I have downloaded FFmpeg for Audacity and Lame for Audacity and they are in C: Program Files (x86) but I still can’t open or import a WMA file. I get the “can’t open due to patent restrictions” message. I’m using Audacity 2.1.2 and downloaded it using the .exe installer. I am running Windows 10. In edit > preferences > libraries I see the MP3 library version is LAME 3.99.3 and the FFmpeg Library version is F(55.33.100),C(55.52.102),U(52.66.100). When I click Locate, Audacity says it has automatically detected valid FFmpeg libraries and it shows the correct path for the lame_enc.dll file. What am I missing?
Where does the file come from? If it has Digital rights management restrictions then Audacity will not import it. In that case you will have to play the file in the player that is registered to play it and record the playback into Audacity.
Note also that 24-bit WMA Lossless files cannot be imported using FFmpeg 2.2.2.
LAME is only for exporting MP3 files.
Gale
The file is from an inexpensive Olympus VN-6200PC digital voice recorder. It’s a recording of a church service and can’t have any kind of digital rights protection.
Do your know the recorder has not added DRM, even if you did not intend it?
Does Windows Media Player play the file? If so you can record it into Audacity as I described.
To diagnose the problem you could download “MediaInfo” from http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en/Download/Windows and post the file information (text) that gives about the file. Get the MediaInfo version without installer, because the installer may have malware or adware.
Or you could post the actual file to Dropbox or your favourite file storage service.
Gale
This issue has been resolved.
I believe the problem was that the WMA file was corrupted when copying to a network drive. I was able to import and process the file directly from the voice recorder, as well as several others via the network.
Thank you very much for your help.