Editing Foobar2000

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Primary|date=January 2021}}
{{Short description|Freeware audio player}}
{{Lowercase title}}
{{Infobox software
| name = foobar2000
| logo = 
| screenshot = Foobar2000 v1.3.12 on Windows 10, with LibriVox audio books in playlist, "visualization + album art + tabs" view.png
| caption = foobar2000 v1.3.12 on Windows 10
| developer = Peter Pawłowski and contributors<ref>{{cite web|title=License|url=https://www.foobar2000.org/license|website=foobar2000|access-date=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628003439/http://www.foobar2000.org/license|archive-date=28 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| released = {{Start date and age|2002|12|20}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,4997.0.html |title=Official foobar2000 site & foobar2000 0.3 & SDK! |publisher=Hydrogenaudio |access-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707010235/http://www.hydrogenaud.io/forums/index.php?showtopic=4997 |archive-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| latest release version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| latest preview version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q3295609}}
| latest preview date    = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|P348|P548=Q3295609|P577}}}}
| programming language = [[C++]]
| platform = [[Windows NT]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[macOS]]
| genre = [[Comparison of audio player software|Audio player]]
| license = Core: [[Freeware]]<br />SDK: [[BSD licenses|BSD]] (3 clause)
| website = {{URL|https://www.foobar2000.org}}
}}

'''foobar2000'''{{efn|The name [[foobar]] is derived from a common [[metasyntactic variable|placeholder]] name used in computer programming.}} (often abbreviated as '''fb2k''' or '''f2k''') is a [[freeware]] [[Audio player (software)|audio player]] for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[macOS]], and formerly [[Windows Phone]], developed by Peter Pawłowski. It has a [[Modular programming|modular design]], which provides user flexibility in configuration and customization.<ref name="abi">{{cite web|title=foobar2000 v0.9.6.9 Review|url=http://anythingbutipod.com/2009/11/foobar2000-v0969-review/|access-date=29 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708074724/http://anythingbutipod.com/2009/11/foobar2000-v0969-review/|archive-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> Standard "skin" elements can be individually augmented or replaced with different dials and buttons, as well as [[Music visualization|visualizer]]s such as waveform, oscilloscope, spectrum, spectrogram (waterfall), peak and smoothed VU meters, which all of them are analysis-oriented, at least for built-in visualizations. foobar2000 offers [[Third-party software component|third-party]] [[user interface]] modifications through a [[software development kit]] (SDK).

foobar2000 supports many [[audio file format]]s, has many features for organizing [[metadata]], files, and folders, and has a [[Transcoding|converter]] interface for use with [[Command-line interface|command line]] encoders. To maximize audio fidelity in cases where [[resampling (audio)|resampling]] or downscaling in [[audio bit depth|bit depth]] is required, it provides [[noise shaping]] and [[dither]]ing. There are a number of official and third-party [[Plug-in (computing)|component]]s which add many additional features. The core is [[closed source]], whereas the [[Software development kit|SDK]] is licensed under the [[BSD license#3-clause_license_.28.22BSD_License_2.0.22.2C_.22Revised_BSD_License.22.2C_.22New_BSD_License.22.2C_or_.22Modified_BSD_License.22.29|Three-Clause BSD license]].

==History and development==
foobar2000 was first released on 20 December 2002 and developed by Peter Pawłowski, who had previously worked at [[Nullsoft]] and developed plugins for [[Winamp]]. He created foobar2000 with the [[audiophile]] community in mind.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/foobar2000.php|title=ReallyRareWares – Foobar2000 audio player|website=www.rarewares.org|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029174148/http://www.rarewares.org/rrw/foobar2000.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The software's mascot and logo icon consists of a white "alien cat".

foobar2000 supports Windows, though the support of older versions for [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Vista|Vista]] has been dropped as of version 1.6 (released 2020).<ref name="version-1.6-xp-vista-0">{{cite web|title=Changelog for foobar2000 version 1.6 (wiki)|website=hydrogenaud.io|access-date=6 July 2020|url=https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Version_1.6_Release_Notes#Compatibility|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706201659/https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Version_1.6_Release_Notes#Compatibility|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="version-1.6-xp-vista-1">{{cite web|url=https://www.foobar2000.org/changelog|website=foobar2000.org|title=Release notes for version 1.6|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630213017/http://foobar2000.org/changelog|url-status=live|archive-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> [[Windows 2000]] support was dropped as of version 0.9.5 (released 2008) and Windows [[Windows 95|95]]/[[Windows 98|98]]/[[Windows ME|ME]]/[[Windows NT 4.0|NT4]] support was dropped as of version 0.9 (released 2006).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foobar2000.org/changelog-old|title=foobar2000: Change Log (archived)|website=www.foobar2000.org|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921121223/http://foobar2000.org/changelog-old|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most functionality also works as intended under [[Wine (software)|Wine]] on [[Linux]], although the program's crash reporter will detect Wine and direct the user to the Wine [[Bugzilla]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=1749 |title=foobar2000 |website=WineHQ |access-date=4 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305063548/https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=1749 |archive-date=5 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The vast majority of plugins and themes work fine, however, certain plugins may cause issues. Safe mode allows users to disable all plugins temporarily to debug the issue.

foobar2000 versions since 0.9.5 feature a revamped default interface, with embedded support for album list, [[album art]],<ref name="cnet">{{cite web|title=Foobar2000: Editors' review|date=31 August 2014|website=CNET|url=http://download.cnet.com/Foobar2000/3000-2139_4-10235595.html|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826004514/http://download.cnet.com/Foobar2000/3000-2139_4-10235595.html|archive-date=26 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Spectrogram|spectrum visualization]], and some other features and improvements. 

