How to play a simple audio with WIn32 API in C++

Question

How to play a simple audio with WIn32 API in C++

thebluetropics 1,046

I have read the Win32 documentation in Graphics and Multimedia section, Core Audio Programming Guide.

There is no simple example to load mp3 file and play it using Win32 API in the documentation, as always.

In short, I am looking for a simplest approach for loading an mp3 file and play the sound using Win32 API.

If possible, I need to do pause, track the progress, stop, skip or back at specified position.

Note: Simple here doesn't mean easy, it can be a complex thing, on the most basic level.

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Answer 1

Castorix31 90,521

One of the simplest ways is with MCI, like mciSendString

thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-19T10:28:14.693+00:00
Is mciSendString can do all audio control? This includes:

Play, Pause, Stop

Move at specified position

Control audio volume

Tracking progress

Edit: I still don't have an idea to use it, can you please provide an example?
Guido Franzke 2,191 Reputation points

2022-09-19T10:53:32.227+00:00

There is an example for mciSendString in the link that I provided (see my answer).
mciSendString cannot pause, move,.. the mp3 file. Have a look at mciSendCommand function.
Regards, Guido
Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2022-09-19T10:55:14.947+00:00

Yes, with MCI commands
But if you want to make a sort of Media Player, you can copy/adapt one of the MS players from the SDK, like
DShowPlayer
or
MFPlayer2
or you can embed directly the WMP control (with ATL for example ("AtlAxWin"))
Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2022-09-19T11:09:28.327+00:00

mciSendString cannot pause, move,.. the mp3 file.

All commands work.

For example, this opens, plays and pauses a MP3 file :

open "test.mp3" type MPEGVideo alias MediaFile
play MediaFile
pause MediaFile
thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-19T11:51:44.58+00:00

Thank you so much for the example. @Castorix31
thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-20T00:51:13.74+00:00

Is mciSendString process-dependent?

For example, if I open an audio file in different process and play it, then stop it on different process, will it work?

thebluetropics 1,046

Here is my first try, but it nothings play:

   #ifndef UNICODE  
   #define UNICODE  
   #endif  
     
   #include <Windows.h>  
     
   #pragma comment(lib, "Winmm.lib")  
     
   int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE, HINSTANCE, PWSTR, int) {  
     
       mciSendStringW(  
           L"open \"F:\\bluetropics\\reflect.mp3\" type MPEGVideo alias reflectMusic",  
           NULL,  
           0,  
           NULL  
       );  
     
       mciSendStringW(  
           L"play reflectMusic",  
           NULL,  
           0,  
           NULL  
       );  
     
       return 0;  
   }

Anything I do wrong here?

Edit: PlaySound() seems to be work, however, It is limited to waveform audio files only, 41MB file for a 4 minute song is ridiculous. It is also lacks of control (move, stop, pause, etc)

Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2022-09-20T07:24:11.527+00:00

No, the same code with one of my .MP3 works for me (tested on a button click)
You can try mciGetErrorString with the return code of mciSendString if != 0
thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-20T07:44:12.513+00:00

All mciSendString returns 0, there is no errors.
Castorix31 90,521 Reputation points

2022-09-20T07:50:44.343+00:00

Test in a Button click
In your test, the program ends immediately...
thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-20T07:58:44.853+00:00

It works perfectly! Thank you so much @Castorix31

Answer 2

Guido Franzke 2,191

Hello,
have a look at this: simplest-way-to-play-mp3-from-visual-c
Regards, Guido

Guido Franzke 2,191 Reputation points

2022-09-19T10:56:34.793+00:00

Use MCI to control the audio device. For pause, move,... have a look at mciSendCommand
Regards, Guido
thebluetropics 1,046 Reputation points

2022-09-19T11:54:15.747+00:00

Thank you so much for the response, @Guido Franzke
I'll note that

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How to play a simple audio with WIn32 API in C++

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