Creating an MP3 Player Using Jason's MP3 Class Module

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This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to create an MP3 player using Jason's popular MP3 class module. The example will be implemented in Visual Basic 6.0, but the principles can be applied to any other 32-bit version of Visual Basic.

Prerequisites:

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1. Download and install Microsoft's Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition or later (free download from 'www.microsoft.com/express'(http://www.microsoft.com/express)).

2. Install Windows SDK for .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (free download from 'download.microsoft.com/en-us/details?Family=Netclientfx%20SPNREDIST&DisplayType=DlmtsDownloadDetailsView&hl=en)).

Step-by-Module Implementation

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### Step 1: Adding the MP3 Class Module

To use Jason's MP3 class module, you'll need to add it as a reference in your Visual Basic project. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition or later.

2. Create a new 'Visual Basic Windows Forms Application' project and name it (e.g., MPlayer).

3. Right-click on the References folder in Solution Explorer, then select 'Add Reference...'

4. In the 'Reference Type' dropdown list, choose '.NET'.

5. Check both 'System.dll' and 'Windows.Forms.dll', then click OK.

### Step 2: Adding Jason's MP3 Class Module

Download 'Jason's MP3 class module'(http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11812/MPlay-A-Real-Time-MP3-Player-with-Windows-MA) from CodeProject, extract the zip file to a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\MP3Class).

### Step 3: Adding References

1. In Solution Explorer, right-click on 'References' under your project name.

2. Select 'Add Reference...'

3. Click on 'Browse...' and navigate to where you extracted Jason's MP3 class module.

Check both '.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Client Profile' and '.NET Framework 3.5 SP1', then click OK twice to add the references.

### Step 4: Adding a Windows Forms Control

To play your MP3 files, we'll need an embedded Windows Media Player control (WMPCore). Follow these steps:

1. From the Toolbox, drag-and-drop 'WindowsMediaPlayerLib.WindowsMediaPlayer' onto Form1.

2. Double-click on the new WMP player to generate its associated code behind.

### Step 5: Adding Code

Open Module1.vb in your project's 'Class Modules' folder and paste the following code:

```vb

Imports System.Media

Imports System.IO

Public Class Module1

Private WithEvents _player As New WindowsMediaPlayer()

Sub play_mp3_file(ByVal file_path As String)

If Not IsNothing(file_path) Then

Try

_player.URL = file_path & '.mp3'

_.player.playback.volume = 100.0F

AddHandler My.MyBase.GetInvocationList().Cast(Of

IComponent).Cast().Cast _ (). Cast() _ .cast(AddressOf MP3_PlayDone).Invoke(Nothing, Nothing)

_player.play()

Catch ex As Exception

' Handle exception here.

End Try

Next file_path

End Sub

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.EventArgs _

Handles MyBase.Load)

Me.Text = 'MP3 Player'

End Sub

Public Property PlayStopButton() As Button

Get

Return mPlayStopButton

Set (Value)

If Value Is Nothing Then Throw New ArgumentNullException()

Else

AddHandler Value.Click, AddressOf btn_PlayPause_Clicked

End If

End Property

Private Sub MP3_PlayDone(ByVal sender As Object _

, ByVal e As AxWindowsMediaPlayer2.MediaPlayerMediaEndedEvent)_

Handles _player.MediaEnd

' Handle media ended event here.

Application.Exit()

Private Sub btn_play_mp3_file_Clicked()

Dim fileDialog1 As New OpenFileDialog

With fileDialog1

.Filter = 'MP3 Files (*.mp3)|*.mp3|All files (*.*) | *.*'

If .ShowDialog( _

(System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxStyle'.') _

+ (WindowsFormsIntegration.Windows Forms.DialogResult.OK) Then

play_mp3_file(.FileName)

End If

End Sub

End Class

```

### Step 6: Testing the Application

1. Press F5 to run your application.

2. Click on 'Play' button and select an MP3 file from the Open File dialog box.

Note that due to security restrictions in later versions of Windows, you may need to unblock the executable (.exe) before running it by right-clicking on the executable, then selecting 'Properties', and finally clicking on the Unblock button at the bottom left corner if present.