AIF turns out distorted when imported [SOLVED]

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

I have been using audacity for quite some time now and haven’t had any issues with it. My friend recently sent me a mix in the AIF format which was recorded using the djay app. When imported, the audio just turns out horribly distorted. However when I attempt to play the original file in VLC or iTunes, it sounds perfectly normal.

Now I have been importing AIF format files into Audacity for audio mastering and conversion for quite some time now and have never experienced this issue before. My mixes are always recorded with Serato DJ.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2

Please answer the questions in the pink panel at the top of the page. If you don’t have the current Audacity 2.0.6 you can obtain it here http://audacityteam.org/download/windows.

If the problem persists in 2.0.6, install FFmpeg from http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#ffdown . Use File > Import > Audio… or File > Open… then choose “FFmpeg-compatible files” before selecting the file. FFmpeg may be able to import it properly if the AIF doesn’t contain the expected type of audio.

If that does not solve it, please obtain “MediaInfo” from http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en/Download/Windows and paste here what it says about the file. Get the MediaInfo version without installer, because the installer may have malware or adware.


Gale

3

Thanks for the reply Gale.

I am currently using Audacity 2.0.6. I downloaded ffmpeg and still got the same result when importing the file.

Here is the info about the file from MediaInfo :

eneral
Complete name : C:UsersShananDesktopYear End Mix Final.aif
Format : AIFF
Format/Info : Apple/SGI
File size : 109 MiB
Duration : 38s 142ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 24.0 Mbps

Audio
Format : PCM
Codec ID : ima4
Duration : 38s 142ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 24.0 Mbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth : bit0
Stream size : 109 MiB (100%)

4

Thanks for the information. I exported an AIFF containing IMA4 (in other words, IMA ADPCM) from Audacity. It imported with distortion unless I specified importing it using FFmpeg. Make sure you followed the instructions I gave to import by choosing “FFmpeg-compatible files”.

If that does not help then the file may have corrupted headers. How long should it be? MediaInfo says it is only 38 seconds, and if so it should only be around 2 MB in size, not 109 MB.

Audacity’s Import Raw won’t help because it does not support IMA ADPCM. So your only other options if FFmpeg can’t handle the file are to transcode it to PCM WAV in an app that can understand it, or play it on the computer and record it into Audacity.


Gale

5

Thanks for the reply Gale. The file is actually 41 minutes long i’m not too sure why MediaInfo reported it as 38 seconds.

I imported the file again by specifically choosing the parameter you mention and it worked. Wasn’t too sure how to “force” the ffmpeg-specific import before this. The file now imports properly and without distortion.

Thank you very much for the help and regards.