Simple, Portable, Powerful, Foobar2000

very good
key review info
application features
  • Open component architecture allowing third-party developers to extend functionality of the player
  • (7 more, see all...)

Foobar2000 goes back a long time and it is not an audio player for the weak of heart. No. When it gets down to configuring it, there is nothing simple about it. Its looks may be considered an embarrassment if you watch the calendar. It has no luster like modern applications, and though it is highly configurable, there aren't too many users that truly take the time to untangle its many intricacies.

Yet more and more users keep using it due to its audio playback properties and exceptional handling of massive amount of files. And it seems that the plethora of add-ons have turned it into a solid alternative to Winamp. Just take a look at the image on the left and see what a simple add-on can turn Foobar into (yes, that is Columns UI).

The portable version is just as configurable as the full version and it also supports all the add-ons, so you can fully enjoy Foobar audio experience without too much hassle.

The default looks are the same as always: simple un-personalized interface, playback controls, progress bar, track order and the usual visualization window as always. The only ways of customizing the looks without the help of add-ons are to move the toolbars around (although there isn't too much space around) or change the playlist's colors (text, background, selection background, focus and playback marker). Additionally, you can adjust the transparency level.

Many users may feel disappointed by these Spartan looks, but all power users know that looks do not enhance the audio experience one bit. Besides, the open component architecture of the application lets a lot of room for developers to make beautiful adjustments to the application without polishing off any of its extensive settings.

Lots of users complained about the lack of a volume slider. The issue has been fixed, although the bar is not as out into the open as you may think. The volume is displayed in the lower right hand corner of the application and double clicking on the decibels displayed will bring the volume slider. If you are a keyboard fan, you can use NumLock's "+" and "-" with the same effect. And if you really want to do it the old painful way, go to Preferences and adjust it from Playback.

Speaking of Preferences, that is the core of Foobar2000 and that is where a power user will feel at large. Highly configurable, the application gives you the opportunity of formatting the titles in playlist, status bar or main window title, customize playlist appearance, associate the file types, set the keyboard shortcuts, scan folders for certain audio formats and add the items to playlist or add DSPs and configure them.

Regarding the file types supported, Foobar2000 is simply surprising as you can associate it with MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MPC, AAC, OGG Vorbis, FLAC and OGG FLAC, WAV, AIFF, AU, SND, CDDA or WMA. You will find the entire list of extensions that can be played with Foobar in Preferences, under File Types. For the experience to be complete, look for the optional components (http://www.foobar2000.org/components/index.html) to add APE and even DTS support.

Advanced users have a section of their own in Preferences. The warning doming the window is clarifying enough to keep newbies away from it. This is the "fine-tune" area of the application as it lets you configure the Properties dialog of each item in the playlist, enable seeking over HTTP, change playback settings (fading values and shuffle) and set Tag writing scheme (APE and APE+IDE3v schemes are supported).

But the best part in Foobar2000 are its audio conversion powers. Encoding capacities are not limited to MP3 but extend to transforming to FLAC, MP4, Musepack, OGG or WAV. The converter is extremely easy to use and highly configurable (you can set your own quality values).

The EQ available in the application is heftier than in many softwares but some of the users may feel the need of some presets. Foobar2000 does not provide you with anything preset so you are going to do all the tweaking. When the desired audio outcome is produced, simply store the presets somewhere on your computer.

Don't let yourself be fooled by the simplistic interface (some call it ugly) as the application has a lot of options under the hood, most of them for those a bit more experienced. It combines the plainness beginners need with the richness of options experienced users are craving for. Either way, Foobar2000 will delight your ears with astonishing sound quality.

The portable version is just as flexible as ever and the great thing is that it stores all the settings in the installation folder. It works just as fine with all the components available for sedentary version, so you are not going to miss anything.

The Good

A newbie would get along fine with the application, provided that s/he does not make any hazardous setting in Advanced folder in Preferences.

Built in audio converter supporting multiple formats and customization for obtaining the desired quality.

Supports plug-ins that improve everything from its looks to its functionality. All the plugins are free to use.

Tabbed playlists makes managing your music a cinch. You can make as many as you want and toggle (Ctrl+Tab) between them with the greatest ease.

The Bad

The lack of a help menu of its own (the Internet is filled with tutorials on how to use and tweak it) is a big minus. Beginners should be given a chance to getting to know the turf they're stepping onto.

The Truth

I wish I could say that Foobar2000 covers more types of users and provides the same ease of use and mild learning curve for all, but there is absolutely no documentation of its own to enlighten the users about the settings and configuration options. So beginners will have quite a tough time understanding how the application works. Also, a great part of its functionality is given by the plug-ins available.

Simple to use but tough to tame, Foobar2000 is the right choice for those with an ear for audio quality. It is strictly designed to give force to your music. Strip Foobar2000 of all the add-ons and it'll look like an empty shell.

4.9 stars without any plug-ins is a fair rating as an advanced user and if you throw in those add-ons a five star rating is just not enough. But for a beginner the application's settings are simply daunting and three stars would be the accurate rating.

Here are some PortableFoobarshots of the application in action:

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user interface 2
features 4
ease of use 4
pricing / value 4


final rating 4
Editor's review
very good
 
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