qaac with new iTunes? Error.

[Forteen88]

Where can I download a version of iTunes that works with qaac?
I get this error when I try to reencode in Foobar2000 now after I reinstalled Windows 10:
1 out of 1 files converted with major problems.

Source: "E:\audio.flac"
An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code 2 (0x00000002); please re-check parameters) : "E:\audio.m4a"
Additional information:
Encoder stream format: 44100Hz / 2ch / 16bps
Command line: "C:\Utils\qaac_2.70\x64\qaac64.exe" --ignorelength -s --no-optimize -V 91 -o "audio.m4a" -
Working folder: E:\
Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code 2 (0x00000002); please re-check parameters

Someone else had this problem and posted on hydrogenaud.io, and that person got this solution:
QAAC can't use the Microsoft Store version of iTunes. It requires the regular version that it can find from Program Files.
https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=119132.0


I know that I can use qaac-devs' Makeportable to kind of fix this problem, but I'd rather not, because maybe Apple updates their AAC-encoder some day (iTunes got automatic updating).

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Actually you don't need iTunes for QAAC, but the "Apple Application Support" runtime that ships with, for example, the iTunes or QuickTime installers.

I usually extract the desired "AppleApplicationSupport[64].msi" from the iTunes install package and install just that. You can use a 7-Zip or a similar tool for the extraction.

Try this download:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1816?locale=en_US

[Forteen88]

@LoRd_MuldeR. Thanks, but when I extracted iTunes64Setup.exe (new version) all the files I got were,
AppleMobileDeviceSupport64.msi
AppleSoftwareUpdate.msi
Bonjour64.msi
iTunes64.msi
SetupAdmin.exe

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Hmm, try this one:
https://www.filehorse.com/download-itunes-64/43993/

(I found an iTunes v12.10.1.4 installer on my HDD that contains all the needed files)

[Forteen88]

@LoRd_MuldeR. Thanks mate, that older version of iTunes64Setup.exe had
AppleApplicationSupport[64].msi

And I can confirm that qaac-encoding works now!


UPDATE: BTW, iTunes 12.10.8.5 (64-bit) from,
https://www.filehorse.com/download-itunes-64/53398/
had the desired "AppleApplicationSupport[64].msi" too. But they probably didn't update AAC in that version anyway.

[Morku]

Get makeportable2 https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/cabinet/makeportable2.zip?attredirects=0&d=1 (Source: https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/cabinet)
run cmd file beside iTunes64Setup.exe 12.10.9.3
Copy content of QTfiles64 files same as in qaac files.

No need to use outdated iTunes version. The CoreAudioToolbox.dll etc. is now just in iTunes64.msi. Thats all.

[Forteen88]

@Morku. Thanks, good to know.

[filler56789]

FWIW:
qaac 2.71 has been released.
Fixed: qaac didn't correctly handle full pathnames as input since v2.63 or so.
libsndfile: in addition to libsndfile-1.dll, also try sndfile.dll.
Download from:
https://www.videohelp.com/software/qaac

[stax76]

Long paths do indeed work now.

[tebasuna51]

Somebody know if there are any AAC encoder improvements in last versions.

I make a encode with QTfiles from iTunes 12.10.8.5 and with the last version 12.10.9.3 and the output is bitidentical.

[chainring]

In the last versions? How about years? Seriously though, over on Hydrogen Audio there's a thread where people have checked for changes and I believe the last one of any significance was around 2014.

[SeeMoreDigital]

In the last versions? How about years? Seriously though, over on Hydrogen Audio there's a thread where people have checked for changes and I believe the last one of any significance was around 2014.This has been my experience too!

Apple hasn't even been bothered to add support for HE-AAC+PS encoding...

[Forteen88]

This has been my experience too!
Apple hasn't even been bothered to add support for HE-AAC+PS encoding...That's disappointing, that a company that got billions of dollars ignores to put almost as little as pocket-change money (well, it is that for them) on more AAC-development.

[chainring]

From my limited and somewhat often terrible memory, I seem to recall there's really no development for AAC in the 128 Kbps range and maybe even down to the 96 Kbps area. Same memory seems to recall that the limits of what could be improved were hit; it's just at the best it could be. In the lower bitrates where HE-AAC would be of use xHE-AAC is getting the attention.

As much as I still have a bit of a "Yikes, that so low!" factor for 96 Kbps AAC, it's been ABX tested by lots of people on HA to be mostly transparent over a very large and diverse number of samples. That's crazy to me. 128 Kbps AAC is a safe choice and 160 Kbps is in the zone of "Lots of room for safety."

FYI, CoreAudioToolbox.dll hasn't been updated since 3/2017. What was actually changed? Who knows. https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=96970.125

[tebasuna51]

CoreAudioToolbox.dll from iTunes64 v12.3 (2015-09-15) until v12.10.9.3 (2020-09-11) is always v7.10.5.0
Downloaded from https://www.filehorse.com/download-itunes-64/29633/

We don't need update iTunes, the encoder is always the same, we only need update qaac.exe, the last one (2.71) work with all packages QTfiles64.
Work with versions with only 10 archives and icudt55 or 62 (and dummy) until last one with 62 archives.

[chainring]

Something ain't jiving, because I have some FLACs that were converted with the most recent QAAC and latest iTunes. Using MediaInfo, it shows CoreAudioToolbox is 7.10.9.0.

Did you mis-type, tebasuna51?

