Problems converting from .ra/.rm

[DirtyPierre]

Seems a lot of people have experienced this problem, but nothing I've tried seems to work. (I had dbpoweramp v9 installed on an earlier PC, and never had a problem with it.)

First off, I've installed both the ra-encoder and Direct Show codecs. I;ve installed the latest version of Real Alternative. I've configured DSExt.txt to include .ra and .rm. The DBPoweramp configuration shows: DirectShow decoder Release 1 .ra; .rm; .aa
So everything APPEARS to be set up okay, but whenever I try to convert ANY Real file into ANY other format I get:

The CODEC required to decompress 'C:\temp\ncard.rm' could not be opened.
DirectShow filter for '.rm' not installed, or Audio File Corrupt.

The file is not corrupt. It plays on RealAlt, and on Winamp 5. FYI: It's a small 177 KB file of a chirping Northern Cardinal. But it's the same error message on any Real file.

I can successfully convert Real Files using Nero Wave Editor but it is soooo slooow. Is there anything else I can try.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

What happens if you test convert the file (no write) ? Does that work?

[LtData]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

Dos the file play in Windows Media Player? Did you install the Real Media Direct Show Splitter when you installed Real Alternative? I never remember if it is a default option or not. Did you reboot?

[DirtyPierre]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

ChristinaS: I get the same error when I test convert the file in dbpoweramp.

LTData: None of the RealMedia files play in Windows Media Player. Does the DirectShow splitter come bundled with RealAlt or is it a separate DL? I did reboot, several times in fact as I had read that sometimes you have to reboot more than once to get it to work.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

The DirectShow Splitter comes bundled indeed, but you have to put a checkmark next to it when you install Real Alternative - as for Media PLayer Classic.

One more thing: are you dealing with an actual real audio file, or with a meta-file? If the file is only 1-2k then it's a meta file, and you cnanot convert that. Edit the file in Notepad and see if it's human readable. If so, it will have an address to the actual file in it, which you'll now have to download and work with.

Otherwise you're the unlucky owner of a real media file that cannot be handled by DirectShow. You'll now need Real Player and the older Real Audio codec which works in real time. Also to uninstall Real Alternative as it doesn't like to cohabit with Real Player.

If all else fails, there's always dMC Auxiliary Input.

[DirtyPierre]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

I re-installed RealAlt and made sure that the DirectShow Splitter option was checked. (It is by default.) It still doesn't work on any RealMedia file, and yes, these are audio files, not meta files. :( I've tried about a dozen different files and I get the same error every time.

I may just try going back to version 9, which I know worked on just about any Real file I threw at it.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

Did you try the older Real Audio codec that works in real time and requires Real Player?

[xoas]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

When you tried playing these RealAudio files in WMP you didn't happen to get a message referring to SampleGrabber being missing, did you?

If so, there is an FAQ on this topic by Christina here:

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=8207

Best wishes,
Bill

[DirtyPierre]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

When playing in WMP I get Unspecified Error.

[gameplaya15143]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

my guess is that they are DRMed or are of a higher/new version of real audio

[dcnicholls]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

I have the same problem for .ram files but not .rm The .ram file is a text file containing only the URL of the full .rm compressed music file. DBpowerAMP Music Converter connects to the Internet and downloads the .rm file, but when completed, the message appears: "The CODEC required to decompress 'C:\Documents and Settings\David Nicholls\My Documents\music\xxx.ram' could not be opened DirectShow filter for '.ram' not installed, or Audio File Corrupt." (where xxx is the file name). Hapens on all .ram files I've tried.

However, if I use the same URL to download the .rm file to disk, then convert it, I have no problem. Sounds like a file read/write problem to me.

I'm running DBpowerAMP Music Converter v11 on Windows 2K (all service packs) with admin rights.

DN

[Wayne]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

It is already known that dMC does not work if you try to convert any format file by selecting a meta-data file that contains a url pointing to the true audio.

As you have discovered you need to download the true audio file to your PC first.

Wayne

[dcnicholls]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

New information. It appears some of the .ram files (pointing to .rm files at a remote site do indeed work and get converted (at 10x real time) perfectly. Some other files (including the three I tested before reporting the problem) do not convert from the .ram URL but do convert from the .rm file when downloaded. Yet others do not convert under either circumstance.

What happens is this: I run DBpoweramp and select a .ram file on my own PC, I set the output to either WAV or test (no convert). At this point (1) the download starts and the conversion bar gets active, and the remote .rm file is converted; OR (2) the file is downloaded but the conversion process sits on 0% and at the end of the download I get the error message reported earlier.

Conclusion: .ram files can be converted from a remote site, sometimes

Another piece of odd behaviour, which I've not yet established a complete pattern for, getpopupinfo.exe sometimes keeps wanting to download from the site pointed to in the .ram file - sort of gets stuck in a loop. (I have my software firewall set to ask about internet access for all new applications so it tells me what's going on).

Every time I use Explorer to browse to the folder containing .ram files, getpopupinfo.exe jumps into action.

I think I've fixed it by turning off the right click context menu options but time will tell.

What is the purpose of getpopupinfo.exe?

DN

[LtData]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

It pops up a box showing you information about your audio files. I think its mentioned in the dMC help files somewhere...

[ChristinaS]

Re: Problems converting from .ra/.rm

Getpopupinfo.exe tells you the information on the file - from file attributes and id tags.

The file .ram (unless mis-saved) is a meta file - a text file. It should not get converted. The file(s) it includes will be the actual audio files which can be converted - if you have them on your pc.

Sometimes those ingredient files pointed to in the .ram are not downloadable, if they are from a streaming server (protocol rtps:// instead or http://).

Even after downloading the .rm or .ra file (if you manage it) it might not be convertible by DirectShow - perhaps if it's encoded as multi-audience. The older Real media codec may work then - or may not.

Often .ram files are in fact mis-labeled due to a Windows "feature" which, on a right-click, save target as, proposes to save a .rm or .ra to a file with .ram extension, causing all sorts of confusions. In such case .ram files are bona fide audio files, not meta files. The size of the file will tell you (very small, 1-2k, indicates a meta file) and of course opening it in Notepad will confirm or deny this.

So the conclusion is that dMC will not convert .ram files if they are the meta files. It also doesn't convert .m3u or any other meta files like .wax, .asx, .wpl or whatnot.

The player dAP will play them all, regardless, as long as you have the codecs of the ingredient audio files.