WMA Import - possible or not?

[msmithhisler]

I'm attempting to import a wma file into Audacity. The Audacity update history page seems to state that this is possible, with FFmpeg installed, starting with version 1.3.6

"FFmpeg support (downloadable separately) permits import and export of a much wider range of file formats, including WMA, M4A and AC3, plus import of audio from video files"

I have FFmpeg installed in a directory called "FFmpeg for Audacity" in the "Program Files" directory on my C: drive
I have gone into Audacity's preferences and identified the location of the FFmpeg library (avformat-52.dll) and Audacity seems to recognize it.

I still get the "Audacity recognized the type of the file but was unable to import it" message.

So can audacity import wma files or not and, if not, why does the website say it does?

Thanks.

[steve]

Audacity cannot import files if they have DRM protection (anti-copy), but it should be able to import WMA files that are not copy protected (with ffmpeg installed).

[msmithhisler]

Thanks Steve,

I discovered that the problem was that the file I was trying to import was encoded in the Windows Media Audio Pro format.
Audacity can read files encoded with the standard version of Windows Media Audio but not the pro version.

[illused]

Hmm no way I just joined the forum because this sounds like exactly what's happening to me.
Running Audacity 1.2.6 and 1.3.10b on Windows XP.

It has DRM though, its an iTunes song that I want to chop for my ringtone. (also I thought iTunes disabled DRM?)
But the fact that Audacity does not recognise the location of FFMPEG can't depend on the file, so has anyone got any help from that angle?

Oh also is there a way you can tell if a file has DRM?

Thanks
Kent

[illused]

It's all good, I converted it to wav using faad2 command line.
Still the question stands for audacity- why doesnt it recognise ffmpeg?

[kozikowski]

In iTunes, Control-Click on the music and Get Info.

"Kind: Protected AAC Audio FIle.
Purchased by: Koz....etc."

The traditional way to get around this is burn the music to a Music CD. Then rip the CD.

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<why doesnt it recognise ffmpeg?>>>

Maybe it does. Load a short sound clip and try to export it as AAC (ffmpeg). If the export fails, you have no ffmpeg. If it succeeds, then you got something else wrong.

Koz