Ubuntu
amarok package

Amarok Refuses to Play m4a files with all codecs installed

Asked by Dalamori

This problem is using a fully-patched copy of Kubuntu Intrepid Ibex (as of 25-Nov-2008)

Searching the internet, forums, etc... I've installed SEVERAL packages trying to get M4a Support to work. Mp3 Support works fine, but the program will NOT play M4a songs (they are not DRM'd, I ripped them off CD's and put them on my Ipod) Amarok pulls up the song names on my Ipod perfectly. VLC plays the songs perfectly (although, it can't tell me which song is which, they're all stored with names like (ipod_control/Music/f08/BXIC.m4a)

when I try to play an M4a File:
"Some media could not be loaded (not playable)"

The following is my best attempt at a complete list of the relevant packages I have installed while trying to fix this problem:
amarok-engine-xine
amarok-xine (refers me to amarok-engine-xine)
faad
faac
ffmpeg
libxine-extracodecs (refers me to libxine1-ffmpeg)
libxine1-ffmpeg
kubuntu-restricted-extras
medibuntu-keyring
w32codecs

The only other hint I can possibly offer is that the only difference between this computer (which doesn't play M4a Files) and my other computer (which is also intrepid, and does play mp4) is that the other computer used to have Hardy, and I got m4a support working in hardy; the upgrade to Intrepid didn't break it. This computer was installed fresh with Intrepid.

thank you in advance for your help

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Ubuntu amarok Edit question
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Dalamori
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Revision history for this message
Dalamori (dalamori) said : 		#1

In case someone asks:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82945G/GZ/P/PL Memory Controller Hub (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82945G/GZ/P/PL PCI Express Root Port (rev 02)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 01)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 01)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 01)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev e1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GB/GR (ICH7 Family) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 01)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 01)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8500 GT (rev a1)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 01)

Revision history for this message
Simon Osborne (flibblesan) said : 		#2

Can you copy one of the files from your iPod onto your computer then see if Amarok can play it please?

Revision history for this message
Dalamori (dalamori) said : 		#3

I don't have my Ipod with me at the moment.

However, I was surprised to discover that a test mp4 file downloaded from the internet did indeed work...

http://www.online.uillinois.edu/oakley/mp3/SteveJobs.m4a

So thank you very much for your insight, this is apparently an "Amarok doesn't play songs when they're stored on my Ipod" error.

Revision history for this message
Dalamori (dalamori) said : 		#4

I don't have my Ipod with me at the moment.

However, I was surprised to discover that a test mp4 file downloaded from the internet did indeed work...

http://www.online.uillinois.edu/oakley/mp3/SteveJobs.m4a

So thank you very much for your insight, this is apparently an "Amarok doesn't play m4a songs when they're stored on my Ipod" error. (it still plays MP3's fine...)

Revision history for this message
Simon Osborne (flibblesan) said : 		#5

It's likely that Amarok is not happy accessing the mp4 files on the iPod as they are stored in an invisible folder, I believe.

Revision history for this message
Dalamori (dalamori) said : 		#6

Although not the most graceful solution, I've discovered that I can use GTKpod to queue tracks in amarok, and if I do this, then Amarok will play the songs. It's somewhat annoying, but a passable workaround. I'm going to open up a ticket with a better name to address this issue.

Revision history for this message
Dalamori (dalamori) said : 		#7

The new ticket is located at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/amarok/+question/53303