importers can't understand this format

[schnahz]

Hi all,
Ive been downloading some audio files which are giving me a problem. They are wav files and when I try to put them into a playlist in media monkey they just won't. When I try to import them into Audacity I get this message:

Audacity recognized the type of the file 'C:UsersownerDownloadsting4784sc.wav'
Importers supposedly supporting such files are:
WAV,AIFF,and other uncompressed files,FFmpeg-compatible files,
but none of them understood this file format.

Thank you for help with these "reluctant" files

Schnahz

[kozikowski]

Right click on the file > Properties > Extra or Advanced. What does Windows think of the file? Does it play in WIndows Media or free QuickTime Player?

Koz

[schnahz]

I can play the files in Windows Media Player and put them into a playlist but syncing them to my mp3 player is painfully slow 4 or 5 hours for an hour of audio and if past experience is is repeated they won't work.

[kozikowski]

What did that File > Properties.. thing tell you?

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<They are wav files>>>

I'll put serious money that they're not. Did you set Windows to show you file extensions? Do you remember how you did it?

Chances are if you paid for them or have a license, they could be in WAV format. If they were free, they will almost certainly be in one of the compressed formats; AAC, MP3, M4A, etc. etc. iTunes downloads are all AAC or Apple Lossless compressed whether or not you paid for higher quality.

Nobody wastes internet server and drive space on WAV format for free.

You can use Super or Switch (download) to convert them to actual WAV format so everything will start behaving. While they're chewing on your file, they may also tell you what the real format is.

Koz

[schnahz]

Hi Koz,
Properities says:
attributes both the read - only box and the hidden box are unchecked

Security "This file came from another computerand might be blocked to help protect this computer. [then there is a box saying unblock.]In the advanced section under File Atributes

The "file is ready for archiving" box is checked

the index this file for faster searching box is checked

Compress or Encryptattributes

The compress contents to save disc space box is unchecked

The Encrypt contents to secure data box is unchecked.

[kozikowski]

That's the generic file attributes. There should be another information panel under Advanced or Extra where it tells you sample rate, bit depth, etc. -- if it really is a WAV file.

You didn't respond about changing Windows to see file extensions. Can we assume you didn't do that?

You can fake out people really well by clever manipulation of the filename. Windows will try to hide the dot and last three characters of the filename. Thus people open "HarmlessFile.txt" thinking it's a text document, when the real filename is HarmlessFile.txt.exe and contains a virus to damage your computer.

Similarly, you could be trying to open Goodmusic.wav and the real name is Goodmusic.wav.m4a, or far worse, Goodmusic.wav.exe and contains a virus.

Koz

[kozikowski]

One last possibility. You can make Microsoft WAV files many different ways. I think there's even a way to make them contain more than two sound channels, but that's not "normal" and not everybody will be able to read them.

There is also a WAV file version that the broadcast people use. Audacity will not open those.

Any luck with downloading Super or Switch (one of them is free)? They will convert between many different music formats.

Koz

[schnahz]

Hi Koz,
I downloaded the Switch Sound File Converter and here is a file that I converted [or merely passed through the conversion process if it really was a wav file.]

files to convert format size containing folder extended info
6299hjl .WAV 0.018 C:UsersOwnerDesktop Codec MPEG- 1layer3[MP3}

I tried to convert about 7 files like this then tried to sync them to my Sanza Fuse audio player. But after an hour I was still at 11 % so I gave up. The files come from http://hua.umf.maine.edu/php/flashcardF ... pe=english
They seem to want you to use this material for your own use and don't indicate that they want any money.I'll go back and see what more I can find out from Windows.

Schnahz

[kozikowski]

<<<I tried to convert about 7 files like this >>>

Did they convert and do they open up in Audacity now?

Is that Japanese?

Koz