[tebasuna51]

W10 archive properties show version 7.10.5.0 also for last iTunes v12.10.9.3 2020-09-09 like you can see in the image.

But MediaInfo show 7.10.9.0 like you say, checked:
QTfiles64\CoreAudioToolbox.dll
------------------------------- MediaInfo
iTunes version Size Version Date icudt N.arch. Version
------------------ --------- -------- ---------- ------- ------- ---------
iTunes64 12.1 5.519.656 7.9.9.4 2015-01-20 icudt49 10 7.9.9.4
iTunes64 12.2 5.519.656 7.9.9.6 2015-05-15 icudt49 10 7.9.9.6
iTunes64 12.3 9.105.680 7.10.5.0 2015-09-15 icudt55 10 7.10.5.0
iTunes64 12.4 9.112.376 7.10.5.0 2016-04-22 icudt55 10 7.10.5.0
iTunes64 12.5.1 9.112.376 7.10.5.0 2016-09-01 icudt55 10 7.10.7.0
iTunes64 12.6 9.112.888 7.10.5.0 2017-03-16 icudt55 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.7.5.9 9.112.888 7.10.5.0 2018-05-15 icudt55 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.8.0 9.112.888 7.10.5.0 2018-06-23 icudt55 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.9.3 9.112.888 7.10.5.0 2019-01-15 icudt55 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.9.4 9.039.672 7.10.5.0 2019-03-09 icudt62 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.10.0.7 9.039.672 7.10.5.0 2019-08-09 icudt62 10 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.10.1.4 9.039.672 7.10.5.0 2019-10-01 icudt62 56 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.10.8.5 9.039.672 7.10.5.0 2020-07-24 icudt62 60 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.10.9.3 9.039.672 7.10.5.0 2020-09-09 icudt62 62 7.10.9.0
iTunes64 12.12.1.1 9.039.928 7.10.5.0 2021-09-27 icudt62 57 7.10.9.0

Seems it is 7.10.9.0 from iTunes 12.6 in 2017 like say HydrogenAudio forum. See also the filesize than only change when go from icudt55 to icudt62

By the moment seems is safe preserve the QTfiles64 2017

[filler56789]

Some days ago someone at Videohelp shared the latest 64-bit Apple DLLs for the latest qaac.exe.

Windows Explorer (on Windows 7) says CoreAudioToolbox's version = 7.10.9.0.

FWIW, its filesize = 9,039,672 bytes and its SHA-1 number is
8C2BD33FF9D9447B312C0C5FB7EA451086655313.

EDIT
I downloaded the iTunes 12.7 installer from Videohelp and extracted the previous/original build of the CoreAudio DLL. Yes, the filesize is slightly greater, as shown by the table written by tebasuna51, but Windows Explorer (on Windows 7) keeps saying its version = 7.0.9.0 as well.
So there is something wrong /b0rked with Windows 10 regarding, let's say, "resource-scanning"? :confused:

EDIT 2
VERY interesting indeed...
By using the latest Resource Hacker I find that the version is 7.10.9 ONLY for the English language (1033)...
for all the other languages listed in the version resource section, CoreAudioToolBox.DLL reports version 7.10.5 :-/

[tebasuna51]

...
By using the latest Resource Hacker I find that the version is 7.10.9 ONLY for the English language (1033)...
for all the other languages listed in the version resource section, CoreAudioToolBox.DLL reports version 7.10.5 :-/

Curious..., of course my W10 is the spanish version.

[Kritiyanor]

iTunes 12.7 installer Video help and extracted the previous original build of the CoreAudio DLL. Yes, the file size is slightly greater, as shown by the table written by tebasuna51, but Windows Explorer (on Windows 7) keeps saying its version = 7.0.9.0 as well.

[tebasuna51]

@Kritiyanor
CoreAudio DLL 7.0.9.0 in iTunes 12.7? Are you sure?

Or your post is only a excuse to do spam?
Next time you will be banned.

[tebasuna51]

Seems there are a problem with CoreAudioToolbox 7.9.8.x or greater (upto 7.10.9.0, the latest version at the moment)

It can produce gliches on AAC CBR mode (https://github.com/nu774/qaac).

[Z2697]

What glitch?

[GeoffreyA]

What glitch?

It seems that, below 112 kbps, there is a "hole" that shows up in the file, but only in CBR mode, which, being little used, is why it likely escaped detection.

[Z2697]

It seems that, below 112 kbps, there is a "hole" that shows up in the file, but only in CBR mode, which, being little used, is why it likely escaped detection.

Ok then, what hole?

[john33]

Ok then, what hole?

Follow the link provided above and you will find out.

[GeoffreyA]

Ok then, what hole?

A flat gap in the encoded samples.

[Z2697]

Ah, I was looking at the wrong place, sorry.
Now I've found the link.

[GeoffreyA]

Well, luckily, it doesn't affect the C/TVBR modes.

[j7n]

Make and keep a distribution with all dependencies that is known good and stop downloading new versions of iTunes.

[tormento]

Notice(2024-12-21)
It turned out that CoreAudioToolbox 7.9.8.x or greater (upto 7.10.9.0, the latest version at the moment) can produce gliches on the encoded result.
The issue is only found on AAC CBR mode.

CoreAudioToolbox 7.9.7.x is OK, but you need very old iTunes installer for that version (it's released on 2012).

cf. https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,85135.msg1056191.html#msg1056191

[tebasuna51]

@tormento
I moved your post from the old thread.

Like you see is the same info.