Using VLC to randomly play media files in some selected folders

Have you ever want to randomly play songs or MTV in some selected folders in Win7 ? For example, all the the mp3 or mp4 files are organized this way:

C:\MyAlbum\Artist1 C:\MyAlbum\Artist2 C:\MyAlbum\Artist3 C:\MyAlbum\Artist4 C:\MyAlbum\Artist5 C:\MyAlbum\Artist6 C:\MyAlbum\Artist7

I just want to play the media files for Artist1, Artist3 and Artist7 only. What can I do?

Here is the method.

First of all, using notepad or else to create a file named play_randomly_with_VLC.cmd with the following 2 lines:

@echo off start "" "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --random --zoom=1 --volume=256 %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

Put this file in any folder (e.g. C:\Bat)
Then go to the send-to folder using this method:

1. press Win+E to open an explorer window
2. press Alt+D to go to address bar
3. input shell:sendto
4. press ENTER

In the send-to folder, using drag-and-drop to create a shortcut to point to the play_randomly_with_VLC.cmd file in C:\Bat.
Now, everything is done!
Here is how to call VLC to play the media files for Artist1, 3 and 7:

1. Go to the folder C:\MyAlbum
2. Select the folders Artist1, Artist3 and Artist7 using the Ctrl key and the mouse left-button
3. Release the Ctrl key and Right-click the mouse button
4. In the pop-up menu, select Send to
5. Wait for another pop-up menu and select the shortcut for play_randomly_with_VLC.cmd

Then, VLC will be called to randomly play all mp3 or mp4 files inside the folders Artist1, Artist3 and Artist7.

This method can at most select 9 folders
Alvin SIU
2020-07-02

Copyright/Licence Information: All information and coding in this article is offered at no charge for NON-COMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE only. This blog and the coding is copyright. Reproduction of this blog and its coding in whole or in part in paper or digitally or in any other forms without the explicit written permission of the author is strictly prohibited.

Disclaimer: All information in this article is distributed "as is" and is UNSUPPORTED. NO WARRANTY of any kind is expressed or implied. You use AT YOUR OWN RISK. The author will not be liable for any data loss, damages, and loss of profits or any other kind of tangible or intangible loss while using or misusing wholly or partly of the information.

Use VLC to randomly play ALL media files inside a folder

Have you ever wonder to put all the media files (e.g. mp3 songs or MTV in mp4 format) in a folder as an album and then let VLC to play them one by one randomly?

Under Win7, here is the simple way.

Assuming that VLC is installed in the folder "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC", then:

1. Put all your favourite mp3 or mp4 files inside a folder named, for example, C:\MySongs
2. In your Win7 desktop, create a short cut ...
3. In the location:

   "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --random --zoom=1  --volume=256 "C:\MySongs"

4. Click the Next button
5. Then, input the following as the name of the shortcut:
   

   VLC Play Randomly

6. Click the Finish button

It is all done!

Now, just double-click this shortcut will call-up VLC to randomly play all files inside this folder.   You can even create sub-folders to organize your songs.

Alvin SIU
2020-07-02

Copyright/Licence Information: All information and coding in this article is offered at no charge for NON-COMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE only. This blog and the coding is copyright. Reproduction of this blog and its coding in whole or in part in paper or digitally or in any other forms without the explicit written permission of the author is strictly prohibited.

Disclaimer: All information in this article is distributed "as is" and is UNSUPPORTED. NO WARRANTY of any kind is expressed or implied. You use AT YOUR OWN RISK. The author will not be liable for any data loss, damages, and loss of profits or any other kind of tangible or intangible loss while using or misusing wholly or partly of the information.