PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums RealBand Problem converting to compressed file (mp3)

Imported an MP3. Went to bar 131. Selected from bar 131 to the end. Changed the pitch down a 1/2 step. Saved it out using Save once, Save As another time, render another time, export... every way to get a file OUT of RB. RB confirmed the save every time.

When I went to play the file in an MP3 player, there was no file.

I have done this MANY times to use RB as a key changer. It worked every time. I have also loaded MP3 files and added horn section on 4 tracks, and rendered them out. Worked every time. Before anybody tells me that RB won't do key changes and such, refer to that last thought. I have done this many times before to drop a key a half step to learn it in the key in which the band will perform it. Once data is inside of RB, RB can not determine if it is an MP3 or not. A song is just 0s and 1s to RB. RB can't think and determine things.

Oh, let me mention, it worked every time on 2014. And on 2013 before that.

If my recourse is to reload 2014 and live with it, so be it, but I will also expect PG to refund my $300 I paid for this software that DOES NOT WORK and allow me to return the hard drive in 2 or more pieces, because if I can't use it, I will cut it up with an angle grinder.

PS. I rebooted, restarted RB, imported the file, found the spot where I needed to make the key change, did the 1/2 step change, replayed the song from 2 measures before that spot. It did NOT do the 1/2 step change, and when I hit the stop on the transport, it crashed again.

Good job, PG!!

I also see no option to save as a compressed file, only as WAV files. I used to be able to render out to MP3 @128. Now I can't do that, which is apparently my problem. Did they remove some codecs or something?

The end result is that I had to save was a WAV, transfer it to another computer, load it into Adobe Audition and save it as an MP3. WHY should I have to do this?

Here is the save window after selecting "Merge tracks to compressed file", where I should get an option to save as an MP3. You see my only choice is WAV.

MP3 export codecs were never included in RB .. ever. So they didn't remove any codecs.
It uses only the OS installed codecs, if that helps. If the codec ain't registered in the OS RB will not see it.

Your 'Stop Transport = [crash]' problem needs to be addressed; again I suggest a Chat/Remote session..

I hate to say it, but you seem to be the one person with this issue and it seems to be the source of a lot of grief. It would P* me off like it is you, too, if it happened here .. seems to be a common issue in your posts that is yet unresolved.

FWIW, I'm sure PGMusic will refund if it doesn't work (not sure if there is a number of pieces limit), but I'm also hedging that they could fix it with a remote session..

I feel for ya, even considering the state you claim to be from ..

[edit]
On my work computer I also have to export as WAV and use Audition to get an MP3, but that is because my work computer has minimal MP3 codecs installed.

Again; RB uses only MP3 codecs installed/registered in the OS. I hope that once the Fraunhofer MP3 license/patent/copyright expires (I think next month!) PGMusic will include codecs for MP3, but in the latest version that I have they do not.
[/edit]

Oh, 1 more thing; RB will want to Merge to a (temp) Wav file first, then convert to the compressed format.

Form your screen shot:
Try clicking OK and let it do its thing.
Once it merges to WAV it asks for the compressed format.

My gripe with this is that it leaves a 0KB size WAV file in the RB folder.
It doesn't take space but messes with the file list.

As an FYI..... The screenshot included where there was no MP3 option was taken AFTER the most recent CODEC package I could find was installed. I have been saving to MP3 for years with RB. Suddenly I can't.

See my additional post above.
RB will always want to merge to WAV first then it will ask for the conversion format to compressed file ..
yeah it has caught me before too.
Let it merge to WAV first, then it will offer conversion options.
Once I let it merge to WAV I get the Fraunhofer and Lame MP3 options offered below.

Oh, I also now get a weird box that I did not see in previous versions where I get asked for file format (MP3 is the only option) and below it is an "Attributes" box, where I assume they would want sample rate IF the box had options. It does not. The pulldown arrow shows me nothing to choose. I save it as MP3 with no attributes, the RB main screen says "Save as MP3 completed", and there is no file. Anywhere. I did a search for *.mp3 on both of my drives and only the original that I was changing shows up.

