Problem with compression codecs

[uminum]

Hi there,

I'm a new user of dBpowerAMP and I am trying to upload four of my tracks to last.fm in their specified format of 128kbits/sec, constant bit rate, stereo, and 44100 Hz sampling rate. Clearly, dBpowerAMP seemed the best program to use for this. So I carefully followed the instructions given on the last.fm website to compress a file into their specified format. However, when it came to the actual task of compression, dBpowerAMP always tells me it cannot open the required codecs to compress the files. I think this means it is unable to use its' default codecs(?) ...Has anyone come across this error before or knows how to avoid it?

The original format of three of the files is 128kbps, CBR, 44100Hz, MONO-(this part needed changing)

And the original format of the fourth file is 128kbps, CBR, CBR Hz -(needs changing!!), stereo


Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,

UMInUM



PS. I have also downloaded the CLI conversion codec, which may work, but I just don't know how to write in command line. So this could also be an appropriate solution.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Sorry, I can't seem to figure out what actual audio file format you need.

Is it .mp3, .m4a or what?

Ok, I didn't check the whole iste, it just didn't jump out at me :o

[Spoon]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Try converting the channels [as source], does that work?

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Christina: oops, sorry! :o that's the most important part isn't it! I am trying to convert an mp3 to another type of mp3... if you know what I mean.


Spoon: Could you please explain to me how I should go about converting the source channels. It's just that I'm relatively a novice at this whole music manipulation thing and I might not even have the software to change source channels... I don't really know :S

[LtData]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

In the dialog box where you choose your desired output settings, change channels to [as source] instead of Stereo/Mono/Joint Stereo.

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

hmm, well surely if I set it to [as source] that won't actually change the format from mono to stereo?

I just tried doing that anyway, and it still gave me the same error as before.

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Maybe the best solution lies within the command line interface codec, as that one seems to work (with the examples given on spoon's help page, such as: --preset cbr 256). I just don't know how to write any command line code to suit my particular needs.


So, how would I write the code to change any music file to this format:

128 kbps, constant bit rate, 44100 Hz, Stereo


Cheers.

[LtData]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Try a "Test Conversion (no write) as your codec. Do you still get an error?

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

What tells you the file is an mp3? The extension? That's not relevant, it can be modified by anybody by simple renaming.

The true file type may be something else. WIndows Media Player is capable of playing a file even if the extension is mismatched, if it has the actual codec.

So I'd venture your file is something else, not mp3. Open it in Notepad and see if you get any bit of information.

Or try renaming it to wma and try to convert.

And then one more thing to remember: if you want to change bits, frequency, bitrate and channels all in one shot, that will likely fail. You'll need to do it piecemeal, one setting at a time, most often.

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

Lt. Data: Test conversion works fine

Christina: Yes, I'm sure it's an mp3! I've checked and double checked, and besides I made these music files myself! lol.
How would you suggest I do the conversion in piecemeal? I've only got to change one setting on each track anyway. In three cases it's mono to stero. And in the fourth case it's converting from CBR Hz to 44100 Hz. I've tried to do the conversion both individually and altogether, but it still doesn't seem to work.



I think I've found what the problem MAY be... perhaps the program just can't find the appropriate codec. Does the mp3 lame conversion tool come bundled in with the demo version of the software?

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

urgh! yes! That's definately what it is. I turned down the 30 day unlimited trial and now the conversion that I am attempting to do is disallowed! Damn.

Will it let me re-download it with the 30 day trial enabled this time??

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

urgh! yes! That's definately what it is. I turned down the 30 day unlimited trial and now the conversion that I am attempting to do is disallowed! Damn.

Will it let me re-download it with the 30 day trial enabled this time??

Oh, LOL! Well many conversion problems are due to what I said.

An expired mp3 encoder will do it every time though!

No, you don't get another trial period on that same machine. Next step is installing a registered copy.

But if the time hasn't actually lapsed, do a complete uninstall and re-install the trial verison.

[Spoon]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

If it expires (through not allowing the trial) then uninstalling will not help.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

If it expires (through not allowing the trial) then uninstalling will not help.

Oooooooh, ok.

[uminum]

Re: Problem with compression codecs

wow that was stupid of me, lol. OK I suppose I'll get a registered copy and try it all again. It's not too much money to pay...

Thanks for your help anyway! I'm sure there's a much greater chance of it working now. If not, I think I'll just give up on last.fm - their requirements are too specific anyway, lol.