Wave Files 16bit PCM or 32bit Float

[steve]

it was 48,000 and not 44,100, but it would not play in my media player

What media player is that?

but I really just wanted to change the PCM frequency, a message said I needed this codec.

Where did that message come from? As far as I know ACM codec is obsolete, so I don't know why anything these days should require it.

[chariot]

What media player is that?

I use Windows Media Player 9.00.00.3349

Where did that message come from? As far as I know ACM codec is obsolete, so I don't know why anything these days should require it.

Can't remember now. if it asks again I shall remember and let you know.

[steve]

I've never been a fan of Windows Media Player - there's too many formats that it can't play (Ogg, Flac, 32bit WAV...) and it's seems more concerned about connecting to the Internet, reporting back to Microsoft, looking up track listings, recommending songs to buy, encoding my files into a Windows format, scanning my hard drive, checking for DRM... than in playing my music.

If you would like to try a no fuss media player (plays almost any audio or video file) that just plays your files, try VLC http://www.videolan.org/

Another good audio player for Windows (audio only and not video) is Foobar2000 http://www.foobar2000.org/

If you want a program to organise your media files, there is "Media Monkey" http://www.mediamonkey.com/

For burning CDs there is CDBurnerXP http://cdburnerxp.se/

All of the above are free - they are what I used before switching from Windows to Linux so I'm happy to recommend them.
There are plenty of other good alternatives as well (another that immediately comes to mind is WinAmp). I still use VLC as it is also available on Linux (and Mac).

[chariot]

Thank you for your time putting that last post together, very much appreciated.

I have a feeling I tried VLC once as I still have the exe file in my downloads folder, but I think I got rid of it due to it freezing if my memory serves me well.

Do you know if it would have worked on windows 98 though? as that is what I have been using ever since I got a computer, well at home anyway as I used XP at work.

[chariot]

After playing around with Audacity I found I was able to change the 24bit Wave file to 16bit then export it as such, and it played fine on WMP.

I had to leave the rate as 48,000 as if I changed it the music played slower, but was able to change the bits.

[steve]

Do you know if it would have worked on windows 98 though? as that is what I have been using ever since I got a computer

Win98 !
You remember I mentioned "obsolete software"? Windows 98 has been officially obsolete for over three years.

I know that Audacity 1.2.6 and Audacity 1.3.7 still support Windows 98. I've no idea about the other programs, you will have to check what the web sites say for "System Requirements".

I had to leave the rate as 48,000 as if I changed it the music played slower, but was able to change the bits.

Assuming that you are using Audacity 1.2.6. In the lower left corner of the main Audacity window you will see the "Project Rate". If you change that to 44100, the playback speed will not change, but the Export will use 44100.

You can set the default project rate in "Edit menu > Preferences > Quality tab".

[chariot]

I did as you said, and I noticed that the file was 44,100 and it played fine.

But I also noticed that the bits automatically changed too from 24 to 16 bits, is that normal then that the bits change to suit the frequency? as all I did was what you said was to change the 48,000 to 44,100 it in the lower left pane, then I exported it as wave.

[steve]

In Audacity 1.2.x the Export bit depth is set in Preferences (not sure where off hand, perhaps in "Import/Export")

[chariot]

In Audacity 1.2.x the Export bit depth is set in Preferences (not sure where off hand, perhaps in "Import/Export")

I have tried as you have said, but the file wont play in either WMP, or Switch.

I have the file exported as 44,100 and 24bits, but will not play.

The message in switch says cannot open the file because the required ACM codec is not installed on this PC.
Open the file in Windows Media Player to auto install the codec then re-attempt to load it.

In windows media player it sends a request for the codec but it has an error downloading the codec, then a message says class not registered.

So it looks like I can't play wave files other than 16bit, but hey no big deal as I can convert them to 16bit and they play fine.

Edit,

And I can't use the microsoft 32 bit float as the tag says after export the following Format: ACM Codec Not Installed 'IEEE Float'

Oh, but it still plays without the codec, so great.