JUKE BOX MP3 times wrong?

[broderp]

I've noticed that some of my MP3 albums are not calculated for time correctly.


I have several albums that when played in sage ADDS up to 40 seconds to the end of the MP3. If the song is 2:50, the display will say 3:15. If I play the MP3 with Windows media player its just fine, time indicated is correct. Some MP3'a are 25 seconds off, some are up to 40 seconds off, it seems to vary.

Here's the odd part, when the song gets to the REAL end (2:50) it will JUMP to the end of the time bar(3:15), then jump back to the real end time(2:50), and count down until the end of the time bar and go on to the next song like normal.

I'm using CDEX to encode my MP3, and think it may be a settings issue, but have no clue wich one. I'm also using THE GODFATHER to insert pictures in my MP3's.

I'm going thru my CD collection, and so it happens that these CD's are from the same artist and are ab out the same age. Other CD's do not have this problem.

Any ideas?

[carlgar]

You should view the VBR MP3 duration miscalculation thread.

[broderp]

Originally posted by carlgar
You should view the VBR MP3 duration miscalculation thread.

Yep, that seems like my problem, but how do get back to the 123CBR.mp3, whatever that is, as apposed to the 130ABR, whatever that is!





What does CBR/ABR mean?

[carlgar]

CBR = Constant Bit Rate VBR=Variable Bit Rate
don't know about ABR but guess would be Adjustable Bit Rate

[stanger89]

ABR is Average Bit Rate AFAIK, basically just a variation of VBR.

[broderp]

So how do you fix it? I did 4 CD's with no issues, unfortunately, I changed a bunch of settings, so now I can't remember the default.


I know what CBR is, but how do I change to 123CBR like the other thread said worked?

[kny3twalker]

128 kb/sec CBR
you should set this in the ripper you are using

[broderp]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
128 kb/sec CBR
you should set this in the ripper you are using

\

Thats what I figured kny3twalker, but I don't find that option ANYWHERE on CDEX, and I've been using the help files quite a bit (which is really difficult for me), but with no luck.

I am using the latest LAME encoder, and on the settings page have the option to turn VBR OFF, which by my understanding forces the use of CBR, but see no adjust ment or selection.

By the way, what does this number refer to? (128kb/sec CBR) what does it do for the MP3? I know if you select a higher bitrate for encoding, the larger the file and the better it sounds, is THIS what we are refering to??

That sucks if it does because the minumum quality for CD is 192, and even then it's marginal to my ears. I'd like to encode all my MP3's in at least 256kbts

This would make sence however, as the first few albums I did to MP3 for sage I used 192 Kbts as the quallity to test it. Maybe I need to lower my settings and then try again.

I changed to VBR OFF and re-encoded my TWISTED SISTER CD (OK, stop laughing, they were cool when I was a teenager) but left the bitrate at 256kbts. I then had an entirely NEW problem. The MP3 playes and times out correctly using windows media player, but in SAGE when I play it, SILENCE, nothing. IF I let the silence continue for at least 11 seconds (One second longer than the smallest back jump increment on my Haupauge remote)Then press the back button, the sound APPEARS and it playes normally.

This is weird, not to mention ANNOYING!! Is this another BUG????

Is there another MP3 encoder I can use aside from LAME that will work with CDex and with SAGE?

[gplasky]

To fix your current issue you need to turn VBR off and rerip your CDs so that they are all encoded in CBR. I don't use CDEX but I would think there is an option for you to change the bitrate if you want it higher or lower than 128kb.

Gerry

[nielm]

Lame documentation: http://lame.sourceforge.net/USAGE

[broderp]

Originally posted by gplasky
To fix your current issue you need to turn VBR off and rerip your CDs so that they are all encoded in CBR. I don't use CDEX but I would think there is an option for you to change the bitrate if you want it higher or lower than 128kb.

Gerry

I did that in CDex. I turned off VBR (VBR OFF) this forces CBR, but then have an entirely NEW problem. The MP3 playes and times out correctly using windows media player, but in SAGE when I play it, SILENCE, nothing. IF I let the silence continue for at least 11 seconds (One second longer than the smallest back jump increment on my Haupauge remote)Then press the back button, the sound APPEARS and it playes normally. I can't do this for every MP3!

I'm still missing a setting somewhere.

[gplasky]

Doesn't sound right. Most of mine were at 128K. I also have some at 192K. I used various different encoders with LAME being one of them. What happens if you try a different audio decoder? Now it sounds more like an audio codec issue.

Gerry

[broderp]

I don't know if I have a different decoder, I'm new to this stuff and it took tons of trial and error just to figure out CDex, LAME and THE GODFATHER as is.

I'll play with it tonight and see whats up.

[kny3twalker]

if you buy musicmatch plus
it can do all this and it is so easy
only 20 dollars
but does correct tagging with pictures and has a great ripper
just a thought

[stanger89]

If you were to buy something I'd take a serious look at J River Media Center:
http://www.musicex.com/mediacenter/index.html

[broderp]

Both those solutions seemlike overkill to me. I'd buy a SIMPLE program that will allow me to rip MP3 from CD, tag and edit tags as well as add Cover art in one process.

The problem with these one for all solutions is they try to do TOO much. I don't need or want all those other picture features, online services, download music crap....

