No sound when playing .wmv files

[ZIYAD A. M. AL-BATLY]

Karl wrote:
> Using totem-xine on hoary, I notice that audio plays correctly on all 
> formats except .wmv files. All I get are intermittent clicks and beeps 
> when playing these. Is this a problem with the w32codecs package?
> 
> -- 
>          .       .        Avoid the Gates of Hell...
>      |< /-\ (-) /-\         --=< GNU/Linux >=--
>                          Free Software for Free Minds
> 
> 


I have read all the replay(s) (until writing this of course!), and I 
think the problem you have with some *.wmv/*.wma file(s) dose *not* have 
any thing with the w32codecs!  See, FFMPEG have their own open source 
wma1/2 (Windows Media Audio v. 1 and v. 2, and some times they are 
called DivX Audio!) but, sadly, it doesn't work correctly on all the 
files.  I have a lot of *.asf, *.wma, and *.wmv that plays the sound 
just as you describe it (pops and clicks).  When I pass the option "-ac 
divx" to MPlayer (which forces it to use win32' divx.dll file instead of 
FFMPEG's which MPlayer prefer by default), the file(s) play fine!.

As how to fix this, I really don't know (and I'm very sorry to say this. 
The reason I replayed when I don't know how to help you is because you 
(all) seem to focus on a problem that might not be the real cause!).

FFMPEG are getting very good each hour (and I'm not exaggerating!). 
Lately, I hardly find any files (that have WMA1 or WMA2) with problems 
using their open source code (but be noted that I'm using FFMPEG's CVS 
code, which is updated almost daily!).

Maybe the next version of xine-lib will include a newer FFMPEG code 
which will correct the problem.

I hope this helps you (or any other reader).
Ziyad.