Hinkspix Export fails with m4a audio files

[dombucc]

Hinkspix export is incompatible with m4a (apple itunes downloads) files. I have had success with wav and mp3 formats. Unfortunately, when developing a sequence, xlights has no issues using the m4a, but the hinkspix export compiler cannot process the sequences that use an m4a and generates an error.

Thank you!

[computergeek1507]

Is the audio file a single channel or mono file?

[dombucc]

Hi Scott! I honestly don’t know. I noticed this issue last year with iTunes downloads and hinkspix export and was told I was wrong.

Fast forward a year - and I’m still seeing it.

I tried to open one of the m4a’s in audacity and it gave me an error that it was incompatible with audacity. Given I was working with a client… I only checked the first of a rather large amount of downloads but they all came out of iTunes so I suspect they’re all the same format.

I forgot to mention - this was on a new MacBook with M5 processor I believe. However - I experienced this quite a few times last year and I don’t think it mattered whether it was windows or Mac.

[derwin12]

Is this applicable?

[dombucc]

I think this will help with the audacity issue, but the bigger issue at hand is can we get the codec (or whatever is required) to convert the m4a files in the hinkspix export function? If xlights allows you to use an m4a when creating a sequence, it would should be compatible with the software start to finish.

[computergeek1507]

The converter uses the same code and library as the sequencer. There are some people who have issues with mono audio, without the raw audio file, I can't do much to help.

[derwin12]

Dom -- attach an audio track or sent it to Scott directly...

[derwin12]

Ping.. Dom we need this .m4a file..

[dombucc]

Here you go...just went in my files and pulled one as this is an issue I've seen with clients but don't have access to their libraries. However, an itunes m4a should all be the same....

01 Tubthumping.m4a.zip