1.3.10 import issue

[musicsurfer]

I,ve freshly installed vers 1.3.10 and while trying to import some Zoom MRS1608 files as raw data all I get is an error message say audacity must shutdown.
I was previously doing exactlt the same thing in version 1.3.8 without ever having a problem.
I'm using XP pro with service pack 3, any ideas or help would be appreciated

[steve]

You may need to reinstall ffmpeg

[musicsurfer]

Reinstalled ffmeg, rebooted the computer but this had no affect. Problem still exists

[steve]

Why are you importing as raw data? Doesn't the Zoom MRS1608 support WAV files?

[musicsurfer]

The file format used on the 1608 is .dat (pcm,raw data)

[steve]

How are you getting the audio data out of the Zoom? If you are using the (optional) USB interface use the included Audio File Manager software to export from the Zoom in WAV format. http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/mrs1608/

[musicsurfer]

I'm just burning the files to cd and loading them onto my laptop

[steve]

Audacity is probably using ffmpeg to import the RAW files. There's a long discussion going on between the developers regarding ffmpeg. FFmpeg is a third party library (not made by the Audacity team) and from what I can gather, the people that make it keep changing it so that every time there is an ffmpeg update it breaks something.

It's a shame that the Zoom can't export directly to WAV (at least from a quick look at the manual it doesn't appear to be able to), however, from a look on the Internet, it appears that the "Audio File Manager software" can read and convert tracks from CD without the USB interface. I presume that Zoom do not advertise this fact because they want you to buy the "optional" interface.

A couple of things I picked up while looking into this - there may be a couple of bugs in the "Audio File Manager software" that prevent the projects on the CD showing up.
If the software does not detect the projects, copy the data to your hard drive and delete the file "backup.inf"
Now see if the software detects the projects - if it still does not detect the projects, rename them "PROJ001", "PROJ002" and so on.

Alternative workarounds -

• Use Audacity 1.3.8 for converting the RAW files to WAV. (you should be able to have more than one version of Audacity installed as long as you install them to different directories).
• Use another program to convert the RAW files to WAV (such as the free program SUPER by erightsoft)
• Wait for a new version of Audacity.

I would probably try the zoom software first, and if I didn't like it, then I'd use SUPER.