Get duration for MP3 file?

[Gustaf]

I've been googling for this for a while now, and it appears it's not at
easy as it sounds, due to MP3's variable bitrate option and other things
that goes above my head. Hopefully, there's a simple solution, that
doesn't include learning hardcore C and writing my own MP3 decoder. All
I want is a number of seconds for an MP3 file. Somehow, Windows itself
can do it. Could this be extracted from a system source somehow?

Gustaf

 

[Rick]

I've been googling for this for a while now, and it appears it's not at
easy as it sounds, due to MP3's variable bitrate option and other things
that goes above my head. Hopefully, there's a simple solution, that
doesn't include learning hardcore C and writing my own MP3 decoder. All
I want is a number of seconds for an MP3 file. Somehow, Windows itself
can do it. Could this be extracted from a system source somehow?

Gustaf

Use the fmod. http://www.fmod.org

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Gustaf,

You will want to look into DirectSound (or DirectX in general). There
should be some managed wrappers for it as well. It will allow you to create
a render graph, and from there, you should be able to get the information
you need.

If you have the luxury of creating a visual control, then you might be
able to load the mp3 into a player control and then get the information you
need from the control.

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,

I've been googling for this for a while now, and it appears it's not at
easy as it sounds, due to MP3's variable bitrate option and other things
that goes above my head. Hopefully, there's a simple solution, that
doesn't include learning hardcore C and writing my own MP3 decoder. All I
want is a number of seconds for an MP3 file. Somehow, Windows itself can
do it. Could this be extracted from a system source somehow?

I would think so, that it's encoded somewhere in the header of the file. To
be 100% sure you ahve to check the format definition.

 

[Nicolas Noakes]

I would think so, that it's encoded somewhere in the header of the file.
To be 100% sure you ahve to check the format definition.

As far as I am aware, the audio duration is not explicitly stored anywhere
in the file - it is a function of the bitrate, number of frames, etc.

Reference:
http://www.multiweb.cz/twoinches/mp3inside.htm
http://www.mp3-tech.org/
http://www.gnuware.com/icecast/chap_02_10.html
http://www.mp3-faq.org/tips/mp3struct.htm

Regards,
Nicolas