Weird WMA

[johnt]

Hi,

When I went to play an AVI file in Windows Media Player (under Win2K), I rang into a problem I can't quite fathom. Checking the AVI file, it's encoded with DivX and Windows Media Audio v2. However, while the video plays OK, there is no sound.

Each time I try to play the AVI file, Windows Media Player seems to download and install codecs (but there is still no audio).

OK, so I downloaded all the Windows Media Audio codecs (v8) and installed them manually - still no sound. I downloaded and installed the latest version of Media Player (v7.1) and reinstalled the codecs again - still no sound.

I thought I'd try to convert the sound to MPEG-3 in VirtualDub, but it says it can't find the required codec (Windows Media Audio) for the conversion.

Looking at the codecs under Devices in Control Panel, there's a least six various Microsoft audio codecs there, though none called exactly "Windows Media Audio".

I must be missing something obvious here (maybe not, after all we're talking about Microsoft), but what? Is there a "Windows Media Codec" somewhere on the Microsoft site that I can't find, or is this some kind of installation bug? BTW, the file played perfectly on NT4 on the same computer (I upgraded the OS last week). Thanks in advance.

[Head Hunter]

It's probably DivX audio, which is a hack of wma v2.
Download this DivX Audio Installer (http://www.divx-digest.tv/software/codec/divx_audio_402.zip)

[johnt]

Thank you, that has solved the problem!

[Head Hunter]

I'm glad I'm good for something.

[LigH]

"The same procedure as every year..." :angry:

Although I'm glad for johnt that he could already solve his problem, I'm still angry (in general, not specifically about johnt) about that fact: I can't remember how many times we told people always this same solution of always this same question: Start the "Run Me First !!" application which appears in the DivX 3.11alpha start menu, this installs the DivX audio ACM codecs.

I'll add that topic to the Audio FAQ if I'm allowed to post there, then we finally can tell anyone who is asking again: "RTFM!"


Madly bored,

*LigH*

[johnt]

A good point, but what if you've skipped DivX 3.11 and gone straight to the DivX 5 bundle like I did?

[LigH]

Well, in this case, a DivX-Audio-only installer is indeed very useful. Therefore, thanks to Head Hunter - I'll add a hint to my post in the Audio FAQ. But I don't think it hurts very much to install DivX 3 after DivX 5.

[Neo Neko]

But in all honesty shouldn't "using" those hacked ACM be frowned upon? Not because they are illegal, and not because they are Microsoft. But because they as a general rule can't produce output of any quality and are a massive compatability problem?

It is ok for someone to use them to render audio in a situation like this. But as far as creating new content with them should that not be something we should try to stamp out? -Just a question

[LigH]

All I can do is agree - but I see no way to put that over.

May everyone get convinced by the quality of the new generation of audio codecs and file formats - Ogg and Vorbis.