Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows

roho has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

After reading the Audio programming portability post by starX in SOPW I downloaded the sample Tk program by zentara which uses the SDL module. I tried installing SDL from Activestate using ppm, but the SDL module does not exist in their respository. A check of their repository build chart shows SDL failed to build.

I found the SDL module in an alternate repository http://www.bribes.org/perl/ppmdir.html and installed it using ppm. The sample Tk program plays WAV files OK, but does not play MP3 files via the call to $mixer->play_music( $music, 100). I am at a loss as to what else I must do to get MP3 files to play on Windows. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Update:

Thanks to all for their suggestions, however I've come to the conclusion that it's just not worth the hassle to continue to try to put all the SDL pieces together to make it work. I can get what I need by starting Winamp with a list of MP3 filenames from my Perl program, plus my program now runs without the need of any non-core modules which makes distribution MUCH easier. Once again, my thanks to all.

"Its not how hard you work, its how much you get done."

Comment on Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows

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Re: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by Anonymous Monk on Jan 06, 2007 at 17:28 UTC
The sample Tk program plays WAV files OK, but does not play MP3 files What errors does it throw? You're probably missing SMPEG	[reply]
Re^2: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by roho (Bishop) on Jan 06, 2007 at 18:30 UTC
It doesn't throw any error. It just silently executes the play_music line and goes on its way. BTW, what is SMPEG, what does it do, and where/how do I obtain and install it? Thanks, roho "Its not how hard you work, its how much you get done."	[reply]
Re^3: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by zentara (Cardinal) on Jan 06, 2007 at 20:38 UTC
Just google for 'SMPEG', it is a library for SDL which plays mp3's. I have no idea about getting it to run on windows. I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth. Cogito ergo sum a bum	[reply]
Re^4: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by roho (Bishop) on Jan 07, 2007 at 03:29 UTC
Re^5: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by syphilis (Archbishop) on Jan 07, 2007 at 06:22 UTC
Re^3: Module SDL::Music not playing MP3s on Windows by Anonymous Monk on Jan 06, 2007 at 18:44 UTC
Make it throw an error.	[reply]