Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem

Subject: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 09 May 07 - 07:13 PM

I've been recording a few songs using a PC program that makes WAV files. I've converted some of them to MP3 using CDex freeware to compress the files to a size that I can upload to web sites like SoundClick. Everything seems ok until I try to play back the file from the web site via streaming media player. On playback the file sounds like it has been speeded up by at least 100% so that I come out sounding like a Munchkin on speed. After discovering that, I converted some more WAVs to MP3 on my local PC and got the same high speed playback. Anyone have an opinion on whether this is some problem with the streaming media player or with CDex?

Any help, suggestions will be appreciated.

SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: M.Ted
Date: 09 May 07 - 08:13 PM

I know that Flash Player can only play an mp3 normally when it's encoded at a rate that is a multiple of 11 kHz (11, 22, 33, 44 etc). Just go back and change rate, then convert again.

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 May 07 - 09:07 PM

Ah! Last night, I was listening to some music on Ezfolk.com. The first song was some guy singing Amazing Grace at chipmunk speed. Now I know why. Looks like M.Ted has it figured out for you though.

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: treewind
Date: 10 May 07 - 04:23 AM

Your original WAV should be 16 bit and 44.1KHz sampling rate. If you used a lower sampling rate that's a possible explanation for the speeding up as the MP3 conversion might be blindly assuming 44.1.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 12 May 07 - 12:01 PM

Thanks, I'll look back at the tech data on the files and see if any of these suggestions might apply. I guess what has been the biggest puzzle is that the first 3 songs I uploaded to the web don't have playback problems but the fourth one does. They were all recorded by the same program on the same day w/o any change in specs and then converted a few days later to the MP3 in a batch. I forgot in the original post that on the fourth one I did a little "massaging" with another program (added a very light reverb effect) and uploaded the song after applying the effect. Perhaps, the saved version in MP3 after the effect was applied was set at a different bit rate.

Thanks again for responding

SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 12 May 07 - 09:28 PM

For control

You should use something like "CakeWalk" or "SoundForge" or....and dozen other editor software interfaces.

You can slow, speed, tweak, change key - or a dozen other devices - for WAV to MP3 .... or back again.....not to mention rhythem, and bass.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 12 May 07 - 09:58 PM

Southern Celt: I just downloaded Wavepad & it gave me the option of downloading a converter at the same time. Is that what you need? It's free!

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:43 AM

Jim, it may be but I need to check the settings on the progam I used for the WAV to MP3 conversion originally. The problem may lie there. If it's not then I'll look at the program I used to add effects to see if it changed the bit rate when it saved the changed file. Go ahead and post a link to the Wavepad site for download if you will. I typically do all my downloads at work where I have a hi speed connection. My dial-up at home is too slow for most downloads since my ISP has an automatic timeout feature that checks for keystrokes being entered and when none are for a long time, it terminates the connection. Haven't found a way to change the default time-out interval or turn it off.

Thanks,
SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 May 07 - 11:47 AM

There used to be a 'faker' app that took care of that - thought most ISPs had stopped that game...

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:05 PM

http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/masters.html
The extras will be offered to you when you start down loading so you'll have to be sure and read the windows after you accept the terms.

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Willie-O
Date: 13 May 07 - 02:43 PM

I had the same problem with certain files going to myspace--except that the chipmunk effect occurred ONLY when streaming--you could download the mp3's and they would play fine. Seemed to fix it when a changed the setting from "constant" to "variable" rate sampling in the mp3 conversion process.

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 14 May 07 - 01:30 PM

Jim, I only got a "run or save" window when I downloaded it. Did you mean the extras are offered when you install? I always save first on a download, never run/install directly from a remote site. (I'm not sure my work computer will even let me run from another location.)

Thanks Willie-O, I'll keep that in mind as well.

SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 14 May 07 - 01:45 PM

Did you mean the extras are offered when you install? .. Yup!

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 07 - 12:09 AM

Is there something as simple as FAQs for the web sites where you're posting files? I don't think recommending conversion software is the answer here (though that said, I like Nero, it has lots of little programs in there for this kind of thing).

You might find that posting a simple query in Google will bring you in contact with the techies who frequent those sites.

"MP3 playback streaming speed chipmunk" or something along those lines. Yup. Here are the results. I see lots of blurbs that include "chipmunk effect" and "chipmunk mode." Good luck!

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 15 May 07 - 02:03 PM

Well, I had planned to check FAQs and other help info on Soundclick as soon as I could find time. Finally did a bit ago. They apparently deal with the "chipmunk" effect a lot and have a click-to-run reencoder to fix the problem. Ok, so I run it and when I test the playback, I now get NOTHING, the file won't load but doesn't give an error like it's been corrupted....So back to the drawing board. I've about decided the best thing would be to go back to my original files, encode for the correct bit rate, etc., create MP3s that all match the web site's specification, then if I decide to add any audio FX, I'll do that will the supposedly correctly created MP3s. That may prove faster than trying to troubleshoot the old files since I can just upload the new versions to replace the old.

As you can readily see, an audio engineer I AIN'T!

SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 May 07 - 02:10 PM

SouthernCelt: Just about reached the same stage with my stuff. I'm thinking "Analog".

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: mrmoe
Date: 15 May 07 - 02:41 PM

I don't know if itunes is available for the pc (I use a mac), but if it is, it does the job quickly and perfectly.....

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 May 07 - 08:30 PM

"go back to my original files, encode for the correct bit rate, etc., create MP3s that all match the web site's specification, then if I decide to add any audio FX, I'll do that will the supposedly correctly created MP3s."

Actually you are best to work not with the mp3 files but the full wav style files - every time the conversion is done, there is a potential loss of quality. When you are finished all audio processing, then encode MP3s that all match the web site's specification.

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 16 May 07 - 07:19 PM

Foolestroupe, that's what I ended up doing (working in WAV rather than MP3, then converting to MP3 at the end). I reloaded the files to Soundclick and I think I got it this time. Time will tell when I have a chance to go back and check them after a fresh boot/visit (so my cache won't try to play old versions).

SC

Subject: RE: Tech: Converting WAV to MP3, playback problem
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 17 May 07 - 01:10 PM

Problem solved. Thanks to all who helped.

SC