Can't open mp3 file

[jmak]

I've been sent an mp3 file along with a group of about 10 others as an attachment to an email. Everyone else has opened it with no problems, but I can't make it play. As they're all musicians and I'm the only techie, it's a bit embarrassing [emoji20]

 

I've tried on 2 different Windows 10 machines, a Chromebook, an Android tablet and two Android phones with different OS versions.

 

On the windows machines, I've tried Media Player, VLC, Sibelius and Musescore.

 

It's a 16MB file which appears to download fully. When I try to play it on Media Player, it says it's playing but doesn't progress through the track, although I can select any point in the track. When I use VLC, it has a long think and then plays a few squeaks and clicks.

 

I've had someone who's used it successfully forward another copy and get the same result.

 

I've also had a copy of the music sent as an aiff file, which does play, but it's missing the click track, so it'll be difficult to record my part accurately enough to mix later.

 

Any ideas?

[Steve21]

Is it actually an MP3 file? From your AIFF comment, guessing it's created on a Mac, so guessing it's not something stupid like a Flac just renamed?

 

Do you have a copy you can share, or is it private stuff?

 

Steve

[LeMarchand]

Not actually an mp3, but some other format that has been mislabelled? Try on *shudder* a Mac?

 

Edit: Distracted and beaten to pressing "send".

Edited April 23, 2020 by LeMarchand

[paulkerton]

Try Trid/Tridnet?

 

https://mark0.net/soft-tridnet-e.html

[jmak]

Is it actually an MP3 file? From your AIFF comment, guessing it's created on a Mac, so guessing it's not something stupid like a Flac just renamed?

 

Do you have a copy you can share, or is it private stuff?

 

Steve

Not actually an mp3, but some other format that has been mislabelled? Try on *shudder* a Mac?

 

Edit: Distracted and beaten to pressing "send".

Both spot on. Tried Audacity and asked it to import filename.mp3 and it said "What? You mean this AIFF file you've pointed me at? Sure, no sweat - let me just make a copy to make sure I don't corrupt the original while I mess around importing it."

 

Never trust a Mac user*:

 

Me: Are you sure it's an mp3 file?

User: Yep. Created it in Sibelius and exported as mp3.

 

*That's probably not fair. "Never trust a user" is probably almost equally true...

 

I was under the impression VLC could play AIFF files though...

[bald_pig]

Both spot on. Tried Audacity and asked it to import filename.mp3 and it said "What? You mean this AIFF file you've pointed me at? Sure, no sweat - let me just make a copy to make sure I don't corrupt the original while I mess around importing it."

 

Never trust a Mac user*:

 

Me: Are you sure it's an mp3 file?

User: Yep. Created it in Sibelius and exported as mp3.

 

*That's probably not fair. "Never trust a user" is probably almost equally true...

 

I was under the impression VLC could play AIFF files though...

 

probably can if it knows it's an aiff file, try changing the extension and see if VLC plays it then.

 

Also, I know I'm late to the party, but this is why I have mediainfo on my machines: https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

[RebelBurr34]

I guess VLC plays should be able to play them.

[jmak]

Should have been coaster instead of rambling: Audacity played it straight away.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[bald_pig]

Should have been coaster instead of rambling: Audacity played it straight away.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

I know, just sharing something which should stop you from trying every other media player on your system first!