.rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

[Bat458]

Hi,
I've just started on a music converter trial and followed instructions for getting and converting Real media files.
I'm now in a position where the dbpa Explorer window has the Real media extensions in the dropdown list, the configuration shows a Real media codec installed and a decoder installed. However, the files that I know are there are still not appearing in the window. I can see them in a normal Explorer window and they end in .rm ok. I also renamed one to make sure the .rm extension was good.
Any ideas?

[xoas]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

There are two RealAudio decoders for dBpowerAMP music converter (dMC). You should only try using one at a time.

The newer codec is part of the DirectShow Decoder. You need to download and install the DirectShow decoder and also RealAlternative. You must then configure the DirectShow codec to recognize a variety of RealAudio extensions and you must confirm this in dBpowerAMP Music Converter Configuration. You should probably uninstall RealPlayer and also make sure that you designate RealAlternative as your system's default player for RealAudio files. This codec is more complicated to install but it is faster and generally nicer than the other codec.

The older codec needs RealPlayer version 8 to function. It only decodes in real time (the time it takes for the track to play) and it does not show the progress of the conversion until it is done. This decoder is easier to install.

You should not try to have both decoder codecs installed at once (you can keep the DirectShow codec installed but remove the RealAudio file extensions from the DirectShow configuration and remove RealAlternative if you want to use the older codec). There do seem to be some files that the older codec can work with that the DirectShow codec cannot. Neither decoder will be able to decode copy-protected RealAudio files.

To confirm that you do have one or the other RealAudio decoder codecs installed, open dMC Configuration (Start>All Programs>dBpowerAMP Music Converter>Configuration>dBpowerAMP Music COnverter Configuration) and click on the tab for Installed Decoder Codecs.

If you are using the DirectShow decoder, go to the line for DirectShow and see if your RealAudio file extensions show. If there is no line for the DirectShow decoder, either it is not installed or it is not properly configured. If the line is there but the RealAudio extensions are not, then either the DirectShow codec was not properly configured or there is some other problem with the installation.

If you are using the older codec, find a line for Real Audio. If that line is not there, either the codec has not been installed or there is some problem with the installation.

If you are having trouble, please tell us which codec you are trying to use and what you see in dBpowerAMP Music Converter Configuration for your installed codecs.

Best wishes,
Bill

[LtData]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

Moved to dMC Support

[Bat458]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

Hi Bill,
Many thanks for your informative and quick response.

I have installed RealAlternative and de-installed RealPlayer

I have installed, I hope, the DirectShow decoder. The dMC config is:
===============
Version Information
dBpowerAMP Music Converter: Release 11.5
Power Pack & Mp3 License: [ Registered: No 30 Days Trial Remaining ]
===Codecs===
Installed Compression Codecs (Write)
Mp3 (Lame): Lame Version 3.96.1 [ .mp3 ]
Real Audio: Release 3 [ .rm ]
Test Conversion (No Write)
Wave: [ .wav ]
Installed Input Codecs (Read)
Auxiliary Input Decoder: .aux
CD Input Decoder: .cda
DirectShow Decoder: Release 1 .ra ; .rpm ; .rm ; .ram ; .rmvb
Mp3 Input Decoder: .mp3; .mp2; .mpga; .mpa; .mpx; .mpg; .mp1
Wave Input Decoder: .wav
===================

I have the following in DSxt.txt:

================
// Add supported DirectShow file type extensions, type only one extension per
// line (replace .xyz below), re-run 'dMC Configuration' after adding new, for example:
//
// .ac3
// .abc
//


.ra
.rpm
.rm
.ram
.rmvb
========================

I open dMC and it gives me the Explorer window. I navigate to the directory where my *.rm files are, but I cannot see them. If i do the same in the normal Explorer window, I can see them with their .rm extensions. I can play them no problem in RealAlternative and other players.

Is this what happens for proected files?

Regards
Steve

[LtData]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

Can you play your files in Windows Media Player? If you can, then the DirectShow filter is working properly, otherwise it is not working right.

[Bat458]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

No, I get the same effect when trying to use WMP! I can see my .mp3 files but I cannot see the .rm files.

Is there anything I can do other than delete and try the whole process again?
Thanks for the response.
Steve

[Spoon]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

>ra ; .rpm ; .rm ; .ram ; .rmvb

The Real Audio files you mention must have an extension that is different to the above.

[xoas]

Re: .rm extension files not visible in dbp explorer

I assume your RealAudio files play fine even when you are not connected to the internet. (If they only play when you are on the internet, they are probably streaming files. There is an FAQ on this in the FAQ section for dBpowerAMP Music Converter in this forum here:
http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=4992 and here:

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=6194

You could check the file extension for one of these files by right-clicking on it, selecting properties and clicking on the ID Tag tab. If, as Spoon suggests, the file extension is not one of those enabled for your DirectShow encoder, try changing the file extension to .ra. If this does not help, please change it back.

A different possibility is that you could have checked on the status of your DirectShow decoder settings in dMC Configuration but you did not confirm them. Try going back to dMC Configuration, check your DirectShow settings again and exit by right-clicking OK buttons until you leave dMC Configuration.

If, when you try to play one of these files in WMP, do you get a message about missing SampleGrabber? If so, there is a sticky or an FAQ on that topic either in this section of the Forum (dMC Support) or in the FAQ section for dMC here: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=8079.

I don't think this is a protection issue, btw.

You can always try using the older RealAudio codec.

Best wishes,
Bill