Adding wma files to music library

[Don Russell]

I downloaded a bunch of wma files for our public library... an audio-book, that I'd like to listen to through squeezebox...

I created a directory (author name) in the music directory, and another directory under that: the book title.

In THAT directory, I placed all the chapters... each a different wma file. An named them "01 - Chapter01.wma" etc

I though when I rescanned the library, it would add the new book... nope, not even a hint of it.

I SC 7.2-1 running on Linux. My music plays fine, I ripped my CDs into flac format...

Can't SC read wma files? I thought it could.

Any suggestions?

Thanks. :-)

[Goodsounds]

I also listen to audio books from a public library, but not through my SB. From my library, audio books come from one of two external sources, each using a different digital rights protection approach.

Source 1 uses software called Overdrive - you need to either listen to the download on a PC using Overdrive as the player (I think it is Windows only software) or have Overdrive copy it to a non-Ipod portable player.

Source 2 uses Windows Media Player - you download the file, load it up in WMP, it says "You need a license", you get the license on a click, then either need to play using WMP or have WMP "sync" (transfer) it to, again, a non-iPod player.

With either approach, if you just move the files without the approved program in control, the files won't play. From either source, you could pipe it to your SB using the prescribed player but with the WaveInput add on capturing the feed to the PC's sound card. But I believe one could not play it using the SB in the normal SB way, because of these files being WMA with rights protection. If I'm wrong, someone will come along and educate both of us.

Someone else will comment about playing WMA files on a linux box, that's beyond my own concern/experience/interest. Everything Squeeze works for me using Windows machines.

[ETK]

As my understanding ...

Squeezebox can't decode WMA .....( because the licese fee for M$ is too expensive ??)

WMA playback is only for squeezeCenter runing at windows , and windows will decode WMA to wave and transfer to squeezwbox.


Hope SlimeDevice can provide upgrade for this problem.

[bpa]

What player are you using ?

SB2, SB3, Transport and Boom all play WMA files natively - SC does not have to decode.

If you are using SoftSqueeze or SB1 or another player (e.g. Roku) then on a non Windows systems (e.g. Linux) you have to install additional s/w so that SC can decode WMA files.

[Goodsounds]

bpa, etk,

I think you missed my point - my fault for making my original comment too long.

My library downloads (which may use the same DRM as the OP gets from his library) can be played ONLY by the one designated player. And can be loaded on a portable player ONLY by the designated player. Other attempts to move or play them (using software that otherwise moves or plays all other WMA files) have been unsuccessful for me. I learned the hard way.

So if he can play these files directly with his SC, fine. I couldn't, and the issue is the DRM, not the file format.

Oh, and the files "expire" in 2 or 3 weeks too. After that, nothing can play them. Just like returning a library book, you can't read it anymore.