Emphasis here is on CD music players and sound, MIDI, MOD, MP3, etc., players. No specialized support programs or format converters listed. I tend to emphasize programs that don't require sound cards, although some (more) listed here do require them.

For other CD-ROM utils, go to Disk Utils - 2.

Some other program packages include good integrated CD players: See CONNECT – File Wizard – CD Navigator.

Another CD Player (ACP) — Programmable text mode audio CD player.

* * * *

This is a complete, full screen text mode audio CD player with a full set of features. Command line mode supported as well. I (almost) stopped my search for cd players after I found ACP.

• Handles audio compact discs containing up to 99 tracks
• Background playing, random and programmable playing
• Rewind and Fast Forward
• Next/Previous Track
• Command line mode
• Fully configurable initialization file: CPU setting, VideoMode, Mouse on/off, SkipFrames=x during rw/ff, InitAction=play|continue|stop|none, TrackList=<list>|random, TrackDelay=x
• Time stats: track length, current position, time remaining
• Status pane
• No volume controls
• Runs on 80286+ and CGA+ video (but has extra options on VGA+)
• Mouse support, with external driver
• EXE size: 28K

Other: In full screen mode, the ESC key permits background playing. Has the Borland Pascal 7 CRT bug – see patches. Does not work properly under Win9x.

Author: András Kékesi, Hungary (1996).

1996-12-16: v1.12.

Download acp_112.zip (25K).

CD-V — Programmable, VGA CD player.

unrated

[added 1999-11-02]

This VGA-mode CD player offers a full suite of onscreen controls including track programming, volume control, mute button, repeat mode, fast foward/reverse (coarse).

• Includes a configuration program to adjust default settings.
• Colors customizable.
• Spectrun and scope effects available w/ SoundBlaster compatible card.
• Integrated screen blanker.
• Runs under Win9x.

Requirements: 386+, VGA card, mouse. Two versions of player are included – one requires a coprocessor / fpu.

Author: Itamar Grutman, Israel (1994). Suggested by Mike Wann.

1995-03-24: v1.9.

Download cd-v19.zip (160K).

SJGPlay — Audio CD player with cataloging and lyric features.

unrated

[added 1998-05-20]

This 167K text mode program caters to the more serious audiophile, but is still quite easy to use.

• Full suite of track controls.
• Repeat Modes, Intro Mode – Play first few seconds (adjustable) of each track.
• Programming (playlist) – Up to 99 steps, Playlist saved with each individual CD, Insert/Delete steps, Clear All/Use All tracks, Edit playlist WHILE CD is being played, Shuffle tracks Select only tracks with lyrics, Toggle programmed or standard play (track order).
• Detailed, configurable status display.
• CD Cataloging – CD Name and Artist, Track names, Automatic recognition of CD, Catalog Files by: CD's, Lyrics, Albums or All files, Delete, Edit, Sort, Print.
• Lyrics – Built-in text editor for lyric entry (autosave); Synchronized playback of lyrics.
• Supports multiple CD-ROM drive units; Volume control.
• Mouse control of most functions, programmable joystick control.
• Flexible configuration.
• Command-line mode.
• Timers, screen saver, and other utils included.
• Built-in help, extensive documentation...

Author: Steve J. Gray (1996). Suggested by Dev Teelucksingh.

1996-12-05: v1.29.

For more info and a screenshot, go to the SJGPlay for DOS page. Win3.1x and Win9x versions are also available.

CDPLAYER — Command line CD player.

unrated

[added 1999-05-14, updated 2005-12-09]

If you're a DOS memory miser you'll probably prefer this command line cd player. It will start a track and then kill itself. Unlike TSR players, CDPLAYER requires no memory after your track starts.

<track>		Starting track for the whole CD
T <track>		Play only one track
S		Stop playing current track
E		Eject tray
U		Unlock door
R		Random track
I		Info screen
? or H		Help

Play.bat <track>		Play selected track
Stop.bat		Stop current track
Eject.bat		Eject tray
Close.bat		Close tray
Random.bat		Play random track
Lock.bat		Lock tray
Unlock.bat		Unlock the tray
Info.bat		Drive info

Author: Jani Ponkko, Finland (1996).

1996-07-28: v1.0. Cardware.

