I've been using Winamp to play music straight out of my systems files every now again for the last 9 years or so. However, only until a couple years ago did I start having a need to be able to control the player with hotkeys while in other windows without alt-tabbing over to it (such as while playing a game). While I can alt-tab to swtich my control to that window, it makes it difficult to change tracks if I'm in the middle of a match and I can't divide my attention too much for a bit. I was wondering if it is possible to set the hotkeys so that they will function while I am accessing another window, whether it be within the program or with a plugin. I've tried using the hotkeys while in other windows already but to avail. I also looked around to see if there was a manual explaining it but unfortunately I could not find one. It would be rather nice to finally be able to control the player in game or in a browser page without having to take 5 seconds to do it. In some situations speed is of the essence so it would be a great help.

Well, with a quick Google search I came up with this: http://www.dimin.net/software/winamp/DiminHotkeys.html

It looks like it would work for what you're doing, but I couldn't personally tell you since I don't use Winamp. I use Spotify which has global hotkeys by default, and in addition to listening to your own downloaded music you can look up just about any semi-popular song and listen to it for free. I'm not sure about local files, but if you listen to their songs they play short ads in between them.

I just gave that software a try, doesn't seem to work either. It does allow for the control of the player while it is selected, but if I select another window it unfortunately produces the same issue as before, it will not control the player while it is not selected. I actually did forget to mention that my keyboard is partially multimedia and has its own play/pause button, and that will play and pause Winamp while I don't have the window selected but that is all it will do. It doesn't allow me to skip tracks or manipulate the playlist being used. I also gave Spotify a try because I use that as well, but namely to access tracks I don't have. Of course there was the same problem, it requires you to have that window selected in order fiddle with any controls on the panel. I find that to be rather odd if I am honest, but I am hoping there is a plugin to fix the issue or that I simply overlooked something. I'll keep perusing around in the mean time.

I finally figured out what the deal was with the global hot-keys, apparently I was looking at the wrong hot-keys altogether. The ones that I was looking at were for the program when it's simply open, the actual global hot-keys are specified under options and then preferences. Default they are set alt+ctrl+(insert key name) to avoid triggering the program by accident when trying to do other things, which makes sense.

Why don't you just get a keyboard with media keys? Where did you even get a keyboard that doesn't have media keys?

The current keyboard I have only has the pause, adjust volume, and calculator media keys on it. At the time I actually purchased it I more so bought it for the reason that it was affordable and was wireless, not for media key functionality. But luckily since I found the actual global hotkey editing list I don't have to worry about that issue any more when Winamp is running in the background.