Develop Bugs

Some WMA Files Won't Work As Ringtones

I have a lot of WMA and WAV files that WM6 refuses to use as ringtones, even when copied to Windows or Windows/rings. They also won't play on WMP or GSplayer. But they play fine with various PC players.
I suspect this is something simple, but searching Google for half an hour didn't find it.

Check the bitrate I think 190 is the limit.

AngelDeath said:
Check the bitrate I think 190 is the limit.
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Thanks. I tried to look at the bit rate, but the one program I have that does that returns:
Bitrate: N/A
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which doesn't help.
Any suggestions for determining the bitrate, and if that is the problem, for converting it in a batch of files?

Goldwave is what I use. http://www.goldwave.com/
I also marked my song clip as "Ring-put song name here.wma"
As such the great Phineas and Ferb classic, My Name Is Doof, is now my general ringtone. It was set at 44100Mz, 129kbps, stereo via Goldwave conversion. Mine looks like this "Ring-MyNameIsDoof.wma".
For alarms, I have 2 sound bites...named "Alarm-Reveille.wav" and "Alarm-Mahna Mahna.wav".
Drop them into windows and you should be good. Hope this helps.

I found a way to look at the bitrates, and they range from 16 to 64kbps. The frequencies look to be either 22050 or 41000Hz.
Does the last post imply that I need to make the bitrates higher?

Convert them to MP3, it will make your life simpler.

I try some as a test, but I'm under the impression that MP3s are larger and "lossier".

They aren't DRM-protected WMA files are they? That would be a reason that WMP wouldn't play them either. I had that issue with a bunch of songs purchased legally from Musicmatch. When Yahoo bought Musicmatch they shut down the DRM servers and the songs became useless. Converting to MP3 is probably the easiest solution.

No DRM involved.

slight22 said:
Convert them to MP3, it will make your life simpler.
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Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that WM6 could use MP3s as ringtones.
As for WAVs and WMAs, there seems to be a "signed" attribute which I can't find documentation for. Since the one I have problems with were mostly converted from MIDI files, I assume they are unsigned.

Enableing FLAC and other Lossless Formats

Hey guys, i don't know about you, but i have a TON of FLAC audio files which i would love to play on my phone. But, the issue is that Zune wont recognize it. I created a suggestion and if you feel the same way, you should vote for it to be implemented in future updates.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/2304622-enable-flac-and-other-lossless-formats?ref=title

That's why I stopped using Zune.
I have no idea why Microsoft decided to not support FLAC in Zune but someone in the Zune camp needs a kick in the backside.
Anyone with a half descent sound system can here the difference between a mp3 and FLAC file.

This is a lost cause. There's no way Microsoft will ever support open source codec's such as FLAC or MKV. Not only are these codecs undermining their MPEG-LA licensing efforts but using them will look weird when they start suing people for infringing on Microsoft's patents using these free ones.

Use WMA lossless.
I highly doubt you have such great gear tied to your phone that a 320 MP3 won't do.

It's not so much about the quality through the phone...I don't care about it, but many people like me, have really big FLAC libraries. I have absolutely no intention to convert these huge libraries to a lossy format because I listen to them through high end sound systems in my home. So, I just want Zune to recognize any flac file I throw into it, like it was an mp3, and be able to manage these libraries through Zune, even if it has to convert the tracks I sync with it to mp3. I wonder why everybody thinks that it's only an issue about the quality through the phone...It's more of an organizing issue...I want to be able to browse my libraries like everyone else and sync the files I want through Zune...

I can certainly understand the wish and frustration. But it's not going to happen. So you better learn to live with it or choose another OS.
There is a chance that an OEM can do it though, so you may have better luck letting them know.

hard drive space is cheap, why not convert it all for Zune, while retaining the flac files for use with other devices
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Actually, I can't imagine what other devices may support flac but not support aac/wma lossless.

Muvolt said:
It's not so much about the quality through the phone...I don't care about it, but many people like me, have really big FLAC libraries. I have absolutely no intention to convert these huge libraries to a lossy format because I listen to them through high end sound systems in my home. So, I just want Zune to recognize any flac file I throw into it, like it was an mp3, and be able to manage these libraries through Zune, even if it has to convert the tracks I sync with it to mp3. I wonder why everybody thinks that it's only an issue about the quality through the phone...It's more of an organizing issue...I want to be able to browse my libraries like everyone else and sync the files I want through Zune...
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I Know how you feel I have over 2 TB of saved files that I spent days converting.
I will just keep using foobar or something similar.
For the record most of the music sold by HDtracks is FLAC.

frankly speaking I prefer FLAC than mp3 but as for now what I can hear is Lossless WMA

[Q] wma is unsupported in stock music player?

