Javascript jukebox

Javascript jukebox is a mouse-driven, browser-based music player designed using HTML5 and Javascript. It was created specifically for Adam Jansch's sound art performance Human jukebox x n, and features functionality more associated with classic hardware jukeboxes. To see Javascript jukebox in action take a look at the Human jukebox x n premiere video.

Here is a summary of the functionality of the Javascript jukebox:

• Triple-view UI: the UI shows a list of available tracks, the currently programmed playlist, and the currently playing track.
• Classic jukebox playback: tracks selected to play are added to a playlist which runs automatically, and only stops when the playlist is emptied. Tracks are played back in the order they are selected.
• Random song selection: if no tracks have been programmed for a specified period a lesser-played track will be selected automatically and added to the playlist. This functionality is optional, and the period definable.
• Selectable activation: the jukebox can optionally be set to activate and deactivate at specified times.

Installation

Javascript jukebox is designed for local browser use, so its files can be installed on your local web server. It has been tested on Chrome and Firefox, and relies on a number of third party Javascript libraries. These should be downloaded and installed into the scripts folder in the following structure:

• aadsm - install id3-minimized.js into scripts
• jquery - install JQuery file into scripts, update relevant <script> tag in index.html to JQuery file name
• jquery-calendrical - install contents into scripts
• shadowbox-3.0.3 - download version 3.0.3, install contents into scripts
• soundmanager - install soundmanager2.js into scripts, and contents of swf folder into swf

Other preparation

Javascript jukebox was tested with MP3 audio files. Any tunes you would like to have loaded should be copied into a folder named 'audio', located in the main directory of Javascript jukebox.

For the correct metadata to be displayed your MP3s will need a valid 'TLEN' (track length) tag (iTunes doesn't add a TLEN tag to its MP3s, and other applications do not put a valid value in the tag). To add or edit MP3 tags I would recommend Kid3 for Mac OS X. TLEN is measured in milliseconds.

Setting up Javascript jukebox

1. Load Javascript jukebox in your browser
2. Select audio directory
3. Set optional functions - leave boxes empty to disable
4. Load audio

Known issues

An issue with activation/deactivation times relating to summer time adjustments has yet to be resolved.

License

Javascript jukebox is released under a New BSD license.