Some mp3's don't play

[garybeck]

hello

i'm new here.... just installed Rockbox on my Sansa Clip+, mainly because the regular firmware did not have an easy way to make playlists.

so far it's taking me a little while to get oriented, but I like it

I'm having one problem.   Quite a few of my mp3 files do not play.  When I try to play one of them, the screen flashes "root" for a second and then just goes back to the previous listing.

I had thought that one of the features of Rockbox was that it can play more types of files?   If the problem is that only certain types of mp3 settings (kbps...) work on Rockbox firmware, is there a list of acceptable types so i can check the files that are not working and see if that's the problem?

thanks!
gary in vermont

[saratoga]

MP3 files are indeed supported.  If they don't work, something is probably wrong with them. 

[garybeck]

thanks Saratoga.  to clarify, only SOME mp3s don't play.  most play fine.   this is why i was asking if there are certain encodings or mp3 settings that can have issues...

thanks

[saratoga]

this is why i was asking if there are certain encodings or mp3 settings that can have issues...

No, all valid mp3 files should be supported.  Like I said before, if it doesn't work, something is probably wrong with the file. 

[garybeck]

thanks.  but I tried the mp3 file on my computer and it plays just fine in VLC, Quicktime Player, and others.     only on the Rockbox'ed Sansa Clip is it not playing it.   when I try to play it, the screen flashes "root" and then goes back to the songlist.

i can't see anything different about the files that don't play.    any ideas?

[saratoga]

Are you actually playing an .m3u when you get this message ?  Do you get it if you pick an individual .mp3 file from the file menu and play it?  If so, can you post a link to one of these mp3 files?

[garybeck]

i'm still getting used to navigating with Rockbox but I usually do it like this:

Database > Albums > pick an album > pick a song on the album

so far, it seems like all the songs in an album play, or none of them play.

[saratoga]

Ok, so what you're really asking is why your database has entries in it that do not correspond to real files.

Have you disabled automatic database updates?  Are these files on the SD card? 

[garybeck]

i appreciate the help!

i have not disabled anything.  I just installed Rockbox and that's about it.

ALL my music files are on the SD card.

[saratoga]

For whatever reason it sounds like the database didn't update when the SD card was inserted.  Under settings you can force a manual update, or else just use the file browser.

[garybeck]

I tried the manual update and it still won't play those particular files.    I'd really like to be able to use the database features.    what else can i do to fix my database?   I see there is "load to ram" and "initialize now."  would any of those help?  would it help to remove all my files and reload them or something like that?   (everything is backed up on my pc)

thanks

[saratoga]

Those options won't matter.  I still think you should try to play one of these MP3 files directly from the file browser to verify that its not corrupt, or if it is, post a link to it. 

[garybeck]

It does play through the file browser.    through the database, no go...

[saratoga]

Pick one of these files that works when you play it directly but not via the database, then long select it, choose properties, and get the path.  Then do it again from the database.  I'm curious what the difference is between the two paths. 

[garybeck]

well guess what..... the next time I turned it on (from sleeping, not off) it said "committing database" for a couple minutes.  it went through 9 databases... 1/9, 2/9.... all the way to 9/9.   And now it appears the files are playing.

something I did in the settings must have fixed it. 

so I guess it's fixed but I'll have to use it some more to be sure.  THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!