Mac Error Cannont Create Wave Decoder

[SyberKnight]

i'm trying to digitize some old cassette tapes. i bought a RipTunes boombox that will convert a tape to a USB thumb drive. it says the files would be in MP3 format, but it actually comes out as WAV files.

using my MacBook Pro (2021 Apple M1 Max; macOS 13.2.1), i need to import these "wav" files into GarageBand so i can separate out the songs into individual files.

problem is, GarageBand (nor even QuickTime Player) won't open them. it just says "file doesn't exist" - yet it does; i can open them in the VLC player app and play them just fine.

so, i thought perhaps i need to convert them first. so in trying to do that with DBPowerAmp, i get this error message...

Error converting to Apple AAC...
Error Cannont Create Wave Decoder (Unknown ACM ID: 17)

...do you have any idea what this means & how i can remedy it?

for reference, i did open the WAV file up in a "MediaInfo" app, and it says these files have this info...

Format: Wave
Overall bit rate mode: Constant
Overall bit rate: 176 kb/s
Format: ADPCM
Codec ID: 11
Codec ID/Hint: Intel
Bit rate mode: Constant
Bit rate: 176.4 kb/s
Channel(s): 1 channel
Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz
Bit depth: 4 bits

...hopefully that may make sense to you :-)

thanks so much!

[Spoon]

>Codec ID/Hint: Intel

They are not standard wave files, they are compressed with a Intel codec. You will struggle to find anything which can decode that, only the software which came with the boombox.

[SyberKnight]

thanks for the reply.

so, the boombox did/does not come with any software. it's pretty misleading to say the files are mp3's but instead these "wav" files.

anyway, i had a thought... since VLC could "play" the file, i thought i'd see if i could convert it too. i'm unfamiliar with all the features of VLC; just have it around for those/these odd files that QT can't play.

i discovered if i use the "Convert & Stream" option, it can convert it into something GB can use.

i chose these options:
Encapsulation: MP4/MOV
Video Codec: 'none'
Audio Codec: MPEG 4 Audio (AAC)
Bitrate: 320
Channels: 2
Samplerate: 44100

i tried to match the settings i used in DBPoweramp for my CD's, yet the resulting file extension becomes ".m4v".

just thought i'd report back what i found. since i had such great success with DBPA, i had hoped it would be useful with this too. oh well - i STILL love DBPA ;-)

thanks for your time.