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Topic: Having problems converting WMA to Flac (Read 4540 times) previous topic - next topic
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Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Hi I bought 3 tracks off Music Giants.  I then tryed to use Nero 8 to rip to CD-RW.  It gave me grief by saying I didn't have enough licenses.  So what I did next was I downloaded Deep Burner which is a free CD/DVD ripping software.  It seemed to have worked fine.  It had no issues or said anything about licenses.  So next I wanted to take them off that and make them Flacs so I can store them for personal use.  I went to foobar the latest version btw and tried to load the DVD player using file and trying to add to playlist.  Foobar did not recognize or even try to sense the DVD player.  Its worked before with other stuff but this cd it did not.  I then opened Winamp.  The latest version btw too.  Did flac highest compression.  It worked but the problem was when I tried to play files all 0secs and a few kbits a file.  Lastly I tryed to load Audacity as a last ditch effort and tried to export file as wave.  Figured if I did that I can make Flac later on.  All that occurred was just noises.  So what do you guys think I can do next to rip these to Flac?

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #1 –
Have you double checked that these files burned onto the CD properly by checking in a hifi/stereo system? That could be the problem with them not copying back onto the computer, as once they're on the CD in proper CD-DA audio format, not just files on the disc there should be no problem woth copying back onto the computer.

And just to make sure, you do realise that if the original wma files were lossy, you're not going to make them any better quality by using FLAC.

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #2 –
You know what? I just thought about this the files on CD are WMA.  I wasn't trying for that format.  Mabie I accidentally hit rip by mistake trying again will let know!
 

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #3 –
Yea you need to write the CD as an audio CD not a as a data CD. Hopefully once you've fixed that then the ripping back to the computer will work out fine! Glad I could be of some use

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #4 –
ok looking at file it seems to be lossless .WMA  I have not bought anything off music giants in a few months.  All used to Flac at least what I remembered?  So as I was trying to add in audio CD WMA was not supported for deep burner for CD.  So now that I just found out its lossless WMA because file is around 30 megs how do I make it a flac.  I can only assume is protected.  Nero said I needed licenses since it did not work.  Used to be able to convert before weird how things changed?

Here is file from Music Giants that I am trying to burn into CD and create into flac or at least tryed so far

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #5 –
Can you not burn the CD using windows media player? That might resolve the issue about the licences.

Having just had a quick look at the MusicGiants FAQ they do indeed use the WMA lossless format.

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #6 –
i'll try wmp right now

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #7 –
I've also just seen that #15 of their FAQ states that:
Quote
MusicGiants' WMA lossless files can not be converted to any other audio file format at this time.


So I'm guessing that if you burn the files to CD they will stay as WMA files on the CD and not actual CD-DA files which is what you want. But not having bought any music from their store I cannot say this for certain. The only way to check is to try and burn through windows media player yourself. To save on making a coaster if it doesn't work, use a CD-RW

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #8 –
I burned using WMP then used winamp to convert since I didnt have flac for what it was asking for using foobar. So its flac now.  Thank You Allil

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #9 –
Would you consider it normal for file to sound a little less loud from riping from CD to Flac level 8 from the CD?

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #10 –
I backtracked a little and realized when I play the WMA's off CD burned from WMAs the CD ones sound lower in sound then the original ones on file on computer.  Would you consider that normal?

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #11 –
I'm not sure about the files on the CD being quieter as that really shouldn't happen, but if they are that would explain why your FLAC files are quieter.

However the chances are that the sound from the CD is being percieved as quieter but is actually the same. And that when you converted to FLAC in winamp it applied replaygain to the files which in essence normalised them so that they play back at roughly the same loudness, and with most modern CDs this means making them quieter, because they have been mastered too loud due to the so called "loudness wars".

This is a very basic interpretation of what replaygain does, so do not take every word as gospel truth. And I cannot vouch for winamp applying replaygain, it's just that it seems the most logical option.

The only way to find out for sure is to perform an ABX of the two files to see if you can identify them without actually knowing which track is playing at that time. For more info on ABX, look here or here or here.

And I'm glad I could've been of some help.

Edit: Typos

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #12 –
If you burn a disc from flacs, waves or any other lossless format and did not apply any gain to these files and you did not apply gain when ripping them from the original disc, then the level of the copy will be identical to the level of the original.

Comparing files played from a hard drive against files played by your CD player involves comparing the output of different hardware and software if applicable, so of course you can have differences.  It's apples and oranges at this point.

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #13 –
Hi if you remember back when you guys said use windows media player and it was the only thing that worked.  I did what you guys just said and checked burn settings and got this.  I think that check is WMP's version of replaygain to files.

[a href="http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pagesm4.jpg" target="_blank"]  Good thing I noticed or I would have done this over and over!

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #14 –
So have you checked the box in windows media player or unchecked it? Sorry I'm a little confused.

Having problems converting WMA to Flac

Reply #15 –
oh it was originally checked but as of now I redid burn again and it sounded identical to my originals.  I think that was the prob that leveling option being checked