Foobar2000

foobar2000 is a Windows-based freeware audio player known for its speed, stability, and high configurability. Its core software is small and modular, designed to be extended with components that add support for codecs, input/output, DSP effects, and user interface features. Because most functionality is delivered as optional components, users can tailor foobar2000 to their needs without sacrificing performance.

The player supports a broad range of audio formats through external codecs and built-in decoders, including MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and Opus. It offers gapless playback, ReplayGain and loudness normalization, customizable playback ordering, and a flexible DSP chain for effects like equalization and crossfading. The metadata system handles tags in many formats, and the library provides powerful search, tagging, and playlist management tools.

Extensibility is central to foobar2000. Users can install third-party components to add new codecs, input/output drivers, visualization panels, and alternative user interfaces. The default interface is minimal, but several third-party UI components are widely used to customize the layout and navigation.

foobar2000 is distributed as freeware for Windows and remains actively developed by its maintainers with contributions from the user community. Its combination of lightweight operation, deep customization, and strong format support has made it a popular choice among audiophiles and power users who value control over playback and organization.