Problems with .aif/aiff files (Windows 7 OS)

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

I’ve got a few .aif (or aiff, anyway) that I need to convert, but when I open them in Audacity the dialogue is really messed up. The speech is covered over by a really annoying sound that sounds like static and clicking together. I’ve tried all the different effects and generators to fix it, but nothing is working. Does Audacity have problems with this file type, like major bugs or something? Or is it just the file itself? :confused:

2

Audacity should have no problem with uncompressed PCM AIFF.

If the AIFF contains compressed formats (in which case it should really have been given AIFC extension) then it will depend what that format is.

I suggest you look at Help > About Audacity. If it does not say version 2.0.3, grab that latest 2.0.3 version from here Audacity ® | Download for Windows .

If the AIFF still does not import, it may contain AAC audio. In that case, download and install FFmpeg from Audacity Manual . Import the AIFF by choosing File > Import > Audio…, select “FFmpeg-compatible files” in the “Files of type” dropdown, then select and open the AIFF file.

If the file still gives problems, get MediaInfo (the version without installer): MediaInfo - Download MediaInfo for Microsoft Windows

open the AIFF in that, press View > Text and paste the contents here.


Gale

3

Thanks.

Yea, I had an old version, didn’t think to update it. Thanks a bunch

4

This is what it gave me.

General
Complete name : C:UsersBobbyDesktopStuffRecord32.aiff
Format : AIFF
Format/Info : Apple/SGI
File size : 189 KiB
Duration : 63ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 24.6 Mbps

Audio
Format : PCM
Codec ID : ima4
Duration : 63ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 24.0 Mbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth : bit0
Stream size : 185 KiB (98%)

5

Sorry, this isn’t going to be much help…

Format : PCM
Codec ID : ima4

PCM is the standard format for WAV & AIFF and it should be no problem, and Audacity supports standard uncompressed linear PCM “out of the box”. But, I don’t know what ima4 is, and I don’t know if FFMPEG supports it.

Duration : 63ms

63 milliseconds has got to be an error.

Bit depth : bit0

That doesn’t make sense either.

6

Isn’t the 63ms just the duration of the clip?

Also, I recorded the files on a mic app on my iphone and emailed them to myself, but see that shouldn’t have caused the problem since they matched with most of what I was told here.

7

IMA4 is Apple’s version of IMA ADPCM:
http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=Apple_QuickTime_IMA_ADPCM

which is a “compressed” 4-bit type of PCM.

Audacity would be able to import IMA ADPCM in a WAV container with its normal uncompressed importer, but not if IMA ADPCM is in an AIFF container:
http://www.mega-nerd.com/libsndfile/ .

FFmpeg supports numerous IMA ADPCM codecs but doesn’t explicitly mention IMA4. Did you try FFmpeg as I suggested?

Have you tried to play the file in iTunes ? iTunes or QuickTime which comes with iTunes should be able to play IMA4 on Mac (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3775) so may be able to do so on Windows. If so you can convert the file to WAV in iTunes then Audacity will import it.



Gale

8

Same issue for me. .AIF files are all static. Here’s an example of the data from the file using MediaInfo.dll

General
Complete name                            : C:\Users\Aaron\Desktop\Rob Zombie\02 Superbeast.aif
Format                                   : AIFF
Format/Info                              : Apple/SGI
File size                                : 37.0 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 39 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Constant
Overall bit rate                         : 1 415 kb/s
Album                                    : Hellbilly Deluxe
Track name                               : Superbeast
Track name/Position                      : 2
Performer                                : Rob Zombie
Genre                                    : Heavy Metal
Recorded date                            : 1998
BPM                                      : 153
Cover                                    : Yes
Cover description                        : Picture
Cover type                               : Cover (front)
Cover MIME                               : image/jpeg
Dynamic Range (DR)                       : 5
Dynamic Range (R128)                     : 8.921799659729004
Peak Level (R128)                        : +0.9 dBTP; +0.6 Left; +0.9 Right
Peak Level (Sample)                      : -0.1 dB; -0.1 Left; -0.1 Right
Tool Name                                : Media Center
Tool Version                             : 19.0.146
Volume Level (R128)                      : -16.5372200012207031
Volume Level (ReplayGain)                : -11.5372200012207031

Audio
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings                          : Big
Duration                                 : 3 min 39 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 411.2 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 kHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Stream size                              : 36.9 MiB (100%)
9

This is not the same issue, and Gale Andrews will not be able to reply or help you as he died in 2017. Topic locked.

Please see my reply to your original post here: AIF Files Playback with static throughout - #6 by steve