1. Go to this Microsoft page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

and download and install the WMA 9 encoder ("Windows Media Encoder 9 Series").

2. Open Notepad and paste this line:

cscript.exe wmcmd.vbs -input %1 -output %2 -a_codec %3 -a_mode %4 -a_setting %5

and Save As "audiograbber.bat" (choose "All Files" in the "Save as type:" drop-down menu) in the same directory where WMA 9 encoder installed - it should be the "\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\" folder.

3. In Audiograbber, choose Settings/MP3 Settings.... and click on "External Encoder"

4. Click "Browse" next to the window labeled "External MP3 Program Name" and choose "Files of Type: Batch Files (*.bat)" from the drop-down menu then surf to "\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\" and select "audiograbber.bat".

5. Under "Predefined arguments" choose "User Defined", then in the "Arguments:" box put:

%s %d WMA9STD 2 Q98_44_2

That will give you Quality-based VBR, Q98, 44KHz sampling rate, 2 chs.

6. In the File Extension box, type "wma".

For the third argument (the WMA9STD), the other options are:

WMA9STD: Windows Media Audio 9 (default).
WMA9PRO: Windows Media Audio 9 Professional
WMSP9: Windows Media Audio 9 Voice
WMA9LSL: Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless; -a_mode 2 required
PCM: No compression

For the fourth argument (the 2 in the example above), the options are:

0: 1-pass CBR (default).
1: 2-pass CBR.
2: Quality-based VBR.
3: Bit rate-based VBR (two-pass).
4: Bit rate-based peak VBR (two-pass).

For the fifth argument, using the standard codec, if you want i.e. Q90 instead, it would be: Q90_44_2

For WMA 9 Lossless, the Arguments line is:

%s %d WMA9LSL 2 Q100_44_2_24

Note the extra paremeter (24 = bit depth).

For complete details of the options available, open a command prompt in the "\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\" folder and type:

cscript.exe wmcmd.vbs /?

Now, when I want to encode in mp3, I just choose "Internal Encoder", and when I want to encode to WMA I choose "External Encoder".

I hope this helps someone.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by HoD on 07 November 2005 @ 02:14]</font>

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by HoD on 07 November 2005 @ 02:17]</font>

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by HoD on 11 September 2006 @ 15:46]</font>

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by HoD on 11 September 2006 @ 15:48]</font>

[This message has been edited by HoD on 11 September 2006 @ 15:53]

Cheers

M

Can you tell me what parameters to use to rip to WMA 9 voice, medium setting?

Many thanks in advance.

John

quote:

---

Originally posted by jmvideo:
Hi

Can you tell me what parameters to use to rip to WMA 9 voice, medium setting?

Many thanks in advance.

John

---

(Note that I have updated my instructions above.)

Hello John -

In Step 5 above, substitute this line:

%s %d WMSP9 0 10_11_1

That will give you Windows Media Audio 9 Voice CODEC, 1-pass CBR, 10kbps bitrate, 11KHz sampling rate, mono.

That is the "medium" quality setting for the Voice Codec - suitable for encoding dictation.

The other settings for the Voice CODEC are:

Argument Bitrate Sampling rate Channel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20_22_1 20 22 1
16_16_1 16 16 1
12_16_1 12 16 1
10_11_1 10 11 1
8_8_1 8 8 1
5_8_1 5 8 1
4_8_1 4 8 1

To get the entire list of supported audio formats for each codec, type:

cscript.exe wmcmd.vbs -a_formats >formats.txt

at the command prompt in the "\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\" folder, and that will create a text file called "formats.txt" in that folder with a list of all the formats for each codec.

HTH.

[This message has been edited by HoD on 11 September 2006 @ 16:26]

On the "Settings" menu, under "CD-ROM Access Method", if you have "ASPI" selected, then DO NOT check "Rip as much as possible to RAM" !!!!

Because if it is checked, the WMA9 encoder will not work with Audiograbber - it gives some strange error about "output format incorrect".

With that box unchecked, everything works great.

????????????

Kind regards

John

------------------
Tom

Please Read this before asking any questions. It makes life easier.

My Audiograbber Guides

One additional thing:

If for any reason you need to diagnose a problem, then in step #2 above, add a "Pause" command to your "audiograbber.bat" batch file. In other words, your batch file will now look like this:

cscript.exe wmcmd.vbs -input %1 -output %2 -a_codec %3 -a_mode %4 -a_setting %5
pause

With the "pause" command, you will get the "Press Any Key to Continue" prompt before the DOS box closes, so you will have time to read any error messages. That's how I discovered the problem with having the "Rip as much as possible to RAM" option checked, after much trial-and-error (2hrs worth!).

HTH.

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\wmcmd.vbs<378, 1> WScript.CreateObject: Could not create object named "Scripting.FileSystemObject".

I've seen in the other machines it can be sensitive to where the files are saved, but this does not seem to be the issue here. Please advise if possible. Thanks

The "wmcmd.vbs" file is a Visual Basic Scripting file (that's what the .VBS stands for), so if your computer is giving you an error, then maybe you need to install the Microsoft Visual Basic support files found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192461

Download and install the VBRun60.exe package.

It's likely that some other program you nstalled on the other two computers alreadyinstalled the necessary Visual Basic support files for you.

Let me know if this fixes the problem or not.

Another possibility. The error:

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\wmcmd.vbs<378, 1> WScript.CreateObject: Could not create object named "Scripting.FileSystemObject".

might be caused if you are logged on as a user that does not have permissions to write to whatever folder where the script is trying to create "Scripting.FileSystemObject". Try logging on as a user with Administrator privileges and see if the problem goes away. If so, you will need to modify the ACL (Access Control List) for the relevent folder to give your regular user account write priveleges. Just right-click on the folder, choose "Sharing and Security" or "Properties", then click on the "Security" tab to see the ACL for the folder.

[This message has been edited by HoD on 25 February 2007 @ 18:14]

This machine has programs from the Creative Sound Card, including a Media conversion program (wav to wma etc.) I removed this program and the wme program, and reinstalled wme, but still no good. Maybe it's still related to the sound card. I can use the Creative conversion program, but it's a big hassle compared to the simple process here.

I opened WMCmd.vbs in Notepad, and I found the line that is causing you an error:

set g_objFileSystem = WScript.CreateObject( "Scripting.FileSystemObject" )

Unfortunately, my knowledge of Visual Basic scripting files is very limited, so I have no idea what that command works on two of your computers but not the third, beyond what I already suggested. I suggest you search for a VISUAL Basic support forum - I think Microsoft has one - and ask there what could cause the WScript.CreateObject command to fail.

Maybe try googling "WScript.CreateObject" first.

Let us know if you find the answer and good luck.

HTH.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by HoD on 28 February 2007 @ 13:36]</font>

[This message has been edited by HoD on 28 February 2007 @ 13:36]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tomb:
Some good stuff here HoD. I will add to my Audiograbber pages, crediting yourself of course.

---

Tom -

I just checked your page (very useful page), but I can't find my guide for ripping to WMA under "External Encoders and their Arguments", or anywhere else on your page.

Is it there?

------------------
Tom

Please Read this before asking any questions. It makes life easier.

My Audiograbber Guides