Converting .ram files

[audiophile]

Hi there,

I've been trying to use dBpowerAMP to convert a .ram voice file (converted to .ra after download) into a .mp3 or .wma. So far I've succeeded to convert the file yet unable to play it. There doesn't appear to be any length of time (0:00) to the file but it shows 7 kB in size. Every time I attempt to play the file with media player classic, it quickly runs through (1 sec) without playing the content. Do I need to install something to play the file?

[LtData]

Re: Converting .ram files

How big is your original file? If its under a MB or so, its probably a meta-file. See here for meta-files: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=4992

Also, see here for other information about Real files: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=6194

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Thank you for your reply. I've followed the advice from the links you offered but I still can play the converted mp3 file. Is there something I need to install or change in media player classic or could this file be copyright protected?

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Hi there,

I forgot to mention that the file doesn't have a size that I could find under properties. Does this mean that this voice file exists only as an extension? I tried to save it as a ra/rm file but that didn't work either.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Converting .ram files

No size for the file? That's impossible. What do you see in Windows Explorer in the file size column? If you don't have that, add it from View > Choose Details.

Or by right clicking the file name and selecting Properties?

If it's 1-2K than it's a meta file. and then you can open it in Notepad and see the human readable text giving the address of the actual audio file.

Note: we are not interested in the time length, but physical file size.

Please enable viewing all file extensions as well.

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Hi there, thank you for your reply.

My apologies, the file sizes are all 154 bytes. The address is not a single http://, it's a rtsp:// and a pnm:// for each file (not sure what that means). These are .rm meta files from a web ct discussion board. Does this mean they are the property of the distributer?

[ChristinaS]

Re: Converting .ram files

Ownership is a different matter.

Those are meta files, and the actual audio files are from a real media streaming server, so you cannot downlaod them.

All you can do is play them and record them through the soundcard as they are getting played, using dMC Auxuiliairy Input. Obviously it's all in real time.

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Hello ChristinaS,

Yes, ownership is a different matter. I suppose I should ask the author before I go trying to convert their lecture into an .mp3 or .wav but it's merely so that I can listen to an educational lecture while my brain is busy disintergrating at work :cry:

I pretty close to giving up anyway. I've gotten as far as using the dMC auxiliary input to record over the track01 that exist by default off the meta file that I'm playing on media player classic to a .m3u file. I then converted the .m3u file to .mp3 and tried to play it but there is no sound. The .mp3 file is playing at a normal speed, I just can't hear anything. What do I do now?

[ChristinaS]

Re: Converting .ram files

Hello ChristinaS,

Yes, ownership is a different matter. I suppose I should ask the author before I go trying to convert their lecture into an .mp3 or .wav but it's merely so that I can listen to an educational lecture while my brain is busy disintergrating at work :cry:

I pretty close to giving up anyway. I've gotten as far as using the dMC auxiliary input to record over the track01 that exist by default off the meta file that I'm playing on media player classic to a .m3u file. I then converted the .m3u file to .mp3 and tried to play it but there is no sound. The .mp3 file is playing at a normal speed, I just can't hear anything. What do I do now?

How exactly did the m3u file get in there? That's a meta file for mp3 files, just a playlist, not an audio file itself.

When you record the audio as it's being palyed by whatever player, you have to record to a format such as wav or mp3. Don't worry about making any meta file (playlist) m3u yet until after you have recorded the audio file. I don't see why you'd need to make m3u's either, unless you're planning to refer to several mp3's in one playlist.

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Hi there,

I'm still attempting to record the .ram file that I play through Classic Media Player through my sound card (in real time) using the dMC Auxilliary Input. I have an .mp3 file showing but still no sound. The auxilliary input is configured for voice at 56kps mono and options are set to record using the sound card (input source?). I also have media player configured for output using the sound card but what I can't understand is how dMC Auxilliary is supposed to record sound whilst the .ram file is being played? Any hints? Thanks.

[LtData]

Re: Converting .ram files

Why not use the DirectShow Decoder to let dMC convert the files? The instructions are on the DirectShow Decoder codec page.

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Why not use the DirectShow Decoder to let dMC convert the files? The instructions are on the DirectShow Decoder codec page.

DirectShow Decoder in RealAlternative won't allow you to play streaming content such as a .ram meta file. Where is the codec page?

[ChristinaS]

Re: Converting .ram files

Codec page is Codec Central from the tab above.

Open the .ram file in Notepad and see what actual file is being referred to. If it's prefixed by http:// then you can download that by itself. Otherwise you cannot and you have to record it using dMC Auxiliary Input.

dMC Auxiliary Inout simply records the audio as it is being played through your soundcard. It doesn't decode anything. You can record to wav or any other format for which you have an ecoding codec. I prefer to record to uncompressed PCM wav. After that I convert that wav to whatever else I need.

Follow the instruction for dMC Auxiliary Input on hwo to configure the Volume Controls for recording. http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=7318

[audiophile]

Re: Converting .ram files

Q. When Recording I just Record Silence?
A. Click Options and Select the right input source.

Hi there,

I think I've discovered a problem with the dMC Auxilliary Input. I don't seem to be able to set any audio settings because the select button in options is not working. Is this an issue with my sound card or the dMC software?

[ChristinaS]

Re: Converting .ram files

You may not have installed it properly. Did you install as administrator? To the same folder as all other dB porograms? Are you running it as administrator or with admin priviledges?

You can fix your volume controls by right-clikcing the volume button in the task bar. If you cannot do it there, then there's something shaky about your entire setup.