Evening:

I've installed "SoundConverter" and need either a tutorial on it's use, or perhaps, someone could answer this for me :

When I opened 'SoundConverter" it looked pretty straigtforward, however, I wanted to convert a .wma to FLAC and I couldn't get the program to do so. I guess, at this point, I wouldn't know how to convert any file. Perhaps someone would answer this: VLC plays .wma files in MSWindows, why NOT in Linux? Any help would be appreciated!

RICK

Hi

assuming your main aim is to play wma

vlc can play wma files as per sample link
http://www.nch.com.au/acm/sample.wma

that suggests to me, maybe Ubuntu does not have the correct codecs?
or you do not have the correct number of packages or
vlc for ubuntu has been compiled without w32 codec support?

use a terminal commnand and compare my results maybe you are missing a package?

ignore my version numbers

if on the other hand, you really want to get into sound conversions I highly recommend you look at installing sox

that last one helps give you all these formats

next sox can on-the-conversion change bit rates etc

but its really simple to convert

have not found an extensive wiki but
http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/05/...e-audio-files/

looks ok

gives you the full monty

If you dont have the libaries instralled to play .wma, sound converter cant decode them, so cant play them.

There can be other issues, like DRMed .wma files.

BTW, convertering a lossy codec (like .wma) to lossless is pointless. You wont gain any quality, you'll just have bigger files. While lossy-lossy conversions tend to lose a little quality, its not noticable in most cases. So if you must convert your .wma files, ogg vorbis would probably be a better choice.

*edit- assuming that you are using ubuntu, this link should help to add wma support-

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Any particular reason to use sox? Apart from the possible output (which doesnt matter IMO, who needs to convert to obscure formats, and you can probably get most or all of them with soundconverter anyway) and that its command line (which is fine if it floats your boat, though personally I'd rather have a simple GUI in some cases, like this)

AFAIK soundconverter uses sox as a backend for some conversions anyway

once a sox man always a sox man

what can I say?

Sound Converter won't convert a few formats for me, either, so I installed SoundKonverter (different program, despite the dangerously similar name), and it seems to handle the ones that Sound Converter doesn't.


As for the question raised of why one might convert wma (or lossy aac, etc.) to FLA, here's an example. I have a portable audio player that plays FLAC and mp3, but not aac or wma. I want to play the files in that player, and don't want to increase transcode losses by converting to mp3, so FLAC wins by default.

69Rixter

in reading my own reply I realised, only today DOH, that vlc defaults to alsa output

it might be a quick fix

ensure that you install ..... vlc-plugin-pulse

open up vlc go to preferences and pulldown and choose pulseaudio

good luck

Fair enough aus9.

I'd never convert from wma to flac, I perfer to keep all lossless files actually lossless. Sure, there may be a tiny amount of extra data loss from a lossy->lossy transcode, but at least you've got reasonable sized files and no 'fake lossless' files.

You could always just rerip the tracks. You do own the original CDs, right?

To All Whom Replied:

Thanx everyone. Getting a lot of information. Now, I need to decipher it.

To: aus9:

Thank You for all the info. OK, let me better define my intent. First, when I discovered Ubuntu/Linux/VLC would not play .wma's, then I'd have to say "My intent would be to convert the files". That said, should there be a set of "commands" I could run that allows play of .wma, then, no need for conversion. I'm a bit confused. You stated you wouldn't convert .wma to FLAC because of lossy vs.lossless. Correct me if I'm wrong...are not both files lossless? I do understand the "size" matters issue concerning 'portable players" being vital (and to females..I guess), but, I'm not concerned. These files are going to my HDD.( and it's BIG enough..if any females are montoring this post) And your right in stating .wma's are a bit smaller than FLAC's. Now, the reason for wanting to convert .wma's to FLAC's was because I couldn't play wma's in Linux. So, now I understand, I can solve this issue either way...according to the previous threads(BTW..what's difference between thread, post, and a reply or question???)(being fecious!!). So, OK, with info I just gave you, coupled with information forwarded, let's say I want to be able to play wma's and go from there.
Much Appreciated:
Rick

WMA files are only lossless if you chose them to be when you ripped or converted the original tracks. Otherwise it's just another lossy format like MP3, Ogg or others.
To either play or convert the files you need the right CODECs. cascade9 gave you a link telling you how to install what you need so that you should be able to play WMA files.
To convert them you would then just select them as input files in SoundConverter, change the settings to output into your CODEC of choice (FLAC if they really are lossless WMA or Ogg if they're not would be my particular choice) then run.
On looking into this I did see mention of problems playing lossless WMA under Ubuntu so it is possible there are problems.

actaully I think you might be quoting from other replies than mine in talking about loss of quality versus compression versus what you can play.

Being an older male, what can I say? giggles ---- I suggest you look at the info in post 11 that is,
you were searching for a linux distro that easily played wmas

----but you claim its almost all of Linux....where I have already proved with vlc on my (debian) system thats not the case
------so its an *buntu thing

I am not interested in a Debian versus the *buntu debate per se, only that your assumptions are wrong.

2) Leaping ahead from the link supplied by cascade9....just follow these steps

the first line allows you to ignore prefacing the remaining lines with sudo
second line updates your package available list
third line installs stuff

######### alternative folder to direct download assuming no geoblocking

or click on links ---choose 32 bit or 64 bit and click to download it
http://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/u...ricted-extras/

http://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/u...niverse/v/vlc/
---scroll down to vlc-plugin-pulse* area and choose 32 bit or 64 bit etc

to know what version to download alternative way match your vlc number as per the output of

3) which ever way you download the restricted files and the vlc plugin
run vlc and configure it to have pulseaudio as the output setting

tools -> preferences -> click LH icon for audio -> see RH pane says output>....click the pulldown and choose pulseaudio audio output

---play a wma and report if you have success pls

if you do, you can also mark this post as solved -----I assume you no longer wish to convert as per your reply

good luck

Evening:

aus9; OK, I'm not sure what reply your refering to, but it's possible. And, I stand corrected, I should amend my post to say Ubuntu and it's derivitives are devoid of the ability to play .wma's.

cascade9: OK, I won't convert if I can install proper add-ons/codecs/programs to be able to play wma's. And, all my wma's were ripped in lossless. Been that way for a few years now.

273: Please read response to cascade9.

To: All Whom Replied:

Thank You for your replies/help. Although I'm not exactly a newbie, I sound like it because I've been searching all the wrong sites seeking answers. Had I known about this site earlier, believe me, I'd had been here long ago and you'd probably NOT be hearing from me now. I've received more help and instructions(I mean besides being told to "go to hell") in this last week, than I have in 2 yrs prowling other sites.

My Hats Off To You All!!!
RICK

EVERYONE:

OK, should've posted this long ag! My sincere apologies. #1.distro: Ubuntu 12.04.3. #2. HP 2000-210US 64bit.

RICK