Anyone know an app that will convert Real Audio (.ra) files to another
format? Ideally WAV but Windows Media, mp3, anything would work.

dbpoweramp converter works but takes the same time as the file takes to
play. (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm)

Maybe an Audacity plug in?

Thanks.

Jim wrote:
> Anyone know an app that will convert Real Audio (.ra) files to
> another format? Ideally WAV but Windows Media, mp3, anything would
> work.

Google "Streambox Ripper"

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

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dadiOH wrote:
> Jim wrote:
>> Anyone know an app that will convert Real Audio (.ra) files to
>> another format? Ideally WAV but Windows Media, mp3, anything would
>> work.
>
> Google "Streambox Ripper"

From this page:

http://www.sonicspot.com/streamboxripper/history.html

the following:

"Version 2.011

* RealAudio support has, yet again, been removed. This time
permanently.
* The product is no longer sold and this release has unlimited
batch conversion support for all supported formats. "

Also:

"As of version 2.011, this program is freeware and has no trial
limitations."

implying that earlier versions are trialware, not freeware.

This site:

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/942785872/1

refers to the program as "shareware". Also, a reviewer at that site
says the following: "Only allows you to convert 10 files."

Is there perhaps an earlier version that's freeware AND will convert
RealAudio files?

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Regards from John Corliss
No adware, cdware, commercial software, crippleware, demoware,
nagware, shareware, spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses
or warez please.

John Corliss wrote:

> Is there perhaps an earlier version that's freeware AND will convert
> RealAudio files?

Yeah, but I don't know if it was freeware or not...
http://www.aeternus.tmfweb.nl/WTold/Floor2.html (in "Resources")

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
____________________________

dadiOH wrote:
> John Corliss wrote:
>
>
>>Is there perhaps an earlier version that's freeware AND will convert
>>RealAudio files?
>
>
> Yeah, but I don't know if it was freeware or not...
> http://www.aeternus.tmfweb.nl/WTold/Floor2.html (in "Resources")
>
> --
> dadiOH
> _____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
> ____________________________
>
>
Thanks guys, I had read about Streambox Ripper but it certainly looks
like it's in a legal grey area at best. Testing it converts a 3hour .ra
file to mp3 in about 13 minutes.

Jim wrote:

> Anyone know an app that will convert Real Audio (.ra) files to another
> format? Ideally WAV but Windows Media, mp3, anything would work.

I saw this at one site somewhere else:

"*don't transcode lossy to lossy!* It will not sound good! You should
leave lossy music files such as MP3, RealMedia, WMA, etc. exactly as
they are, unless you want to make a music-CD, and then you only ought
to decode to WAV..."

> dbpoweramp converter works but takes the same time as the file takes to
> play. (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm)
> Maybe an Audacity plug in?

Couldn't find any such plugins, but I found this a freeware program
that might work. You might give it a try, but note that I have no use
for such a program and haven't tried it:

http://www.rawavrecorder.homestead.com/

--
Regards from John Corliss
No adware, cdware, commercial software, crippleware, demoware,
nagware, shareware, spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses
or warez please.

John Corliss wrote:
> I saw this at one site somewhere else:
>
> "*don't transcode lossy to lossy!* It will not sound good! You
> should leave lossy music files such as MP3, RealMedia, WMA, etc.
> exactly as they are, unless you want to make a music-CD, and then
> you only ought to decode to WAV..."

Just to correct a general misunderstanding, transcoding *always* decodes to
wave. That wave is then encoded using the appropriate encoder. This
decoding to wave may be done transparently to the user but it *is* done,
same as when "playing" an MP3 or writing it to an audio CD.

It is true that a file resulting from transcoding will be "less good" than a
file encoded from the original wave but "less good" is highly subjective...I
really doubt that anyone will ever hear a difference if it was properly
done. I've done it on a file for 10 generations and could hear nothing
different. However, my ears have 71 years on them so I used a hex editor to
compare the original wave to a wave decoded from generation #10'. I don't
recall the exact result (been many months ago) but there was an
insignificant difference between them...maybe 200 bytes out of 3+ million.
IMO and experience, "*don't transcode lossy to lossy!*" is hooha. YMMV.

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
____________________________

dadiOH wrote:

> John Corliss wrote:
>
>>I saw this at one site somewhere else:
>>
>>"*don't transcode lossy to lossy!* It will not sound good! You
>>should leave lossy music files such as MP3, RealMedia, WMA, etc.
>>exactly as they are, unless you want to make a music-CD, and then
>>you only ought to decode to WAV..."
>
>
> Just to correct a general misunderstanding, transcoding *always* decodes to
> wave. That wave is then encoded using the appropriate encoder. This
> decoding to wave may be done transparently to the user but it *is* done,
> same as when "playing" an MP3 or writing it to an audio CD.
>
> It is true that a file resulting from transcoding will be "less good" than a
> file encoded from the original wave but "less good" is highly subjective...I
> really doubt that anyone will ever hear a difference if it was properly
> done. I've done it on a file for 10 generations and could hear nothing
> different. However, my ears have 71 years on them so I used a hex editor to
> compare the original wave to a wave decoded from generation #10'. I don't
> recall the exact result (been many months ago) but there was an
> insignificant difference between them...maybe 200 bytes out of 3+ million.
> IMO and experience, "*don't transcode lossy to lossy!*" is hooha. YMMV.

Thanks for the clarification dadioh. However, have you seen that
program I found before? The one here:

http://www.rawavrecorder.homestead.com/

If so, is it worth a darn?

--
Regards from John Corliss
No adware, cdware, commercial software, crippleware, demoware,
nagware, shareware, spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses
or warez please.

I found Streambox Ripper 2.009 still available 9-16 2305UT at:

http://soft.vip600.com/modules.php?n...p=getit&lid=11


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John Corliss wrote:
>
> Thanks for the clarification dadioh. However, have you seen that
> program I found before? The one here:
>
> http://www.rawavrecorder.homestead.com/
>
> If so, is it worth a darn?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with it. Seems rather unnecessary though, as
apparently it records in real time; i.e., it records what is playing.
(Needs the Real decoder to play the stuff too). If one already can play
Real files, the sound can be recorded to wave with any of many, many
programs.

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
____________________________