Cannot open mp3s I have downloaded

[jonpaul]

I have recently started buying tracks from DJ Download.com and have had some problems opening a few tracks. It appears that when I try opening said tracks, I get an error saying: Could not decode the file using the available codecs.

When I try opening these tracks in Steinbergs Wavelab 4, you get a blank file open i.e. no waveform

However, Windows Media Player opens it fine. It appears then that to get them working I have to burn them to CD, re-import them and re save. ANNOYING! I have double checked and all files are MP3s including those that play etc etc.

I have contacted the website and they said the following:"Weird... the only difference I can see is that one was encoded using Lame 3.96 (the one that doesn't work) and the other with 3.92. The 3.92 is what we use as standard."

Anyone else had this or can shed any light on solving. Is they any codec upgrades or the like. If anyone knows how to solve in Wavelab too then that would also be helpful.

Cheers all.

[difference]

Am having similar problem with a couple (not all) files encoded at variable bit rate.

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31540
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31731


(XP SP1, Live 5.03)

[jonpaul]

anyone??? help

[djshiva]

can you reencode them to .wav in windows media player?

i use iTunes to reencode all my mp3s to .wav before i ever use them in Live. then i ditch the original mp3, soi don't have doubles cluttering my hd. using mp3s in Live just means it is gonna reencode it to .wav itself, so why bother with two files when you can just have one?

[longjohns]

if they are vbr then i think you need to have quicktime installed on your machine

[David]

[quote="jonpaul"]the only difference I can see is that one was encoded using Lame 3.96 (the one that doesn't work) and the other with 3.92. The 3.92 is what we use as standard."quote]

there must be something different about the 3.96 encoding which means that live doesnt recognize the file format. If Lame 3.96 is new then there is no doubt a change in the encoding mechanism which is newer than the current decoding mechanisms in Live. It might not even be the mp3 encoding per se, might just be a tag in the file...Lame website might be a good place to check. I use Yamp to encode and decode mp3's sometimes, its free and does the job..might be useful if your in a hurry...

cheers,,

[rwillia2]

Its most likely there are errors/glitches in the MP3 you have downloaded. Have you listened to the track all the way through in media player. If there are any sqeeks, skips or anything else, its likely some of the info is missing, which is causing abe to bug. Had this problem myself with a few MP3 downloads and the only solution I found was to download again...... not good if you have to pay though.

That said I get a lot of music for free from Download.com, always worth a pike for nothing!!

Rich

[jonpaul]

Cheers for the help. I really don't think it is a glitch as quite a few mp3s from djdownload.com seem to be affected.

I think I will just re-encode as suggested. Just annoying thats all.