Why doesn't XCDRoast automatically convert mp3's to wav

[Beetlejuice321]

I am just wonder "why" on this one.

If there are so many CLI programs out there that do it, why doesn't the guys behind XCDRoast run one of these programs and convert all your MP3/OGG files into Wav's into a temporary directory for you (just like you have to do manually), when you are ready to burn your custom audio CD's?

I mean as far as I know K3b does this under KDE, right? So what gives? Why make XCDRoast so freakin cumbersome and complicated!!! This doesn't make since, escpecially since open source software is suppose to get "easier" to use as it evolves right? But XCDRoast has been around for ever, and it really stinks! (no offense the the creators) but I just don't get the reasons for the lack of develpment sophistication and instruction provided with the front end of the app!

I mean, just about EVERYBODY is going to start that program to burn audio CD's right? But when you first start up the app, the only two options remotely close to burn audio CD's is..

Master Tracks
Write Tracks

Nothing in the setup or in the main menu explains that the reason you "can't see" you audio files, is because XCDRoast can only read Wav's!!!!

I just don't get it! This is why so many ppl seem to get frustrated with Linux so quickly!

Beetlejuice

[Icarus]

Relax, calm down...have a drink :)

This should of been posted in /dev/random, so off it goes!


Let's see how long this stays open ;)

[bsm2001]

just get a mp3 cd player.

[leonpmu]

Beetlejuice, calm down,

firstly, Linux is about choice, if you don't like XCDROAST, then use the new k3b.

I prefer xcdroast, there is a "*nix" like logic to it, K3b, has "windows" like logic to it. I also prefer the fact that xcdrost doesn't eat cycles like k3b does, also, I have got so used to using Images, that thie hidden system of k3b irritates me.

I am going to hazard a guess and say that you are used to apps like easy cd creator adn nero under windows which does everything for you, including making great cd-based coffee coasters right???

Be cool, also if you are a good coder, go-ahead, make a patch for xcdroast, submit it to the chaps who own the project, maybe they will put it in, maybe they won't.......

[bwkaz]

Making xcdroast decompress MP3 to raw PCM audio (the kind that gets written to a CD) would be adding a feature that's already implemented in a multitude of other packages (mpg123, probably lame, and I'm sure there are others). The Unix philosophy has always been "don't make your program do something when there are already other tools that do it for you, instead, use those other tools" -- I would guess that that's why xcdroast won't read MP3 files directly.

It's not a bug, it's just a completely different philosophy than you're used to.

"When the Patriarch McIlroy invented the pipe, he knew that it would transform software, but did not know that it would transform mind." -- ESR, in the Unix Koans of Master Foo ;)

[Beetlejuice321]

Ok, maybe I am being a bit over the top with my frustration with XCDRoast... Or maybe I am just setting some expectations higher then I should.

Anyways, I know Linux is about "options" I have been using it for almost 2 years now... I have played around with almost every major distro, from Gentoo and Slackware to the likes of SuSE, Red Hat and Mandrake.

I have seen Linux come a looooong way in just 2 short years! I have even employed compete open source office solutions at my company... Such as completely adopting "Open Office" for our office suite, and implementing the use of Mozilla based browsers like Firefox! I am a "huge" advocate for Linux on the desktop!

And you would not believe the huge acceptance these open source products have had at my company! It has nothing to do the the cost! It has everything to do with the flexability, power, ease of use, freedom of no license restrictions (not just cost, I mean "restrictions" here), and most of all STABILITY, that comes from running these poducts! And because of the employees new found love of Open Office, Mozilla, Thunderbird, etc. They have begun actually using these programs at home too!!! :)

I want the Linux OS to be able to be used by the people who have inquired about it at my work. They say "Should I use Linux on my computer at home since I use so many Open Source programs already?"

I reply "What do you want to do with it?"

The employee states "Ya know the usual, use the web, email, write docuements, play yahoo games, chat, BURN CD'S."

I tell them "Ummm, yeah...you may just want to keep Windows going on one partition there...just in case."

I hate saying that, but you guys all know its true! New (desktop) users don't want to (and shouldn't have to) spend hours configureing their burner to work right after a fresh install of Linux.

Thats why I posted this question, because I wanted to understand what was the reason behind not having any simple CD burning in Linux.

