Codec Trouble

[OGRastamon]

I just downloaded dBpowerAMP yesterday and after a little effort (registering, installing codecs, etc.) it did exactly what I wanted it to do. Which is to compress my audio files without losing quality. That was then, this is now.

When attempting to convert my next group of files I received the message "To support the audio type 'Windows Media Audio' a codec must be installed...blah blah". This was the same message I received the first time. I tried reinstalling the codec but I still get the message upon trying to convert. I even get it when converting the very same files I successfully converted yesterday. Does the program have short term memory loss?

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

You installed codecs from Codec Central, correct? With the release of r12, a new codec system was introduced, requiring new codecs. Were the codecs you installed ones you had previously downloaded, or did you download new, fresh copies?

[OGRastamon]

Re: Codec Trouble

I downloaded the files that were presented to me when I clicked YES.

Please take note: The codecs I downloaded worked yesterday and they do not work now. I don't believe the problem is obsolete codecs. I can't make sense of it. If there weren't an entire forum devoted to this product I'd think I had been scammed.

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

Check dMC Configuration (Start --> Programs --> dBpoweramp Music Converter --> Configuration --> dBpoweramp Configuration) to make sure WMA shows up under Decoders and Encoders.

Also, what version of dMC are you using and what version of Windows are you using?

[OGRastamon]

Re: Codec Trouble

dBpoweramp Music Converter
Release 12.2
Registration Status
mp3 License & Power Pack: Registered
All Media Guide: 363 Days Access Remaining

dBpoweramp Audio Player
Audio player extraordinaire


dBpoweramp CD Writer: Unregistered Trial
Release 2


Sveta Portable Audio
Enhance your portable player


Codecs Installed  


Encoders (write)  

[Arrange Audio]  Release 2
Apple Lossless  Release 5
.m4a  
CLI Encoder  Release 2
.ext  
FLAC  Release 7 (FLAC 1.1.4)
.flac  
m4a Nero (AAC)  Release 5
.m4a  
Monkeys Audio  Release 8 (Monkeys Audio v3.99)
.ape  
mp3 (Lame)  Lame 3.97
.mp3  
Musepack  Release 6 (SV7 mppenc 1.16)
.mpc  
ogg vorbis  Release 15 (Ogg v1.1.3 Vorbis V1.1.2)
.ogg  
Shorten  Release 1 (Shorten Encoder v3.6.0)
.shn  
Test Conversion  
Wave  Release 12.2
.wav  
WavPack  Release 5 (using WavPack 4.4)
.wv  
Windows Media Audio 10  Release 2 (WMA Pro 10)
.wma  
Windows Media Audio 9  Release 1 (WMA Pro 9)
.wma  


Decoders (read)  

Advanced Audio Compression Decoder  
.aac  
CD Decoder  Release 12.2
.cda  
DirectShow Decoder  
.3g2, .3gp, .3gp2, .3gpp, .alac, .divx, .flv, .hdmov, .m2ts, .mka, .mkv, .mov, .ofr, .ogm, .qt, .ts, .tta  
FLAC Decoder  
.flac  
m4a / mp4 Decoder  
.m4a, .m4b, .mp4  
MIDI Decoder  
.mid, .rmi  
Monkeys Audio Decoder  
.ape  
mp3 Decoder  Release 12.2
.m2a, .mp1, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .mpg, .mpga, .mpx  
Musepack Decoder  
.mp+, .mpc, .mpp  
Ogg Vorbis Decoder  
.ogg  
Shorten Compressed Audio File (*.SHN)  
.SHN  
Wave Decoder  Release 12.2
.wav  
WavPack Decoder  
.wv  
Windows Media Audio Decoder  
.asf, .wma, .wmv

I am running Windows XP Home.

As a side note, I received a new error when opening the configuration. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]"CLI Encoder has not been configured, open the file \Program Files\Illustrate\dBpowerAMP\Encoder\CLI Encoder\encoder.txt and change the extension."
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=4]This is easy enough but to what should I change the extension?[/SIZE]

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

What format do you want the CLI encoder to encode to? Change the extension to that. If you don't need/want the CLI encoder, uninstall it.

Edit: When you get the message about getting support for WMA, are you trying to decode WMA files or encode to them?

[OGRastamon]

Re: Codec Trouble

Don't know what the CLI encoder is and therefore do not know if it is needed.

I received the message when converting wma files to mp3. I have no idea whether that's ENcoding or DEcoding.

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

The CLI encoder is used when you want to have dMC use an external .exe to encode files to. If you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it.

Anyway, your trouble is apparently in regards to decoding WMA files. You said you are using Windows XP. You downloaded the 10MB package for Windows XP, correct? What version of Windows Media Player is on your computer?

Edit: also, why did you install both the WMA 10 and WMA 9 codecs? You should only need one or the other.

[Spoon]

Re: Codec Trouble

Double check the extension of your .wma files, they might not be:

.asf, .wma, .wmv

[OGRastamon]

Re: Codec Trouble

The CLI encoder is used when you want to have dMC use an external .exe to encode files to. If you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it.

Anyway, your trouble is apparently in regards to decoding WMA files. You said you are using Windows XP. You downloaded the 10MB package for Windows XP, correct? What version of Windows Media Player is on your computer?

Edit: also, why did you install both the WMA 10 and WMA 9 codecs? You should only need one or the other.

For someone who calls himself Lt Data you sure use a great deal of piss-poor logic. :p

As you can see I downloaded all available codecs and I will likely install any others you make available in the future. The vast variety of encoding methods is the very reason I sought out a conversion tool. You mustn't make the assumption that all my .wma files now or will come from the same source. BTW I'm using WMP 11 but before you think that relevant remember that it wasn't a problem the first time I used the program.

The notion that the CLI Encoder would only be useful to me if I currently understand its purpose is not only illogical but condescending. I know more today than I did yesterday and I hope that continues exponentially tomorrow.

In fact it would seem that the CLI was the root of the problem (though I don't understand why it wasn't before). By changing .ext to .mp3 in the text file I not only eliminated the error dialog but the download message as well. I am now converting .wma to .mp3 with ease.


Your robotic and unemotional collection of information left me no choice but to look within and realize my own human potential. I guess the name fits after all.

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

I did not mean to be condescending, that was not my intent. I just wanted to make sure that you hadn't downloaded the CLI codec just to never use it.

Regardless, I am glad you managed to fix your problem.

[OGRastamon]

Re: Codec Trouble

New development: I believe my problem may have been caused by my anti-spyware deleting the registry changes. Just a note for the future. Put dBpowerAMP on the exceptions list.

[LtData]

Re: Codec Trouble

What anti-spyware program are you using?