Alien FX works in Itunes even on R3!!!!!

i saw this on another post and it is totally worth re-posting.....you dont even need to download a custom plugin!

Copy c:\Program files\Alienware\commandcenter\Media plugin\Itunes\WiTunesAlienFXPlugin.dll to
C:\Users\[YOUR PROFILE NAME]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins\

Then open itunes and go to VIEW select Visualizer...select "Alienware Alien FX" ...... YOU MUST CLICK "show visulizer" or it wont work....ez way is jsut to togle back and forth with "CTL T"....

the config options are a bit lacking but it does work....Finally my very own disco-ball

 

Haha..Nice find. Couldn't get it to work originally but forgot to select Alienware Alien FX

 

i was trying to get the Intagrater one working forever but no dice on the R3...this method works right out of the box....very psyc'd.... the config is wierd....if you uncheck a zone it still works...there are basicly 2 colors active at any time...what is checked is one color, what is unchecked is another color.....selecting a color palet to the right doesnt seem to do anything....and if you choose a frequency to react to, it goes right back to 16-100 if you close and re-open options....but on top of all of this, it is still cool.

 

Does it work for the R1 too?
because I can't find the folder Media Plugin on my computer.

 

Thanks, it's configurable on a basic level, but works and is still pretty cool, been trying to get this to work for awhile.

 

Could anyone send me that WiTunesAlienFXPlugin.dll file so that I can check it out?

 

Install the command center driver thing from the dell website and it should include the dll.

 

I have. And I don't have the dll. Maybe it wasn't included in R1 driver.

 

Yeah could someone possibly just upload it somewhere. Don't have it with mine either.

 

Does AFX work with winamp?

 

ya...there is a different DLL but the procedure is almost exactaly the same.....but who uses winamp

 

Cool guys who don't use Itunes

Where do I find said DLL?

 

Almost the same location start in :\Program files\Alienware\commandcenter\Media plugin\ and there is a winamp dir somewhere....

you put it in the winamp equivalent folder...again its a simular path to the itunes one.

 

Got it working, awesome find!!

 

Nice find steve!

+rep!

 

Works with the latest version of winamp. It's very glitchy though---sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And also, it takes a long time for the visualization thingy to come up, because it also has to load up an AFX window for you to configure colors for the "octaves" in winamp. When it does work though, it's still hit n miss. Also, it's a bit behind the music, doesn't seem to go at the same pace as the beats in songs.

 

If you follow my original post on this here http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/419484-alienfx-pidgin-winamp-plugin-57.html it will work for the following Winamp , Itunes ,virtual dj , and my new recommended favorite windows media player which functions the best with the fx so far.Gets rid of the delay you decribe in winamp (which is the worst of the ones that do work).

 

no config options for media player though.... the itunes one will at least let you stagger some of the lighting zones.

 

Ah. kk thanks for the link You're the bestest.

It's this post, right? : http://forum.notebookreview.com/7468221-post561.html

 

Yes you can adjust the style and colors in all of them the same .for windows media player (which i promise you is the best at catching the beat , So on point ! esecially after you adjust your zones ) You right click on the alien head visual (which ive figured out how to turn into a media visual which is sweet at the same time as fx , just takes some small tweaks)then you click more options then click the plugin tab and then click properties.If you all need i can recommend my settings.I have to go here on a pesonal note lol ,,,,, when u finish tuning it up just how u like it , in windows media player , play the song Bad by MJ !! best of the light shows ive seen on this baby lol he is a legend on stuff that wasnt even out before he super sadly passed. lol................................O forgot to add im working on a fix for having to keep it open while the lightshow goes (currently you can click of long as u dont close it , best part about WMA on top of it all is that for some reason its the only player u can use the media panel to change the song on with out messing up the light show while your doing , clicking somewhere else.

Dookie !!! man u the coolest , you saved me !! lol i orderd 1 m17 r3 , got a replacement and it was because of your post on the yellow screen that i even looked , and what do you know ,,,,, Yelllow ! got my replacement today and all is well now.Thanks man,,,, you need any help at all let me know , i owe u one.

 

Nah dude, you're the bestest! <3 <# (the second one is a boquet of flowers) LOLZ!

Anywhoo, thx to Dane's advice (I believe it was Dane), we can adjust in CCC, the temperature of the screen (e.g. 6500k, etc). By default it's at 6500k. For the replacement even on default, it was yellow.

So back on topic, can you post simplied (in bullet points) the instructions to get this working on Windows Media Player? I cant seem to locate your post.

 

Well in windows media player you just have to right click kinda on the top , but on the same line as organize stream etc. There will be a drop down , click view , then plug ins , then options.In the list of plugins select alienware alienwarefx , Then make sure to click apply then ok.To start the alien fx hit ctrl+3 , If it dosent start just make sure the WMP window is maximized, dosent have to be full screen or anything though.