Download cdplay10.zip (14K).

* * * *

[added 1998-08-09]

If you spend lots of time in DOS, this unobtrusive tsr cd player will definitely be worth a look. When activated, CDPTSR displays a single status line at top of screen, with playing status, track, time, and volume information.

• The status line can be positioned vertically with PgUp/Dn keys.
• Track foward or reverse using the left/ right arrow keys.
• Adjust volume with Up/Down arrows. Toggle Q to mute.
• Stop and Resume keys
• Requires only 3.5K mem when resident. Uninstallable.

• No choosing of tracks by number; not programmable.
• No fast foward / reverse.
• Hot key combo (SHIFT-CTRL-C) not modifiable.

Author: Martin Goebbel, Germany (1998).

Download cdptsr12.zip (6.5K).

1998-08-09: v0.12.

Also see: ACP (has background playing mode).

More in these pages from Martin Goebbel.

SBPlay — SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW sound files player – no sound card required.

unrated

[added 1998-06-04, updated 2005-04-22]

SBPlay is a utility for playing back sound files. It works with SoundBlaster compatible cards and other types of sound cards with the use of DIGPAK drivers. It will also use the regular PC speaker.

Supported formats: SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW. Limited support for MAC files and .AU files. Plays samples in (MOD) files at last used frequency.

It will try to play back unknown files or raw data files such as MAC SND files at 11,000 samples per second. SBPlay will also rip sound samples from MOD files and will create the SAM sample files which were used to create the original mod file. WAV and VOC sound files can also be created." "...The major enhancement [for v2.57] is for the PC speaker driver. The playback speed can be fine tuned and saved.

Author: John A. Ball, Canada (2000). Suggested by Lars-Erik Sandberg.

2000-03-04: v2.58. Postcardware.

Download sbply.zip (187K).

LxVox — Tiny WAV file player (8-bit mono), no sound card required.

unrated

[added 1998-11-10]

LxVox is a very small (1700 bytes) WAV file player running in 64KB of memory on any x86 machine. It plays 8bit mono WAV files of any size and supports any sampling rate...If called without parameters, LxVox searches the current directory for all files with the extension WAV. If files are found, they are played. If no files are found, LxVox exits and displays a small help screen.

Good documentation.

/H    Help screen display
/L    Loop endless through files
/N    No file info output
/S    Scan all subdirectories too
/Vx   Volume set to x=1-3 (HP200LX only)

Author: Stefan Peichl / DOS Palmtop Freeware, Germany (1998).

1998-10-21: v1.0.

Download lxvox.zip (9.5K).

More in these pages from Stefan Peichl.

Xtc-Play — Multi-format sound file player (requires sound card).

unrated

[added 1998-07-08]

• The Ultrasound GF1-series (i.e. Classic, Max and Ace)
• Interwave boards revision A+B (e.g. Gus PnP)
• SoundBlaster series (SB,SBPro,SB16,SB32,SB64)

• 669 8 channels, 1-128 channels
• DSM 1-32 channels
• DMF 1-32 channels FAR 1-16 channels
• IT 1-32 channels
• MDL 1-32 channels
• MOD 2,4,...,30,32 channels
• MP1 MP2 MP3 MPEG I,II any layer, any bitrates
• MTM 1-32 channels
• NST 4 channels
• PTM 1-32 channels
• S3M 1-32 channels
• STM 1-32 channels
• WOW 8 channels
• VOC standard VOC, no loops
• WAV standard PCM, 8/16bit, mono/stereo
• XM 1-32 channels

Author: Sanction Team, Germany (1997).

1997-07-30: v0.97c.

Download xtcp097c.zip (396K).

Also go to Harmony-Central for other MIDI utils (freeware / shareware).

Megamid — Full-featured DOS MIDI Player.

unrated

[added 1998-05-23, updated 2004-08-19]

• Supports: MPU-401 / SB MIDI port / Serial
• Special GM / MT-32 / GS / XG / SC-88 support
• Special karaoke (.KAR) support: Lyrics + bouncing ball!
• Display notes (bar or keyboard), patches, tempo, controllers (8 of them), text, pitch-bending, GS bitmaps & much more
• Oscilloscope for SB card owners.
• Inter-active: Change patches, tempo, volume & more real-time
• Mute / Solo þ Pause / Fast Forward
• Wildcards & script file support
• External menu shell included
• Special requirements: SVGA (versions earlier than the 1.66 listed here supported VGA)

Author: Fong Chee Keat, Singapore (1997). Cardware. Suggested by Dev Teelucksingh.

