Although Plex is best known for its do-it-yourself (DIY) Netflix or DIY Spotify nature, it's a competent at playing local content. With its apps, users may play back locally stored videos and music. However, Plex Labs, an incubator from Plex, now offers Plexamp. [Read: How to install Plex on PS4 - Use your PlayStation 4 as a Plex client]
The Plexamp Music Player
As the name suggests, Plexamp is inspired by desktop music player Winamp. Because Plexamp is lightweight, it's a solid addition to any media center. This Plexamp music player is a single-window Winamp-esque piece of software. It's based on the open-source music player Daemon. Plus, Plexamp includes React, ES7, Electron, and MobX. As Engadget reports, it's the tiniest Plex player when considering pixel size. Still you may fiddle with dimensions with its various settings like Hipster and Nihilist. [Read: How to install Plex on Xbox One - Use your Xbox One as a Plex client]
Onboard, you'll find 11 visualizers. Moreover, media keys for controlling music and a spotlight global activation hotkey. This aids in searching your music library. Additionally, Plexamp includes a smattering of keybindings. [Read: 5 reasons to use Plex instead of Kodi and 5 reasons not to]
Image Source: Plex Medium. Various Visualizations For Plexamp
From a technical perspective, you'll find gapless playback. Aside from these features, Plex includes several features which, at least at launch, are limited to Plex Pass subscribers. For instance, loudness leveling, soundprints, and smart transitions are premium-only initially. [Read: Troubleshooting Plex buffering - Solutions for when Plex keeps pausing]
Plex incubator standalone music player: Final thoughts
Although streaming is a major player in the space, those of us with extensive media collections still use media players. I began using Plex as a DIY Netflix experience, and soon spun up a music server. Since I have a beefy music collection, including loads of vinyl rips, it's pleasant to carry that around on a microSD card in my phone as well as have access everywhere my Plex app is installed. While I work hammering away at the keyboard, I have a steady stream of music playing. Though I usually use Windows Media Player (hey, it has FLAC support) or RhythmBox, I'm pretty jazzed to give Plexamp a try.
I am a staff writer at SmartHomeBeginner, and a freelance writer with a focus on tech media. I run Cup Of Moe and have been featured in Electromaker, MakeUseOf, The Penny Hoarder, TechBeacon, Cliqist, Bubbleblabber, DZone, and EpicStream. As an HTPC enthusiast, I'm quite fond of my Plex server and enjoy playing with my Raspberry Pi. When I'm not hammering away at my keyboard, I can be found drinking far too much coffee, running, and listening to vinyl.
