Running ACE on virtual server

[daren]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi Peter,

No, ACE does not use .NET framework.

Another question; does the "convert to" from Windows Explorer work for the file on the virtual server? ..in other words, can you use dBpoweramp to convert the files without using ACE on the server?

Best regards,
Daren

[peter_mc]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi,
I tried the right click convert option but received errors as below...

Error converting to Windows Media Audio 10, 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\ac3_rave_wave_48khz.ac3' to 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\ac3_rave_wave_48khz.wma'
Error: Unable to load decoder for file type '.ac3', codec not installed? visit 'Codec Central'. [dBCoreConverter::dBCoreConverter]
Error converting to Windows Media Audio 10, 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\RAM blanrealaudiog2.ram' to 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\RAM blanrealaudiog2.wma'
DirectShow filter for '.ram' file types is not installed, or audio file is corrupt. [clDecoder::Open]
Error converting to Windows Media Audio 10, 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\RA.ra' to 'C:\ESC_FUP\Audio\Test files\files that fail\RA.wma'
DirectShow filter for '.ra' file types is not installed, or audio file is corrupt. [clDecoder::Open]

[peter_mc]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Also I should add that the memory error was not generated when I selected .RAM and .RA files to convert from the right click menu.

[daren]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi Peter,

It looks like either the installation or configuration of the dbpoweramp directshow decoder or the directshow filters is incorrect, or being influenced in some way.

I would look at and/or re-install:

1) the dBpoweramp directshow codec.
2) the configuration file for the directshow codec.
3) the directshow filters themselves (the best way to check the filters is with the freeware GraphEdit - by "rendering" a file and seeing which filters it uses as default).
4) the direct-x platform.
5) user permissions (try doing the conversion as an administrator).

Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Daren.

[peter_mc]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi Daren.
Sorry for the silence over the last few days... We have a fresh installation on the server. Same problem.

So effectively tried suggestion *blooper*1.

Suggestion *blooper*2 - I dont know where the config file is kept. do you mean the AC3 filter settings? If so I have checked the settings and made sure that they are aligned between the local and server installs!

Suggestion *blooper*3 - I have tried graphedit which reports... "Could not construct a graph from this file. - have you installed the necessary filters? Note that the render file' menu option cannot render *.grf files. Cannot play back the audio stream: no audio hardware is available, or the hardware is not responding. (Return code:0x80040256). I have already stated this but just to be clear a locally installed soundcard is not present. Could this be causing the problem (in which case it sounds like there is not a lot more I can do).

Suggestion *blooper* 4 - I have checked directX versions, both the local installation on my pc (which works) and the server installation (which doesn't)) are using the same version, directx 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904). I don't know what else to check here.

Suggestion *blooper* 5 user permissions. The installation has always been as an administrator.

N.B. we have purchased and installed 2 copies now and it is working fine for the majority of our files. It would be nice however to at least sort the ac3 conversion!

Yours hopefully.....

[daren]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi Peter,

I think 2) & 3) are where you should concentrate on.

2) The dBpoweramp directshow codec help (C:\Program Files\Illustrate\dBpowerAMP\Help\Codec\DirectShow\ help.htm) gives information about finding and editing the configuration file.

You need to add the extensions (e.g. .ram, .ac3, etc..) that you want the codec to handle with directshow filters, each extension must be on a separate line.

3) You could try a sound card emulator (e.g. VDMSound). It 's worth trying to render an MP3 or WAV file to check if the virtual audio card is functioning correctly. If GraphEdit still can't render the files, then the directshow filters are probably not behaving correctly.

Good luck!

Best regards,
Daren.

[peter_mc]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi,
I had updated the config file to include the file extensions as suggested in previous posts.
I am a little dubious about playing with emulators for fear of regressing the good work ACE does with other file types.

In the interests of just getting the job done I have had to move on from these issues.
What we are doing now is putting .RA and .RAM files through a different process which basically amounts to having them converted manually by external specialists.
For AC3 files we are going to install dBpoweramp locally on PCs for some support staff who will be monitoring the error folder for anything that needs conversion.

Could we add to the wishlist for a future release of ACE, support for .RA and .AC3 files in a virtual server environment? (.RAM files we have decided to always treat as video by default which is how it probably should have been from the start).

Thanks Spoon and Daren for your help and all your suggestions.

Cheers!

[Spoon]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

As Daren mentioned the AC3 decoder might need a sound card (even a virtual one).

[daren]

Re: Running ACE on virtual server

Hi,
I am a little dubious about playing with emulators for fear of regressing the good work ACE does with other file types.

The virtual audio card driver shouldn't have an effect on ACE for other file types, as ACE has no interaction with the audio card.

Best regards,
Daren.