Hence my original question, why XCDRoast does not "employ" the use of an open source cli program that runs in the background to convert your MP3/OGG's etc for you!

I just wanted to know why? I am currently a computer major at a local University (as well as work full time as a network admin), but from the limited program jobs I have worked on, implementing this into something like XCDRoast seems mindlessly obvious to do, as well as straight forward to implement... But then again, I am only speaking from a limited experience, perhaps there are legal issues with MP3 conversion programs that I am not aware of...however many other freely available programs that do this vary thing are included in virtually every Linux distro from making these programs available!

Anyways, needless to say I was thrilled when K3b was released, the first open source program (as far as I know) that actually made quick CD burning jobs possible!!! I mean seriously, how many ppl do you know have spent hours just trying to burn an audio CD in Linux??? I am about "options", but not about "difficulty". Unfortunety K3b currently is still pretty new, but hopefully it will evolve to a more stable program soon! :)

Anyways sorry about my long reply, I didn't mean to ramble to much! :)

Beetlejuice

[EnigmaOne]

There's also an issue of logic associated with the matter--at least for my part.

There may very well be a mp3/vorbis-->wav converter routine as a part of something like the lame project....BUT...
converting from a lossy-compression format to a lossless file format (like pcm) usually produces poor to abysmal quality in the final rendering; so such a routine hasn't been a quest for me.

On another front, though:
There are--at least in the United States--legal landmines associated with things like mp3 licensing and DeCSS, and you will see legally circumspect behaviour on the part of OSS developers--even on the international scene. This is logical and prudent, given the rabid, mercenary nature of American lawyers.

Perhaps understanding this snippit of the environment in which OSS developers find themselves will assist you in confronting the reality that, sometimes you have to jump through hoops because degrees are freely given to idiots; and sometimes those idiots wield their resultant power (large or small) to further their greedy goals.

Personally, I'd rather see the OSS developers do what they do best--produce quality software--instead of wasting their time fending-off harassing and frivolous litigation.

[Beetlejuice321]

Thanks for the post EnigmaOne!

I agree that legal issues have greatly affected the development of creating more fully feature rich applications and programs.

This is especially true in the US, however most European developement has still continued to thankfully push the envelope a little more....such as in the case of John Johansen (http://efn.no/jonjohansen-en.html#decss) and his decoding of legally purchased DVD's (which he won (http://www.ipjustice.org/010703.shtml) the right to do)!

I know that for now it may be risky to provide programs that can more "easily" accomplish tasks (such as watching DVD's or converting MP3's) right "out of the box" sorta speak... And it is probably "safer" for OSS developers to include these features as separate plugins (DeCSS) or programs Lame etc. But hopefully someday there will be some newer laws which will allow OSS developers the freedom to create more fully functional and quality software! (in a perfect world)

Beetlejuice

[o0zi]

Regarding K3b - I've found it to be one of the best CD burning programs out there: easy to use, feature-enriched, quick, good-looking, and it hasn't crashed on me yet.
Don't encourage your friends to keep Windows just for CD burning - the only reason I have Windows is for games (unfortunately).

In the case of deCSS, the developers often have an installation program to get around the legal issues - installing libdvdread3 on Debian gives you a dialog asking if you want to install libdvdcss, for instance. It's probably not legal issues stopping XCDRoast, just a lack of a feature. I find XCDRoast quite antiquated anyway.

[EnigmaOne]

Originally posted by o0zi
I find XCDRoast quite antiquated anyway.
::: sigh :::
My age must be showing then. I have to admit that I prefer /usr/bin/cdrecord and thought XCDR was a cool front-end for cdr.
I think I'll haul my butt off to Antiques Road Show to see what price I'll fetch at auction. ;)

Originally posted by Beetlejuice321
...hopefully someday there will be some newer laws which will allow OSS developers the freedom to create more fully functional and quality software! (in a perfect world)
Yeah. That's my hope as well.
Seeing what we, as Americans, do to the rest of the world--on a number of fronts--still gives me that contradictory mix of mild pride and abject shame.

[o0zi]

My age must be showing then. I have to admit that I prefer /usr/bin/cdrecord and thought XCDR was a cool front-end for cdr.

Hey, I love cdrecord itself :) It has that new, modern feel to it:p
Seriously though, I do use cdrecord, as it's quicker and gives a far greater degree of control.