MPEG 4 - Audio File Confusion

[Slimbob]

I suppose my question falls under the general category.

I have been using dbpa to help me determine the bitrate of audio files that I cannot figure out otherwise. Worked fine for any mp3s but I have some m4as that dbpa will not open for reasons unknown to me. I am unsure of why they won't open up in dbpa and I know of no others ways of determining the bitrate of audio files that do not say when I mouse over them.

I tired to find out if either m4a or mp3 was a clear cut winner, but everything I found led me to believe that knowing the bitrate of both file types was necessary in order to make a true comparison.

Well that's my issue. Thanks for reading and thanks for any information you have to offer about m4a bitrates and the such.

[garym]

Re: MPEG 4 - Audio File Confusion

were these purchased from itunes store more than 6 months ago. If so, they likely have DRM and can't be read by dbpa. Although I think they would have m4p extension rather than m4a.

[Slimbob]

Re: MPEG 4 - Audio File Confusion

No, I do not believe they were. They were given to me by a friend to check out. I do not know where he got them. :(

[garym]

Re: MPEG 4 - Audio File Confusion

can you play them in something other than ITUNES or an IPOD itself. For example, can you open them in foobar2000 or WMP or some other computer player and play them OK. If so, they do not have DRM. If true (no DRM), I'm not sure what the problem might be. Others might have suggestions.

[Slimbob]

Re: MPEG 4 - Audio File Confusion

Opened and played with VLC but not with Foobar. Maybe they do have DRM, usually I see a little padlock in the upper left corner when a file has DRM though. Damn sneaky Apple being sneaky.