Playing Files

Help > Getting Started > Playing Files

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Playing Media Files with MediaMonkey is straightforward whether you are using MediaMonkey or Winamp as the player. Media Files are added to the Now Playing queue and are then played. Basic Playback can be done in a single step, though finer control can be achieved by editing the Now Playing queue.

Basic Playback

1. Select the Media Files you would like to play
2. Click the Play Now button in the Play menu.

The Media Files you've selected will fill the Now Playing queue, replacing others that may have previously been there, and begin playing from the first Track. If you've selected only a single Media File, additional Media Files may be added to the Now Playing queue, depending on how you've configured the Player.

The Play Counter

Whenever a Media File is played completely, the Play Count is updated by 1. For Media Types with Bookmarking enabled the Play Counter is updated fractionally. Bookmarking can be enabled/disabled per Media Type under Tools > Options > Playback Rules.

Changing the Order of Media Files in the Now Playing queue

For for full control over which Media Files are played when, you can modify the Now Playing queue. Think of the Now Playing queue as a list of Media Files to be played that you can modify, even as they are being played. You can:

• Add Media Files to the end of the Now Playing queue: Select the Media File(s) you want to add and click Play Last from the Play menu. Note: If the Player is not yet playing a Media File, this command will modify the queue but will not initiate playback.
• Insert Media Files into the middle of the Now Playing queue, immediately following the currently playing Media File: Select the Media File(s) you want to add and click Play Next from the Play menu. Note: If the Player is not yet playing a Media File, this command will modify the queue but will not initiate playback.
• Insert Media Files into any position of the Now Playing queue: Select the Media File(s) you want to add, and drag them to the Now Playing window, to the desired position in the list.
• Replace the current Playing File with a new set of Media Files: Select the Media File(s) you want to play and click Play Now from the Play menu. Note: If the Player is not yet playing a Track, this command will modify the queue and will initiate playback.
• Rearrange the order of Media Files in the 'Now Playing' queue: Go to the Now Playing node or Window, and drag and drop Media Files within the queue to re-arrange them.
• Rearrange the order of Media Files in the 'Now Playing' queue based on a sort: In the Now Playing node or window, click a header to e.g. to sort the list based on year.
• Randomize the Now Playing queue: As an alternative to Shuffle Play you can randomize the Now Playing queue and let it play in order of Media Files listed in the Now Playing queue. Right click in the Now Playing node or window, and select List > Randomize List.
• Remove Media Files from the Now Playing queue: Go to the Now Playing node or window, select which Media Files you'd like to delete from the queue and press <Delete> . This will not delete the Media Files from the database,it will only remove them from the Now Playing queue.
• Undo changes made to the Now Playing queue: Right click in the Now Playing node or window, and select List > Undo.

Notes

• You can change the default way Media Files are added to the Now Playing queue under Tools > Options > Playback Rules per media Type. You can change the 'Play Now' Action to one of the selected files only options so only highlighted files will be added to the Now Playing queue.
• Shuffle (Play > Shuffle) will not play Media Files in the order listed in the Now Playing queue. This means that adding Media Files with Play Next won't play them next. Instead of Shuffle you can Randomize the Now Playing queue by using right click on the Now Playing and List > Randomize List.
• Play Now, Play Next and Play Last are also available in the Context Toolbar and the context menu of selected Media Files.

Related Information

• Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts to Control the Player
• Volume Leveling
• Using Playlists, Using AutoPlaylists

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Next: Editing File Properties

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