• sam
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Vancouver
  • Registered: 2007-07-08
  • Posts: 90

Topic: Random is Not Really that Random

I know that this has been mentioned before and there was no real consensus on the issue but it's really starting to bug me. The 'random' function is far from perfect. Four times in the last hour I've listened to one track only to have it end and start again. There're no duplicates in the playlist and there're over 50 songs for the function to pick from.

.. it just did it again .. hmm

Maybe, instead of randomly picking the next track when it needs to be picked, we could go the iTunes (and I think Winamp) route by generating a randomzied playlist and then playing through that, re-randomizing it every time the playlist loops.

  • Registered: 2007-07-08
  • Posts: 790

Re: Random is Not Really that Random

It doesn't randomly pick the next track.
It likes tracks at the beginning of the playlist.
Randomly picking the next track would probably be an improvement. I'll add it to the 0.08 list.

  • From: Berlin, Germany
  • Registered: 2008-02-27
  • Posts: 2

Re: Random is Not Really that Random

I think random works partially. I have something like a workaround for you:

If you once loaded the whole playlist, activate random and start playing one of the "last" songs the true playlist-length seems to be "recognized" by the random-function.

Therefore i think its just a "count" problem of how many tracks are added to the playlist. After starting playing one of the last tracks the random-function works fine.


@ Developers:
int randomtrack = newAndTrueListLength * random(); should work better? Looks like Cog doesnt know / use the length of list.

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 32

Re: Random is Not Really that Random

This is in the process of being Fixed. In a while everything should be hunky dory - the fix is targeted for 0.08 release. It is already working heaps and heaps better in svn, if you're one of the impatient tongue

  • From: Berlin, Germany
  • Registered: 2008-02-27
  • Posts: 2

Re: Random is Not Really that Random

Thanks a lot, will wait for 0.08 i guess. Nice tool though!!

  • Registered: 2009-01-27
  • Posts: 1

Re: Random is Not Really that Random

Glad to see this is being worked on... I haven't listened to some of my music in ages due to this bug neutral