So is it just my ignorance or does the stock music player really not play wma files? Any resolution to this?
Thanks

some phones can but you have to make sure there is no drm on the music. if there is it will not play it

It's very strange. the wma files play on my pc & on my former HTC TP2....

abodamer said:
It's very strange. the wma files play on my pc & on my former HTC TP2....
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That's because WMA files are Windows Media Audio files.

I know that. I guess I wish we (google, Microsoft) could all just get along. Oh well, converting to mp3. So much for lossless

abodamer said:
I know that. I guess I wish we (google, Microsoft) could all just get along. Oh well, converting to mp3. So much for lossless
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Get PowerAMP.
It can play wma, as well as FLAC, wav, and just about everything else. Lossless and lossy
It also has a full Equalizer and many other features. I love it.
Official site: http://powerampapp.com/
Market Page: https://market.android.com/details?...GwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5tYXhtcHouYXVkaW9wbGF5ZXIiXQ..

Wow. Thanks so much. Works great. I love this forum.

There's a line in the media_profiles.xml at the very end that has wma and wmv disabled. You can find it in /system/etc. Try changing the false to true and see if that works.
I don't use those file formats so I've never had a reason to change it and test to see if it works.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

ugh. poweramp doesn't work either. I thought it was, but it was playing an mp3 version of the song I was testing. Didn't realize this until after I purchased the full version.
I'm not rooted (yet) so I can't play with the system files...

KCRic said:
There's a line in the media_profiles.xml at the very end that has wma and wmv disabled. You can find it in /system/etc. Try changing the false to true and see if that works.
I don't use those file formats so I've never had a reason to change it and test to see if it works.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
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does not do the trick, it end with bootloop

Just transfer the files onto your comp and rip them to mp3's. I know this is kinda a pain in the ass but it will solve your prob.

Can I stop Windows Media Player converting my mp3 & mp4 to wma?

Title says it all really. Whenever I transfer files to my phone using WMP under Win 7 it converts them all to WMA files which is pointless since the track order then becomes alphabetical not as the id3 tag lists it. My version of WMP (can't find a version number since there is no file menu) does not have an option uncheck convert files as necessary like some people say there is under the device name in the sync menu.
Does anyone know how to stop this horrible behaviour and let me keep my media as I want it not how MS want it?

I thought there was a way, at least as far as Win Media 11 goes. I rarely use it so I can't recall it off the top of my head.
The next easiest thing is to stop using Microsoft products to handle audio and music; WMP is bloated and so un-intuitive.
Try Winamp, it's got a little bloat but it's pretty simple and manageable.
itunes does it's job but like most apple products, it's made for right-brained, artistic and people who feel good about things. That's not me.
I use file explorer windows, ctrl +c & ctrl +v
Good luck

richard.tufty said:
Title says it all really. Whenever I transfer files to my phone using WMP under Win 7 it converts them all to WMA files which is pointless since the track order then becomes alphabetical not as the id3 tag lists it. My version of WMP (can't find a version number since there is no file menu) does not have an option uncheck convert files as necessary like some people say there is under the device name in the sync menu.
Does anyone know how to stop this horrible behaviour and let me keep my media as I want it not how MS want it?
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Why do you even use wmp to transfer mp3 to your phone? just make a folder on your sd card has music and mount your sd card to your computer and drap and drop you files.

Nuenjin said:
Try Winamp, it's got a little bloat but it's pretty simple and manageable.
Good luck
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I tried Winamp, but it lists 2 copies of each track on the phone after syncing. There is ony one on it, but Winamp list 2. Annoying, but not the end of the world!

dfuse06 said:
Why do you even use wmp to transfer mp3 to your phone? just make a folder on your sd card has music and mount your sd card to your computer and drap and drop you files.
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I use WMP because it sorts all my audio files out for me. I have many files that aren't in a very good filing system from years ago and basically I'm too lazy to sort them out into Album/Artist folders (they have proper id3 tags though) to make finding things easier. The newer stuff I have ripped is better, in many ways due to iTunes organising it when I had an iPhone...
Also I have lots of Audio Books and WMP allows me to create Auto Playlists which excludes those files. I bashed iTunes a lot when I *had* to use it, it was bloaty and only recognised my iPhone about 2 in 3 times on Windows, but no it's gone I kinda miss it!

Found a solution/workaround
If I turn on USB debugging, thus disabling MTP mode, WMP will give me the option to not convert files. It's not as convenient as MTP since you have to click connect, but that's a small price to pay I think.

WMP12 (which is what Win7 has) can change the rip settings by pressing the ALT key to reveal the menu and then going to Tools->Options and looking for the Devices tab. Check the properties to see what the settings are here.
Also, if you don't use WMA at all change the settings in the "Rip Music" tab to use a format other than WMA. Don't know if this will help but I generally recommend to people when you don't use the format.

