Two instances of Metro app

Question

Hello,

I wonder whether it is possible to run two instances of my Metro style audio player?

I've found some threads, which says, that it is not possible, but it may change in further Windows 8 releases. My case is to run two audio files simultaneously.

Best regards,

Jiraiya

Answer 1

No. Metro style apps are single instance only.

You could allow playing two audio files simultaneously in a single instance of the app.

--Rob

Answer 2

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your reply. I developed a simple Metro app with two MediaElement objects in it. When I select via FileOpenPicker an audio file for first MediaElement, it started to play, which is OK. After that via second FileOpenPicker I selecte another audio file for second MediaElement and it started to play, but playback of first audio file stopped.

Shall I do some extra work to enable simultaneous playback of two audio files? Does Media Foundation support that case?

Some examples?

BR,

Jiraiya

Answer 3

Hello Jiraiya,

Try setting the AudioCategory to SoundEffects or GameEffects one of these should allow you to continue to play both streams at the same time.

MediaElement.AudioCategory property
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/windows.ui.xaml.controls.mediaelement.audiocategory.aspx

If this doesn't work let me know and we will see what else we can come up with.

-James

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Windows Media SDK Technologies - Microsoft Developer Services - http://blogs.msdn.com/mediasdkstuff/

Answer 4

Hello James,

I tried both AudioCategories you wrote above, but unfortunately without any positive effect. The application behavior hasn't changed.

Best regards,

Maciek

Answer 5

Hello Jiraiya,

This works for me:

<Page
    x:Class="DualAudio.BlankPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:DualAudio"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">

    <Grid Background="{StaticResource ApplicationPageBackgroundBrush}">
        
        <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="401" Margin="10,10,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="793">
            <Grid HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="100" Width="793">
                <MediaElement x:Name="_ME1" AutoPlay="False" AudioCategory="GameMedia" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="100" Margin="0,00,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="50" IsLooping="True" Source="Assets/atomic_dance_explosion_rad.mp3" MediaFailed="_ME1_MediaFailed" CurrentStateChanged="_ME1_CurrentStateChanged"/>
                <Button x:Name="_btnPlay1" Content="Play" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="696,27,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="87" Click="_btnPlay1_Click"/>
                <TextBox x:Name="_tbState1" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="223,34,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Stopped" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="277"/>
            </Grid>
            <Grid HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="100" Width="793">
                <MediaElement x:Name="_ME2" AutoPlay="False" AudioCategory="GameMedia" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="100" Margin="0,00,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="50" IsLooping="True" Source="Assets/borg64.mp3" MediaFailed="_ME2_MediaFailed" CurrentStateChanged="_ME2_CurrentStateChanged"/>
                <Button x:Name="_btnPlay2" Content="Play" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="696,27,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="87" Click="_btnPlay2_Click"/>
                <TextBox x:Name="_tbState2" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="223,34,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Stopped" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="277"/>
            </Grid>
        </StackPanel>

    </Grid>
</Page>

Give this a try and let me know if you are still having problems.

-James

---

Windows Media SDK Technologies - Microsoft Developer Services - http://blogs.msdn.com/mediasdkstuff/

Answer 6

James,

Thanks for your reply. In fact it works great.

But is it possible to do the same with FileOpenPicker for both MediaElements, so that I could choose during runtime what file to play, instead of explicitly selected in player code? - this is the way I'm following without positive results.

Best regards,

Maciek

Answer 7

Jiraiya,

You should be able to use the file picker. Can you post your code?

-James

---

Windows Media SDK Technologies - Microsoft Developer Services - http://blogs.msdn.com/mediasdkstuff/

Answer 8

Hello Jiraiya,

Do you still need help with this?

-James

---

Windows Media SDK Technologies - Microsoft Developer Services - http://blogs.msdn.com/mediasdkstuff/