WMA music file formats

[rpbizzle47]

What command is needed to get WMA files to work. I tried "Playmusic "filename.wma" and Playsound "filename.wma" but it's not working. HELP!!!! :)

 

[rpbizzle47]

Well, another day at the Library has reached it's limit.

Bye!

 

[zerhino]

I don't think vp is compatible with these kinds of sounds. I wish it were, though.

 

[StevOz]

VP can only play .wav files and .mp3 files. Also it can only play one .mp3 file at a time, though it can play many .wav sounds. That said you can convert all sound formats to .wav files with Winamp, everybody has Winamp, don't they, the free version will do.

http://www.winamp.com/

Once you've got Winamp, then you need to install the File Writer Output plugin.

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=96985

Now all you need do is fire up Winamp, load the track or file you wish to convert. Then right click on the player got Options > Preferences > Output, select the File Writer Output plugin, down the bottom click Configure, select a directory where you want the new converted file to go, select Windows wav format (WAV) > OK, then you're set. Just press play and it will convert the track into .wav format and record the file to the selected directory. If you want you can also use this plugin to convert to .mp3, though you will need to download the LAME codec. For more information on this plugin check this link.

http://home.hccnet.nl/th.v.d.gronde/dev/filewrite/index.html

Cheers!

 

[tiltjlp]

I use dbPowerAMP to convert stuff to wav. Nice and simple, and simple is best for me.

John

 

[rpbizzle47]

VP can only play .wav files and .mp3 files. Also it can only play one .mp3 file at a time, though it can play many .wav sounds. That said you can convert all sound formats to .wav files with Winamp, everybody has Winamp, don't they, the free version will do.

http://www.winamp.com/

Once you've got Winamp, then you need to install the File Writer Output plugin.

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=96985

Now all you need do is fire up Winamp, load the track or file you wish to convert. Then right click on the player got Options > Preferences > Output, select the File Writer Output plugin, down the bottom click Configure, select a directory where you want the new converted file to go, select Windows wav format (WAV) > OK, then you're set. Just press play and it will convert the track into .wav format and record the file to the selected directory. If you want you can also use this plugin to convert to .mp3, though you will need to download the LAME codec. For more information on this plugin check this link.

http://home.hccnet.nl/th.v.d.gronde/dev/filewrite/index.html

Cheers!

Thanks for the info. I have discovered the some wav/mp3 files won't work with VP either. I don't know why either!

 

[rpbizzle47]

VP can only play .wav files and .mp3 files. Also it can only play one .mp3 file at a time, though it can play many .wav sounds. That said you can convert all sound formats to .wav files with Winamp, everybody has Winamp, don't they, the free version will do.

http://www.winamp.com/

Once you've got Winamp, then you need to install the File Writer Output plugin.

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=96985

Now all you need do is fire up Winamp, load the track or file you wish to convert. Then right click on the player got Options > Preferences > Output, select the File Writer Output plugin, down the bottom click Configure, select a directory where you want the new converted file to go, select Windows wav format (WAV) > OK, then you're set. Just press play and it will convert the track into .wav format and record the file to the selected directory. If you want you can also use this plugin to convert to .mp3, though you will need to download the LAME codec. For more information on this plugin check this link.

http://home.hccnet.nl/th.v.d.gronde/dev/filewrite/index.html

Cheers!

I used the winamp/file writer plugin on a 2 MB mp3 file and it converted it into a whopping 22 MB WAV file. Yes sir re, I'll save some disk space like that huh?! :) The mp3 file for some reason wouldn't work with VP (I've found several mp3's don't work right) but the wav file worked using the Playsound "filename" (imported te file into vp) but I couldn't get the sound to repeat with the "-1" command. I just wanted to see if the file would play as I don't have any intentions of releasing a table with a 22 MB soundtrack. :)

So, whats the proper way to use the -1 switch?

 

[zerhino]

VP can only play .wav files and .mp3 files. Also it can only play one .mp3 file at a time, though it can play many .wav sounds. That said you can convert all sound formats to .wav files with Winamp, everybody has Winamp, don't they, the free version will do.

http://www.winamp.com/

Once you've got Winamp, then you need to install the File Writer Output plugin.