1997-06-28: v1.66.

Download megam166.zip (293K).

MIDIplay — Play MIDI files through PC speaker.

unrated

[added 1998-05-23, updated 1998-08-21]

MIDIplay is a freeware 19K DOS program which plays a MIDI file through a PC's internal speaker. While the quality of the sound reproduced won't make you take out your sound card...this might be the best. (or only) bet for laptops.

...The output is monophonic, so some notes may be lost. Where two or more notes should be played simultaneously, midiplay plays the highest pitch one. If the MIDI file is type 1, midiplay chooses the first non-empty track to play unless some other track has been specified with the -t option. While a file is playing, press any key to stop it.

usage : midiplay midifile <options>
         -t <track>
         -c <channel>
         -s <semitones to transpose>
         -p <percentage of original speed> 100 = no change
         -i more information

Author: James Allwright (1997). Suggested by Dev Teelucksingh.

1997-03-28: v1.0.

Download midiplay.zip (23K).

Midget II — Easy to use MIDI composer.

unrated

[added 1999-10-17, updated 2006-03-14]

The main aim of Midget is to provide an interface that allows the user to create good music in short time, using MIDI... The interface allows the composer to hear notes as they are entered, and review them if necessary. With most MIDI programs, the user has to enter data on to an image of a music manuscript. This takes considerable skill and time to get it right all the time... Midget allows the composer to enter a note, instantly change it if necessary, and continue, in a fraction of the time this operation would take with common MIDI file editors...

Running Midget: 32-bit program with DOS extender built-in. Requires DOS 6 (Win9x better), 80486-50MHz (Pentium 200Mhz better), VGA 640x480x16, 8MB memory (32MB better), XMS/EMS, SoundBlaster Pro/16 with wave-table daughterboard or external MIDI instrument. Can be operated from keyboard (mouse better). Can be configured to work without a sound card, using a PC's internal speaker instead. Does not work under Win16 or NT+.

Other: Neat, well organized, text-graphic interface.

Author: Andrew Greenwood / Silver Blade Music & Technology, UK (2000).

2001-06-17: v2.03.

Download midget20.zip (470K).

Get more info at the Midget 2.0 page.

Go to Silver Blade Music & Technology's Welcome page, for links to music files, and Midget for Win32 (formerly paid shareware, now free).

Some free ones, including a couple that don't require sound cards.

Also see Xtc-Play, above.

OpenCubicPlayer (Cubic Player) — MOD player, requires sound card.

unrated

[added 2005-12-09]

This player seems to get very high marks from MOD experts. Runs under plain DOS, Win9x/ME/XP, Linux; Text mode from 80x25 to 132x60; Graphics mode (Can use VESA 2.0). Supports both hardware and software mixing.

• DirectX 5 or later
• Sound Blaster 1.0, 2.0, Pro, 16, 32, AWE32, AWE64
• Gravis Ultrasound Classic, Daughterboard, MAX, PnP
• AMD Interwave
• WSS (Windows Sound System)
• Terratec AudioSystem EWS64L/XL
• Pro Audio Spectrum
• ESS AudioDrive 688 / 1688
• .WAV writer

• 669 - 669 Composer module
• AMS - Velvet Studio module
• BPA - Death Ralley archive
• CDA - compact disk CD audio track
• DMF - X Tracker module
• IT - Impulse Tracker module
• MDL - Digi Tracker module
• MID - Standard midi file
• MOD - Amiga ProTracker 1.1b module and variants
• MP3 - MPEG audio format level 1-3
• MTM - Multi Tracker module
• MXM - Mxmplay module
• OKT - Oktalyzer module
• PLS - playlist, works also with M3U and PLT playlist files
• PTM - Poly Tracker module
• S3M - Sream Tracker 3 module
• SID - PSID sid file
• UMX - Unreal module file
• ULT - Ultra Tracker module
• WAV - Microsoft RIFF wave file
• WOW - WOW Tracker module
• XM - Fast Tracker 2 module

• Spectrum analyer (text, graphic)
• phase graphs
• track view
• online help
• instrument view
• song message
• note dots
• oscilloscopes
• peak power levels
• and finally the only software on earth featuring Würfel Mode

Authors: Niklas Beisert, Felix Domke, Fabian Giesen, Tammo Hinrichs, Dirk Jagdmann; Germany (2002).