At first support said if I went to Windows 7 everything would be peachy. Well, kicking and screaming, I spent an afternoon doing that. Noting what I had to reinstall, moving my song files that were in progress over to the D: drive, etc... general prep stuff. Formatted C: and installed Windows 7. Loaded Chrome from the internet, Adobe Audition (which has since been removed) and RB 2016 Everything (doesn't work) Pak. Loaded a song, and the crashing began. I keep reminding anybody who will listen that the same computer, thus the same CPU, the same RAM, the same hard drives.... everything the same, ran fine with 2014. Given all of those variables, the issue MUST be with the software. Nothing else crashes. Sound from everywhere (Pandora, streaming TV, youtube videos....) plays just fine. Focusrite has not made a driver change since like 2013 so it is the latest (and to be sure, since everybody immediately drops the driver buzzword on anybody who has an issue despite not really knowing what a driver is and does, I downloaded it again from Focusrite). Everything is the same. I am like Sheldon Cooper. If "same" works, keep "same' until it doesn't. Then change. I knew before I wasted that afternoon upgrading to Windows 7 that the upgrade wouldn't fix the problem. I just want somebody at PG to OWN this!! Say "Yes. The problem is in our software. Sorry. We'll send you a new one to try." but nobody owns anything anymore. tech support everywhere in the world is now a script that everybody reads which includes a section on how to point the finger anywhere but wherever they are.

And my mantra continues. Just like every cookie in a package of Oreo cookies is the same as the one in front of it and the one behind it, software is supposed to be like that. There can't be one "cookie" that tastes or looks different than the others. Hence the term "cookie cutter software". I have never seen "MS Office for Eddie's computer" on a shelf.

Actually I'm having similar issues (but mine might be short between headsets)?

I don't save as MP3, often and when I do it's in other applications (Sonar, dedciated 3rd party MP3 apps, Audacity, etc.) but was looking at this to see if I could replicate along with Eddie:


Win 7 64, using LAME encoder (current - LAME for Audacity) and independent of:

- audio settings (MME, ASIO4ALL, FW410 ASIO;
- drive or path saved to - RB or PT (on non boot driver), User/temp file locations on boot drive, other paths, etc.); or
- how save (export button in PT, save or Save as ...

in all three programs: PTPA 2014 (1), PTPA 2016 (4) or RB 2016 (7) assuming it doesn't crash (and it usually does after second or third try)

I get the following error btu only after it takes a few seconds and shows it processing something and has the processing progression bar filling in, and says it is converting audio file TEMP123.wav then I get the the error:

"Cannot get Steam size"

(as expected it does create an empty MP3 with correct title)

all 3 programs do "Save" and "Save As" (SEQ obviously), WAV, WMA

Larry

I just launched RB and did a 'Merge to Compressed File' on a huge SEQ file I have (500 meg) using latest version
It asked for a WAV file name
(I clicked OK)
RB did its merge routine ..
It then asked for a compressed file format/attributes (screen shot below).
On my system LAME mp3 and Fraunhofer mp3 each have their own slot in the Format drop down (example image of this posted in earlier post in this thread; LAME is labeled as such and MPEG-Layer3 is the Fraunhofer codec installed on the OS)
Does yours not do this?

If so I suspect changing back to W7 lost your MP3 codecs ..
I'm just trying to help.

Once gain; if the selected MP3 codec is not installed to the OS, RB will fail (and possibly crash)

REAPER

Yeah, Reaper .. because they are not in US and do not need to honor the US Fraunhofer patent.

I get why PGMusic hasn't gone native MP3 support yet. Hopefully they will soon.
For US MP3 users, many are technically in violation of MP3 codec use .. but not for long. And it probably wouldn't pay for Fraunhofer to pursue current MP3 users and try to sort though which have Apple mp3 (or other legit licenses) and which don't.
It's just one of those weird patent/copyright things that will be safely ending soon.

WIKIPEDIA:
An exception is the United States, where patents filed prior to 8 June 1995 expire 17 years after the publication date of the patent, but application extensions make it possible for a patent to issue much later than normally expected (see submarine patents). The various MP3-related patents expire on dates ranging from 2007 to 2017 in the U.S.[62] Patents filed for anything disclosed in ISO CD 11172 a year or more after its publication are questionable. If only the known MP3 patents filed by December 1992 are considered, then MP3 decoding has been patent-free in the US since 22 September 2015 when U.S. Patent 5,812,672 expired which had a PCT filing in October 1992.[63][64][65] If the longest-running patent mentioned in the aforementioned references is taken as a measure, then the MP3 technology will be patent-free in the United States on 30 December 2017 when U.S. Patent 5,703,999, held by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft[66] and administered by Technicolor,[67] expires.

I think this explains why PGMusic uses WMA format currently.

I've yet to go to Win10 so this is same old Win 7 as I've been using since 2011

Using current build RB 2106, and like you using Merge to Compressed file a simple stereo song (commercial CD song - nothing fancy, no plug-ins,etc.)

Same "Cannot get stream size" error - ??