CdeX would be perfect if it would allow me to add cover art. TGF would be perfect if it would allow ripping of CD's. So I guess I'm using two programs for now.

[broderp]

Originally posted by gplasky
Doesn't sound right. Most of mine were at 128K. I also have some at 192K. I used various different encoders with LAME being one of them. What happens if you try a different audio decoder? Now it sounds more like an audio codec issue.

Gerry

I turned VBR off. Time issues went away, but now the MP3's don't play (silence, even though it's counting.) If you let it play past 10 seconds, you can hit the rew button on the remote (wich is set to jump back 10 sec) and it will then start to play!

I started at the beginning. 128kbts works fine, so does 160kbts and 192kbts. 224 was the max that I sould use to record MP3's with no errors on playback in sage.

But according to THIS TEST you need at least 256 to match the quality of CD in a good audio system.

I hope sage fixes this.

[justme]

From the very end of the test your reference.

...However, in the context of a computer use, the quality is equal to the one obtained by reading an Audio CD on a CD-ROM reader. The quality at 128kbs is also indentical to the one obtained with the original CD on a mini or midi Hi-Fi installation, and on the vast majority of Hi-Fi installations in separated elements. The test equipment is indeed better than the majority of Hi-fi installations.

Conclusion : For a computer use, the 128kbs rate produces a quality equal to an audio CD. But in the case of an MP3 use in advanced Hi-Fi, it is necessary to use a 256kbs bitrate to reach an identical result to the CD sound.

Like many things it's all in the eye/ear of the beholder. If you are a true audiophile then you should be using APE or one of the other lossless compressors. And no these formats aren't supported by SageTV yet. In the end if it sounds good(to you) on your Computer/Hi-Fi then there is no need to waste space on a larger file.

Yes, Frey definitely needs to fix the VBR/MP3 bitrate issue. Make sure you have contacted them officially. Posting in the forums doesn't really count, as if they spent all their time in the forums then nothing would ever get done. The more customer pressure they get the more likely a fix will come out sooner. They are, of course, going to prioritize their efforts based on their customer's feedback.

[broderp]

I e-mailed TECH support and here is the reply I got:
\

"broderp,

Download the Elecard decoder and install it. http://www.elecard.com All
you
need to do is install it. No need in changing the decoders you have
selected
in your Detailed Setup. If you continue to have problems let me know.

Thanks,

George Oms
Frey Technologies, LLC
support@freytechnologies.com
http://www.sage.tv/

-----Original Message-----
From: Raymond Broderick [mailto:broderp@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 1:08 PM
To: support@freytechnologies.com
Subject: Support Request



>SUPPORT REQUEST
++++++++++++++++++++++++
NAME: Raymond Broderick
EMAIL: broderp@yahoo.com

SOFTWARE: SageTV
VERSION: Version 2.0
TYPE OF USER: Licensed User

OS: WinXP Home
OS( OTHER? ):
CAPTURE DEVICE: Hauppauge PVR-250
CAPTURE DEVICE ( OTHER? ):
PROCESSOR: P4 2.8Ghz
MEMORY: 1Gig
GRAPHICS CARD: ATI AIW 6500
DVD MPEG2 ENCODER: ATI DVD ecoder, SONIC DECODER, WINDVD5.0
ADDITIONAL HARDWARE: PVR rremote

SERVICE PROVIDER: Time warner
BROADCAST CITY (LOCATION): Ohioi
COUNTRY: USA
SERVICE: * SageTV Service or EPG Plugin
SERVICE TYPE: * Television Service Type

>+++++++++++ REQUEST ++++++++++

REQUEST DESCRIPTION: I've noticed that some of my MP3 albums are not
calculated for time correctly.

I have several albums that when played in sage ADDS up to 40 seconds to
the
end of the MP3. If the song is 2:50, the display will say 3:15. If I
play
the MP3 with Windows media player its just fine, time indicated is
correct.
Some MP3'a are 25 seconds off, some are up to 40 seconds off, it seems
to
vary.

I'm using LAME (newest version) CDEX to encode my MP3. I'm also using
THE
GODFATHER to insert cover art in my MP3's.

If I don't use VBR then the time indicated is correct, but I get no
playback
sound what so ever.

I have to lower my bitrate to no more than 224kbts and turn VBR off for
this
to work.

I'd like to use VBR and rip MP3's at least at the 256kbts rate.






I went to the web site, but could bnot find the file to download, nor did I want to buy the software. Anyone here try this fix and does it work?

[justme]

I have no idea if all these links will work(I know the first one will) and are fully up to date. But here they are.


You can get the free trial of their Mpeg2 player from this page. This should come with all of their decoders but I'm not sure. This direct link to their Mpeg2 Version 2.2 Player may or may not work from this site.

You can get info on just their decoder kit here. But strangely tryng to download it refers you back to the 1st link, I gave above. So if you just want to try the decoder kit/pack... You can go to this page. The first two download links, on this page, are to recent builds of the decoder kit. If you really just want to get the decoder pack version V2.0 build3611, then here's the direct download link from the previous page.

I hope one of these URLs is at least helpfull. Keep in mind all of these links are to trials. If this works for you, please let us(members) know.

/justme