.wav file length in seconds

[baikal_m]

Hello all,

I'm trying to put together something that can read a .wav file, and figure out the length in seconds.

Could anyone show me a simple way of doing it?

I know that the equation is t = size / byte rate.

However, I have no clue how to get those data.

Also, if anyone can tell me how to make it so that it can read any audio file I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

[MK27]

.wav files are actually very heterogeneous, meaning not all files named .wav have a header that's the same.

"t = size/byte rate" is not quite going to cut it. You have some more factors:
-frequency in cycles per second
-number of channels (1, 2, 4, 8...)
-a bit value (8, 16, 24, 32...) determining the depth (or resolution) per cycle per channel

That's information you either have to know or obtain from the header.

Also, if anyone can tell me how to make it so that it can read any audio file I would greatly appreciate it.

Sure, find a library that will do it for you. Those will be platform specific, and to be honest I cannot name one.

[Adak]

Your question really revolves around audio, rather than a code problem. I'm not trying to chase you off, but you'll get better answers in a newsgroup or forum dedicated to PC audio, than you will here.

I know the Ubuntu forum has had a real expert on PC audio with that OS. I'm sure other Linux Distro's and Windows (especially in the newgroups), has the same thing.

Good luck.

[MK27]

It is a code problem in the sense that you do need to write code in order to create or playback a .wav file.

There is actually nothing special beyond the header about wavs. They are not (normally) encrypted or compressed. They are actually most often just raw PCM (Pulse-code modulation) data. Depending on the complexity of the header, I think the data can be re-organized but like I said, that is usually not the case in my (extremely limited) experience.

[brewbuck]

"t = size/byte rate" is not quite going to cut it. You have some more factors:

Yeah it will. The WAV "fmt" header contains a field, nBytesPerSecond. The field is actually redundant because it can be computed from sample rate, bits-per-sample, and number of channels, but it's there.

[MK27]

Yeah it will. The WAV "fmt" header contains a field, nBytesPerSecond. The field is actually redundant because it can be computed from sample rate, bits-per-sample, and number of channels, but it's there.

Hallelujah.

[baikal_m]

Hello all,

Thanks for the responses you've given me.

I'm using a language called CSound with C, so playing and creating wav files is not a problem.

I wanted the C part of the program to get the necessary data from the wav file to get the exact duration, so that it can be used for stretching/shortening the audio.

I found a couple things online but they're very complicated. I'm actually doing it for a class so maybe it's better if I don't get too far ahead....

[brewbuck]

Hallelujah.

Yes, my mind indeed is a compendium of the most interesting facts in the universe.