On Editing Or Converting Real Media

Lisa2682 asks: "What software programs are available for editing real audio files? Are programs available to convert from real audio to mp3? I have several large real audio files (~20mb, 2hrs), and I only want to keep about 2 minutes of the file. I haven't found a way to directly edit a Real Audio, or convert from RA to another audio format (like WAV, MP3)." Slashdot tackled a similar question waaay back in 1999, and aside from tricks surrounding grabbing the data as it hits the sound card, most readers either hadn't found or didn't think there was a decent solution. It's been about 2 years since this article. Has this changed at all? If it's this bad with Real Audio media, I can only imagine what it's like for Real Video. As always, feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, observations and anecdotes on this issue.

rmeditor

[Anonymous Coward]

Somewhere on the Real site is the "RealSystem Producer SDK." Among the given sample programs is the source code to a very useful utility called rmeditor, which allows you to merge/cut RealMedia files to your heart's content.

(BTW, it also permits you to [re]set the "recordable" and "downloadable" flags within files.)

Try ffmpeg

[kijiki]

http://ffmpeg.sourceforge.net/

Their website sucks, but the software can transcode between MP3, AC3, WAV, and RealAudio. It can also transcode video, supporting OpenDiVX, MSMPEG4 (real DIVX), MPEG2, RealVideo and MJPEG. All without stupid windows codec hacks.

Its mainly designed to be a realtime encoding and streaming system, but it includes a utility that can be used like sox.

I'm not sure why this hasn't really made a splash in the free software world yet, since the codecs included in ffmpeg mean people can play DiVX videos without any windows files, and on other CPU architectures.

Re:Try ffmpeg

[joekool]

I know that the reason I haven't used it is because it doesn't work(all I get from an encoding of anytype is a horrible green screen and reandom noise), and since I wanted a digital pvr, and vcr works just fine, I gave up on ffmpeg. Note: that was using 3.4, and trying it two days ago with 4.3
I admit though, once it works, It would be my preffered solution

Re:Try ffmpeg

[akb]

The website mentions that it can encode output compatible with RealMedia, I didn't see any mention of being able to decode. I take that to mean they have reverse engineered the file format (a great achievement if that's the case) but not the codec.

Here's a better URL for download

[egghat]

Musiclivesonline
Have fun. egghat.

My solution

[umrguy76]

I had to do something similar a couple of weeks ago. My solution was to play the RealAudion file and record it directly, using the wave/pcm as the source. This worked under Windows 2000, YMMV. It was quick, easy and worked great. The sound card is a cheap Sound Blaster 16 PCI, nothing fancy.

Regards

Re:The Winamp way...

[Quixote]

The problem with this approach is that it is real-time; the conversion cannot be done in "batch mode".

Re:Why not RealProducer?

[frleong]

The basic version allows you to edit too (chop), but only through command-line.

Winamp will convert RA to MP3

[serutan]

All you have to do is get and install these two plug-ins from Winamp:

RealAudio input plug-in [winamp.com]
MP3 output plug-in [winamp.com]

1. If you aren't familiar with Winamp plug-ins, here's how to set them up. Run the .exe's above to install both plug-ins. Then start Winamp, hit Ctrl-P for Preferences, and do the following:
2. In the Plug-ins section click on Input, and from the list select "innover's RealAudio plug-in".
3. For Plug-ins/Output select "Nullsoft MP3 Output plug-in".
4. Click the Configure button, select a directory where you want to save MP3 files, hit Ok.
5. When the next dialog comes up you can leave the "Save As" alone; by default it will save files under their original names with .MP3 added.
6. Select the MP3 sampling rate you want to use for recording, click Ok and close Preferences.

7. That's it. Now when you drag .RA or .RAM files to Winamp and play them, it will decode and save them as .MP3's in the directory you specified. You won't hear the sound as it is converting, but the visual indicators in Winamp will show that the file is playing.

   To listen to MP3's you must go back to preferences and select the default plug-ins (input: Nullsoft MPEG, output: Nullsoft WAV).

   You can convert RealAudio streams to MP3 by associating Winamp with RA and RAM files. In Winamp Preferences select "File Types" and highlight RA and RAM.

Hardware soultion

[Quizme2000]

Rather than using software to convert, if you have a good sound card, hook a male-male cable from the speakers to the mic jack and record. Instant wav file. Then you may edit at will. As far as software goes since real media is made for streaming and is not standard I imagine its a feature of a RA suite that cost a mint.

TINRA

[XRayX]

At least, if you are under Windows there is a good solution to work on Real Files. You can convert the *.rm files to (uncompressed) *.avi with TINRA [evc.to] (This Is Not Real Anymore) and then work on it with Virtualdub [sourceforge.net] (cut it, export sound etc.). Even TINRA can only give a *.avi as output is supports Real Audio as well; you just have a sound-only avi after conversion. X

The Winamp way...

[XRayX]

Besides TINRA there is another way to get the sound from a Real Media File: Download and install the Real-PlugIn for Winamp [winamp.com], Select DiskWriter as Output, open a RealFile and... that's it; you know have an easy to work on, uncompressed wave-File. X

Why not RealProducer?

[Ratbert42]

RealProducer (the real one, not the free "Basic" version) includes an editor that lets you crop media files, merge two files and a few other basic things. It currently lists for $149 on their web site.