WMA v9 Codec Beta 1

[Unregistered]

wma v9 problems

I got the wma v9 codec beta from microsoft and from dbpoweramp, but I have many problems:

- after that my mp3 sounds slow
- I cant play any file encoded in wma v9 in CBR, only in VBR in my nomad jukebox

What is CBR, what can couse this problem?

if I record in VBR, is no good becouse some times I get very low bitrates.

Thanks!

[Spoon]

Sounds like the Nomad is not fully WMA9 compatible, do they play ok in Windows Media Player?

[SOT]

Had that problem

Hey I had that problem... I had WMP 9 build 2.799, and mpeg videos and mp3 sounded slow... What did I do to solve? Downloaded build 2800, unistalled DFX plugin I had installed, and on the options menu, I clicked on Advanced and checked all options and put that performance slider to the max...

works fine now...

[Unregistered]

wma v9 problems

Originally posted by Spoon
Sounds like the Nomad is not fully WMA9 compatible, do they play ok in Windows Media Player?

This is related to a question I cam here to se if I could have answered. From what you're saying here Spoon, I'm assuming that a portable MP3 player has to support decoding of v9 WMA files in order for them to play properly.

I have a Frontier Labs NEX II MP3 player with firmware that I’m guessing, but not yet certain, was written before the WMA v9 encoders have been available. Am I right in assuming that an MP3 player wit specs saying it supports WMA v8 will >not< properly play v9 files?

Thanks,

NatSkanson

[Spoon]

No I don't think so, WMA 9 can be decoded without any upgrades.
Each portable will have limitations on what it can decode, certain players will not be able to handle the demands of WMA9.

[Unregistered]

Hi there! I'm the one that had written the message "I Got...many problems"

Sorry for my poor english (Im Brazilian)

I had not answerd the questions becouse I was traveling.
___________________________________________
do they play ok in Windows Media Player?
___________________________________________
Yes they do!


The problem is that I cannot uninstall the WMP - I dont know whay?

But the good news is that the V9 wma songs are working now in my juke box - can this be a beta bug? (I had read somewere that all wma players will suport new versions of wma and the old ones as well)

have any one that have a nomad Jukebox (or similar) and had done the test?

Thanks Again!

William!
and I was thinking:
VBR (is it varable bit rate?) and CBR (what is constant bit rate) - please don't laughf of me - its becouse my english is no good.

[Cosmo q]

Hi,

I just registered the power pack because I really love the program and wanted to use the 2-pass VBR settings.

I was very happy to realize the new codec could be played on my old HipZip. This mp3 player was build long before they started on WMA9 so I was very suprised.

Some questions: I mainly use dmc for converting cd's en mp3's to the size of 40mb (actually 38,3) to fit one CD on a disk (the HiZip uses PocketZip disks). So variable bitrate means better sound quality for the same space. Normally I rip a CD and compress the tracks with different bitrates to get an total size a little less than 40Mb. Could there be a way to use variable bitrate to get an exact size after compression, like video codecs use? I doubt it cause the encoders only accepts certain bitrates, but would be great.
For the same reason I miss the 80kbs option in the 2-Pass VBR encoding, but I noticed it isn't in the WM-Encoder by microsoft so it seams impossible.

About the beta. When Using the Sveta PA (right click on track convert to -> My DAP) I noticed some buggy settings dialog for the WMA9 compression. It only has 2 options the ACELP.net codec and the DivX;-) Audio codec. Certainly the last one seems a bit lost.

Greetings,
Cosmo q

[Unregistered]

wma v9 problems

Originally posted by Spoon
No I don't think so,

Does that mean you don't think my assumption is correct ? Or that you don't think that the v7 - v8 encoder that the NEX II uses will play v9 files to their full potential, as I was guessing?

WMA 9 can be decoded without any upgrades.
Each portable will have limitations on what it can decode, certain players will not be able to handle the demands of WMA9.

Yes... Frontier Labs has confirmed that the v9 files can be player in the NEX II, but they failed to say whether or not the player's decoder will get the full potential out of the v9 files. Is that you're conclusion?

NatSkanson

[Spoon]

Cosmo q - With a little experimenting a Quality Setting should always fit an album in a certain size.

"ACELP.net codec and the DivX" - I havn't seen DivX appear in mine, so you dont get the standard 3 'Windows Media'?

Unregistered - The only way to be sure is to use your ears, I would think if it was not working correctly then you would instantly hear it not working.

Unregistered - VBR is variable bit rate, and CBR is constant bit rate.

[Cosmo q]

About the Settings.

Indeed I don't get the normal 3 Windwos Media.
Only under these conditions. (as a settings dialog with the Sveta da). Otherwise they work just fine. I could try it on other computers if you like.

I do a lot of experimenting to get the right size. I have a table with target bit rates (or you can just calculate them) for different durations. And then I convert a couple of songs with a higher or lower bitrate to closer match the 38,3Mb. But with the 2-pass encoding it takes a lot more time. Do you have any idea if there is a big difference between the 1-pass and the 2-pass in quality? The problem with the Quality settings is I have no idea what the outcome size will be. So it's a lot more guessing where to start.

Another thing I noticed about the beta is that the status bar only reflects the first pass. I don't know if it is possible to work around this but is would be better to know the real progress.

Greetings,
Cq

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Spoon
Unregistered - The only way to be sure is to use your ears, I would think if it was not working correctly then you would instantly hear it not working.

You can call me NatSkanson... I hate the whole process of signing in everywhere, but eventually do if it eventually turns out to be a good spot to hang out.

I was just hoping to find someone with specific knowledge of the way the v9 WMA encoded files are handled with v8 and before decoders. I don't have headphones yet, or a stereo with me to be able to do any audio listening tests yet. I've got to decide between the Sony MDR-4509 which I've tested and like, and the Grado SR-80 and SR-125 which I have to drive 2 hours to audition.

I wonder if there's a Microsoft forum for the WMA encoding scheme where these questions about v9 might be answered.

NatSkanson

[Spoon]

Most of the WMA players - Rio / Creative Nomad were released when it was WMA v2, since then we have had v7, v8 & v9.

For the first time in the documentaion MS have started talking about 'wma v9 compatible' devices, but this could be because of thing such as the new lossless compression.

MS have WMA newsgroups.

[Spoons]

I haven't heard of sony MDR-4509 before.
but I have a pair of MDR-7509 and there pretty good except for the expenisive price tag.

[Spoon]

Had a look at the 'two codec options' only appearing when sending to a mp3 device (Windows Media Audio Device), it is because my mp3 device sending code is written in WMA v8, it is only loading the WMA v8 profiles, until MS release the WMA v9 WDM SDK nothing can be done.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Razgo
I haven't heard of sony MDR-4509 before.
but I have a pair of MDR-7509 and there pretty good except for the expenisive price tag.

Oops... 4 ...7 ... They're pretty close together on the keyboard. ;-P My mistake... Yeah, the MDR-7509 sounds great. They're selling online and in stores for $189 at this point.

NatSkanson