Mp3x

2003-01-14 06:22:09

I have downloaded this tool freely available from the lame sourcecode. I have the gtk librarys, but I have been unable to get it working. What switches do I need or... Basically what am I doing wrong. How do I PROPERLY set it up and use this program?

Thanks,
Lossy

:edit: Success! Helpfile stated frame analyzer invoked with -g option. Doesn't seem so. Later in the helpfile the example is given: mp3x.exe myfile. RTFM eh?

The version I have, given to me by a friend is a compile by mitiok. On the about it lists v .82 from lame 3.91 is there a newer version available or have there not been changes added to mp3x since then?

Mp3x

Reply #1 – 2003-01-14 08:01:36

-g is to invoque the frame analyser from lame.exe
If you have a stand-alone mp3X (not included into Lame), then no need for -g.


If I remember well, there has been a few fixes since 3.91.

Mp3x

Reply #2 – 2003-01-14 15:26:12

Thank you gabriel, your clarification is appreciated.

I do wonder where I can find a changelog/newer version.

:edit: Cvs Repository shows no changes in any mp3x files since 3.91 release.

Mp3x

Reply #3 – 2003-01-14 16:45:50

So perhaps I remembered wrong...

Mp3x

Reply #4 – 2003-01-15 19:34:13

This looks like an appropriate thread for my question --

I've tried repeatedly to use Mitiok's mp3x compile and dll's on my Windows XP Home system, without success.  The program will open the GUI from the command line, but all the displays are null and the GUI shows 0 frames read; when the GUI is closed, the command window shows multiple versions of the error,

Gdk-CRITICAL **: file gdkdraw.c: line 422 (gdk_draw_lines): assertion `points != NULL' failed.

I've tried using earlier/later versions of lame.exe, using earlier/later versions of the dll's, and  shoveling additional gtk dll's into the mp3x directory, but nothing has worked so far.

If anyone with an XP system has figured out the correct combination of executables and dll's to make mp3x function properly, please post; I'm probably not the only one with this problem.

Mp3x

Reply #5 – 2003-01-15 19:41:01

You have to push +1 frame it only reads frames when you tell it to. You can also go to the last frame by pushing last frame.

Mp3x

Reply #6 – 2003-01-15 22:44:55

@ LordofStars:

Many thanks for your post.  I simply couldn't see the frame advance buttons at the bottom of the GUI window -- the window is too tall to fit my screen.  Evidently I have to toggle the display to Full Screen mode in the upper right corner for those buttons to be accessible.  (Of course, those buttons are shown in the LAME site screenshots, but since the screenshots differ from the current version's display in several other ways, I paid no attention...)

However, this doesn't solve the whole problem.  What about those GDK errors?  Are they meaningless, are they to be ignored?  In addition,

1)  For a WAV file, the second (re-synthesis) graph shows structure across the file, but the first (original Left, Right, Mid, or Side) graph is null everywhere.  This would be expected for an mp3 file according to the LAME site screenshot discussion, but would not be expected for a WAV file.

2) The FFT graphs are null across the entire file for both WAVs and mp3s.

3) The MDCT and SFB displays are non-null only when MDCT is toggled to "Compressed".  I suppose this is reasonable if 1) is correct -- but is it?

Any help would be appreciated.

Mp3x

Reply #7 – 2003-01-16 02:07:55

I believe that because of the fact that wavs do not have mid or side blocks they will not show. Thats just my understanding.

I'm not too familiar on the specifics. Perhaps Gabriel or someone else can shed some educated light on the subject.

Mp3x

Reply #8 – 2003-01-16 08:00:22

I would have to try it in order to answer, but honestly I do not have time right now. Perhaps this week-end...

Mp3x

Reply #9 – 2003-01-16 16:25:18

I have doubts that any use of this program is time restricted. Whenever you get around to it and any light you can shed on the subject will be great.
cheers,
Lossy

Mp3x

Reply #10 – 2003-01-16 17:41:36

@LordofStars (and anybody else using the standalone mp3x program);

It might be helpful in analyzing the problem to know,

1) Do you see the same problems that I do when running mp3x on a WAV file (i.e, the GDK error messages, and null graphs in the "Original L/R/M/S" and "FFT" rows of the display?)

2) Are you running Windows XP, or an earlier version of Windows?

3) Do you have only Mitiok's mp3x gtk dll's installed on your computer, or are there other gtk library files in your path?

Thanks --

Mp3x

Reply #11 – 2003-01-16 21:12:55

I show the gdk errors on ANY file viewed.

I do show the null graphs unless I select from the MDCT menu compressed on wav files. Then the mdct graph displays information So...

1) Yes.
2) Win 98Se
3)The only gtk librarys I have are the ones from mitiok installed in f:\mp3x

Mp3x

Reply #12 – 2003-01-17 16:31:46

I also get the GDK errors in the command-line window for both WAV and mp3 files -- sorry if my previous posts weren't clear about that.

I should also have mentioned that the command "Plotting / Toggle orig-diff" in the display window has no effect at all on the display for me.

It looks as if LordofStars and I are getting exactly the same behavior from the program, using two different Windows versions (98 and XP); so at least we know that it's unlikely to be an OS-version problem.

Mp3x

Reply #13 – 2003-01-20 17:39:04

It seems that these problems with mp3x have been reported before (in August of 2001) on another forum: here; but so far as I can determine, no one ever replied to that post.

Is this that difficult a problem?  There must be many people here who are familiar with the LAME code, and I would have expected that somebody could supply the solution off the top of his head...  Yes? No?

Mp3x

Reply #14 – 2003-01-20 20:34:10

Apparently not.