M4A files importing as MP3, then refusing to play
  • Here's an m4a file someone imported. Airtime accepted it, correctly obtained its length and metadata and put it in the database, but decided it would be an mp3 file, even though it was not. Then, when it was in a playlist, it tried to play it, and freaked out, playing silence instead until the track as over.




    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [s1:3] Prepared "/var/tmp/airtime/pypo/cache/scheduler/2725.mp3" (RID 1).
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [amplify_5488:3] Overriding amplification: 1.000000.
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [lang:3] /usr/lib/airtime/pypo/bin/liquidsoap_scripts/notify.sh --media-id=7825 &
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [lang:3] Using stream_format 0
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [lang:3] Using stream_format 0
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [stdout:3]
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [stdout:3] #########################################
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [stdout:3] # *** pypo *** #
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [stdout:3] # pypo notification gateway #
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [stdout:3] #########################################
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [decoder:2] Decoder of "/var/tmp/airtime/pypo/cache/scheduler/2725.mp3" produced non-uniform d
    ata: {audio=2;video=0;midi=0} at 0, {audio=1;video=0;midi=0} at 352! (End at 1764).
    2014/09/04 16:31:02 [s1:3] Finished with "/var/tmp/airtime/pypo/cache/scheduler/2725.mp3".




    Now, it's definitely NOT an mp3 file. It's an AAC M4A file. Here is what ffmpeg says:


    Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '2725.mp3':
    Metadata:
    major_brand : M4A
    minor_version : 0
    compatible_brands: M4A mp42isom
    creation_time : 2007-11-24 12:25:28
    title : I'm Alright (Theme From "Caddyshack")
    artist : Kenny Loggins
    composer : Kenny Loggins
    album : Yesterday,Today,Tomorrow
    genre : Rock
    track : 7/15
    disc : 1/1
    date : 1997
    gapless_playback: 0
    encoder : iTunes v7.3.1, QuickTime 7.2
    Duration: 00:03:48.46, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 128 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 127 kb/s
    Metadata:
    creation_time : 2007-11-24 12:25:28


    (Yes, uggh, I know, horrible 1970s corporate rock, but that's what these folks like to play on their station, most of them are retired, oh well).


    Now, Airtime did correctly import the METADATA, because that shows up in the database! But it completely screwed the pooch on trying to guess the file type.

    Any idea where to look for where this could be broken, and what could be done to fix it? iTunes is very annoying and insists on people saving all their files as M4A AAC and not mp3s, and DJ's will want to upload those and play them. 
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  • Oh in case it matters:

    ii  airtime                          2.5.1-1                           open broadcast software for scheduling and station management.

    And this is on Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS
  • And one other update. it is CORRECTLY identified as m4a in the database cc_files, but has a mp3 file extension, and again, liquidsoap pukes blood when asked to play it.
     



    mime | filepath
    -----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    audio/mp4 | imported/14/Kenny Loggins/Yesterday,Today,Tomorrow/unknown-I'm Alright (Theme From "Caddyshack")-128kbps.mp3




    I opened a bug for this.
  • Notice it was decode as mp4

    Have you tried a mp4?

    M4a comes in both Audio Format and Audio/Video Format.

    I have this problem if I tried transcode MP4 ,M4v,M4a  to audio (mp3) using avcon.
    What I have to do is convert to wav then mp3

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