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kappa22

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Allright, this is probably one of the more redundant posts on here, but I couldn't find another one that addressed my issue.

I've got an MZ-N10, and I love it. When I first got it, I installed S-S version 1.5 that came with it, but I had a strange problem. Whenever I would try to transfer any number of songs, the conversion process would eventually stop somewhere along the line, the CPU would max, and it would pretty much render my comp useless (but not frozen) and force me to manually power down.

Well, after searching google for such a problem, I found S-S 2.0, which I downloaded and installed, but it didn't fix the problem. So, after searching again, I found a solution. Fixed it and everything was gravy for months... until yesterday.

Yesterday, while trying to transfer a couple songs, it suddenly started doing the same thing (conversion stopped at 74%, CPU maxed, etc.) Uninstalled S-S and reinstalled it, but that didn't fix it. I searched around, but couldn't find anywhere that addressed this issue (odd, since I had found it before). The only reason I'm looking for a solution again is that I forgot what I did to fix it the first time around. I just installed S-S 2.3, but it still didn't fix the problem. So, I am hoping that someone, in their infinite wisdom, can offer me some assistance. Please don't suggest RealPlayer (it doesn't work either...), and I seem to have a very foggy memory of it being something codec-related, but I really have no idea.

PLEASE HELP...

Edited by kappa22
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I have exactly the same problem. I have a N510 connected to my PC with SonicStage 2.3 on Windows XP SP2. It must have something to do with the conversion, because SS also freezes when I try to convert files in SS without uploading to MD at the same time.

I also thought of a codec problem, maybe some 3rd party codec interferes with the OpenMG filter (don't know if this is possible?).

The strange thing is, some files are converted without problems, while SS always hangs on others at exactly the same point every time.

I tried using SS 1.5 and Realplayer to no avail. RealPlayer gives an error saying that it can't upload the files to the NetMD because it is either not connected or doesn't support the given file format (which I've set to ATRAC3 132 kbs). The latter indicates that it could be a codec problem.

Anyone with a solution?

* edit *

I can add that the Sony MP3 Conversion tool also hangs on exactly the same MP3 files. I already tried to convert the files with WinLAME first (to new MP3 files), using different settings, but SS still crashes (at another point, because it are basically other files, but it still does).

Edited by bug80
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This depends on what you're transferring to you MD, but in the case of mp3s et al - have you tried converting within the SS library -before- downloading?

Yes I did. I also tried the Sony MP3 Converter Tool, but it freezes on the same MP3 files.

Does it behave the same way whether you're using mp3s or ripping from a CD?

I tried to record a CD and that went wrong too, but in a different kind of way. The first 2-3 songs are recorded without problems. After that, the PC stops reading from the CD and my harddrive starts working like there's no tomorrow. Recording goes on, but at a very slow rate (1% per minute or so). That goes on for a couple of minutes, then SS gives an error that there's an "Error while reading from the CD". * edit * I've experimented with several cd's, all giving the same error.

Because I think the problem might be codec related, I've taken a look at my codec list via Control Panel > Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices > Hardware > Audio Codecs (why is this under hardware anyway?). There was a "Sony ATRAC3 codec" which I've deleted, just to try if it makes a differences. It does not sad.gif SS still freezes.

Edited by bug80
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Is your machine overclocked?

No. It's an AMD Thunderbird 800 MHz - 384 MB RAM, by the way.

Everything went fine under Windows '98 (and SS 1.5), the problem came up as soon as I switched over to Windows XP SP2.

Oh and Simpleburner 2 works without problems, that might be usefull information.

Edited by bug80
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I'm honestly not sure what to suggest.

Too bad sad.gif

Anyway, thanks for your help. Maybe there's a user hanging around who had the same problem and solved it? kappa22 said in his opening post that he solved it in the past, so there's still hope.

Until then, I'll try the Nero --> Simpleburner 1 trick. Maybe that works. Altough I have to find Simpleburner 1 somewhere.

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I SOLVED THE PROBLEM!!!

Here's what I did. Because I thought it had something to do with codecs, I removed everything that looked like AVI, XviD, DivX, etc using Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel.

