M4A could not be loaded

[ajb]

Hi.
I have Mixxx 1.10.0 x64 loaded on Win7 Pro 64-bit.

M4A files are seen correctly in the library, but when I try to load them to either deck, I get the error message: *filename*.m4a could not be loaded.

Here's an excerpt from my Mixxx log:

Debug: []: Getting SoundSource plugin object for "m4a"
Warning: []: SSMF: failed to set media type
Warning: []: SSMF: Error configuring audio stream.
Debug: []: [Channel2] CachingReader::loadTrack() load failed for" "C:/Users/alistair/Music/03 Robbie Williams _ Let Me Enterta.m4a" ", file invalid, unlocked reader lock
Debug: [Main]: BaseTrackCache(0x222dd80) updateIndexWithQuery took 1 ms
Debug: [Main]: Failed to load track "C:/Users/alistair/Music/03 Robbie Williams _ Let Me Enterta.m4a" "The file 'C:/Users/alistair/Music/03 Robbie Williams _ Let Me Enterta.m4a' could not be loaded."

Sorry about the music choice -

C:\Program Files\Mixxx\plugins\soundsource contains soundsourcemediafoundation.dll

Please could someone help me load these M4As?

Thanks!

[Pegasus]

Does that happen on all of the M4A files? Can you try some from another source and see if it still happens? (I'm suspecting corruption.) Do they play in other software?

[ajb]

Does that happen on all of the M4A files? Can you try some from another source and see if it still happens? (I'm suspecting corruption.) Do they play in other software?

Yup, other M4As from other sources play on WMPlayer and Realplayer, but not in Mixxx.

Sorry to cause you a headache -

Alistair

[Pegasus]

OK, please file a bug on this with details of your system config and Mixxx version. If you could attach an example file that doesn't load, that would be very helpful.

[msardo890]

If I may, I would like to state that I have the exact same problem as the original poster. My .m4a's play fine elsewhere, but they will not be loaded in Mixxx (even though they appear in my library).

I had recently, re-scanned all of my CD's into iTunes using the Apple Lossless Format - which gives you the end result being a file with the .m4a file extension. I didn't know if the "Apple Lossless" piece might be a subtle clue.

I would love to hear of a resolution to this and appreciate your time.

Thanks!

[msardo890]

Please allow me to add a subtle, but maybe significant, observation to my last post.

I have .m4a files within my library that have come as a result of two separate processes:

1. Those purchased from iTunes - they show up in the iTunes interface as Purchased AAC audio file - but their actual file in the OS (Windows 7) has the .m4a extension. These load and play perfectly fine in Mixxx!

2. Those "ripped" from actual CD's using the Apple Lossless Encoder - they show up in the iTunes interface as Apple Lossless audio file - but their actual file in Windows has the same .m4a extension. These are the ones that generate the "could not be loaded" message.

I also noticed that the bit rate of each of my Purchased AAC audio files are the same 256 kbps, while the Apple Lossless audio files have different bit rates and they are substantially higher - e.g., 940 kbps.

Can someone add this to the bug and/or give me quick instructions on how I could do so.

Thanks,

Mark

[rryan]

Ah! Yes we only support AAC, not ALAC.

AAC files purchased after a certain date (I can't remember when) are DRM-free and in the M4A container format. If your files were DRM'd then the extension would be M4P (which Mixxx can't play).

I'm not sure what it would take to get ALAC support in Mixxx. We use the Windows Media Foundation library and I think if your system has an ALAC decoder then Mixxx should be able to play these files. Can you play the ALAC files in Windows Media Player?

[msardo890]

Greetings,

So how does one go about getting an ALAC Decoder? I tried to play one of my Apple Lossless audio files in Windows Media Player only to receive the following error message:

Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.

<Close> <Web Help> (buttons)

This seems consistent with their behavior in Mixxx.

Thanks,

Mark

[rryan]

Not sure -- I found this superuser thread that has some good things to try:

http://superuser.com/questions/43603/pl ... dia-player

[bkgood]

ALAC encoder/decoder source was released late last year. I can't remember if there are patent issues surrounding the mp4 format (or just AAC), but if there aren't any a decoder could be added to Mixxx.

Most codec packs for Windows are DirectShow filters, so a codec pack that can decode ALAC probably won't make any difference as we use Media Foundation.