VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

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Posts: 2
Joined: April 19, 2020 - 20:30
VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

I can get Winamp to pipe VirtualMidiSynth through it so I can use souddfonts when I play MIDI files but neither the Winamp volume control nor visualizations and LED/VU displays will work.  Is there a way to get Winamp to use VirtialMidiSynth with and get visualizations and the volume control functioing? Using latest versions of both programs, btw.

Posts: 1972
Joined: March 25, 2012 - 01:19
Re: VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

AFAIK Winamp MIDI support is limited to drive MIDI stream to a configured MIDI Out port and nothing else.

Winamp volume control is limited to its "analog" outputs so, being this a MIDI stream sent to an external synth there's nothing Winamp can do to set its volume (other than intercepting Windows Mixer volume of VirtualMIDISynth.exe process... but I don't know if a plugin for that exists.

Another approach could be to "patch" the MIDI stream and send MIDI "volume controller messages" (like VanBasco does) but, again, Winamp won't don't allow this simply because it's an (analog) audio player.

As for the VUMeters: there's no "audio" coming out from Winamp, only a stream of mIDI messages; so there's no way for Winamp to "listen" to the rendered audio, thus can't drive a VUMeter.

Posts: 2
Joined: April 19, 2020 - 20:30
Re: VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

Thanks for the info.  I find VirtualMidiSynth useful and just wish I could use it with Winamp and still get the visualzations and working volume control.  I tried some of the midi soundfont plugins for AIMP and the sound is very off-balance with boomy, highly colored bass wheras VMS has a flat, neutral sound that I much prefer.  I wish someone would make a VMS plugin for Winamp but I fear WA's best, most active days are behind it.

Posts: 1
Joined: May 8, 2021 - 18:04
Re: VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

hi. just stumpled upon this thread. how the **** do you pipe virtual midi synth through/into winamp?

is there limitation by the version of winamp or VMS? how does it work?

normally i used some random winamp 5.666 build 3516 version and tried multiple VMS Versions. found out not every version worked with the other.

i have win10 now. the winamp 5.666 build 3516 version and last time it worked with the 1.17.1 version of VMS. AND I JUST DONT KNOW WHY?

i always go into into the preferences to plugins, then input, and easily chose VMS in the Nullsoft MIDI Player 3.55

but now it doesnt work anymore that means i cant select/find VMS there even though its installed.

could you guide me through the way you do it or is there another solution to my problem?

Posts: 1972
Joined: March 25, 2012 - 01:19
Re: VirtualMidiSynth & configuring Winamp to get visualizations/volume control

There's no way for WinAmp to get visualizations and volume control when it's set to forward MIDI stream to VMS.

Whan configured like this, the "whole content" of .MID file is played straight to VMS MIDI input and WinAmp doesn't read it out (to make visualizations) or change it (to have proper volume control).

As for the volume control, starting from Win7 each process have its own volume control (as you can see in Windows Audio Mixer); WinAmp changes only its ows volume settings which is different from the one of VirtualMIDISynth process.

This could be done in a much better way, as VanBasco does, by "patching" the outputted MIDI stream and changing volume controllers.
Being it an "analog" player, I understand why id doesn't...