode.
3. Start a song manually (e.g., the 5th track in the list).
4. Watch the playback:
- Only songs below the 5th track will be shuffled.
- Songs above the 5th track are skipped.

Expected Behavior:
Shuffle mode should randomly play all tracks in the list, regardless of which song was started manually.

Actual Behavior:
Shuffle mode only plays tracks below the manually started song, excluding the rest of the playlist.

[Rob_S]

Easy way to fix this:

Just slide (drag and drop ) the desired play first or already playing track to the top of the Playing list, and then right-click, play now(shuffled). All one single mouse movement.

If you have bookmarking turned on, the track will continue playing from where you left off, and play all the remaining tracks shuffled.

[Mindfish]

Version: MediaMonkey 2024.0.0.3082

Description:
When shuffle mode is on and a song is manually started, playback is limited to the tracks below the selected song in the playlist or album. Tracks above the manually started song are not played.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open a playlist or album.
2. Turn on shuffle mode.
3. Start a song manually (e.g., the 5th track in the list).
4. Watch the playback:
- Only songs below the 5th track will be shuffled.
- Songs above the 5th track are skipped.

Expected Behavior:
Shuffle mode should randomly play all tracks in the list, regardless of which song was started manually.

Actual Behavior:
Shuffle mode only plays tracks below the manually started song, excluding the rest of the playlist.

Haha yeah, that would be the clearest way of wording it in bug report form. Thanks!

[rusty]

Tracking at https://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=21468

Thanks for all the feedback!

-Rusty

[rusty]

Hi,

This is fixed in the 2024.2.0.3150 build posted to the beta forum.

Please let us know if it solves the issue for you. Thanks!

-Rusty

[Rob_S]

Before 3150, if I shuffle my tracks after playing a few somgs from the list, it would shuffle only the remaining tracks from there on down.

It seems now it shuffles all of the tracks in the playing list, including the ones I have already played. I thought this was going to be optional behavior.

Is there in fact an option to do one or the other??

[Rob_S]

Well, I think the way it was gave me much more control.

Now if I am playing a shuffled list, and I try to play a track in the middle of my shuffled list, it unpredictably moves to the top and reshuffles everything, with no warning.

I vote please go back to the way it was, much more useable.