doesn't read mp3 duration when no mp3 decoder installed

[Simon Morgan]

Binary package hint: rhythmbox

When playing MP3 files using Rhythmbox the seek bar doesn't move no car I drag it. I don't have this problem playing OGG files. I thought this may have been a gstreamer problem but tried Quod Libet which worked.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report, do you have the issue on any mp3 example? Could you add one to the bug?

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

I think I've sort of narrowed it down. I tag all my files using MusicBrainz Picard and thought maybe that had something to do with it and so removed all the tags using Quod Libet. The seek bar then worked when playing the file. However when I retagged the file using Picard, the seek bar still worked when I played that file again. Does Rhythmbox cache seek information or something?

I'll look into this further. In the mean time I've attached a file that exhibits the problem.

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

I guess not seeing as I just removed and re-added tags using Picard (without loading Rhythmbox in-between) and the file plays. Very strange.

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

It's interesting to note that the files are different sizes after removing and re-adding the tags (the file size increases). I think I may have originally tagged the files with 0.9 (or earlier) and the version I'm using is 0.10. I'll try re-tagging files using 0.9 and see if that makes any difference.

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

I think that was a false line of enquiry, sorry about the noise. It seems that copying the file to another location and then playing it, the seek bar would work. It would also continue to work after copying it back. I tried deleting and rebuilding my music database and now seeking seems to work in all tracks.

Comparing two files in the "broken" and "fixed" databases, it seems the fixed instance has 20 elements whereas the broken one only has 18. The missing elements in the broken version are "duration" and "bitrate".

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

My only theory so far is it's something to do with the MP3 decoder not being available by default. I think the first thing I did on loading Rhythmbox after installing Ubuntu was to set my library directory, I think it started scanning and prompted me to install an MP3 codec.

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

I think my hypothesis was correct. Here are my steps to reproduce:

1. Delete all Rhythmbox settings.
2. Uninstall all GStreamer MP3 decoders.
3. Start Rhythmbox. Go to Preferences and set the "Library Location" and make sure "Watch my library for new files" is checked.
4. Rhythmbox should start scanning the directory and once an MP3 is encountered prompt you to install an MP3 codec.
5. Choose one (I chose ffmpeg).
6. Once scanning is finished, try playing an MP3 file.
7. The seek bar should start moving but it doesn't.

[yunjar (yunjar)]

same problem, same solution (RRhythmbox 0.11.6)

scanning library without codecs installed -> seek bar doesn't work
scanning lib with codecs installed -> seek bar works

many thanks!

[halcyonity (halcyonity)]

i am currently experiencing the same problem (my seek bar doesn't/can't move). (Rhythmbox 0.11.6)
my library consists of only mp3's. i have the mp3 codec installed, and my library is set up to "watch my library for new files"

any help on fixing this problem would be greatly appreciated... it's driving me crazy

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

would be nice if somebody having the issue could open the bug on bugzilla.gnome.org where the people writting the software will read it too

[Simon Morgan (sjmorgan)]

Is the automatic codec search and install code included upstream? I'm not sure this bug has anything to do with them.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

there is no code change to specific you can open the bug to bugzilla.gnome.org

[time-trader (time-trader)]

Well, I encountered this too. Deleting all files from the library and adding them back fixes the issue.
Thanks a lot for showing what caused it, and helping to solve it....
I opened the bug on bugzilla.gnome.org

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

could you give add the bugzilla bug number there?

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

the upstream bug url is http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=571005