Then I rebooted and started SS and guess what: it worked! It converted my files!

However, I like movies, so I wanted my codecs back. Therefore I installed ffdshow, which has everything in it. However, when I started SS again, it didn't work anymore. So probably ffdshow caused the problem.

After some quick research, it turns out that the MP3 filter of ffdshow interferes with SonicStage. So all you have to do is go to your Start Menu --> Programs --> ffdshow --> Audio filter configuration. There, change "mp3lib" behind MP3 to "disabled".

That's all! After that, SS converted my MP3 files without problems. And I'm still able to watch movies!

I am currently not able to do some more tests, like: Do more movies work and: Can I now record a CD using SS?. The latter isn't much of a problem, we still have SimpleBurner after all!

kappa22, I hope your problem (and solution) is the same as mine! As you see, the solution is simple, but effective.

P.S. Maybe this should be in the FAQ somewhere?

Edited by bug80
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  • 2 weeks later...

Come on, Dex Otaku. Much respect but I think you're being too dismissive.

Installing codecs piecemeal is just as likely to cause problems.

Yes, lots of codec packs are full of spyware, malware or just plain bad code, but I've been using various iterations of K-Lite for the last 3-4 years in computers from Win98 to XP, and it's never given me a problem. There are basic and mega versions, it's very well documented and clear about what's in each package, and the edskes mirror in the link above is the real thing. Beware, of course, of the various counterfeits that come up on Google searches.

I've had more trouble with Nero Vision Express codecs than with K-Lite.

"All Codec Packs" are evil, period.

The only codec pack I have ever seen that did not cause many more problems than it solved is the Gordian Knot pack.

Still, most codec packs cause way more problems than they solve.

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I'm not being dismissive at all.

People go looking for things like the Nimo pack and what have you, download and install, and whether they're adware-free or not is really irrelevant.

Codec packs usually add filters that are either already installed on a person's machine [i.e. totally redundant] without checking whether they're there already. They also quite often downgrade the version of codecs that successfully get replaced. In either case, they usually cause far more problems than they solve.

It seems so far that the majority of problems that SS has with transcoding MP3s comes from people having multiple or faulty MP3 codecs on their machines. These can come from video game installations, audio/video players installs, codec pack installs, &c.

As a tech I've had to fix problems related to these many times.

I, personally, seek out the newest versions of only the codecs I actually use. If I come across something that isn't installed yet, I look for its newest version, too. With more "suspect" codecs [pre - v1.0 versions especially] I'll also usually look for release info warnings from other users [doom9 is great for this].

It's time-consuming, sure, but I can play almost anything on my computer, and I never run into conflicts that aren't caused by some stupid piece of software having overwritten things without asking permission.

I take the time to make sure things work correctly, or at least, nominally. Those who build codec packs usually just take the newest versions of whatever, throw them into a zip or installer, and then apply them to users' systems with no respect whatsoever for what is already installed.

Codec packs are evil, period.

Of course, that's just my opinion and experience.

If it works for you, that's great. Or at least, it is until they break something, which they usually will.

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  • 1 month later...

thanxxx you save my PC, i didnt know what did this problem now all works fine, uninstalling ffdshow:)

You're welcome. And, if you're done listening to music and like to watch a (DivX/XviD/etc) movie, I'd suggest you install the K-lite codec pack instead. Works fine and without the SonicStage problem.

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I SOLVED THE PROBLEM!!!

However, I like movies, so I wanted my codecs back. Therefore I installed ffdshow, which has everything in it. However, when I started SS again, it didn't work anymore. So probably ffdshow caused the problem.

After some quick research, it turns out that the MP3 filter of ffdshow interferes with SonicStage. So all you have to do is go to your Start Menu --> Programs --> ffdshow --> Audio filter configuration. There, change "mp3lib" behind MP3 to "disabled".

P.S. Maybe this should be in the FAQ somewhere?

YEAH!

That worked on me also! I'm running windows 2000 sp4.

THANK YOU!

This should be in the FAQ. It's so common problem.

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