Xbox 360, WMP, music streaming, duplicate tracks, messed up libraries and album art fixing
(I tried to think of a longer blog post title, but couldn't)
Previously, the only way of streaming music from your XP machine to other devices was to use a separate app -Windows Media Connect (WMC), except in the case of the Xbox 360 - which uses Media Center Extender (MCX).
Now if you have an Xbox 360 but don't have Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) you can use the new Window Media Player 11 (WMP 11 beta 2) to set up your streaming music and images to the games console, instead of using WMC or MCE. Boomtown describes how to do this with WMP 11 beta 2, but the short-hand version is:
Media Sharing / Streaming with WMP 11 beta 2 1. Launch WMP 11 beta 2 > In the Library tab of Options > click 'Configure Sharing' > click on the Xox 360 icon > click 'Allow' > click 'Apply' and then 'OK'
2. Back in the Library tab of Options > click Monitor Folders > add and remove the folders you want available for streaming > click OK
3. On the Xbox 360 > select 'Media' blade > select 'Music' > select 'Computer' > and then select the XP machine you've just enabled above
I've got this running and worked first time. :-)
One issue I've had recently with the music libraries on Xbox 360 are duplicates. I caused this by pointing to another network drive while inside of the Media Center UI on the Xbox 360 that has a copy of my music files, causing the Xbox library to see a duplicate of every track, messsing everything up. And I did this because I was trying to force the library on the Xbox 360 to fill in some of the missing music / album /art info. I shouldn't have done this. as I needed to re-set everything, and that what you can do by following these steps:
Removing duplicates in the Xbox 360 Media Center Extender (MCX)
From this newsroup post:
"The changes should propagate through with time (especially if you let the Xbox 360 sit on the Music page in Media Center). If you'd like instant gratification, you can trigger a rebuild of the library for the MCX by removing and re-adding your MCX:
- Launch the MCX Manager (Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Media Center --> Media Center Extender Manager)
- Select your Extender, click Properties, select Remove.
- Select File --> Add a new Extender... and type in the 8-digit code displayed on the TV your MCX is connected to
Note that you'll need to tell your MCX where to find your videos, pictures,
and music again after you do this."
Album Art Fixer
I've also had some problems with missing album art info and working this out using WMP is a laborious process. So I looked around for a tool to help find and include missing album art / track info for my WMP and MCE libraries. I found this - Albulm Art Fixer -it's quick and clever.
(Ancronyms used: WMP, MCE, MCX, WMC !)