WMP\MCE Lossless Guide
Windows Media Center Edition and the player that powers it Windows Media Player, do not provide native support for lossless formats like FLAC, APE or WavPack. The only built-in support is for WMA Lossless. But by using one of the two FLAC/Ogg Directshow Filters and the WMPTSE plugin you can not only play your FLAC files but they can also be added to the WMP/MCE library with support for meta data. Currently this guide works for Windows Media Player 9, 10 and 11 and MCE 2004 and 2005. For further explanation of WMPTSE settings check out the WMPTSE Wiki page.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Download and Install one of the FLAC Directshow Filters. These filters allow you to play FLAC files in Windows Media Player. The most popular being the Illiminable Directshow Filter.
Illiminable Ogg Directshow Filter
2. Download and Install WMP Tag Support Extender: This plugin allows Ape, MPC, WavPack, OptimFROG, AAC, Flac and Ogg (read only) tags to be used in Windows Media Player and added to the library in Windows Media Center Edition. Be sure to use the latest version.
3. Configure the WMPTSE Plugin: Open WMP and go to Options. Click on the Plugin-Ins Tab and then choose the Background category. Then make sure there is a check in the box for the WMPTagSupportExtender Plugin and choose Properties.
Once in the Properties you can configure how the plugin refreshes the media library as well as additional Read/Write options. There is also a Refresh Now button for refreshing your library.
4. Open MCE/WMP and add new files to your library. This is accomplished within WMP by opening Options > Library Tab > Monitor Folders and then adding your folders. Better results are obtained by adding your media to the monitored folders than dragging and dropping files into WMP. You may also need to click the Refresh NOw button.
5. Enjoy!
6. For further explanation of WMPTSE settings check out the WMPTSE Wiki page.
WMPTSE
*WMP 11 Users - WMPTSE does work with WMP 11 but you may need to register the WMPTSE .dll for it to work properly.
To register WMPTSE:
Open a command window and paste in: cd C:\Program Files\piPOol\Windows Media Player Tag Support Extender then register the dll by pasting the following text in: regsvr32 WMPTagSupportExtender.dll
WMP 11 Settings
Library > More Options > Privacy >Enhanced Playback and Media Experience
- Display media information from the internet
- Update music files by retreiving media info from the internet
LIBRARY > Library Automatic Media Information updates for files.
- Retrieve Additional Information from the Internet
- Rename music files using rip music settings.
- Rearrange music in rip music folder, using rip music settings.
CLEARING WMP DATABASE
To delete your WMP database:
Paste the following text into the Run box and delete the databases found. You can then have WMP rescan your folders for meda files:
%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
Tools
Free Tag Viewer for WMP: This tool allows you to view detailed tag information in Windows Media Player and can be helpful in determining if you have the correct tags. (DOWNLOAD)
*Thanks to EqualRightsForWerewolves for providing some of the screenshots!