This problem drives me crazy. Why does WMP convert MP3 files? With my Arc S WMP converts only parts of the files. If I change the preferred format in "default-capability.xml" from MP4 to MP3 it works, but not for all files. This is sick.
I don't wanna miss WMP because it converts to 128Kbit/s and saves some space on the SD-Card.

Daniel D. said:
This problem drives me crazy. Why does WMP convert MP3 files? With my Arc S WMP converts only parts of the files. If I change the preferred format in "default-capability.xml" from MP4 to MP3 it works, but not for all files. This is sick.
I don't wanna miss WMP because it converts to 128Kbit/s and saves some space on the SD-Card.
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This works for me...
Go to the SYNC menu, YOUR DEVICE, then
the ADVANCED OPTIONS. Click on the QUALITY tab and make sure the MUSIC option
is set to SELECT QUALITY LEVEL AUTOMATICALLY. If you choose any other quality level it will convert to .wma.
- tom

tomX2 said:
This works for me...
Go to the SYNC menu, YOUR DEVICE, then
the ADVANCED OPTIONS. Click on the QUALITY tab and make sure the MUSIC option
is set to SELECT QUALITY LEVEL AUTOMATICALLY. If you choose any other quality level it will convert to .wma.
- tom
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Click to collapse
damn..how to make it work for videos.

You may try use Avdshare*Video*Converter to Convert MP4 to Windows Media Player more compatilbe video format like convert MP4 to WMV, MP4 to AVI, MP4 to MPG, MP4 to ASF.

New Update on Google Music Now Supports Gapless Playback!!!!

I just got an update today for both my Gnex and N7 and tested it out and it works!!! I am SOO happy now This has been bothering me for so long, but after the update, I put a live album on that is easy to tell and there were NO GAPS!!

I'm just mildly happy. It does work for MP3 and Vorbis files, but not for AAC which I happen to use for my audio collection. Haven't tested any other formats so far.
Definitely a step in the right direction though.

MoosDiagramm said:
I'm just mildly happy. It does work for MP3 and Vorbis files, but not for AAC which I happen to use for my audio collection. Haven't tested any other formats so far.
Definitely a step in the right direction though.
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Well, I upload my music to google music, and all higher quality music just gets converted to the highest rate MP3 anyway. But that is good to know, thanks.

Listening to it now, love it.
#Galaxy Nexus HSPA+

I think this was done in time to appease people who buy the Nexus 4 and need a solution for music that they can't put on their phone due to the low storage space.

CADude said:
I think this was done in time to appease people who buy the Nexus 4 and need a solution for music that they can't put on their phone due to the low storage space.
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And gapless playback helps this how?

rand4ll said:
And gapless playback helps this how?
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People with a ton of music on their computer, especially live albums, tend to love things like gapless playback. If they can't play a lot of music on their phone locally, as is the case on the Nexus 4 with its limited storage which is also needed for apps, photos, video, etc, they will buy another phone or a dedicated mp3 player. However, now that Google music has gapless playback just in time for the sale of the Nexus 4, more people will warm up to the idea of playing their music over the cloud with a Nexus 4 and they will buy it.

This isn't related to cloud storage. Gapless playbck didn't work AT ALL in the Android music app until now, even for files stored on the device.
I've tested a different AAC encoder and the files it produced do play gaplessly.
Apparently, the gapless information stored by Nero AAC (current version 1.5.4.0) isn't supported by the Android music app. It does work an any other device/software player with gapless playback support I tried, so the problem is probably on Google's end. It even works on Apple devices.
Files produced by the Quicktime AAC encoder work fine.

Does it have to be in an album or what? And is the gap less trigger stored in the file itself?
There are some tracks - not live albums - of various artists that have gap less tracks (Green Day's Holiday and Boulevard Of Broken Dreams is an example, Royksopp's Melody A.M. album is another)... So how does it great those tracks in that case? Gap less, or standard?
Cheers. And sent from my mini tractor

You're confusing gapless with crossfade. Crossfade plays the second track before the first ends, merging them into one. Gapless just makes sure that there is no additional gap between the files, the second track is played exactly when the first ends.
As you can see, there is no reason to disable gapless for specific situations. It is never harmful.

