PDA

View Full Version : Some questions concerning creating MP3 files


finfly1
23rd Apr 2013, 20:16
Following a total crash of my dell inspiron, most of my programs have been reloaded and work fine.

The realplayer converter which produces MP3 does not however. A good friend loaded up a program called Audio Catalyst which SEEMED to work. At first. A little.

But on closer inspection, it only grabbed about a third of the selections on the CD, and those were of very low audio and seemingly poor quality. The remainder fell into four or so error modes. One was for the program to quit entirely. Another questions the ‘select point’ and another touched on privacy issues. Many of the remainder produced the mp3 icon but it did not play, at all. The tipoff of the latter being that the installation took seconds, not minutes.

[Be it noted that all these variations were on one cd with 12 tracks. A second and third CD produced nearly identical results] It may be hugely relevant that the CDs in question are being produced by myself from cassette audio tapes on a TEAC converter. The music on the CD itself is of fine quality.

First question: the ‘drivers’ for the revived laptop have not yet been reinstalled. Could this be the reason for the lack of success with real player? Second, has anyone any experience with Audio Catalyst, good or otherwise.

Thanks in advance for what is usually helpful advice.

Saab Dastard
23rd Apr 2013, 20:42
My personal opinion of Real Player is: :yuk:

Best free software for ripping CD to MP3 that I've come across is fre:ac - free audio converter (http://www.freac.org/) - used to be called Bonk Enc, but they changed it for some reason - I cannot think why! ;)

I can't see what other drivers could bring to the party - your CD drive is obviously recognised, so the CD drivers are installed.

SD

Keef
23rd Apr 2013, 21:00
Most of the time I rip audio CDs, it's to put them on the iPhone so that I can play them on the move (in the car, particularly). While I dislike iTunes for many of its infuriating habits, it does does a good job of ripping. The MP3s it produces can then be processed in other places - I like Audacity, but that's a more specialist process.

vulcanised
23rd Apr 2013, 21:32
For converting files I always use Format Factory.

It's never failed, and it's fast. Typical youtube flv to mp3 is about 5 seconds.

Julian Hensey
24th Apr 2013, 09:50
Format Factory is superb, get this from Real Players when I tried their premium service:

"Thank you for your request for refund after the failure of Real Player Premium to work. Your refund has been processed."

No tech assistance, no "hang on let me help you" moment, "I am sure we can sort this." Just "here is your money back."

Admittance it is dire.

Milo Minderbinder
24th Apr 2013, 20:33
So.....are you using RealPlayer or Audio Catalyst?

finfly1
25th Apr 2013, 01:52
Neither are working now. Will need follow-up tutorial from my friend when he has time. Meanwhile, just cranking out one CD after another from a very old collection of audio cassette tapes. The CDs come out fine.