In May 2016, versions for mobile devices were released,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,111806.html|title=Foobar2000 (Mobile Edition)|website=hydrogenaud.io|access-date=7 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605120635/https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,111806.html|archive-date=5 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/foobar2000-mobile/9nblggh5xs5x|title=foobar2000 mobile – Windows Apps on Microsoft Store|website=Microsoft Store|access-date=10 May 2019|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510091306/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/foobar2000-mobile/9nblggh5xs5x|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/foobar2000/id1072807669|title=foobar2000 on the App Store|website=App Store|access-date=7 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802021400/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foobar2000/id1072807669|archive-date=2 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foobar2000.foobar2000|title=foobar2000 – Android Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|access-date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517191831/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foobar2000.foobar2000|archive-date=17 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and in January 2018, an early beta version for [[macOS]] was released.<ref name="foobar2000-mac">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foobar2000.org/mac|title=foobar2000 for Mac|website=www.foobar2000.org|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234117/http://www.foobar2000.org/mac|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2023, version 2.0 was released out of beta with native support for [[64-bit]], dark mode, and [[ARM architecture family|ARM]].<ref name="foobar2000_2.0_changelog">{{cite web |title=Foobar2000:Version 2.0 Release Notes |url=https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Version_2.0_Release_Notes |website=Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase|publisher=Hydrogenaudio |access-date=16 January 2023}}</ref>

== Features ==

=== Core ===
At its core, foobar2000 natively supports a range of audio formats, including [[MP1]], [[MPEG-1 Audio Layer II|MP2]], [[MP3]], [[Musepack|MPC]], [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]], [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]], [[Ogg Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] / [[Ogg]] FLAC, [[Apple Lossless Audio Codec|ALAC]], [[WavPack]], [[WAV]], [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]], [[Au file format|AU]], [[SND (file)|SND]], [[Audio CD]], [[Speex]], and [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]].

foobar2000 also has a highly customizable user interface, advanced [[Tag editor|tagging]] capabilities and support for [[ripping]] [[Red Book (CD standard)|Audio CDs]], as well as [[transcoding]] of all supported audio formats using the Converter component. The player can read inside [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]], [[GZIP]], and [[RAR (file format)|RAR]] [[Archive format|archives]].

Additional features include [[ReplayGain]] support (for both playback and calculation),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=ReplayGain|title=ReplayGain|website=Hydrogenaudio wiki|access-date=25 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706172230/http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=ReplayGain|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://joncairns.com/2010/10/foobar2000-4-3-replaygain/|title=foobar2000: 4.3 Replaygain|author=John Cairns|date=3 October 2010|access-date=25 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609070813/http://joncairns.com/2010/10/foobar2000-4-3-replaygain/|archive-date=9 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[gapless playback]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Gapless_playback|title=Gapless playback|website=Hydrogenaudio wiki|access-date=25 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706172312/http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Gapless_playback|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> keyboard shortcuts and support for [[Digital signal processing|DSP]] effects such as [[Equalization (audio)|equalization]] and [[Fade (audio engineering)|crossfade]].

Users can configure the foobar2000 Media Library with automated folder watching<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=ReleaseNotes&version=096 |title=foobar2000 0.9.6 release notes |access-date=9 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716075844/http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=ReleaseNotes&version=096 |archive-date=16 July 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Windows Media streaming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=ReleaseNotes&version=10 |title=foobar2000 1.0 release notes |access-date=4 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611100734/http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=ReleaseNotes&version=10 |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The client is built with an open component architecture, allowing third-party developers to extend functionality of the player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maximumpc.com/how-to-manage-your-music-the-power-user-way-with-foobar/ |title=How-To: Manage Your Music the Power User Way with Foobar |author=Alex Castle |date=14 April 2010 |website=Maximum PC |access-date=29 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324050445/http://www.maximumpc.com/how-to-manage-your-music-the-power-user-way-with-foobar/ |archive-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>
=== Optional ===
[[File:foobar2000 v2-24-2.png|thumb|foobar2000 v2.24.2 running on [[Windows 11]] with a third-party spectrum analyzer component installed on it]]
With addons or plugins, foobar2000 can read the [[Monkey's Audio|APE]], [[High Definition Compatible Digital|HDCD]], [[Dolby AC-3|AC3]], [[DTS (sound system)|DTS]], [[Super Audio CD|SACD]] and [[DVD-Audio]] formats.

Other optional features include playback statistics, [[CD burning]], [[kernel streaming]], [[Audio Stream Input/Output|ASIO]] support, [[WASAPI]] output compatibility, and a [[UPnP]]/[[DLNA]] renderer, media server and controller for networking. Third-party support is also present in the audio client. For instance, foobar2000 supports [[Scrobbling#Audioscrobbler plugin|Last.fm scrobbling]] and integration with [[iPod|Apple iPod]], including album art support and automatic transcoding of audio formats not supported by iPod itself.

==Derivative works==
foobar2000 developer Peter Pawłowski has also made other audio software, including Boom, which his web site describes as an "easy to use audio player intended for casual computer users".  It runs on Windows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perkele.cc/software/boom|title=Peter Pawlowski's home page : Software : Boom|website=www.perkele.cc|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111214909/https://perkele.cc/software/boom|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Comparison of audio player software]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
*[http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Main_Page Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase (HAK)] – official knowledge-base for foobar2000.

{{Media player (application software)}}

[[Category:2002 software]]
[[Category:Windows media players]]
[[Category:Tag editors]]
[[Category:Windows CD ripping software]]
[[Category:Android media players]]
[[Category:Media players]]
[[Category:Software that uses FFmpeg]]