I didn't mean cross fade; I know exactly what gapless playback is all I was curious to find out was are there certain rules where gapless playback kicks in, or does it apply on all tracks by default.
(In short - how the app knows when to remove gaps and when to treat it like normal files)
Because it was said that encoding it in AAC using Nero doesn't help, but QuickTime encoding works... So... Kinda confusing me.
sent from my mini tractor

aeoveu said:
I didn't mean cross fade; I know exactly what gapless playback is all I was curious to find out was are there certain rules where gapless playback kicks in, or does it apply on all tracks by default.
(In short - how the app knows when to remove gaps and when to treat it like normal files)
Because it was said that encoding it in AAC using Nero doesn't help, but QuickTime encoding works... So... Kinda confusing me.
sent from my mini tractor
Click to expand...
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Gapless playback under Android doesn't remove any data from the files or depend on any metadata scheme. It just plays the tracks back-to-back so that any silence between tracks is due to that silence being encoded in the files themselves.
The underlying mechanism for gapless playback was added to the Android SDK for Jellybean/4.1. I added it my music app a couple months ago. I was surprised that Google didn't add this into their player at the same time that Jellybean was released.

Oh... So there's no gap or delay when playing the files (or switching from one file to another), right?
I thought it involved using a buffer and cutting to the next file and whatnot.
So its all normal. Thanks.
sent from my mini tractor

Hmm some things are gapless others aren't. Really annoying.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

aeoveu said:
I didn't mean cross fade; I know exactly what gapless playback is all I was curious to find out was are there certain rules where gapless playback kicks in, or does it apply on all tracks by default.
(In short - how the app knows when to remove gaps and when to treat it like normal files)
Because it was said that encoding it in AAC using Nero doesn't help, but QuickTime encoding works... So... Kinda confusing me.
sent from my mini tractor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, now I understand what you mean.
Lossy audio compression (like MP3, AAC, whatever...) adds a bit of silence at the end and beginning of each track. It's part of how lossy audio codecs work.
In order to remove this silence during playback, modern encoding tools write some additional data to the compressed audio file that says "remove x milliseconds at the beginning and y milliseconds at the end" to restore the tracks original length. Players need to look for such data and skip the additional parts accordingly.
If you take an album that has silence at the end of tracks on the CD and convert it to MP3/AAC/whatever, it will add some more silence to it. A player that supports gaplesss playback will remove this additional silence, but keep the original silence that was on the CD.
AFAIK, there is no official standard on how to write this gapless information to the compressed audio file, so different codecs do it in a different way and developers of audio players must take a look at files produced by popular codecs to understand how each codec handles it and implement support for it.
Android 4.2 along with the latest version of the music app supports the format used by Lame MP3, Vorbis and Quicktime AAC (and probably others, these are just the ones I tested). AAC files produced by Nero AAC, which do have gapless data and work fine on other players, are not supported at the moment.

Ahhh so that's how it works. I've been a long time winamp user and use the silence remover capability in there...which does it on the fly! Never tried it with portable devices...but I think I may give it a shot this time.
Cheers!
sent from my mini tractor

I enjoy the cross-fade feature in PowerAmp, would be cool to see that implemented one day too.

Cross fading in those apps are basic i.e. they only work on a constant. Not sure if any of you guys know about this plugin for Winamp called Sqr Advanced Cross fader... it works based on the silence level of the currently paying song, and works wonderfully in most cases.
Then there are times when I end up cross fading songs myself in Winamp
sent from my mini tractor

MoosDiagramm said:
Ah, now I understand what you mean.
Lossy audio compression (like MP3, AAC, whatever...) adds a bit of silence at the end and beginning of each track. It's part of how lossy audio codecs work.
In order to remove this silence during playback, modern encoding tools write some additional data to the compressed audio file that says "remove x milliseconds at the beginning and y milliseconds at the end" to restore the tracks original length. Players need to look for such data and skip the additional parts accordingly.
If you take an album that has silence at the end of tracks on the CD and convert it to MP3/AAC/whatever, it will add some more silence to it. A player that supports gaplesss playback will remove this additional silence, but keep the original silence that was on the CD.
AFAIK, there is no official standard on how to write this gapless information to the compressed audio file, so different codecs do it in a different way and developers of audio players must take a look at files produced by popular codecs to understand how each codec handles it and implement support for it.
Android 4.2 along with the latest version of the music app supports the format used by Lame MP3, Vorbis and Quicktime AAC (and probably others, these are just the ones I tested). AAC files produced by Nero AAC, which do have gapless data and work fine on other players, are not supported at the moment.
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Very nice explanation, thank you!
So I went ahead and listened to some of my lossy mixes, still .1 second gaps between songs... it hurts wish the player could analyze the spectrum and fix this... guess nobody at google listens to trance
On the plus side, I ran a local mix that was in FLAC, and it was truly gapless! Too bad that it every 30 seconds theres a .5 second pause.....
I remember not having these problems 2004, why do I have them in 2012
- sent from TW galaxy s3 4.1.1

Just use PowerAmp, you'll need to pay a few Euro's, but that player is just great! Gapless playback? Like that is a novelty! PowerAmp had Gapless playback 2 years ago already! Besides that, PowerAmp has a great Equalizer and a big deal of other settings to match it to your liking...