What's the story with Winamp and WMA files?

nospam256K puts out:

> Based on what I've read, the current version of Winamp (as well as all
> versions after version 2.5, I believe) are either unable to read/play
> WMA files, or are able to play them but are not able to output/convert
> them to other formats such as WAV or MP3.

My friend used to play WMA's with Winamp 2.9, it worked.

Since now I don't almost listen to WMA, and use Foobar2000...

[]s
--
Chaos Master®, posting from Brazil.
"People told me I can't dress like a fairy.
I say, I'm in a rock band and I can do what the hell I want!"
-- Amy Lee

The Evanescen(t/ce) HP: http://marreka.no-ip.com

Chaos Master <spammers.fuck@spam.com.INVALID> wrote in
news:MPG.1bc58866ab3a180c989774@news.individual.ne t:

> Since now I don't almost listen to WMA, and use Foobar2000...

Foobar does play WMAs, but you have to use the Special installer and
install the latest WMA codec, if you do not have it already.

--
Iain
Please check www.pricelessware.org, the FAQ and Google Groups before
posting in alt.comp.freeware.

Iain Cheyne puts out:

> > Since now I don't almost listen to WMA, and use Foobar2000...

>
> Foobar does play WMAs, but you have to use the Special installer and
> install the latest WMA codec, if you do not have it already.

I know, I meant that I almost don't have .WMA's at all.
I just don't like the idea of a Microsoft standard for audio files, therefore I
avoid WMA.

[]s
--
Chaos Master®, posting from Brazil.
"People told me I can't dress like a fairy.
I say, I'm in a rock band and I can do what the hell I want!"
-- Amy Lee

The Evanescen(t/ce) HP: http://marreka.no-ip.com

"Chaos Master" <spammers.fuck@spam.com.INVALID> wrote in message
news:MPG.1bc6c276f3694c3998977b@news.individual.ne t...

> I know, I meant that I almost don't have .WMA's at all.
> I just don't like the idea of a Microsoft standard for audio files,
> therefore I avoid WMA.

Bravo. Unless there's just no alternative, I prefer open-standard formats.
No REAL here. No WMA. No way Jose.

Papageno wrote:

> "Chaos Master" <spammers.fuck@spam.com.INVALID> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1bc6c276f3694c3998977b@news.individual.ne t...
>

>>I know, I meant that I almost don't have .WMA's at all.
>>I just don't like the idea of a Microsoft standard for audio files,
>>therefore I avoid WMA.

>
>
> Bravo. Unless there's just no alternative, I prefer open-standard formats.
> No REAL here. No WMA. No way Jose.

MP3 is not an open standard either. It's controlled by Fraunhofer IIS-A.

nospam256K wrote:

> Based on what I've read, the current version of Winamp (as well as
> all versions after version 2.5, I believe) are either unable to
> read/play WMA files, or are able to play them but are not able to
> output/convert them to other formats such as WAV or MP3.

Winamp will play any file format for which it has an input plug-in. That
includes WMA, the plug-in for which is included with Winamp. Or, at least
with Winamp 2.5 which is what I use.

BTW, no program "plays" WMA/MP3 files in the sense that you are using...the
files are decoded to wave and *that* is what the sound card uses to spit out
sound.

--
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
____________________________

nospam256K wrote:

> Based on what I've read, the current version of Winamp (as well as all
> versions after version 2.5, I believe) are either unable to read/play
> WMA files, or are able to play them but are not able to output/convert
> them to other formats such as WAV or MP3.
>
> Is this really true? And was this caused by some legal bullying from
> Microsoft?
> If yes, why was Winamp singled out? After all, there are several other
> programs that can convert a WMA file to WAV or MP3, so why are they
> allowed to do it but Winamp isn't?

Other programs are not allowed to convert WMA to other formats either.
It's just that since other programs are free, not corporate-owned and
not immensely popular, they won't be legally pursued.

As far as I know, Winamp has trouble playing some DRM'ed files, but you
should know that the whole point of DRM is to give you trouble using
what you paid for.

- NR