Undocumented WinAmp Tips

We'll help you find WinAmp's hidden shortcuts.

Lenny Bailes

Nullsoft's WinAmp audio player consists of a virtual "deck" of three audio control components--the WinAmp window, an Equalizer, and the Playlist Editor--plus an integrated Web browser. Here are our favorite tricks for customizing the interface and using WinAmp's hidden features:

• UUNDOCK COMPONENT WNDOWS: The three main modules of WinAmp show up docked together when you install the program, but you can separate each "component" and place them in convenient parts of the Windows desktop. Drag the title bar of each component to move it elsewhere. If you want to rearrange the components but keep them together as one unit, drag them to where you want them--the title bar of each component will "stick" to the bottom of the component above it.
• HIDE WINAMP COMPONENTS: To save space on the Windows desktop, you can hide any of the WinAmp components. Just right-click anywhere on the WinAmp window or in the Equalizer where there isn't a control, and remove the checkmark next to the name of any of the four controls you want to hide. Another quick way to hide a component is to simply double-click its title bar, which hides everything but the title bar itself; when you want it back, double-click the title bar again.
• GET WINAMP'S KEYBOARD SHORTCUT LIST: Right-click the WinAmp title bar and choose About WinAmp or press Alt-F-W to bring up a list of more than 50 keyboard shortcuts.