Using the /mcicontrol command to listen to music while playing EverQuest

This was submitted to me by Timmorn Leafwalker on how you can use the /mcicontrol command while in the game. This command lets you play your CD and MP3 files while playing the game. One day I was browsing through the everquest manual document on my hard drive trying to decide how I could further twink my eqclient.ini file when I stumbled across a listing of in-game commands. Curious I scanned down the list and stopped at the /mcicontrol section. According to what I read it would allow someone to play CDs or mp3 files while playing EQ. This intrigued me because I would much rather listen to my music then Verant's. I jumped on EQ right away and started messing around with the command to see if I could get it to work. After much trial and error I have unearthed the basic commands for playing CD and mp3 music while playing EQ. I recommend switching off your EQ music before using these commands, but it's not necessary. Playing Audio CD's First, slip in your audio CD into your drive. Then simply type the following line into the EQ chat line (replacing E:\ with whatever your CD-ROM drive is): /mcicontrol play e:\track01.cda To stop the playing simply type the following: /mcicontrol stop e:\track01.cda It is vital that you type the file name exactly the same for both the start and the stop or else the program will spit errors at you and you will need to open the CD-ROM drive to make it stop playing. Currently I do not know how to skip ahead on tracks or backup on tracks or pause. And the program will always start at track 1 no matter what track you enter into the command line. Playing MP3 Files This is where it gets tricky. You must know the location and DOS filename of the mp3 you wish to play. The easiest way to find out the DOS file name is to find the file and right-click on it and select properties. Also make note of where the file is located and it's DOS name. You would use the same commands as for playing audio CDs but would substitute the mp3 filename instead of the e:\track01.cda. EXAMPLE: I want to play an mp3 called HeavyMetalFire.mp3 located in my C:\mp3 directory. I open the file's properties sheet and find it is called HeavyM~1.mp3. Since it is located in my C:\mp3 directory, I would use the following commands to play and stop it. /mcicontrol play c:\mp3\heavym~1.mp3 and /mcicontrol stop c:\mp3\heavym~1.mp3 Again I do not know how to pause a song (well, yes I do. But I can't get it restarted from the spot I paused it at.). If anyone wants to experiment some more and figure it out please feel free to contact me with the information so that I may update this document. Just change play/stop to pause. I hope this will clear up any mystery behind this useful command. Enjoy your music! Timmorn Leafwalker Druid of Tunare Residing on Brell Serilis

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quick question
# Jun 21 2001 at 1:22 PM Rating: Default
Will playing a CD slow the game down much? I have a 600 P3, 128 ram, 32 video ram. And in general, should I get more ram? I have a cable modem and play with grpahics maxed out, music off.

Thanks for any help.
Listening to MP3s
# Jun 19 2001 at 7:26 PM Rating: Default
The MCI control is a PoS. I've worked with it in VB, just playing around and it lacks basic features and is buggy on top of that.
There is a Winamp plugin I use which is much better, http://www.execpc.com/~zor/SneakyAmp/download.htm
mp3s
# Jun 15 2001 at 3:36 PM Rating: Default
Umm, I just start Winamp before I play, set to random, and listen all session long. No hassles, no worries.
more than one mp3?
# Jun 15 2001 at 3:04 PM Rating: Decent
How do you get it to play more than 1 mp3 in a row? I mean having to load an mp3 every 3-5 mins would be a pain. And you'd have to know the name of all your mp3's.

Would something like

/mcicontrol play c:\mp3\*.mp3

work?

more info
# Jun 15 2001 at 11:57 AM Rating: Default
Hey guys, this was discussed on the developers corner awhile back (with Absor) and there is a ton more info on how to use the command on the official everquest forums site. This url will getya to the discussion involving mcicontrol:

http://boards.station.sony.com/ubb/everquest/Forum1/HTML/000182.html
RE: more info
# Jun 15 2001 at 3:26 PM Rating: Default
Along with that URL, here's the url from the MSDN for the offical documentation on the MCI interface:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/devprods/vs6/vbasic/vbcon98/vbconusingmultimediamcicontrol.htm
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