[MPlayer-users] .rm to wav/mp3 transcoding

[astrograph]

hi,

I have three sample .rm files which I need to transcode to mp3 or wav.

I am completely new to MPlayer/mencoder, so please excuse my ignorance, 
I have searched the archives and found enough information so that I 
could start testing the transcoding, but for now I am stuck...

I tried various ways of transcoding, but always with the same result, 
first with ffmpeg now with MPlayer/mencoder.

for example:

../mplayer/main/mplayer -ao pcm -vo null -vc null tmo.rm

gives me an audiodump.wav file which I can convert to mp3 with lame.

One sample (test.rm) converts just fine, the second (tmo.rm) becomes a 
little garbled, and the third one (midi.rm) creates chaotic noise. When 
displaying the "Clip Source" Window in Realplayer, the first and the 
second clip seem to have exactly the same audio properties:

test.rm ********************************************
Stream: RealAudio Stream - Single Rate
File Name: test.rm
Last Modified: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 08:54:12 GMT
File Size: 4,746 Bytes
Title:
Author:
Copyright:
Duration: 00:01.917
Buffer Time: 1.9 seconds
Max Bit Rate: 16.0 Kbps
Allow Download: off
Allow Recording: off
Perfect Play: disabled

Stream: 0 Audio Stream
MIME type: audio/x-pn-realaudio

Max Stream Bit Rate: 16.0 Kbps
Audio Codec: 16 Kbps - RealAudio (RealAudio 5.0) 16000 Khz
Player Compatibility: RealPlayer 5.0 or later

tmo.rm ********************************************
Stream: RealAudio Stream - Single Rate
File Name: tmo.rm
Last Modified: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 13:07:10 GMT
File Size: 12,723 Bytes
Title:
Author:
Copyright:
Duration: 00:05.760
Buffer Time: 1.9 seconds
Max Bit Rate: 16.0 Kbps
Allow Download: on
Allow Recording: on
Perfect Play: disabled

Stream: 0 Audio Stream
MIME type: audio/x-pn-realaudio

Max Stream Bit Rate: 16.0 Kbps

Audio Codec: 16 Kbps - RealAudio (RealAudio 5.0) 16000 Khz
Player Compatibility: RealPlayer 5.0 or later

midi.rm ********************************************
Stream: RealAudio Stream - SureStream
File Name: midi.rm
Last Modified: Mon, 02 Sep 2002 14:43:00 GMT
File Size: 98,763 Bytes
Title:
Author:
Copyright:
Duration: 00:11.145
Buffer Time: 4.5 seconds
Max Bit Rate: 32.0 Kbps
Allow Download: on
Allow Recording: on
Perfect Play: disabled

Stream: 0 audio/x-pn-multirate-realaudio logical stream
MIME type: audio/x-pn-realaudio

Max Stream Bit Rate: 32.0 Kbps

SureStream Audio Codecs:

16 Kbps Music - RealAudio (RealAudio G2) 22050 Khz
20 Kbps Music - RealAudio (RealAudio G2) 22050 Khz
32 Kbps Stereo Music High Response - RealAudio (RealAudio 8) 44100 Khz
Player Compatibility: RealPlayer G2 or later
**********************************************

mplayer also detects the same audio properties for the first two files, 
how can the transcoded results differ?????

The third file seems to contain more than one audio stream.

this is what mplayer detects:

Playing midi.rm.
REAL file format detected.
Not audio/video stream or unsupported!
Not audio/video stream or unsupported!
======= WAVE Format =======
Format Tag: 28515 (0x6F63)
Channels: 1
Samplerate: 22050
avg byte/sec: 16192
Block align: 564
bits/sample: 16
cbSize: 18
Unknown extra header dump: [2f] [0] [8] [0] [2] [0] [34] [2] [8] [0] [1] 
[0] [0] [1] [2] [0] [0] [12]
===========================
======= WAVE Format =======
Format Tag: 28515 (0x6F63)
Channels: 1
Samplerate: 22050
avg byte/sec: 20671
Block align: 600
bits/sample: 16
cbSize: 18
Unknown extra header dump: [3c] [0] [9] [0] [3] [0] [58] [2] [8] [0] [1] 
[0] [0] [1] [2] [0] [0] [17]
===========================
======= WAVE Format =======
Format Tag: 28515 (0x6F63)
Channels: 2
Samplerate: 44100
avg byte/sec: 32041
Block align: 465
bits/sample: 16
cbSize: 26
Unknown extra header dump: [5d] [0] [10] [0] [15] [0] [d1] [1] [10] [0] 
[1] [0] [0] [3] [8] [0] [0] [20] [0] [0] [0] [0] [0] [2] [0] [4]
===========================
Clip info:
  comment:
==========================================================================
Opening audio decoder: [realaud] RealAudio decoder
opening shared obj '/usr/local/lib/codecs/cook.so.6.0'
Audio codec: [2] 16 Kbps Music
Audio bitrate: 16,193 kbit/s (2024 bps)
AUDIO: 22050 Hz, 1 ch, 16 bit (0x10), ratio: 2024->44100 (16,2 kbit)
Selected audio codec: [racook] afm:realaud (RealAudio COOK)
==========================================================================
Checking audio filter chain for 22050Hz/1ch/16bit -> 22050Hz/2ch/16bit...
AF_pre: af format: 2 bps, 1 ch, 22050 hz, little endian signed int
AF_pre: 22050Hz 1ch Signed 16-bit (Little-Endian)
[AO PCM] File: audiodump.wav (WAVE)
PCM: Samplerate: 22050Hz Channels: Stereo Format Signed 16-bit 
(Little-Endian)
[AO PCM] Info: fastest dumping is achieved with -vc dummy -vo null
PCM: Info: to write WAVE files use -waveheader (default).
AO: [pcm] 22050Hz 2ch Signed 16-bit (Little-Endian) (2 bps)
Building audio filter chain for 22050Hz/1ch/16bit -> 22050Hz/2ch/16bit...

It seems the three audio streams are correctly detected, and the 16Kbps 
stream is selected, but the output doesn´t sound like music at all...

any input on these issues would be welcome!!

tia

philipp