Possibly corrupted audio files

[akavir]

Note:This isn't specifically a Mint issue, just a problem I could use some help solving.

So I just went through my storage locker today and took 2 hard drives out of an old computer of mine, brought them home and connect them to my desktop. I went through them partition by partition to see all my old files, and if there was anything I wanted to keep before formating them. I found some of my old audio projects(some windows so linux) and was very excited as some of them I had no other backups of(from my days of being an audio engineer). I transfered them all to my NAS and tried to play some of them(some .wav, some .mp3), but I come to find out that none of them will load. I tried various players(banshee, XBMC, VLC, and went over to windows for WMP) and none would load them. Checked the properties of the files and all of them in my project folder can't determine the codec, channels, sample rate, or bit rate. Within the same folder are pictures, movies, and windows exe files that all work fine. I find it hard to believe that only the audio files were corrupted. And in other partitions on the same drive, audio files I copied worked. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to recover these?

[xenopeek]

Perhaps the files are not corrupted, but were produced with a different codec? Perhaps one that has poorly implemented standards and so produced files that can't be read by standards compliant software. Can you recall what software you used to make these files?

[Bob E]

Perhaps the files are not corrupted, but were produced with a different codec?

I've encountered this a few times. The trick I use it to convert the files. On Linux, I use Soundconverter (in Synaptic). On XP, Nero 7. For example, a "corrupt" MP3, I convert it to the same settings, (ie, 320kbps, WAV to WAV), to a different output folder. (You can't overwrite the source.) I've had positive success doing this. However, there is no way of knowing the results for everyone will be the same. You know the files worked at one time, but not sure why they won't now.

Another way, but very tedious, is to drag them, one at a time, into Audacity and export accordingly (WAV, Ogg, MP3).

Worth a try.

[akavir]

Vincent, these were definitely not produced with bad forecast. These files were all created with pro tools, Sony acid, ardour, or audacity. The fact that they are both wave and mp3 would also confirm this.

And audacity conversion was tried, the can't be read.

[Bob E]

These files were all created with pro tools, Sony acid, ardour, or audacity.

And audacity conversion was tried, the can't be read.

If the ones made on Audacity can't be read on Audacity, good chance something happened during the original copying process that's causing the files to be unreadable.

[akavir]

I tried the files directly from the drive first, and had no luck then either. But I still can't fathom how only audio files in a folder don't work but pics, videos, and exes do?