Does it exist: App icons showing actual waveform of audio files

3Bit · 1 Week Ago

I am looking for an app to manage a lot of small audio files.
The main issue is that you have to listen and play every single one to find out if there is actually that/any audio/sound on it you looking for.

Does anyone know of an app that can represent in the icon an image of the sound wave clip so it can be easily seen where there is actually sound and not just background noise.

For example, if you have Explorer in picture view you would see sample images of the sound wave in every icon clearly no which ones you want to open where there is actual sound recorded other than background noise

Here is a mock-up what I'm looking for:

Does it exist: App icons showing actual waveform of audio files-explorer-mockup-showing-soundwave.jpg

Callender · 1 Week Ago

There was this one. It was not free and I have not ever used it:

QuickAudio | Tsugi : Software for Creatives

It might give you an idea of how to search for alternatives.

There is FileVoyager which you could use to browse music. It's confusing for new users because it is dual pane and left pane selection shows the preview in the right pane. Plus it seems to auto play the file but that might depend upon installed software. I'm not sure of that. It works for me if I choose DirectShow filter. I have Portable Filevoyager Full plus VLC codec version but I do not have VLC Media Player installed.

FileVoyager – Swiss Army knife of file management

What I see:

Does it exist: App icons showing actual waveform of audio files-filevoyager.jpg

Note: You would have to scroll through the files to see live waveform thumbnails. There's no option to display them all at once.

3Bit · 1 Week Ago

Callender said:

There was this one. It was not free and I have not ever used it:

QuickAudio | Tsugi : Software for Creatives

It might give you an idea of how to search for alternatives.

There is FileVoyager which you could use to browse music. It's confusing for new users because it is dual pane and left pane selection shows the preview in the right pane. Plus it seems to auto play the file but that might depend upon installed software. I'm not sure of that. It works for me if I choose DirectShow filter. I have Portable Filevoyager Full plus VLC codec version but I do not have VLC Media Player installed.

FileVoyager – Swiss Army knife of file management

What I see:

Note: You would have to scroll through the files to see live waveform thumbnails. There's no option to display them all at once.

Thanks! Will look into it and check it out.

Update:
The Tsugi QuickAudio is exactly what I'm looking for but incredibly, it has been discontinued!!!

Callender · 1 Week Ago

3Bit said:

Thanks! Will look into it and check it out.

Update:
The Tsugi QuickAudio is exactly what I'm looking for but incredibly, it has been discontinued!!!

Yes that why I wrote "there was this one" but i should have made it clear.

Callender · 1 Week Ago

Okay I found this one. It's paid with a free trial. It requires Windows Media Player and I don't want to enable WMP so I have not tested it.

Download Audio File Browser

Price:
Register Audio File Browser

As far as I can work out it uses it's own GUI rather than Explorer.

Callender · 1 Week Ago

Portable freeware from the same author. This one uses it's own GUI so thumbnails are only shown within the application.

Run the executable:

Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0\Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0.48.74\Bin\Win64\TutorialProfessionalThumbnailerAdvancedAudio.exe

Screenshot from my machine:

Does it exist: App icons showing actual waveform of audio files-professional-thumbnailer.jpg

Downside: Thumbnails are not clickable so you can only view them rather than opening the selected item.

3delite's Object Pascal Developer Resources - Download components

Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0.48.74.zip

3Bit · 1 Week Ago

Callender said:

Okay I found this one. It's paid with a free trial. It requires Windows Media Player and I don't want to enable WMP so I have not tested it.

Download Audio File Browser

Price:
Register Audio File Browser

As far as I can work out it uses it's own GUI rather than Explorer.

thanks, will have a look at it.

3Bit · 1 Week Ago

Callender said:

Yes that why I wrote "there was this one" but i should have made it clear.

The more I dig into the Tsugi QuickAudio the more baffled and stunned I am that this is discontinued and you have to dig hard just finding a trial version.

It is perfect for what I was looking for, it is perfect for visually impaired users and it is incomprehensible why they just chopped it off and even block it! they don't want to continue it they could have at least put it on github open source or something or maybe freeware.

But then again it is something very typical of Japanese culture. Often you find very thoughtful and sensible developments no one else does but then they suddenly "nuke it".
Years ago when Windows XP reigned I had a client who wanted to have different font colors for different file types in Explorer. I actually found such an applet, Japanese of course, "Xentient",[I still have a copy my archive] color font text labels by file type.

It worked beautifully but then after SP3 no more. The developer then nuked it. But is not rocket science as you can find this feature today in standalone file manager Q-Dir. but not for Windows Explorer.

I suspect the big bully MS behind it and some cease-and-desist activities based on technology patents.

3Bit · 1 Week Ago

Callender said:

Portable freeware from the same author. This one uses it's own GUI so thumbnails are only shown within the application.

Run the executable:

Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0\Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0.48.74\Bin\Win64\TutorialProfessionalThumbnailerAdvancedAudio.exe

Screenshot from my machine:

Downside: Thumbnails are not clickable so you can only view them rather than opening the selected item.

3delite's Object Pascal Developer Resources - Download components

Professional Thumbnailer Library 1.0.48.74.zip

Thanks, will check it out!

Callender · 6 Days Ago

As far as I can work out the free version doesn't include the browser so you'd have to enter folder paths every time you need to switch folders. The pro version looks like it includes a way to browse folders and open files. I have not tested it.