EDIT
I could swear this worked at one time? I remember checking WELL before RB 2106. I remember testing to see if I had same issues as some other poster here had back then (not Eddie and Mac was still around). That was at least 2+ years ago.

I now remember doing a "Merge to Compressed file..." - it generated MP3, the MP3 played and I haven't looked at it again until NOW.

Besides a paid for MP3 license going back to Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 (that allows me to continue to use it even in SONAR Platinum) only other MP3 I've ever added was the LAME encoder that I installed (and have updated a few times since) after initially building this Win 7 machine.

(I also used Audacity/LAME in Win XP but this Win 7 is a new machine and was a new OEM clean OS install)

hmmm??

Larry what I remember from older days when stuff worked was that RB would only allow you to go as high as (I think) 192. Since when I DO dump to MP3 it is to mail stuff to people and I keep it as small as I can.

From my experience, my true Fraunhofer codec only allows up to 128, but LAME goes much higher (as evidenced in my screen shot above).

Working with a file that is 449,450,714 bytes with 32 tracks and lots of plugins (maybe 50+ though I suspect that has nothing to do with the conversion results).

I converted just now using LAME at 320 kps (inside RB using latest build)
I got the anticipated result of a roughly 8 meg MP3 file
Like I said; I'm just trying to help, but I can't seem to replicate the issue.


Larry, I do notice your system is using User\AppData\Local\Temp .. I try to avoid that for the temp audio directory. I notice I seem to avoid a lot of problems by not using the default windows temp folder for audio work.
I try to not even use the OS drive if possible.
Also, try Save As or Consolidate Audio (and then saving) .. I've seen these simple tests solve many issues, likely disk related. Audio projects can have lots of markers and 'fragments' of audio trying to be stitched together.

Have to admit I wish I hadn't looked at it this now, since I KNOW it DID work at one time (but now even PT 2014 has identical issues, glad I hadn't gotten around to uninstalling it. Although not much to it, PT like BIAB and RB doesn't clog up registry)

I will now burn hours/days/weeks chasing a STUPID problem (I rip and create MP3's using other tools) BUT I can't stand not knowing!

SOMETHING has changed on my system, I will track that POS down and shoot it when I find it!

Larry

I understand .. I'd want to solve it too.

Rharv,

Appreciate it BUT notice above I said above I tried different drives and methods (save, save as, export, consolidate... all files (working, temp, final, scratch work, ..) on D drive (a non OS drive where all my MUSIC SW resides but I then ALSO tried all files on C (OS drive) for grins.

The pic was just my last attempt (after resetting defaults because I had changed so much other stuff so it defaulted to C drive on that snapshot)

I wont be back on this "problem" until Tuesday (my consulting job, the one that in my 3rd retirement allows me to buy additional new toys, without upsetting wife, interferes tomorrow - )

EDDIE - GOOD LUCK!!!



Larry

Hello Eddie,

You're correct, the Audio Compression dialog did look different in 2014. It had the same format and attribute drop-downs, but the window was smaller and also had an option for the user to save presets (presets were just a way for the user to select a format and attribute and save the combination. I'm not sure why that was removed. Maybe it should be restored).

Aside from that though, it functions the same way - RealBand only has the ability to use whatever codecs are available to the Windows Audio Compression Manager. We do not (and cannot) include any MP3 codecs with our software, we are not licensed to. Not even Microsoft can get around this... and that's why no MP3 codecs are showing up for you. Your copy of Windows may have a file l3codecp.acm, but it may be disabled. Your previous version of Windows may very well have included a working mp3 codec if it was fairly old.

Andrew

I DO HAVE a codec but no matter what I get that "Cannot get stream size" what is that ???

Not saying the "can't create MP3's" to work is a PG issue, because at one time, in the not too distant past, using this SAME PC, these HDD's, with this WIN 7 64 OS I could do MP3's from PT/RB

If I had some idea what that error truly means (besides alluded to or implied - "can't find audio file," or "temp wav file missing," or temp scratch file issues) I might be able to track down my screw up

Thanks
Larry


EDIT (sentence cleanup - LOL)

Right, I wasn't addressing your problem at all in my previous reply. I can see in your screenshot that you do have an MP3 codec, and I don't know what that error means. But I'll do some searching...

Guys, why does everybody get all twisted up with using MP3?? I just don't get it. I've been saving to WMA for years and years. According to several tech sites, the overall sound quality is very close with some giving it to WMA over MP3. There are very few players that can't play WMA and neither me or anybody I've emailed them to has had any problems whatsoever. The few times somebody simply MUST have an MP3 there's always Audacity.

Why keep tilting at that MP3 windmill if it keeps smacking you in the butt?

Bob