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Topic: MP3 files not working in foobar2000 (Read 3019 times) previous topic - next topic
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MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Hey I just downloaded foobar for the first time and my mp3 files don't work for some reason
this is the error that occurs when I try to double-click them:
Quote
Unable to open item for playback (Unsupported format or corrupted file):
"D:\Music\Indila - Dernière Danse (Clip Officiel).mp3"

Unable to open item for playback (Unsupported format or corrupted file):
"D:\Music\AJR - 3 O'Clock Things (Official Video).mp3"

**IMPORTANT INFO**:
-The version is 1.6.11 (I assume the newest one) and everything is left default (including the installation process)

-I read on a Reddit post that I should change the file extension to .mp4. I tried that and it works. but I have hundreds of .mp3 files. i don't want to change their extensions just to listen to them when VLC can just play them perfectly.

-also, it's worth noting that most of these files (if not all) are downloaded from Youtube using youtube-dl with -x and --audio-quality 0 flags. (which extracts the audio from a youtube video and downloads it in the highest possible audio quality, respectively.)


Thanks alot in advance!

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #1 –
You sure these are valid, real MP3s and not MP4s or AACs?  I noticed the use of "youtube-dl".  Unless you actually converted those files, they are likely MP4s or AACs.

Instead of downloading off Youtube using tools that are meant for downloading videos, you can actually purchase the songs and have a better experience.

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Chibisteven on
You sure these are valid, real MP3s and not MP4s or AACs?  I noticed the use of "youtube-dl".  Unless you actually converted those files, they are likely MP4s or AACs.

Instead of downloading off Youtube using tools that are meant for downloading videos, you can actually purchase the songs and have a better experience.

I haven't done anything to the .mp3 files after downloading them. even the titles are the same.

BUT I do not know what youtube-dl does to the files before downloading them/afterward. I use the default configuration in youtube-dl too aside from the flags.
but what's the issue? even if someone converts these files shouldn't foobar be able to play them anyways just like VLC does?

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #4 –
Quote from: GrassWarlock on
even if someone converts these files shouldn't foobar be able to play them anyways just like VLC does?
Foobar looks only at the file extension in determining a playable file.  If the codec content doesn't match the content expected from the file extension (in this case MPEG audio), Foobar won't play it.  VLC is looking at the stream codec content--take a look at Tools/Codec Information in VLC while the file is playing to see the actual content.

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #5 –
Quote from: sveakul on
Quote from: GrassWarlock on
even if someone converts these files shouldn't foobar be able to play them anyways just like VLC does?
Foobar looks only at the file extension in determining a playable file.  If the codec content doesn't match the content expected from the file extension (in this case MPEG audio), Foobar won't play it.  VLC is looking at the stream codec content--take a look at Tools/Codec Information in VLC while the file is playing to see the actual content.


Ah, I see!
I looked at the codex information and it seems to indeed show AAC:
Quote
Stream 0
-Codec: MPEG AAC Audio (m4a)
-Type: Audio
-Sample Rate: 44100Hz
-Bits per sample: 32

I tried to redownload the video without the --audio-quality 0 flag and it now perfectly works!
Thanks alot!

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #6 –
Since YouTube has separate audio and video streams, youtube-dl will download audio and video separately and then merge them and then delete the "separate" files. If you are only interested in the audio, use -k to prevent it from deleting. Then you have the audio separately.

Also, "mass renaming" isn't that hard if you know what files to rename. Either by command-line, or ... I use https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Porcus on
If you are only interested in the audio, use -k to prevent it from deleting. Then you have the audio separately.
Actually the -k option is short for --keep-video, which prevents deleting the video.  The -x switch is all he needs to keep just the audio.

Re: MP3 files not working in foobar2000

Reply #8 –
Quote from: sveakul on
Quote from: Porcus on
If you are only interested in the audio, use -k to prevent it from deleting. Then you have the audio separately.
Actually the -k option is short for --keep-video, which prevents deleting the video.  The -x switch is all he needs to keep just the audio.
You are absolutely right.

The help file says "Convert" and ... stupid swine should not have presumed it implies transcoding, which it does not - indeed, -x is short for "--extract-audio" which is what it does.