Amarok cannot play *.ra files with background sound

Have you installed the w32codecs package, which Amarok needs to play realaudio? (see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/WindowsCodecs)

This sounds like a bug either way: if amarok can't play a file, it should be giving you a message that the format is unsupported.

I do have the w32 codecs installed.

Anurag

On 3/11/07, Dan O'Huiginn <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Have you installed the w32codecs package, which Amarok needs to play
> realaudio? (see
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/WindowsCodecs)
>
> This sounds like a bug either way: if amarok can't play a file, it
> should be giving you a message that the format is unsupported.
>
> ** Changed in: amarok (Ubuntu)
> Status: Unconfirmed => Needs Info
>
> --
> Amarok cannot play *.ra files
> https://launchpad.net/bugs/91500
>

--
***********************************
Anurag Mishra
Graduate Research Assistant,
Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061.

OK. Try installing the package 'xine-ui'. Now play a file from the console ('xine somefile.ra'). Does your file play properly? What output do you get on the console?

Also, I notice you say *.ra. What about *.ram files? Do you get the problem with both audio and video?
[there are test files at http://service.real.com/test/]

Dan

I tried the files on the page you recommended

The real audio 8 and G2 Sample clips with only voice data worked, but
not the clips with background sound. Terminal had a command saying
"Necessary Extra data missing"

I got the same response for *.ra files.

Thanks
Anurag

On 3/11/07, Dan O'Huiginn <email address hidden> wrote:
> OK. Try installing the package 'xine-ui'. Now play a file from the
> console ('xine somefile.ra'). Does your file play properly? What output
> do you get on the console?
>
> Also, I notice you say *.ra. What about *.ram files? Do you get the problem with both audio and video?
> [there are test files at http://service.real.com/test/]
>
> Dan
>
> --
> Amarok cannot play *.ra files
> https://launchpad.net/bugs/91500
>

--
***********************************
Anurag Mishra
Graduate Research Assistant,
Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061.

You're right - I can reproduce this. The clips without background noise work in xine and amarok; the ones with background noise don't in either.

Some people have found a workaround to fix it in xine. It works for me - does it for you?
http://lenrek.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/the-crazy-world-of-media-player-in-linux/
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2185827

Pasting from that last page:

Open up ~/.xine/catalog.cache in a text editor and find this section:

[/usr/lib/xine/plugins/1.1.4/xineplug_decode_real_audio.so]
size=11300
mtime=1171041406
type=131
api=15
id=realadec
version=10104
supported_types=52494336 52559872 52756480
decoder_priority=5

Bump up the 'decoder_priority' value to 10. That should get audio with Real files working.

I don't understand the details of all this, so make the change at your own risk.

That doesn't sort out the original problem in amarok, though. I'm going to poke around and see what I can find...

OK. Here is a workaround for amarok. Again, beware: I'm not sure what the implications of making this change are; it may well do Bad Things to your system in some way. But since you're running feisty anyway, I guess you're OK with that.

Here's the fix:
- close amarok
- open up ~/.kde/share/apps/amarok/xine-config
- find the section:

# priority for real decoder
# numeric, default: 0
#engine.decoder_priorities.real:0

change the last line to:
#engine.decoder_priorities.real:10

now try listening to a clip with background sound, and it should work.

I'm not sure what the long-term solution to this is: presumably the priority setting is what it is for a reason...

It didn't make any difference. The first time Amarok crashed, and
after I restarted it, it didn't produce any sound with those file. I
haven't had chance to try the Xine fix yet.

Anurag

On 3/11/07, Dan O'Huiginn <email address hidden> wrote:
> OK. Here is a workaround for amarok. Again, beware: I'm not sure what
> the implications of making this change are; it may well do Bad Things to
> your system in some way. But since you're running feisty anyway, I guess
> you're OK with that.
>
> Here's the fix:
> - close amarok
> - open up ~/.kde/share/apps/amarok/xine-config
> - find the section:
>
> # priority for real decoder
> # numeric, default: 0
> #engine.decoder_priorities.real:0
>
> change the last line to:
> #engine.decoder_priorities.real:10
>
> now try listening to a clip with background sound, and it should work.
>
> I'm not sure what the long-term solution to this is: presumably the
> priority setting is what it is for a reason...
>
> ** Summary changed:
>
> - Amarok cannot play *.ra files
> + Amarok cannot play *.ra files with background sound
>
> --
> Amarok cannot play *.ra files with background sound
> https://launchpad.net/bugs/91500
>

--
***********************************
Anurag Mishra
Graduate Research Assistant,
Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061.

Actually after amarok crashed, it made another file name xine.config~
with default values for the decoder.

Anurag

On 3/11/07, Dan O'Huiginn <email address hidden> wrote:
> OK. Here is a workaround for amarok. Again, beware: I'm not sure what
> the implications of making this change are; it may well do Bad Things to
> your system in some way. But since you're running feisty anyway, I guess
> you're OK with that.
>
> Here's the fix:
> - close amarok
> - open up ~/.kde/share/apps/amarok/xine-config
> - find the section:
>
> # priority for real decoder
> # numeric, default: 0
> #engine.decoder_priorities.real:0
>
> change the last line to:
> #engine.decoder_priorities.real:10
>
> now try listening to a clip with background sound, and it should work.
>
> I'm not sure what the long-term solution to this is: presumably the
> priority setting is what it is for a reason...
>
> ** Summary changed:
>
> - Amarok cannot play *.ra files
> + Amarok cannot play *.ra files with background sound
>
> --
> Amarok cannot play *.ra files with background sound
> https://launchpad.net/bugs/91500
>

--
***********************************
Anurag Mishra
Graduate Research Assistant,
Biological Systems Engineering,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061.

I tested your tweaks to both config files Dan and it's working good for me. So far Amarok hasn't crashed. If I start to experience excessive crashiness when listening to real media I will report back.

The tweaks didn't work for me... All I know is it worked perfectly fine in Edgy.

The fix that worked for me was:

# priority for realadec decoder
# numeric, default: 0
engine.decoder_priorities.realadec:10

(rather than the real decoder priority)
I'm using gxine (Xubuntu), so config file locations slightly different: ~/.gxine/config

Not an Amarok issue - marking bug as invalid for Amarok.