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=96985

Now all you need do is fire up Winamp, load the track or file you wish to convert. Then right click on the player got Options > Preferences > Output, select the File Writer Output plugin, down the bottom click Configure, select a directory where you want the new converted file to go, select Windows wav format (WAV) > OK, then you're set. Just press play and it will convert the track into .wav format and record the file to the selected directory. If you want you can also use this plugin to convert to .mp3, though you will need to download the LAME codec. For more information on this plugin check this link.

http://home.hccnet.nl/th.v.d.gronde/dev/filewrite/index.html

Cheers!

Thanks for the info. I have discovered the some wav/mp3 files won't work with VP either. I don't know why either!

They have some kind of unknown static input, which is pretty alien to me.

 

[forchia]

I used the winamp/file writer plugin on a 2 MB mp3 file and it converted it into a whopping 22 MB WAV file. Yes sir re, I'll save some disk space like that huh?! :) The mp3 file for some reason wouldn't work with VP (I've found several mp3's don't work right) but the wav file worked using the Playsound "filename" (imported te file into vp) but I couldn't get the sound to repeat with the "-1" command. I just wanted to see if the file would play as I don't have any intentions of releasing a table with a 22 MB soundtrack. :)

So, whats the proper way to use the -1 switch?

Wav files are usually intended for sound effects only. To keep the filesize down, use the following setting for an optimal output (without getting a HUGE filesize):

22Khz - 16bit - mono (someone would suggest to use 22Khz - 8bit - mono, but this way the wav file will have a really annoying background static).

Probably your samplerate for the WAV was too high (44Khz - 16bit - stereo), thus getting an huge filesize.

For music, it's much better MP3. Put the MP3 files into your \music folder in VP folder (usually C:\Program Files\Visual Pinball\Music) and use the command:

PlayMusic "name.mp3"

to stop it:

StopMusic

-1 option is intended for looping the audio, although I can't remember if works only with playsound "name.wav" or also with Playmusic "name.mp3"

Check the attached file for more info

 

[StevOz]

To play a .mp3 over again after it finishes you need to use this code.

 Sub Table1_MusicDone( )
	PlayMusic "musicfile.mp3"
 End Sub

Where "musicfile.mp3" is the name of the file you wish to play, actually you could also use that Sub to play some other track after that track is finished playing, using a flag to keep count, something like this.

Dim music
music = 1

Sub Table1_MusicDone( )

Select Case music

          Case 1
                  PlayMusic "track1.mp3"
          Case 2
                  PlayMusic "track2.mp3"
          Case 3
                  PlayMusic "track3.mp3"
                  music = 0
End Select

music = music +1

End Sub

btw Ron perhaps you should try converting the .wav back to .mp3 and then maybe it might work with VP.

 

[StevOz]

I think I've figured out why some .mp3s will not work with VP, I'm guessing that those that won't work are recorded as VBR (variable bit rate) mp3s, which is a newer and more efficent mp3 protocol as opposed to the older CBR format ( constant bit rate ), so all you need do is convert them to CBR mp3s and VP will be able to handle them. :D

 

[rpbizzle47]

To play a .mp3 over again after it finishes you need to use this code.

 Sub Table1_MusicDone( )
	PlayMusic "musicfile.mp3"
 End Sub

Where "musicfile.mp3" is the name of the file you wish to play, actually you could also use that Sub to play some other track after that track is finished playing, using a flag to keep count, something like this.

Dim music
music = 1

Sub Table1_MusicDone( )

Select Case music

          Case 1
                  PlayMusic "track1.mp3"
          Case 2
                  PlayMusic "track2.mp3"
          Case 3
                  PlayMusic "track3.mp3"
                  music = 0
End Select

music = music +1

End Sub

btw Ron perhaps you should try converting the .wav back to .mp3 and then maybe it might work with VP.

:) thanks for the tips. I have been using bthe mp3's now and thanks to tiltjlp I'll be able to make little wav clips too.

 

[rpbizzle47]

I think I've figured out why some .mp3s will not work with VP, I'm guessing that those that won't work are recorded as VBR (variable bit rate) mp3s, which is a newer and more efficent mp3 protocol as opposed to the older CBR format ( constant bit rate ), so all you need do is convert them to CBR mp3s and VP will be able to handle them. :D

Thank you again. I was just about to throw me computer out the window! NOT! :)

 

[destruk]

actually, wma files will work fine with vp. You do need a program installed if it's not working for you.
Alienhead.wma used to come with vp - used in the Alien Reactor demo table. I don't know if it does anymore but it plays just fine for me.

PlayMusic "alienhead.wma"

That works - if you don't hear it you need to install the wma audio redist fix from microsoft.