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Topic: Unsupported File Format error on ape files (Read 4496 times) previous topic - next topic
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Unsupported File Format error on ape files

When trying to open an ape file in foobar I only get a popup that says: Unable to open item for playback (Unsupported file format):  "G:\[filename].ape"

I tried Softe Audio Player before but got an error message referring to "insufficient storage available" when attempting to play ape files.  I had about 10GB on my hard drive left at that time.  I just found and installed foobar v0.9.6.2.  but get the unsopported file format message copied above. 

I had been able to play flac on Windows Media Player with the addition of some kind of dll (I think it was a dll) but still could not play ape files.  Then I found a Monkey Audio filter that claims to play ape files "from any DirectShow based Player, like Windows Media Player, Zoomplayer, MPC and TCMP here:
http://dsp-worx.de/index.php?n=7
Now Media Player and Softe Audio Player will play ape files but foobar still gives me the same error message above.

Any advise?  Thanks.
XP Pro SP3
Foobar v0.9.6.2

Unsupported File Format error on ape files

Reply #2 –
Quote from: shakey_snake on
^lol slow.


Thanks.  Wanted to make sure there wasn't something wrong with my machine.
Why don't they just include that dll in the components folder on installation?
Monkey's Audio provides a link to Foobar2000 and says "a simple yet powerful audio player... with APE support" but fails to mention that you have to find and download the dll to make ape file works as a separate step.  Why make people do that?
It's kind of crazy that there are so many audio file formats and you have to find different filters and dlls for each of them for each different audio player application that is out there.  Audio technology seems to be in terrible need of some standardization.  All these dang converters and filters and dlls!  There is a lot of time being wasted because of this problem.

Unsupported File Format error on ape files

Reply #3 –
Quote from: 2bad on
Why make people do that?

Most people don't need ape support. This has been explained in this forum ad nauseum. Use the search if you're interested in re-living dead arguments.

Quote
It's kind of crazy that there are so many audio file formats and you have to find different filters and dlls for each of them for each different audio player application that is out there. Audio technology seems to be in terrible need of some standardization. All these dang converters and filters and dlls! There is a lot of time being wasted because of this problem.
Most "audio players" for windows don't actually play their own files, they tap into libraries like Window's DirectShow (WMP, Media player classic, too many to mention) or gstreamer (songbird, Amorak) or ffmpeg and have them play the files for them.

However, central to foobar2000 is it's own decoding library which allows it to implement a number of features that are hard to find elsewhere, such as proper LAME gapless playback and replayGain.

directShow decoders are commonly called "filters", and foobar2000 doesn't care one bit what filters you have installed or not, because it doesn't use directShow.
elevatorladylevitateme
 

Unsupported File Format error on ape files

Reply #4 –
Quote from: shakey_snake on
Quote from: 2bad on
Why make people do that?

Most people don't need ape support. This has been explained in this forum ad nauseum. Use the search if you're interested in re-living dead arguments.

Quote
It's kind of crazy that there are so many audio file formats and you have to find different filters and dlls for each of them for each different audio player application that is out there. Audio technology seems to be in terrible need of some standardization. All these dang converters and filters and dlls! There is a lot of time being wasted because of this problem.
Most "audio players" for windows don't actually play their own files, they tap into libraries like Window's DirectShow (WMP, Media player classic, too many to mention) or gstreamer (songbird, Amorak) or ffmpeg and have them play the files for them.

However, central to foobar2000 is it's own decoding library which allows it to implement a number of features that are hard to find elsewhere, such as proper LAME gapless playback and replayGain.

directShow decoders are commonly called "filters", and foobar2000 doesn't care one bit what filters you have installed or not, because it doesn't use directShow.


Again, thanks for pointing me at the dll and for that technical enlightenment.  And, sorry to beat what is apparently a dead horse at this forum.  But, my excuse is that I am a noob here. 

Yes, the majority of users probably are making it easy on themselves by never venturing past the mp3 format.  But, if I want to download a torrent of something pretty rare and somebody thought they were doing the world a favor by uploading it in ape, my choices are to get an app that plays ape or get a converter.  I can't just play the file without searching and downloading at least one of those two alternatives.  I find myself in this very situation often.  I've run into flac, ogg, ape, and other formats routinely in such situations.  If you want to be able to handle these situations you have to be prepared to spend time hunting around for, acquiring, learning how to use, and updating solutions.  This is just a lot of "re-inventing of the wheel."  I don't see why there is a need for more than one good lossless audio file format and one slightly lossy one that really compresses the files, then one player that can play both.  I don't see the benefit of developing and having all these competing and incompatible technologies that accomplish pretty much the same thing.  Somebody needs to call a truce and have everybody get in the same boat and row the same direction and spend our creative efforts solving problems that haven't already been solved.

Unsupported File Format error on ape files

Reply #5 –
^ You just download too much.
Anyway, without competition there'd be no improvement. Simple as that. And "calling everyone in the same boat" is what apple attempts with not supporting flac in iTunes, apple lossless onry. The reason is probably because they can put drm into the apple lossless files if they want to. What i'm trying to say is that even if somebody tries to get everybody in the same boat it might not always be a good thing.

Unsupported File Format error on ape files

Reply #6 –
Quote from: smkk on
^ You just download too much.
Anyway, without competition there'd be no improvement. Simple as that. And "calling everyone in the same boat" is what apple attempts with not supporting flac in iTunes, apple lossless onry. The reason is probably because they can put drm into the apple lossless files if they want to. What i'm trying to say is that even if somebody tries to get everybody in the same boat it might not always be a good thing.


Well, yeah, Apple and Microsoft can get in their own boat together and paddle over Niagra Falls.