Convert Real Audio files?

[Jim]

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.

 

[dadiOH]

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
_____________________________

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
____________________________

 

[John Corliss]

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?

 

[dadiOH]

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
____________________________

 

[Jim]

John Corliss wrote:




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.

 

[John Corliss]

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/

 

[dadiOH]

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
____________________________

 

[John Corliss]

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?

 

[Chief Suspect]

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

http://soft.vip600.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=11

 

[dadiOH]

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
____________________________

 

[Taf®]

Il /17 set 2004/, *Chief Suspect* ha scritto:

I found Streambox Ripper 2.009 still available 9-16 2305UT at:
http://soft.vip600.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=11

This link don't work! 404 error on my PC!
Try Here:

http://soft.vip600.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownloaddet
ails&lid=11&ttitle=Streambox_Ripper_2.009

and DL it from "download now"!

 

[Tim Weaver]

Il /17 set 2004/, *Chief Suspect* ha scritto:


This link don't work! 404 error on my PC!
Try Here:

http://soft.vip600.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownloaddet
ails&lid=11&ttitle=Streambox_Ripper_2.009

and DL it from "download now"!

Crippleware. Keep it.

 

[John Corliss]

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.

Thanks for explaining that dadioh. See, I don't have RealPlayer
installed on my system and just ignore Realplayer files on websites.
However, I can see where somebody else may have a job related need to
view such files.

 

[John Corliss]

Taf® wrote:




Crippleware. Keep it.

Actually, effectively time-limited demoware.

 

[Tim Weaver]

Actually, effectively time-limited demoware.

It told me it wouldn't do anything longer than 30 seconds.

 

[John Corliss]

John Corliss wrote:




It told me it wouldn't do anything longer than 30 seconds.

No kidding! Well, then I guess we're maybe both correct since there
seems to be a total-number-of-files-converted limit.

 

[Taf®]

Il /17 set 2004/, *Tim Weaver* ha scritto:

CUT

Crippleware. Keep it.

sorry, never tested this SW
I only find out related DL link didn't work properly!
I don't use RA at all!

 

[starwars]

Do a search for RA2Wav - it is hard to find, but will do the trick for you (and quickly too). It
does need to have the RealOne player installed to work.

 

[Stan Weiss]

I got it here
http://www.mp3-world.net/software-download/1055-ra2wav.html
Installed it and it says you have been granted a license to use this
fully functional application for evaluation. 15 days left. It has been
unistalled.
Stan

 

[Harvey Van Sickle]

On 17 Sep 2004, John Corliss wrote

dadiOH wrote:
-snip-


Thanks for explaining that dadioh. See, I don't have RealPlayer
installed on my system and just ignore Realplayer files on
websites.

Have you looked at "Real Alternative"? It lets one play any and all
Real Media files through Media Player Classic, but isn't linked in any
way with Real Audio. (No nonsense of calling-home/start-up crud and
the like.)

When I looked into this, Real Alternative seemed to be both legally and
ethically above-board, since it doesn't involve any cracking of
proprietorial code. (The way I understood it, the codecs relied upon
by RealPlayer for streaming are apparently public domain -- or, at
least, not copyrighted by Real Audio.)

I'd be happy to be corrected on this, though, if it turns out that
"Real Alternative" is a crack rather than a legitimate product.