Welcome to the one stop Media Support Centre. Here you will find some basic facts, faq’s, tips, programs, tutorials etc. Please feel free to use this thread to post questions regarding Audio/Music related items and suggestions are also welcome.
I have linked extensively in this thread so all references can be understood, abuse the knowledge.
For more Tip, Guides & Resources click here.
On a picture related note I also have a thread called: Was just outside having a smoke... which I use as a Gallery for my photos taken from the SGS camera.
Supported Media Formats:
i9000 Video Formats: 3gp, mp4, avi, wmv, flv, mkv
Codec: MPEG4, H.263, Sorenson H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX/XviD
i9000 Audio Formats: mp3, m4a, mp4, 3gp, 3ga, wma, ogg, oga, aac, flac.
i9100 Audio Formats: MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, WAV, MID, AC3, IMY, FLAC, XMF
i9100 Video Formats: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV, DivX, Xvid, VC-1, Recording & Playback 1080@30fps
(To play MKV files directly transfer to phone, no conversion. 4Gb or less.)
**Some file formats are not supported depending on the software of the device.**
**If the file size exceeds the available memory, an error can occur when you open files**
Both the i9000 & i9100 come with stock Music player, Video player and a Gallery app. All media formats will be discovered by your device and are visible in the following applicatios:
Music Player – Music
Video Player – Videos/Films
Gallery – Pictures (inc album covers), Videos
Certain file types can be selected to view using the ‘My Files’ app (or any similar File Manager app).
Notes/Basics
*The long button on the left side of the device is the volume button, it also doubles up as a Zoom function when using the Camera app. 3rd party apps also utilise this button, Dolphin HD allows you to skip through tabs when viewing multiple webpages.
*Don't be scared to mess with the following settings menu, from the homescreen press:
Menu > Settings > Sound.
Menu > Settings > Display
*In the stock Music app, when viewing the Albums tab in landscape an alternative interface is available.
*Don't forget to check the options in the stock Music player, visuals, 'Set As' (Setting ringtones, notifications) and preset equalisers etc.
*Transferring large amounts of media in one go can cause problems, for example losing Tag info from mp3 files. Not always but do not overlook.
Recommended Programs/Apps
Winamp – Available for both Android and PC. PC version can be used to convert any audio format to MP3. Android version allows you to sync your music between the two. PC and Android has both free and a Pro version.
MP3Tag – My preferred mp3 tagging program for the PC. It’s free, simple and easy to use. Allows you to tag both ID2 & 3 values, associate a picture to the mp3 (useful for album art problems).
These are my 2 core programs that I use. If you want to play a wider range of media format you will likely need a 3rd party application. Below is a list of some of the more popular media players:
Samsung Kies 2: I should mention this is the primary software for all Samsung Galaxys.
The Mac version should be Kies Mini, also available on the same link.
MP3dit - Google Play - Edit MP3 tags
PowerAmp – Free/Paid
PlayerPro Music Player – Trial/Paid
MX Video Player - Free/Paid
(MULTI-CORE DECODING - MX Video Player is the first Android video player that performs multi-core decoding.)
Double Twist (Video) - Paid
DoubleTwist AirSync - Paid - iTunes equivalent, sync music.
Cover ArtDownloader - Free/Donate(pro) - Download Album covers.
RockPlayer - Free
Zedge Ringtones & Wallpapers - Free - Free ringtones, wallpapers etc. More importantly assign notifications and ringtones from Zedge.
iSyncr for PC/MAC - (Paid) Sync iTunes playlists, rate music and build playlists directly from your device.
***New***
Easy Phone Sync - Free Samsung Apps - Especially developed by Samsung and Media Mushroom to help iTunes users move their media and information from iTunes.
For my music setup all I need is the stock music player and Voodoo Control. The stock player has a 'Bass Enhancement' option for my Dubstep and the Voodoo Control allows you to boost the volume so you can pass that 15 mark! (i9000 owner). Please note that Voodoo Control does not work for SGSII users.
GetJar is a market place with Golden Apps, paid apps for free (some may have limitations compared with Pro versions)
Getting media on your device
There are several ways to get media on your device. USB direct, USB Sync, Wireless Sync and Internet Direct. It is a good idea to have Samsung Kies installed, this also installs the USB drivers needed for the PC to recognise the device. You may also need USB debugging enabled:
Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging (My SGSI is not ticked)
USB Direct - Connecting the phone (in USB Storage Mode) to the PC. Ensure Samsung Kies is not running. You need to put the device in to Mass Storage/USB Storage mode, so go to Menu > Settings > Wireless & Network > USB Settings > Mass Storage Mode.
Connect the phone to the PC using the correct usb cable. Pull down the notification bar on the device and tap on the USB notification. Click OK for any other notices such as Whatsapp history.
USB Sync or Samsung Kies - Samsung Kies is the companion software for your I9000 or i9100. You can use to sync contacts, media, calender etc. It's also used to update your phone's OS (another story). You may have trouble with Samsung Kies, I try to avoid using it and their is an alternative, we are not Apple.
