Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converter

[Qrobur]

I like to convert my MP3s to M4A files before loading them on my iPod, or I rip straight to M4A from CD.

I'm using the Nero Digital Audio converter to do this but I've noticed that occasionally it fails to convert the last two or three seconds of a track that is fading out. The abrupt end to the track is clearly audible and I find it very distracting.

Typically the MP3 tracks are 192kbps and I convert at setting '0.5', or about 170kbps.

I'm not using any DSP effects.

Are there settings I can tweak or can someone suggest an alternative approach?

Q.

[SIZE=1]
OS: Windows 2000

Version Information
dBpowerAMP Music Converter: Release 11.5
Power Pack & Mp3 License: Release 3 [ Registered: Yes ]
dBpowerAMP Audio Player: Not Installed 'music Player like no other'
dBpowerAMP CD Writer: Not Installed 'easy way to burn audio cds'
Sveta Portable Audio: Not Installed 'enhance your portable player'

===Codecs===
Installed Compression Codecs (Write)
Apple Lossless: Release 1 [ .m4a ]
Mp3 (Lame): Lame Version 3.96.1 [ .mp3 ]
Nero Digital Audio (AAC): [ .m4a ]
Test Conversion (No Write)
Wave: [ .wav ]


Installed Input Codecs (Read)
AAC Decoder: Release 5 [Faad v2.1] .aac
Auxiliary Input Decoder: .aux
CD Input Decoder: .cda
Mp3 Input Decoder: .mp3; .mp2; .mpga; .mpa; .mpx; .mpg; .mp1
mp4 Decoder: Release 4 (AppleLossless 0.1.5) .mp4; .m4a; .m4b
Wave Input Decoder: .wav


===Options===
dBpowerAMP Reference Options
Pro. Frequency Conversion: On (slower but high quality)

Mp3 Input Decoder
CRC Errors: Ignore
Decode To: 16 bit (dithered)

Wave Compression Codec
More than 16 bit or 2 Channels: Write WaveFormatEx Header[/SIZE]

[Spoon]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converter

That was a bug of the beta version, you are using the latest release?

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

That was a bug of the beta version, you are using the latest release?

As far as I know; certainly the configuration information suggests it's v11.5. The software came with the computer, which I bought secondhand.

What I've just done is downloaded and installed the time limited version over the top of the old installation, save that I renamed the old executable first. The new executable is exactly the same size as the preceding one (261Kb) and the same problem of shortened tracks is exhibited.

I'm going to do a wipe and clean install of the time limited version and I'll report in the next message.

Q.

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

I'm going to do a wipe and clean install of the time limited version and I'll report in the next message.

Same result, so now I'm going to uninstall the existing codec and grab the current version to see if that makes a difference.

Q.

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

Same result, so now I'm going to uninstall the existing codec and grab the current version to see if that makes a difference.

I've made sure I have version 4 of the m4a/mp4 codec and version 1.0.0.2 of the Nero files. I've deleted the old ones and installed these new ones.

Same result; tracks are shortened.

So, that's a reinstall of the program, the dB codec and the Nero files with no resolution of the problem.

What next?

Q.

[LtData]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

Try the total uninstall mentioned here: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=6828

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

Try the total uninstall mentioned here

Done. Same result, i.e. the tracks are still shortened.

That said, I notice the configuration information is still showing the powerpack and mp3 licence as 'registered', so is there more to eradicating all traces of the program?

I've since tried another company's product to produce m4a files. I'd much rather use dBpowerAmp but the other software produces files that are not truncated.

Q.

[Spoon]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

How long (in seconds) are the files you are converting? and on what is your computer specs?

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

^ Nothing exceptional; for instance, the track I've used to test the changes above is 4m 51sec as an mp3. In every case the m4a file information reports itself also as 4m 51sec but in Real Player, or on the iPod, it registers as 4m 48 sec.

System Info.
OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 4 Build 2195
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer 00101920 8775C
System Model 15144400000345
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~930 Mhz
BIOS Version Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
Windows Directory F:\WINNT
Locale United States
Time Zone GMT Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 130,592 KB
Available Physical Memory 4,840 KB
Total Virtual Memory 591,056 KB
Available Virtual Memory 127,416 KB
Page File Space 460,464 KB

Q.

[Spoon]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

If you play it in real player it will play to the end?

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

^ No, it is in RealPlayer that I have been playing the 'test track' after each change in my set up. The track ends abruptly in RealPlayer if I convert it using dBpowerAmp. It doesn't end abruptly in RealPlayer if I convert it using different software.

Q.

[LtData]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

What if you take the cut-off file and convert it to another format, such as WAV or mp3? Is it still cut-off?
What if you convert your input (CD, mp3, etc.) to WAV and then to m4a? What files are cut off, the WAV and the m4a or just the m4a?

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

^ I'll try those tests over the weekend.

Q.

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

^ In fact I didn't find time for this at the weekend. It will have to wait until later in the week now.

Q.

[Qrobur]

Re: Last seconds of track lost when converting MP3/CDA to M4A using Nero AAC converte

I've been very busy this last month but I have had a few moments today to try these tests.

I chose to rip from U2's 1980 LP, 'Boy'. A number of the tracks run into each other and I've discovered that my m4a tracks seem to be truncated every time they lead into another track.

Choosing 'An Cat Dubh', which leads into 'Into The Heart', I converted to three formats: wave, mp3 and m4a. The first two were fine (4:26) (played in MusicMatch Jukebox) but the m4a was truncated (4:24) (played in RealPlayer and my iPod).

However, converting the truncated m4a file to an mp3 produced an mp3 file that plays to the same point as the mp3 file ripped directly from the CD. In RealPlayer the m4a shows as 4:24 but the mp3 produced from it shows as 4:27 (the mp3 ripped directly from the CD shows as 4:27 as well, so that extra second as reported by RealPlayer seems to be a quirk of the program) .

That appears to indicate that the Nero encoder rips the entire track but sometimes marks the end point wrongly. I have v1.0.0.2, as mentioned before.