OMA versus oma

[jmsla]

Hi,

That totally solved the problem! And there was a load of WAV's waiting for me at the end of the rainbow.

Thanks for your help!

Hi,

This may not be the proper thread to ask this question but, can someone tell me exactly the difference between Sonic Stage files that end in .oma versus .OMA (small letters versus caps)?

Thanks in advance

Jim

[sfbp]

When Sonic Stage removes the encryption, it generally changes the ending from .oma to .OMA. This may not be an invariable rule, and I am sure that you could rename them in either direction without affecting anything at all.

[jmsla]

When Sonic Stage removes the encryption, it generally changes the ending from .oma to .OMA. This may not be an invariable rule, and I am sure that you could rename them in either direction without affecting anything at all.

Thank you. So if after running the File Comversion Tool, some files remain with the ' .oma ' extension does that mean that they are still encrypted and physically changing the extension would not have an effect on that?

[sfbp]

Exactly so. You can check and see the properties of the file, I think "Copy protection: none" is clear. But when it's an .oma will probably read "Copy protection: available".

Right-click the track and look in the tab called "File Info".

If you have a track like that that wasn't converted, it's time to find a way to get it outta there One option I would suggest is to get something that records the sound stream and make a .wav file by playing back the track to it. Does that make sense? I haven't ever had that situation, and all my tracks allow me to convert to .WAV anyway. If the track is unplayable, you are (for the moment) s****d but there is a faint hope that the linux-minidisc project can help some time in the not-too-distant future.

Ah, yes, I remember. SonicStage CAN get itself in a mess. If file conversion fails, try deleting the track from My Library, but don't delete the actual music from the computer (there's a check box which is unchecked by default, leave it unchecked). Then re-import the file (from the F(ile menu). This seems to happen with WAV files I have imported (eg after editing with Audition) on a regular basis.

This happens in at least one case I know of. Check the file properties and see if there is more than one file showing for the track. Multiple files are a problem because it can sometimes try to convert or transfer the wrong one. A good way to avoid this to begin with is to check the box in the same "Advanced Transfer Settings" dialog I showed you before, "Delete the converted files from hard disk after transferring". Note there are TWO of these, one for NetMD, one for HiMD. You may want to go ahead and delete the lower quality file (usually) from within SonicStage, and try again.

I have also seen a case where My Library has a WAV file imported that cannot be converted to AAL, for example. Same thing, delete from My Library and re-import. No need to restart SonicStage unless you are totally paranoid.

All this requires you have careful note of where the files are. Way back somewhere in my first answer I suggested you might want to move the files. This is why. Navigating to C:\sound is much easier than finding C:\Documents and Settings .. blah blah \ SonicStage\imported wave files\ . There is ANOTHER box (the last one in T(ools->O(ptions->Advanced settings) that should be checked, this way you can actually change file names (as opposed to paths) from within SS. To change only the path there is a "Move file" option on the context menu for every file in SS, but it's a pain to move lots of files this way.

The other thing to watch out for, is if you have ANY copy-protected tracks, don't use Windows System Restore without asking here for advice first. Avrin is the best - I may be able to figure it out. Otherwise you may lose any tracks uploaded after the chosen Restore Point.

Clear as mud? I hope I didn't overwhelm you....

[jmsla]

Exactly so. You can check and see the properties of the file, I think "Copy protection: none" is clear. But when it's an .oma will probably read "Copy protection: available".

Right-click the track and look in the tab called "File Info".

If you have a track like that that wasn't converted, it's time to find a way to get it outta there One option I would suggest is to get something that records the sound stream and make a .wav file by playing back the track to it. Does that make sense? I haven't ever had that situation, and all my tracks allow me to convert to .WAV anyway. If the track is unplayable, you are (for the moment) s****d but there is a faint hope that the linux-minidisc project can help some time in the not-too-distant future.

Ah, yes, I remember. SonicStage CAN get itself in a mess. If file conversion fails, try deleting the track from My Library, but don't delete the actual music from the computer (there's a check box which is unchecked by default, leave it unchecked). Then re-import the file (from the F(ile menu). This seems to happen with WAV files I have imported (eg after editing with Audition) on a regular basis.

This happens in at least one case I know of. Check the file properties and see if there is more than one file showing for the track. Multiple files are a problem because it can sometimes try to convert or transfer the wrong one. A good way to avoid this to begin with is to check the box in the same "Advanced Transfer Settings" dialog I showed you before, "Delete the converted files from hard disk after transferring". Note there are TWO of these, one for NetMD, one for HiMD. You may want to go ahead and delete the lower quality file (usually) from within SonicStage, and try again.

