mp3DirectCut
Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
How do I install the program?
Simply put the files of the archive "mp3DirectCut.zip" into an empty folder of your choice. To let the program appear in Window's Start menue you must create a link there. You can also link known file types (mp3, mp2, cue, mpd) to mp3DirectCut to open these files easily from the explorer.
To uninstall the program delete the delivered files, the .ini file (created by mp3DirectCut) and the Start menu link if you made one.
Where must I put the mpglib.dll and the lame.dll?
These decoding/encoding libraries must be either in a directory that is in your PATH (like "C:\Windows" or "C:\Windows\System") or you can put it into mp3DirectCut's directory.
Where can I get an ACM Codec for MP3?
There are several applications that deliver an MP3 Codec for the ACM (= "Audio Compression Manager"). And there are different MP3 ACM Codecs (free and non-free ones). Originally they come from the Fraunhofer Institute, the developer of the MP3 format. Since version 3.92 there is also an ACM version of Lame available, but its not tested with mp3DirectCut.
The Codec (*.acm in System dir) must be installed by an application or an installer. Then it can be used by any software that wants to access it. Note: mp3DirectCut can use an ACM Codec but doesn't have to. If you can't get or install it you should use the mglib.dll provided on the Homepage.
What happens if the file info say 'Sync lost'?
Nothing bad if your MP3 is not corrupted. An MPEG audio file consists of a frame structure (about 38 frames per second). The program always looks for a frame beginning when you scroll, select or cut. In some rare cases the program is confused by something that looks like a frame header but isn't it. If you scroll further the message should disappear.
I got 'Sync errors' on saving, what do they mean?
Usually that the program passed by file corruptions and could not find a frame header. In the output file the correct frame structure should be restored but there will be some frames missing. The program saves your file/selection to the end. The progress dialog stays to notify you of the errors. That's how it should be. But as not all types of errors and corruptions are examined it's even possible that the program can hang or crash in some sync fail situations.
Why can't I zoom out further than these three steps?
Because mp3DirectCut is always accessing everything directly. The program is designed not to care about the file size and to show a fixed area around the position your are listening. More zooming out levels would cause longer file scannings every time the display is updated.
Why does the program scroll VBR files so ugly? Can't it handle VBR?
The program does not explicitely support VBR but it 'tolerates' VBR. So cutting VBR is possible but you should do this 'by ear' and not by using the MPEG graph which shows wrong positions. With full visual VBR support the program would become percepteably slower.
Why is one frame more or less cut than the selection displayed and, by the way, why are there sometimes wrong pixels shown, especially when I scroll to position xx'yy'zz?
Well, visualizing and cutting MP3 is a wonderful thing, isn't it? And doing this for free is a nice present, right? I try to keep the program working exactly and reliable. But remember that I don't get payed for it. You can make suggestions and tell me about issues. But understand that I give things different priorities.
Can you implement batch functions, especially for normalizing?
Not soon. May be some time.
Can you give me the source code?
No.
Can you add WAV/PCM support?
This is planned. But for implementing PCM/WAV a lot of parts of the program must be adapted. So I can't say when there's time for making it.
Will there be a german/italian/french/... version of the program?
If there is time enough to replace all the edit and info fields, menus, gadgets and messages with variables which then can be filled with strings from language files. But I think it will come before the WAV support ;)