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[SmartOne]

Where can I send a file...?

They are files on my hard drive, just like an MP3s except with stupid Real RM encoding.    (Not my fault, ripped streams using FlashGet.)  They're not bad files because Windows Media Player can play them without (what I suspect are) buffering issues.

I've never uploaded using FTP before...  I tried my preinstalled CoreFTP client and couldn't get it to work.

[Dotpitch]

If the file is small, you can attach it to your forum post (see Additions Options...). If it's too big, use RapidShare or a similar site. Do the files play correctly in RealPlayer?

[SmartOne]

Do the files play correctly in RealPlayer?

Ew, you actually want me to install that? 

Here's a good test file: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=67bf92ff0e8a76147432d3c9683f450ae04e75f6e8ebb871

Unzipped, the filename: bach_2_part_invention_in_d_minor-34446.rm

[Dotpitch]

Ew, you actually want me to install that?

Well, you need some reference when trying to find the bug .

Anyway, RealPlayer plays this file properly. xmp-ra crashes 9 seconds into the file (tried 5 times: 4 times silent, 1 time on DEP), but when seeking past that it plays alright. I can't hear any skips, do they occur at regular intervals or at specific places in this file?

[SmartOne]

Whoa, mine never crashes.

(Maybe I should have picked a song with less off-beat hits )
Skips:
1:18
2:38
3:55 
5:14
6:35

Another song:
1:19
2:38
3:58
5:14

Seems like intervals.  RealAudio (beta9) Config menu I only have the last three boxes checked.  XMPlay buffer size is 0.100s.  I'm not using resampling.  Dithering and Noise shaping are checked, but that only applies to songs with bit depths other than 16...?  DirectSound - USB Audio DAC

[Dotpitch]

XMPlay buffer size is 0.100s.  I'm not using resampling.  Dithering and Noise shaping are checked, but that only applies to songs with bit depths other than 16...?  DirectSound - USB Audio DAC

Do you have the same problem when playing mp3s? And what if you use the Wave-writer?

Skips: 1:18, 2:38, 3:55, 5:14, 6:35

80 second intervals... looks like there's a packet saved in the stream that xmp-ra doesn't expect. I've tried it with the same settings, but I cannot reproduce the skips. I'll install the new RealAlternative and try again. I won't install the new version, the installer refuses to extract the dlls as long as I have RealPlayer installed. My current RA dlls are dated 28-6-2007, what version do you use?

[SmartOne]

The problem only happens using the RealAudio plugin.  The only files I have that use it are RM.  Renaming them to RMVB produces the same results.  WAV Writer same results.

Not sure where to find the DLL version...  I downloaded and installed Real Alternative on 9/15/2008.

[Dotpitch]

Could you try a regular .RA file, so not one saved from a stream?

[SmartOne]

Where could I find one?
Renaming RM to RA or RAM doesn't help. (But the files do still play.)
http://rosemck1.tripod.com/southern-gospel.html lol
The file faith-like-that.ram from the above link plays without skips.

[Fraggie]

Are all your problematic files encoded with ATRAC? (Details are in the info window.)

[SmartOne]

Format RealAudio (RMFF) (version 8.0)
Codec ATRAC3/Tokyo ("ATRC")
Flavour "176 kbps Stereo Music - RA 8" (#5)
Muxer Generic interleaver ("GENR")
Packets 10140
Packet Size 1024 bytes
Block Size 30720 bytes (30 packets)
Bit rate 176 kbps
Sample rate 44100 hz
Channels 2
Length 7:50
Output 44100 hz - stereo - 32 bit

So yes, it appears they are all ATRAC3...

[SmartOne]

Uh, any ideas?

[Dotpitch]

Uh, any ideas?

So, you've got some streamripped files with a funny structure. RealAlternative itself can play the files correctly. xmp-ra uses RealAlternative codecs, but has problems with some saved packets. The problematic files are all ATRAC. Can you try a stream with a different codec and save that in the same way? Just to check whether it's limited to ATRAC .
For the rest, you'll have to wait until Fraggie has time to work on it. I think he's working on xmp-ahx first .

[Fraggie]

Usually a key frame (key packet) is the first packet of a block (30 packets here). But this file also has a key frame every 80 seconds, breaking the block. You need to have the whole block to rearrange the packets correctly. I'm not sure what needs to be done in such case.

You say the file plays okay in RealPlayer, so I guess it's not broken and so I'll have to do some research.

[SmartOne]

Can you try a stream with a different codec and save that in the same way? Just to check whether it's limited to ATRAC .

I have some crap-ily encoded 22050 Hz Cooker/G2/Gecko ("COOK") streamed RM files that seem to skip... But in different places?  It's hard to tell because most of them have a "separated" sound anyway.

Here's a good test: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=67bf92ff0e8a76147432d3c9683f450ae04e75f6e8ebb871
(one_last_touch.rm inside ZIP)

Skips:
1:21
2:40

[Dotpitch]

Skips: 1:21, 2:40

Confirmed. RealPlayer made a little cough once, but plays it perfectly now.

Heh, now that I relisten the other track, I do hear the skips at the places you mention . I expected a more harsh transition .

[Fraggie]

Heh, now that I relisten the other track, I do hear the skips at the places you mention . I expected a more harsh transition .

In XMPlay or RealPlayer? 

[Dotpitch]

In XMPlay or RealPlayer?

In XMPlay. I compared it to RealPlayer playback and it misses about 1.4 seconds.

[Fraggie]

Folks, try this
http://dhost.info/pieknyman/bin/test/xmp-ra.dll

[SmartOne]

So far it sounds perfect!  Thank you for all your work!   

Cooker files still skip.