2002-01-02: v2.60pre6. Free for non-commercial use.

Online manual.

Get more info & other players at the OpenCubicPlayer Page.

Inertia player (IPLAY) — MOD player doesn't require sound card.

unrated

[added 1998-07-08, updated 2006-03-14]

• Supports GUS, PAS 16, SB 16/16ASP, SB Pro, SB, Adlib, Covox [Mono], Stereo-On-1 and Windows Sound System, MIDI [Experimental]
• Or you can use the PC speaker.
• Module Support: 4 Channel, 15 Samples NoiseTracker * 4 Channel, 31 Samples NoiseTracker, ProTracker, SoundTracker etc. * 4 and 8 Channel StarTrekker * 4,6,8,16 and 32 Channel FastTracker * 4,6,8,10,12,14,16 and 32 Channel TakeTracker * 669 Modules from Composer 669 v1.x * Extended 669 Modules from UNIS669 * STM Modules from Scream Tracker 2.x * S3M Modules from Scream Tracker 3.x * MTM Modules from MultiTracker 1.x * PSM Modules from ProTracker Studio 16 [Not 100% operative due to the many changes in the fileformat] * WOW Modules from Mod's Grave * FAR Modules from Farandole Composer * INR Modules from Inertia Tracker * ULT Modules from UltraTracker.
• No XM module support.
• Requires 80386+ (written in 80386 ASM) and VGA+. Can use EMS and UMB, but not XMS memory.
• IPLAY.EXE runs from command line or from graphical shell. Settings can be saved only from the graphical SETUP.EXE. Docs are in the graphical READER.EXE.
• Graphical operations support keyboard and mouse.

Authors: Stefan Danes, Ramon van Gorkom, et al. / Inertia Productions, Netherlands (1995).

1995-02-07: v1.22.

Download iplay122.zip (148K).

Multi Module Player (MMP) — SVGA MOD player.

unrated

[added 1998-07-08]

A high quality MOD player. Can use XMS memory for memory hungry samples. Supported formats: 669, MOD, MTM, NST, S3M, XM. Also: XI, WAV. Requires SB or SB-Pro sound cards, VESA compatible display.

Author: Charles Attard, France (1998).

1998-04-20: v5.585.

Download mmp5585.zip (129K).

Get more info & support software at the Multi Module Player Home Page.

Optical Player (OPLAY) — SVGA 4-channel-only MOD player; sound card not required.

unrated

[added 1998-07-08, updated 2005-12-09]

Optical Player is a fast SVGA MOD player for DOS. and uses various visual effects to show the sounds that are currently played. OPLAY can also be used to view MOD and sample info.

• Major limitation: Plays only 4-channel M.K. MOD files
• sound cards supported ADLIB; DAC on LPT (only mono); SB, SB PRO, SB16, SB AWE 32 and compatibles; Windows Sound System.
• Can also play through the PC speaker.
• Requires VESA compatible display.

Other: Free for non-commercial use. Docs in Croatian & English.

Authors: Bruno Babić and Matija Tomašković, Croatia (1997).

1997-01-24: v1.05b.

Download oplay105.zip (99K).

More info & screenshots at the Optical Player page.

Mpxplay — AAC, AC3, APE, DTS, MP2, MP3, MP4/M4A, MPC, OGG, WAV and CD player/ripper.

unrated

[added 1998-09-12, updated 2006-03-14]

Mpxplay is an impressive interactive and command line DOS MP3 player with support for multiple sound cards. Also implenents MPEGPlus, OGG, AC3, and WAV format support. It has a directory browser, file search function, and it can display and edit ID3 tags. Handles .m3u or .mxu playlists. Also features a spectrum analyzer and, unlike many DOS MP3 players, provides for a variety of sound adjustments (e.g., speed, surround, treble, bass, volume, channel effects, fades, and more). Plays WAV files, audio CDs and can copy CD tracks to wav files. supports SB Live/Audigy, CMI, VIA, SB16, ESS, GUS, WSS and SB Pro compatible soundcards. User's custom settings can be stored in the plain text .INI file. Free for personal use only.