I have also seen a case where My Library has a WAV file imported that cannot be converted to AAL, for example. Same thing, delete from My Library and re-import. No need to restart SonicStage unless you are totally paranoid.

All this requires you have careful note of where the files are. Way back somewhere in my first answer I suggested you might want to move the files. This is why. Navigating to C:\sound is much easier than finding C:\Documents and Settings .. blah blah \ SonicStage\imported wave files\ . There is ANOTHER box (the last one in T(ools->O(ptions->Advanced settings) that should be checked, this way you can actually change file names (as opposed to paths) from within SS. To change only the path there is a "Move file" option on the context menu for every file in SS, but it's a pain to move lots of files this way.

The other thing to watch out for, is if you have ANY copy-protected tracks, don't use Windows System Restore without asking here for advice first. Avrin is the best - I may be able to figure it out. Otherwise you may lose any tracks uploaded after the chosen Restore Point.

Clear as mud? I hope I didn't overwhelm you....

Only a bit overwhelmed, I have to run off to work now and will tackle this when I get get home and report on my progress. I did check the file info tab...it says "copy protection: none" These are tracks that I copied from a commercial CD. The SS format is Open MGAudio and ATRAC Advanced Lossless. And only one file is listed for each track. Strangely, there is one other track that I recorded live on a Hi-MD and uploaded to SS recently. It is the only other ".oma" that won't convert. It's file info says, however, "copy protection available". One file only and it is ATRAC 3Plus. When I right click on 'properties' for this file I first get a message that says: "File properties cannot be edited because one or more of the tracks music files are read-only or editing privleges have not been granted. OK" Then I click OK and the 'track properties' window appears. I upload a lot of my own recorded stuff and this doesn't ever happen to a file. I always upload to .wav and I use an MZ RH1. It's possible though that I may have uploaded this track using a different model Hi-MD...would that make a difference?

Jim

[sfbp]

Very quickly: if it's AAL there is no copy protection. Period. You can prove this by trying to play it from another SS installation on another machine, unlike the encrypted ones, which you cannot.

Funny, my tracks are all .OMA in this format.

The Atrac3+ file: can you play it? If so get it out of there quick (see above)! Another thing is to check and see if the WINDOWS property of the file is read only. Normally you only get this message when you are trying to look at the properties and you were already playing the file in SS.

(perhaps you feel like snipping some of my quoted text: no biggie but I for one don't really want to reread all that garbage I wrote )

added: out of curiosity - if it was another uploaded, which model please?

[jmsla]

Very quickly: if it's AAL there is no copy protection. Period. You can prove this by trying to play it from another SS installation on another machine, unlike the encrypted ones, which you cannot.

Funny, my tracks are all .OMA in this format.

The Atrac3+ file: can you play it? If so get it out of there quick (see above)! Another thing is to check and see if the WINDOWS property of the file is read only. Normally you only get this message when you are trying to look at the properties and you were already playing the file in SS.

(perhaps you feel like snipping some of my quoted text: no biggie but I for one don't really want to reread all that garbage I wrote )

added: out of curiosity - if it was another uploaded, which model please?

OK,,,Apparently I deleted that .oma file from my hard drive that I had recorded live but, the selection remained listed in the SS library. My hard drive has a .wav version and an mp3 version that I made in Audicity so I could upload to to my brother's web site, (the .wav was just too big). I would have used the .wav file for importing into Audicity. So no, it doesn't play because the file SS is looking for doesn't exist. Still curious why sometimes my live recordings upload as .OMA and sometimes as .oma.

If I had uploaded with another model Hi-MD it would have been either my MZ NH600 (no D) or my MZ NH900.

Curious...I must be missing something but, what is the urgency in removing the file from SS if I did play??

Wow, now I'm really late for work!!

[sfbp]

Curious...I must be missing something but, what is the urgency in removing the file from SS if I did play??

What I mean is, if there are encryption or file problems of any sort, try to get the music somewhere safe, in case the behaviour happens to indicate something else bad is going on that will eventually cause you to change a lot of stuff and hence lose this file.

But you are right: if it's really there, and playing, things are not so bad. Too many of us have woken up one morning to lost music, for one reason or another. It's best to treat SonicStage like a wild animal - don't trust it more than you have to.

[tekdroid]

It's best to treat SonicStage like a wild animal - don't trust it more than you have to.

So funny but so true.

[sfbp]

Yeah but like many beasts, it's pretty powerful