***Please note that if you use Kies to transfer media between the SGS and your PC then Kies may convert some of the media. An example: trasnferring videos (mp4) to yur PC using Kies will convert the video to 3gp. The same applies to music, bit rates may be adjusted by Kies to save on space.***
Wireless Sync - As previously mentioned certain apps allow you to sync your media like iTunes. Kies Air is available on the Samsung App Store (maybe other markets) and allows you to transfer media over a wifi/data connection, all you need is a pc with a web browser.
Internet Direct - Direct Use of internet via wifi or data connection to access stored media.
Dropbox is an example of this, an online site when registering you receive 2GbB of online storage and it can increase to 8Gb through referalls.
TeamViewer - Use your SGS to remote host/control any PC with TeamViewer installed and the given password. I use this in conjunction with my external HDD in my home. I can access all my stored media and upload it to Dropbox, then download it to mys SGSI
aDownloader - Torrent download app for android, best I've come across. I use in conjunction with:
Mixtapetorrent.com (a free mixtape site, mainly US rap, r&B etc. Download mixtapes via torrent)
Freakbeat.com - Free Dubstep, DnB, offbeat music etc. Direct downloads from Inernet browser.
Dropbox and TeamViewer are available on Android & PC, both are free. aDownloader is Android only and available from the market place.
There are also streaming apps like LastFM, Spotify etc. It is essential that you either use these on a wifi connection or if you have unlimited data plan then you are ok. They are all internet based and can consume a lot of data and battery power.
Now that you have media on your device you can view or listen till your hearts content. There may still be some things you'll want to do though, such assigning music as ringtones/notifications or organising your media.
Converting your media
For mp3 conversion I use Winamp and just change the output preference to mp3. I've never really encountered any problems with mp3s themselves, maybe TAG info but nothing MP3Tag couldn't resolve.
As for videos the easiest way to get your favourite DVD in AVI/mp4 format is to download using a bittorrent application and site. I don't encourage piracy; but those of you who have encoded/decoded video formats know the following:
1) Finding a FREE program that encodes/decodes and converts is a nightmare.
2) At best a small movie takes about an hour to convert if you get a program that does the whole process in one go.
3) Downloading a digital copy of the DVD you have purchased takes 25 minutes (depending on internet bandwidth).
Internal/External Storage
Just a few notes regarding the internal/external storage. You can encounter problems with media playback if you have not formatted the card correctly and is wise to format before using external storage. The preferred format is FAT32 and can be formatted when the device is connected to the PC. When the device is recognised by the PC right click on the External Storage (usually the 2nd removable storage drive in File Manager, the first being the Internal) and click Format.
The maximum external storage is 32Gb, using this size has been known to cause some problems. 16Gb & 32Gb Class 4 Micro SDHC cards are more than sufficient for the i9000 & i9100.
Setting Ringtones and Notifications
There are numerous ways to set tones for Calls, Notifications, Texts, Emails etc. If you want to apply a different ringtone to a contact or group make sure they are stored on the phone. If you turn off the phone any ringtone associated with a sim contact will reset.
Using any File Manager app go to the main directory and locate the 'Media' folder and then inside locate the 'Audio' folder.
In the Audio folder should be 3 more folders called Ringtones, Alarms and Notifications:
/Media/Audio/Ringtones **Calls**
/Media/Audio/Alarms **?Wakey?**
/Media/Audio/Notifications **SMS, emails or alerts for individual apps**
You can put your relevant mp3 files in the relevant folders. Long presssing the mp3 file in most apps will bring up the copy/paste/rename options.
You should now be able to see the files in Sound Settings Menu of the phone or relevant apps.
You can also use most audio player apps to set an mp3 for Calls, Contacts, messages etc.
As previously mentioned Zedge is a useful app for assigning ringtones and notifications.
Wallpaper and Picture Contacts
There are 4 types of wallpaper that can be set and they are:
Live Wallpaper - Animated/Responsive wallpaper (800x960)
Wallpaper - A picture (800x960) which is larger than the viewing area of the display. The homescreen scrolls along the wallpaper.
Wallpaper Locked - A picture (800x480) that is the same on every homescreen.
Lockscreen Wallpaper - A picture (800x480) that specifically appears when the screen is locked and illuminated.
The are a number of ways to set wallpaper and the majority end up at the same screen.
1) Long press the Homescreen > Wallpaper > Gallery/Live Wallpaper etc > Select photo.
You will now appear at the 'resize' screen, tap the orange border around the large picture and grey boxes with arrows will appear, use this to adjust the visible area. Also note the 2 feint orange boxes underneath. The left one is the current wallpaper (960x800) and the tall orange box on the right is the Wallpaper locked (480x800).
