Only Static when I import an MP3 file

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I recently downloaded an audiobook, but whenever I want to upload it to audacity to split it into chapters, the 8 hour file is seen as a 2 minute file. There is also a bunch of random static. The file opens normally in Windows Media Player, iTunes and Groove Music. I am new to audacity, so I have no idea what to do. Here’s the media Info-

General
Complete name : (REDACTED)
Format : dash
Codec ID : dash (iso6/mp41)
File size : 496 MiB
Duration : 8 h 56 min
Overall bit rate : 129 kb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2019-04-12 00:36:44
Tagged date : UTC 2019-04-12 00:36:44

Audio
ID : 1
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 8 h 56 min
Bit rate : 128 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 kHz
Frame rate : 43.066 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 491 MiB (99%)
Title : ISO Media file produced by Google Inc. Created on: 04/11/2019.
Encoded date : UTC 2019-04-12 00:36:44
Tagged date : UTC 2019-04-12 00:36:44

Can anyone tell me what I need to do?

2

I found the solution-
Turns out my file had the wrong extension [.mp3 instead of .aac]. Fixed that and was able to edit on audacity.

3

Screen Shot 2020-03-18 at 21.32.45.png
It’s not an MP3 or WAV, so Audacity has no idea what to do with it. You can add the FFMpeg software to Audacity and the work should open.

https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

Pick your installer and scroll down for additional software.

Fair warning that when you do get everything working, it’s going to produce a boatload (technical term) of data. Audacity works internally at super high quality and certain effects and tools save the Whole Show as UNDO. Do you have lots of free memory and disk storage? If you’re on Windows 10, do a clean shutdown (Shift + Shutdown, Wait a bit and Start). When the machine wakes up, don’t let anything else start. Disconnect any network or internet drives and the network itself if you can. Do Not use Skype, a browser or Chat while you’re doing this.

Then start Audacity and open the show.

Copy the original sound file onto its own thumb drive or other separate backup. If you do something wrong, Audacity may dump the edit and sound files into the dirt and you may need to start over.

Let us know how i goes.

Koz