real audio conversion no longer works?

[Unregistered]

I have been using dbPowerAmp, with the .ram to .mp3 codec, to merrily convert NPR programs such as "wait wait" and "Car talk", for some months, with no problems - WONDERFUL.
Until this week (sep. 3). When I try to convert with "wait wait" (at http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/waitwait...1.waitwait.ram) or "car talk", the conversion process spins forever, and never finishes, with the .mp3 file never being longer than about 28 minutes. For example, the "wait wait" conversion has been going for over 4 hours 40 minutes. Help!

[Spoon]

Maybe they have updated their files some how?

[Unregistered]

what next?

perhaps Real Audio has changed their format, but my existing Real Audio player can still play the new file, it's just the .ram --> .mp3 converter codec that can't handle it for some reason.

To try to end-run the problem, I downloaded the dMC auxiliary input converter, thought I would just grab the audio going to the sound card. But if I'm playing the sound file on my computer, what 'input source' do I select? do I need to take the output going to the speakers and run it back into 'line in'? Won't that create a feedback loop?

[Spoon]

No feedback loop, as long as the sound card is not set to play the recording sound. Not all sound cards are able to record and play at the same time.

Some sound cards (like my Sound Blaster) have a 'What you hear' option to record what is being played without wires.

[totalXSive]

The stream you linked to there is streaming from a RealServer (open the .ram file in Notepad and you'll see that there is an URL with a rtsp:// protocol) and is in the SMIL format. Neither of these are supported by dBpowerAMP.

You'll have to use Auxiliary Input in this case.

[Unregistered]

most peculiar

Most peculiar - I just converted the latest episode of "wait wait", whose .ram file also has the rtsp protocol ( rtsp://audio.npr.org/waitwait/20020907.waitwait.smil ), with no problem. It seems almost random which episodes can be converted and which can't.