2) Menu > Wallpaper > Gallery/Live Wallpaper etc
3) Gallery > Select picture > Menu > More > Set As > Homescreen Wallpaper/Lockscreen Wallpaper / Contact Icon
4) From the app Contact, long press the required contact > Edit > Long press picture box (top left) > Album/Take Photo
5) Menu > Settings > Display > Wallpapers > LockSscreen Wallpaper/Homescreen Wallpaper
6) Direct from the internet. If you long press a picture from your web browser a 'set as' option should appear, this may not work on some pictures or 3rd party browsers.
Increasing the volume for Headphones & Loudspeaker
As always there are various ways to increase the volume for Headphones or the Loudspeakers.
Voodoo Control / VC Plus - Allows you to increase the Headphone gain, allowing you push past the '15' mark set by Samsung. this works for both Audio/video playback. Voodoo Control requires a special kernel to be installed in order for the App to work as the app is free, commonly found on Darky's Custom Roms. Voodoo Control Plus is the paid version and negates/bypasses the need for the kernel (no need for special firmware or even root maybe).
There are also service/engineer commands that can be dialled, these will bring up a menu system where you can change values/options etc. You must know what your doing if you attempt to use these commands, remember to note what your current settings are before changing. **Please read the following thread for i9000 Galaxy S Codes** thanks to Soraxd. A full list of Galaxy codes for i9000 & i9100 can be found at SamMobile.com
ADB Shell Access can also be used to adjust the volume settings. Please read the following guide:
How to Increase Volume on Android Mobile Phones
Organising your Media
Whether you store media on the internal/external storage your Galaxy device will scan and pick it up. It does not matter whether you call your folders Movie/Film/Cinema etc. It is wise to store Media in the following manner:
Internal:
/sdcard/Music
/sdcard/Video
/sdcard/Images
External:
/sdcard/externalsd/Music
/sdcard/externalsd/Video
/sdcard/externalsd/Images
Photos: You can label your folders with any title and the Gallery app will reflect this, for example I have a set of photos stored on my external SD Card from my Holiday in Malta 2006:
/sdcard/externalsd/Images/Malta 2006/
The Gallery shows all the photos in a folder called 'Malta 2006'
I also have all my wallpapers in a folder called '00Wallpaper', adding the '00' means that the set of Wallpapers will appear at the start of the Gallery.
Videos: The Video player will show videos in order of the file name and not the folder it's kept in. So if you want videos to appear in a particular order then you may want to change the name of the files so they look like this:
01 - Die Hard.avi
02 - Avatar.avi
03 - Shrek.avi
The Gallery will show videos on order of the folder name.
Music: Music will be listed depending on what information is contained in the iD2/3 tag. This can be edited using MP3Tag referenced at the start of this thread. How you want the your music to appear is entirely up to you. Some people like view songs by artist and some by album.
The basic rule is store mp3's for one album in one folder.
If you have a bunch of loose mp3's then stick them in a fodler called Singles or Misc.
Camera Support
The Galaxy's Camera has many settings/options and understanding them all can be daunting. The following link is aimed at the SGSII but some of the features are also present on the SGSI. I will either create a similar guide or find one.
Tips & Tricks: Galaxy S II Camera - Explains the i9100's Camera features with photo examples; handy. The page also has the following tips for i9100 users:
Digital Zoom: The volume button on your Galaxy S II also serves as the zoom control. Adjust the button to zoom in and out as much as 4x digital zoom.
Customize Shortcuts: You can easily customize your settings by creating four shortcut zones. Just tap and hold to move icons around, just like rearranging icons on the home screen of your computer.
Self-portrait Mode: Self-portrait mode activates the front-facing camera making it easy to take candid pictures of yourself without having to hold the camera awkwardly or guess where the shutter button is.
Blink Detection: If the camera detects closed eyes in the frame, it won’t take the picture until they’re back open.
Timer: Set a timer delay before taking a picture when you want to get in the shot and can place your Galaxy S II on a level surface to hold the camera steady.
A few things that should be obvious but may be over looked:
A steady hand will always improve the quality of photo/video capture.
Macro Focus - Close up shots of small objects
Night Scene - Improves the quality of night shots, see below.
Camera Apps
Papercam - Free - A paid app currently free on GetJar, although this version may be limited. I have used this quite often and I can recommend it. As used in my second Wallpaper pic below.
Pro HDR Camera - Paid
HDR Camera - Free/Paid
Picasa - Free/Pro - Upload/Download, Share/Sync - All things Photos (A lot more apps for managing your photos, search the market).
Wallpapers - 800x960 Originals
All Wallpapers here are designed by myself unless stated otherwise, feel free to use them. Most comprise of edited pics taken from the internet.
edit: Just realised this is not posted in the Media forumha, apologies. Briggs if you read this please move to Media forum
Also don't forget to vote for the thread if you found it useful, it'll make it easier for other people to find.
Gallery
Was just messing with the Gallery and noticed a couple of things I haven't seen before, not sure how long this has been about. (JVU 29/12/11).
1) When you first open the Gallery App, if you use the pinch action on a folder of photos, the 4 displayed photos will stretch out so you can see each one. It's also a cool little animation, there is a way of keeping the pictures separated.
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Originally Posted by Tufftoad
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