Build a better playlist

I love my Archos Gmini, but it can't shuffle worth a darn.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

I love my Archos Gmini 220. It doesn't play movies, make phone calls, or take snapshots, but it provides me 20GB of digital music and files that I can take anywhere and transfer to any computer. It also only cost me $150 two years ago and is still going strong (with the help of one critical rubber band). It's also very solid as a lo-fi recording device for live shows.

While I don't need a portable music player that massages my back or sorts my laundry, I do need one that can shuffle my tracks randomly. Unfortunately, like most portable media players, my Gmini fails miserably. While shuffling, it will often play the exact same string of songs I heard just a few hours earlier.

So what's a variety-loving listener to do? Well, I make playlists, usually "smart" playlists in MediaMonkey using the "last played" criteria. Of course, Apple's iTunes also provides similar functionality, as do a number of other free digital-music jukeboxes.

Those looking for more automation in the process should check out The Filter, a plug-in for iTunes that will automatically create intelligent playlists based on your own preferences. I've had mixed results, but Peter Gabriel supposedly swears by it.

The future of random playlists will likely happen on the Web. A number of Web sites like imeem and FineTune let you create your own mixes for embedding on your blog or home page, but they haven't yet taken the leap onto portable devices.

When you're looking for a mix of various songs, do you leave your listening choices up to the God of Shuffle, or do you use software or Web sites to help you build playlists? Tell me about your own secret tricks for great mixes in the comments.

[sillygrams2]

Media player shuffle

Thought I would drop a line about AlSong. A very cool media player that is extremely easy to use. It also has lyrics (some of which you might have to find & sync yourself). It is rare that the shuffle doubles up on songs. I love it so try it you might like it also!!!!

[Bro.Bob]

MMJ is now Yahoo JukeBox

I use MusicMatch Jukeboxplus it never plays the same song twice!<br />It has plug-in for my Zune or ipod and works very well, well you can <br />get the whole thing free now! <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://music.yahoo.com/" target="_newWindow">http://music.yahoo.com/</a>

[smallseb]

My Sony Player.

I love my MP3 player for the "intelligent shuffle" feature. The program which was sold with it (Connect player) is not working well, but even if they upgraded it (Sonic Stage) it still not as good as the first one. <br />It does search for titles, names, and kind of music. Makes Rate and have a "Artist link" feature. So when you're listening to shuffle songs, it keeps playing same kind of songs or songs that you might like. And when you skip one, it change kind.... <br />I wish all MP3 players have this great feature!

[smallseb]

Sony's Choice

I have this feature on my MP3 player. Even if the first program made with it is bad (Connect player) it has this "intelligent shuffle feature" which is on the player: The program search trough CDDB Artists, Songs name, and Kind of music. Then, search for Artist links, artist which are likend by their music. <br />Finally, when you play a song with this feature on Sony's MP3 players, you will listen to some kind of music for a while, and when you found this is not as good, you skip the song, and the brand, to another one...

[JayDPiii-212429565894676597431]

ZEN Micro - Shuffle mode

I have one of the first ZEN Micro's - a whopping 5 GB (not Flash!). It has a shuffle mode - and with the player max'd out at close to 1000 songs - I have rarely heard a duplicate. I don't do playlists - I just have it shuffle.

[PromisedPlanet]

iPods, The Filter, Flookey

It's popular for techies to bash them, but of all the MP3 players I've tried so far (and I've tried a lot), the iPod has the best shuffle feature. If it's ever played a song twice, I haven't noticed it.<br /><br />The Filter does an excellent job of creating playlists of similar "sounding" songs. Unfortunately it only works on iTunes and WMP, and I use MediaMonkey almost exclusively (even for syncing my iPods!).<br /><br />Another software app for creating playlists of similar sounding songs is Flookey (<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.flookey.com," target="_newWindow">http://www.flookey.com,</a> but I bet you figured that out). It first analyzes your music library, then it recommends playlists based on songs you listen to, and songs you "boost" (manually select). I find the GUI a little confusing (it doesn't appear to show all the songs in your library anywhere), it tends to show a lot of the same artists at first, and it forces you to play songs for selection through Flookey (doesn't pick up on what you play through other music managers).

[davinp]

Zen is better than iPod

Creative invented the iPod interface and their Zen players are better than the iPod because they give your more features for less money.<br /><br />The Zen Vision:M and other Zen players allow you to create a playlist on the go (that is on the player) itself. It also works with Media Monkey and Windows Media Player. Unlike the iPod, it can be taken to any computer. <br /><br />The Zen also has a shuffle feature similar to the iPod. It has the following options: Album of the Day, Random, Most Popular, Rarely Heard, Highly Rated and Yet to be Rated.

[drogge]

Creative invented the iPod?

Nope, Creative didn't have anything remotely like the click wheel: the only item than Creative has able in any way to suggest that the iPod used was cascading menus: like when you point at a menu, and another submenu appears. Hardly something that was deserving of a patent, but the vagaries of the US patent system tend to be beyond the mortal mind. Sadly ZenFanBoy you lose all credibility with such a blatantly overstated opening. Enjoy your Zen all you can, it's not that bad a player (it's nobody's Zune!), but don't get too lost in Bizarro World.

[tom_eric]

Music IP & Moodlogic

To create a variety of playlists based on a particular song, I use Music IP (<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.musicip.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.musicip.com/</a>). It works with iTunes and a number of portable devices. Many more options than typically found with a shuffle function.<br /><br />In the past, I have also used Moodlogic. It has wonderful features for creating a playlist based on a mood, for example "Upbeat". Unfortunately, the product and site are no longer being updated, but you can still download the program and get it to work.

[Martin3gone]

Shuffling on

My Creative Zen Sleek is not all singing and dancing but it does shuffle 20G worth of tracks in a mysteriously random way without apparent repetartion. Am I just lucky?

[atomaugust]

Re:Build a Better Playlist.....

I have an Archos Jukebox 20, and the way I build a playlist is how the files are input to the Jukebox.<br /><br />I have several folders, with one containing over 1000 tracks of Classic Rock. The Jukebox has no problems with shuffling the entire folder. Other folders include Jazz, 50s rock, 60s rock and so on.<br /><br />To create a "Smart" playlist, use Windows Explorer, and input the tracks you want. Call the folder "Playlist 1," or anything you want. Upload the folder to the device, set the device to "shuffle," and you have your smart playlist, which the device can handle. <br /><br />For the Archos, up to 99 playlists can be created. <br /><br />SoCal Tom