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This is such an strange question, I don't know where to ask. Hoping someone here has a clue.
I have noticed that different audio players (WMP, iTunes, my iPad) show different readings for the elapsed time at the exact same point in the file. I've also noticed that moving the time slider around can mess with the accuracy of the time display. This seems to be a problem only with VBR encoded files (though I am new to iTunes and my iPad - might be a problem in fixed rate too, but I haven't seen that yet).
This is important to me because in my current school situation I listen to a lot of recorded lectures, all MP3 of course. As I take notes, noting the time in the lecture that something happened is important as I often have to go back to that place in the lecture later on. It is also convenient for me to start a lecture on my computer (using WMP) and later finish listening on my (new) iPad while not at home. If I stop the lecture at, say, 45 minutes, it is hard to go back to that exact spot to pick it up later.
Is this a known issue - for VBR and/or fixed rate MP3s? Is there a way to fix this? A more reliable multi-platform player that doesn't have this problem? A little Googling says there is a header fix for VBR encoded MP3's, but those threads are 8 - 10 years old and many people say the header fix didn't work for them anyway.
Any light that can be shed on this problem by the MP3 gurus around here would be appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Bruce Morris
I have noticed that different audio players (WMP, iTunes, my iPad) show different readings for the elapsed time at the exact same point in the file. I've also noticed that moving the time slider around can mess with the accuracy of the time display. This seems to be a problem only with VBR encoded files (though I am new to iTunes and my iPad - might be a problem in fixed rate too, but I haven't seen that yet).
This is important to me because in my current school situation I listen to a lot of recorded lectures, all MP3 of course. As I take notes, noting the time in the lecture that something happened is important as I often have to go back to that place in the lecture later on. It is also convenient for me to start a lecture on my computer (using WMP) and later finish listening on my (new) iPad while not at home. If I stop the lecture at, say, 45 minutes, it is hard to go back to that exact spot to pick it up later.
Is this a known issue - for VBR and/or fixed rate MP3s? Is there a way to fix this? A more reliable multi-platform player that doesn't have this problem? A little Googling says there is a header fix for VBR encoded MP3's, but those threads are 8 - 10 years old and many people say the header fix didn't work for them anyway.
Any light that can be shed on this problem by the MP3 gurus around here would be appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Bruce Morris
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