Thread: Playing mp3 files in Mac OS X

  1. #1
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    Playing mp3 files in Mac OS X

    Hi there, i'm developing a commercial application and, like many, don't have the $1000+ for the big commercial mp3 playing tools.

    I need some way of playing an mp3 file in my project. Any way, as long as it works.

    I've searched around these forums and haven't found anything.

    Most linux/freebsd source compiles in Mac OS X(it uses gcc3), so maybe a linux solution work work as well.

    I can't seem to find anything that will do what i need!

  2. #2
    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    You are in the wrong place unless you are trying to write your own program to do this, in which case you'll have to look into the mp3 file format...Otherwise, this should be in the General Discussions board, or on another forum
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    i'm looking for some source which will play mp3 files for me. all i can find are projects like http://osalp.sourceforge.net/ which are LGPL, which means i have to either open source the project or allow it to be reverse engineered to create an open source version(or so i believe?)

    Sorry if it's in the wrong forum, my app is in c++, and i didn't see why a programming relates question should go in the general dicussions forum?

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    Registered User filler_bunny's Avatar
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    Do you realise that for commercial MP3 players (software or hardware) or commercial software that uses MP3s (games etc), you have to pay royalties? The licensing fees can be found here.
    Last edited by filler_bunny; 08-28-2003 at 04:48 AM.
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    If the game client was totally free to download, and would play the mp3 files included with it without requiring any payment, but to connect to the game server to play the actual game cost a monthly subscription?

    EDIT: rephrased
    Last edited by tek; 08-28-2003 at 06:23 AM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member joshdick's Avatar
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    And why exactly can't you just use iTunes?
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    how exactly would you integrate iTunes with your app? there is no sdk available to software developers.

  8. #8
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    Originally posted by filler_bunny
    Do you realise that for commercial MP3 players (software or hardware) or commercial software that uses MP3s (games etc), you have to pay royalties? The licensing fees can be found here.
    I don't see Bethesda Softworks on this list, and Morrowind uses mp3s for a lot of the sounds. I doubt that they would have overlooked licensing it if they actually needed to do so.
    Away.

  9. #9
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    It doesn't matter if you program is free...

    If the game client was totally free to download
    According the link provided by filler_bunny, it doesn't matter if your game is free. You don't have to pay anything if you distribute less than 5000 copies. More than 5000 copies, and you have to pay $2500.

    Of course, you'll need the rights to the music too!

    Perhaps you can find an open source alternative to MP3 (?) There is a list of audio file formats at www.wotsit.org. Since you are controlling both ends (compression and decompression), you don't have to be concerned with compatability. If you can use MIDI (no vocals or "recorded sounds"), it's way more efficient.

  10. #10
    Comment your source code! Lynux-Penguin's Avatar
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    i saw NULLSOFT on the list. Are you telling me that NULLSOFT pays THAT much money and they're prodcuts are free?
    That doesn't make any sense, NULLSOFT can't be that rich, and I know they dont make that much money off the ads on their site.
    Could someone explain how THAT works?

    btw: i have NEVER heard that you are required to license your MP3 products, I wrote a few apps and distributed them on sourceforge for some guy and he didn't have to license them (i dont think).

    something doesn't seem right here...

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    Lightbulb An open source alternative to MP3:

    The open-source alternative to MP3 seems to be Ogg vorbis. Of course, they aren't going to be compatible formats, but they are both designed for the same purpose: Audio compression suitable for streaming.

    I didn't know that Ogg vorbis was open-source, or that you had to pay for MP3. But, a little surfing seems to confirm filler_bunny's assertion... You DO have to PAY for MP3!!!
    Last edited by DougDbug; 08-28-2003 at 07:28 PM.

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    my problem is i HAVE to use mp3 files. the data format i'm working with uses embedded mp3 files.

  13. #13
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    Nullsoft is owned by AOl timer warner, who can easily pay 2500 :P

  14. #14
    Comment your source code! Lynux-Penguin's Avatar
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    thanks for the input, I didn't know that but why would AOL buy a business that seems to be losing money? to me it doesn't make sense
    and all the BS of owning a license anyway. When NULLSOFT was first created when the ONLY MP3 around was a THX opening MP3 wasn't owned by them!
    what the heck!

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  15. #15
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    Originally posted by Lynux-Penguin
    i saw NULLSOFT on the list. Are you telling me that NULLSOFT pays THAT much money and they're prodcuts are free?
    That doesn't make any sense, NULLSOFT can't be that rich, and I know they dont make that much money off the ads on their site.
    Could someone explain how THAT works?

    btw: i have NEVER heard that you are required to license your MP3 products, I wrote a few apps and distributed them on sourceforge for some guy and he didn't have to license them (i dont think).

    something doesn't seem right here...

    -LC

    It SEEMS to say that you only pay if you develop *decoders*, not applications. I *think* you can develop applications that use MS-Windows built in MP3 codecs. You're not writing the decoder, so I don't think you pay royalties.

    Oh, and of course they charge for encoders, but they always have done that. I think the new royalties are just including decoders in the royalties. I know with encoders, you always had to pay to develop one (which is why encoders were commercial products) but you didn't have to pay to use one in your program (some freeware programs required the user to supply an encoder).
    Last edited by Cat; 08-28-2003 at 10:37 PM.

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