Any problems to expect if upgrading CPU/MB/ and operating system?

Hi Ray

. . . . It is not on the list of audio-only files MEP handles. . . . .

However testing does show that MEP imports AAC, AC3 and M4a audio, at both 44.1 and 48 kHz sample rate, none of which are on the official list.

M4a is actually MP4 audio only, with a different extension and is AAC encoded.

AAC and AC3 as standalone audio files are not very common, M4A was at one time more popular, it was intended to usurp MP3 however it failed.

Assuming the audio contains nothing confidential, can you upload it to Dropbox or similar for testing?

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/10/2019, 6:44 AM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lr8amdsppwyylc8/DJI_0080.AAC?dl=0

Sure John. I have tons of them. Here's one at random.

johnebaker wrote on 9/10/2019, 7:33 AM

Hi Ray

Thanks for the download - imports straight away no issues.

These are the import modules that my MEP has available

I have no 3rd party codecs packs installed, however it would be interesting to compare mine to yours.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/10/2019, 10:42 AM

Thanks for trying John.

I'm not on Win 10 John, would that make a difference? I've no additional codec packs loaded as far as I'm aware as it was advised against here.

Would having other Magix products make a difference?

I have no idea where to find that list you are showing.

johnebaker wrote on 9/10/2019, 2:27 PM

Hi Ray

. . . . I'm not on Win 10 John, would that make a difference? . . . .

None, the file imports into MEP 2013 on Windows 7 with no issue.

. . . . Would having other Magix products make a difference? . . . .

Not AFAICS, my old Win 7 PC has only MEP 2013 and Music Maker, and Music Maker cannot import the file.

. . . . I have no idea where to find that list you are showing. . . . .

Apologies should have said it is in the Program Settings - either on the System tab or the Import/Export tab depending on the version of MEP.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/10/2019, 3:01 PM

Thanks, John.

Mine is definitely not the same as yours John.

I appear to be a whole block missing. Would it have anything to do with the alternative MPEG4 main concept codec which I thought I had before the upgrade but can't find the activation code for?

johnebaker wrote on 9/10/2019, 3:57 PM

Hi Ray

Looking at your image the last 2 sections are the same, and, judging by the position of the slider bar, the last 2 blocks have not been captured.

Of the remaining blocks, I can see three modules I have, that are not in yours:

Heroglyph title - I have an old full version of Heroglyph installed on my PC
the 2 Camelot XAR import modules which I think are installed with Xara Photo & Graphic Designer.

. . . . Would it have anything to do with the alternative MPEG4 main concept codec . . . .

AFAIK the MC import module is using the last one on my list - Internal DirectShow import - according to MainConcept, transcoding import is via DirectShow, QuickTime (not installed) and several other routes so it may not show in the list as a MC import module.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/10/2019, 4:55 PM

Sorry John. I seem to have copied the last one twice. Here is the missing block.

browj2 wrote on 9/10/2019, 10:52 PM

@CubeAce @johnebaker

Hi,

I just tested Ray's AAC file. It works in MEPP 18.0.3.261, but not in VPX11. I get the same error as Ray.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 9/11/2019, 1:54 AM

@johnebaker @browj2

Hi John EB, John CB.

I'm running MEP Premium 19.0.1.18

johnebaker wrote on 9/11/2019, 3:32 AM

Hi John

. . . . It works in MEPP 18.0.3.261, but not in VPX11 . . . .

Interesting - the AAC file imports OK in VPX 11 17.0.1.32 for me, also imports correctly on VPX 4 (ancient PC).

John EB

browj2 wrote on 9/11/2019, 9:00 AM

Hi John,

I just checked VPX11, same version as you, on my Surface Pro 4 and the AAC file gives the same error message as on the desktop. VPX6 on desktop give the same error.

It imported fine into SF Audio Cleaning Lab. Music Maker was a totally different affair and I had to adjust the pitch and speed.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 9/11/2019, 10:16 AM

A thought has occurred to me. To be usable in MEP or VPX, must the corresponding audio editor be capable of using AAC files? If so, looking at the supported files in the default audio editor in my version of MEP (Magix Music Editor, version,3.1) , it does not support AAC. What are both your default external audio editors and does either of them support the use of AAC files?

browj2 wrote on 9/11/2019, 10:40 AM

Hi Ray,

My external audio editor for VPX11 is Magix Audio & Music Lab Premium which, by itself, opens the AAC file. I also have the updated version of this, Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab, which also opens the AAC file. So, I don't think that the external editor has any influence on whether or not VPX or MEP can open the file.

I was sure that Music Editor 3 could be opened as a stand-alone, but it gives me an error when I try. I don't want to try it through VPX as the right-click on the audio part of a video object gives me the Edit Wave Externally command. Others, including SFACL and Music Editor do not. I don't want to mess with something that works. This is still on my bug list that I should get chasing after Magix about.

Are you able to open ME3 as a stand-alone?

John CB

browj2 wrote on 9/11/2019, 10:50 AM

Further to the above, I tried ME3 on my laptop with VPX. I opened a wave object in ME3 from VPX, deleted it, and dragged the AAC object to the timeline in ME3. ME3 immediately proposed converting it to a wave. Continuing on, a message came up, "This file does not contain any Rhythm Audio-Stream-Data." Clicked on OK, nothing happens.

In VPX, when I changed the external editor to ME3, I lost the right-click Edit Wave Externally possibility. Most annoying.

On my desktop, I also tried opening the AAC file in Magix SF Audio Studio 12. No problem opening it.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 9/11/2019, 11:19 AM

Hi John. Yes, I can open ME3 as a standalone but it keeps telling me to register the program. It has also just informed me of an update that it is presently loading. 785MBs of it. I had to opend it from its Program files (x68) location but I've now put a shortcut to the desktop and will try again from there once the program has updated.

CubeAce wrote on 9/11/2019, 11:57 AM

Hi John.

ME3 updated and I now have permission and registration without doing anything. Odd. Then it updated a second time. Smaller update. The installer put a new Icon on my desktop that works.

Has had no effect on importing permissions of AAC files in MEP.

One thing I noticed in MEP. If I try to play an AAC file in the folder window, pressing play plays the main project timeline instead of playing the clip in the preview window.

If MEP is telling me I don't have authorisation to use the AAC files, why do they play in Windows media player?

johnebaker wrote on 9/11/2019, 1:10 PM

Hi John

ME 3 standalone opens for me, however when trying to import theAAC file it wants to convert it to WAV and then fails with error - 'The file does not contain any rhythm Audio-Stream data' as you have noted.

Hi Ray

I think it is time to raise a support ticket if you have not already done so, the results we are getting do not make for any logical conclusion except that something screwy is going on. I would use one of the standard IT technical terms for such results however this is a public forum!

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/11/2019, 1:42 PM