TH55 and MP3 Pro files

[Anzoth]

Hi,

Anybody know whether the TH55 play files recorded using the MP3 pro format?.MP3 pro :confused:

[Cyker]

Well this is kinda tricky - yes a TH55 can play MP3 Pro files, but without the 'Pro' bit.

MP3 Pro files are basically normal MP3s with an extra data stream for high frequencies IIRC.

Any MP3 player, including the TH55, can decode the MP3 part of the file, but *NOT* the extra high-frequency data - this will just be ignored by the MP3 player.

So basically yes you can play MP3 Pro's but they'll sound crapper because of all the high freqs missing :)

[PCMaven]

MP3 Pro files are about 1/2 the size of regular MP3 files though...I know I cannot play Pro files at all on my T-665. I would love to be able to play them on my TH55 when I get it since I could then basically use my old 128Mb MS(s) as 256Mb MS(s)...

[Cyker]

What did you encode them as PCMaven?

Due to some strange limitation in the T665's DSP chip, it can only play back 44.1kHz MP3s, but they can be any bit-rate from 32k upwards and can be stereo/mono and CBR/VBR.

The most common reason for MP3s not working on a T665 is that the sample-rate is wrong.

See if you can get it to work because I'm 99% sure the TH55 uses a similar DSP to the T665, so if the MP3 doesn't work on your T665 it probably won't work on the TH55 either :(

[PCMaven]

I'll try again but I'm pretty sure I used the standard 44.1kHz encoding for the MP3 Pros with MusicMatch...I'll post back if I get it to work though...

[PCMaven]

Just tried again (can't find a setting for 44.1kHz in MusicMatch but I left everything as I normally do and just changed the output file to MP3 Pro.
Got the following message on the Clie:

This track is unavailable for one of the following reasons: The Memory Stick media is write-protected or does not support copyright control, or the track file is corrupted.

Personally I believe that the Clie just can't read MP3 Pro files unless someone can prove me wrong (which I would really appreciate)...

[Cyker]

Well from what I understand, MP3 Pro files are just MP3s with extra frame-data which should be ignored by normal MP3 players.

Maybe the T665's DSP is getting hung up on that?

Alas the only 2 filetypes I use are OGG and MP3 - I don't have anything that can make MP3 Pro files so I can't test it... :(

[PCMaven]

You could download the free version of MusicMatch...That should work...;)

[enderenya]

Originally posted by Cyker
Due to some strange limitation in the T665's DSP chip, it can only play back 44.1kHz MP3s, but they can be any bit-rate from 32k upwards and can be stereo/mono and CBR/VBR...

...See if you can get it to work because I'm 99% sure the TH55 uses a similar DSP to the T665, so if the MP3 doesn't work on your T665 it probably won't work on the TH55 either :(

It doesn't say in the TH55 manual, but I'm hoping that your speculation is true... that the Th55 will play Variable Bit Rate MP3s... unlike the TG50 which only plays CBR.

[PCMaven]

Even the T-665 will play VBR MP3's...It just won't play MP3 Pro MP3's...

[enderenya]

Yeah, I had one... I know. The question is whether the TH55 will.

[NikkiBeatBreaks]

Originally posted by enderenya
Yeah, I had one... I know. The question is whether the TH55 will.

From what I'm seeing, the TH55 (at least with the default player) does not handle VBR MP3s. I just upgraded from the N760C, which had no problems with VBR MP3s.

Should I expect better luck with a different player?

(follow-on): I'm working with 44.1kHz MP3s. They're showing up as OKbps in the Audio Player.

[PCMaven]

I've been trying the pocket-tunes player and like it much more than the basic player that comes with the TH55...I can't believe my T-665 was able to play VBR MP3s and the TH55 can't...

[timepilot84]

Originally posted by PCMaven
Just tried again (can't find a setting for 44.1kHz in MusicMatch but I left everything as I normally do and just changed the output file to MP3 Pro.
Got the following message on the Clie:

This track is unavailable for one of the following reasons: The Memory Stick media is write-protected or does not support copyright control, or the track file is corrupted.


It's the same message that you get trying to copy DRM files to a non-magicgate memory stick, or a memory stick Pro.

What kind of memory stick are you using?

[PCMaven]

I've always used the standard MS not the Pro. As I said previously pocket-tunes does everything I need without a problem so I'll stay with that for a while...

[NikkiBeatBreaks]

Originally posted by PCMaven
I've been trying the pocket-tunes player and like it much more than the basic player that comes with the TH55...I can't believe my T-665 was able to play VBR MP3s and the TH55 can't...

So it apparently is possible to play VBR MP3s on the TH55, just not with the default player.

[PCMaven]

Apparently so...;)

[krypticide]

Yeah, just found out Audio Player doesn't work with VBR. :( I'd use PocketTunes, but I heard it slows the device down.

[PCMaven]

I don't know about slowing things down...Personally I'd rather be able to use VBR and have the device slightly slower than not use VBR...I'm also getting ready to possibly experiment with OGG files since I've heard they take about 1/2 the space with no sound loss vs. MP3s...

[krypticide]

I'm not absolutely sure about this, but another thing to consider is that if PocketTunes slows down the Clie, that might mean that it uses the CPU rather than the built-in Sony DSP to decode audio files. Therefore, when using PTunes, you may very well have much shorter battery life than you would get with Audio Player.

[aptyk0]

what's the difference between MS Pro and MS Duo in terms of their speed?

[PCMaven]

Originally posted by krypticide
I'm not absolutely sure about this, but another thing to consider is that if PocketTunes slows down the Clie, that might mean that it uses the CPU rather than the built-in Sony DSP to decode audio files. Therefore, when using PTunes, you may very well have much shorter battery life than you would get with Audio Player. That's a thought I hadn't considered...I wonder if there are any programs that can use the Sony DSP... If your theory is correct (and it makes sense to me) then you really have to decide what the best method is for your individual needs. I am still having a problem with the fact that my T-665 was able to play MP3 VBR but my new latest and greatest technology TH55 can't play them. I don't even want to think about converting my current MP3s to a locked in bit rate...:(

[krypticide]

I totally understand what you mean. I have all my MP3s LAME APS encoded, and I am quite loath to re-encode them.

[enderenya]

I just use MusicMatch to convert mp3s directly to my memory stick. The conversion tool in it is so convenient. You can pick whatever bitrate you want. I just change the destination to the /Palm/Programs/MSAudio folder on my stick... select the directory, click select all, start it, and walk away.
It's not that difficult... and it doesn't effect your originals.