Mpxplay has three variants, all 32-bit, using different DOS extenders. All require DOS 5.0+ (including FreeDOS & DR-DOS/OpenDOS), 80486/100MHz CPU (Pentium II+ preferred, except for "486" variant), 4MB RAM. LFNs are supported under Win9x or with DOSLFN.

Author: Attila Pádár / PDSoft, Hungary (2006). Suggested by Dev Teelucksingh.

2005-12-27: v1.53.

If you get the DOS/4G variant, you will need the separate extender: Download DOS4G260.ZIP (208K).

Go to PDSoft for updates (they come often), plugins, other programs, source code, info.

Also take a look at the Mpxplay Forum.

DAMP — Command line MP3 and CD player with music-synchronized graphical display.

unrated

[added 2000-01-04, updated 2006-03-14]

DAMP includes an option to enable a GUI mode if you dislike the command line. See docs for a long list of options. Supported sound cards: ESS Audiodrive, SoundBlaster 1/1.5/2/Pro/16 and emulators. 32-bit DJGPP build, requires 80386+ and a DOS Protected Mode Interface (CWSDPMI or other).

Two DAMP front ends are under independent development: Jukebox and dFront. Also available are an ID3 editor (ID3Edit) and a dir lister (ID3Dir) which displays ID3 tags.

Author: Matt Craven, UK (2001). (Source: Dev Teelucksingh's Interesting DOS Programs).

2001-11-25: v0.97 WIP 8.

Download dampwip.zip (468K).

Go to the DAMP page for support programs & info.

Mp3 Jukebox (Jukemp3) — MP3 player with music speed / direction controls and other effects.

unrated

[added 2000-07-22, updated 2005-05-21]

This MP3, MOD, and CD player "tries to emulate a turntable...It's able to do the classic vinyl stop effect, unlimited pitch, hand slaps, playing backward, and digital effects like realtime timestretching, pitch bend, pause, panning... and you can play sample .wavs (like voices, effects, jingles, etc...) while mp3/mp2 is playing."

Mp3 Jukebox includes a music file search routine and can display a play list of found files. Has option to display the play list during playback (i.e., allows selection of a new song during playback).

Requires DOS 6+, 80386+ (P90+ recommended), 2MB RAM, SoundBlaster 16 or compatible sound card. Graphics card optional – display is text mode only.

Simple jukebox: Copy the program files to a bootable diskette, and put the command JUKEMP3.EXE at the end of AUTOEXEC.BAT. Insert the diskette and a CD full of MP3 files into a PC, then start up. Hard disk & monitor are not required.

2002-02-15: Beta 15-02-2002.

Author: David Aranda Alonso, Spain (2002).

Download jukemp3.zip (310K).

Jukemp3 Page

DOSamp — Play MPEG Layer 3 files (MP3).

unrated

[added 1998-08-16, updated 2004-08-19]

Untested.

DOSamp is a port of amp to DOS. 32-bit DJGPP build, requires 80386+ and a DOS Protected Mode Interface (CWSDPMI, included). Supports SB and GUS PnP sound cards. No documentation.

Usage: DOSAmp file.mp3 [-downmix -downsample -8 -dmasize 32768]

Author: Nullsoft Team (1996). Suggested by Dev Teelucksingh.

1996-12-02: v0.8.

Download dosamp08.zip (107K), or get the DOSampEX package, below.

Also see Nullsoft's current Winamp.

DOSampEX — Extender for DOSamp MP3 player.

unrated

[added 1998-08-16, updated 2005-12-09]

DOSampEX provides controls for DOSamp: Play list repeatedly; Play list in reverse order; Shuffle play (random order); Create and edit playlist(s). Configuration file stores data for both DOSamp & DOSampEX. Requires DOS 3.3+, 80286+. Released under GNU General Public License. Package contains DOSamp and CWSDPMI.

Author: Henrich Fukna, Slovakia (2003).

2004-03-25: v0.9.5.

Download dax095.zip (171K).

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