 

I found it, but when I click on "AlienWare AlienFX", the Apply button is greyed out and I cant click it. Additionally, when Alienware AlienFX is highlighted and I click on Properties, nuttin happens... Am I supposed to go find a certain file and copy it to a certain folder like the winamp one?? Please advise. tHx!

 

Be aware that using this desktop plugin (your link) is dangerous. It was not designed for the AlienFX firmware in any of the AW laptops. This is a completely different firmware and you risk bricking your AlienFX firmware by using it.


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@dookie, you shouldn't have to do any of this with your R3. The Command Center used in the new model line (11xR3, 14x, 17xR3 and 18x) includes a Winamp, iTunes and Windows Media Player plugin for AlienFX. You do not have to move the plugin. When Command Center is installed, the plugins are registered. I posted about this here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...problems-questions-thread-14.html#post7479120

I confirmed this was the case with Windows Media Player on a 17xR3. I did not check iTunes but the plugin is provided.

 

Is there something wrong with mine, where clicking Properties does nothing for the AlienFX plugin in WMP? Also, when it's highlighted, why is the Apply button greyed out? If I click OK, and reopen that window again, AlienFX is not selected, it's Alchemy by default. It's the same for all of the plug in selections...none can be "Applied".

EDIT: Still can't click apply, but I found out why I couldn't enable it. It's cuz I was playing a video, versus a song. With an MP3 it worked. After closing WMP and then reopening to try a different song (cuz it wouldn't let me queue songs), the plugin doesn't work when I right click and go to Visualizations. WMP just ended up crashing/freezing while the new song played. My lights remained the solid default red color rather then discoballin. It's pretty glitchy, aint it?

EDIT2: I reopened WMP without a song, and went to visualizations and clicked "No Visualizations". My lights all turned off. WEIRD. And then they came back on shortly after. VERY GLITCHY sheesh!

EDIT3: I think it's WMP that freezes alot. I played a random song, and tried to enable a diff visualization: "Album art," and it froze (can't click anything). After about 30secs to 1minute, the album art showed and now I can click stuff in WMP. And now if I fullscreen, the lights "discoball" again, even though I don't have AlienFX set. So weird!

EDIT4: Sorry for being annoying lolz. Last edit of the day : When it does work, it's pretty cool. I still don't get it though, cuz it doesn't seem synched with the music. It almost seems like randomly flashing lights all the time, slow or fast song. I'm testing it with DJ Mitsu The Beats songs, btw.

 

did you install that Aurora desktop plugin? If so, you may have damaged your AlienFX firmware.

If you did not try the desktop plugin, reinstall command center - download the M17xR3 version, uninstall the current install of CC, reboot and run CCleaner Registry in safe mode. Reboot again and install CC. This should resolve it.

You shouldn't have to move any plugins from the CC/Mediaplugin directory.

EDIT: The WMP plugin will not have to be moved. not sure about Itunes or winamp.

Windows Media Player walk-through:

1. Launch WMP
2. Select an MP3 and play
3. CTRL+3 to show the Now Playing window
4. Right Click in window ----> Visualizations ----> Alienware AlienFX ----> Default
5. Enjoy the AlienFX Light Show.
6. *When exiting Windows Media Player, your LEDs will go dark for a moment. Don't worry - the last active theme will return in a second or two. AlienFX is cycling out of third party access and returning to the last theme file saved.

Not sure about Winamp or iTunes as I was not able to test/mess with these when I had access to an R3.

 

I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Please delete my original post if you haven't already.

 

No worries, no apology needed. I know your intentions were well placed.

Just dont want to see anyone with a bricked AlienFX.

 

Is it possible to run this same plugin on an M15x? I received mine in late January of this year and have been trying to get a music plugin to work with the AlienFX since then.

 

Current version of Command Center for the first gen Dell/AW lappies (M11xR1/R2, M15x and M17xR1/R2) does not offer this. Alienware has not released the newest Command Center on the older platforms.

**There may be differences between the two (older gen of CC vs new model version of CC) so for owners of the previous platforms, I do not suggest trying to use the New Model version of CC. Might brick your AlienFX firmware. Your call but if you do encounter issues, support may not assist you since it has not be qualified on the older models.

 

What about the .dll itself? Is it safe to attempt using it after getting it from someone else? I know that it probably wouldn't even work, but I figure it's at least worth a try. I've been desperate to get my keyboard flashing to music since I saw Lord Zath's demo of Ingrater's Winamp Plugin.

 

I dont see any reason you couldn't try the .dll. Do so at your own risk.

The problem with that desktop plugin was that the installer actually installs a different version of just AlienFX - for desktops, not notebooks. Again, I just didn't want to see a wave of folks stuck with a major issue if anything went wonky.

 

Hey I tried it and it doesnt work on my 17x r3!! I copied it to the correct location ! but Under visualisations menu in itunes,alienfx doesnt appear. Any Ideas??

 

Thats for this tip , its my own disco at home
good times!!!