MP3 music files "trapped" on my MP3player?

[aelfheah]

I have many tracks on my mp3 player(a Sony NW-E107, circular mp3 player which cost £90 from Argos about a year ago) that have long since been deleted as corresponding files on my PC, and when I try to copy/save them from the player, of course it won't allow this action as they don't 'exist'.

Is there any way I can back these tracks up at all? My cousin told me to connect using the USB, but that folder only held some 'odd-looking' files that wouldn't open, due to not being 'recognised'.

Any ideas? I am wanting to copy the music to my PC and sell the player.

Thanks.

[redwudz]

It appears the player may use the ATRAC3 Audio Codec. Can you transfer the files to your computer? Do they seem the proper size to be the audio files?

Here's some links to ATRAC3 Audio Codecs and decoders, along with a Wikipedia page on ATRAC:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATRAC

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Sony_ATRAC3_Audio_Codec.htm

http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.video.ffmpeg.devel/44526

[aelfheah]

Yes, it uses Atrac, but as the corresponding mp3 files were deleted long ago(to make room on my pc) the mp3 player-Sonicstage library says it can't transfer those on my player to my pc, or it'll simply delete that too.

[Ai Haibara]

Do you have "Show hidden files and folders" selected in the Explorer options? (Tools > Folder Options..., then select the View tab in the Folder Options window. Should be a sub-option under "Hidden files and folders".)

Also, can you access the library on the player by using Winamp's Media Library while the player is connected via USB (as opposed to whatever software you use to manage the player)? You may be able to copy files from the library, there.

[aelfheah]

Thanks Ai

I have Firefox and couldn't find the folders you listed, or am I doing it all wrong? lol

Plus, I haven't got Winamp downloaded but have Windows media, does it have to be this particular program?

[Ai Haibara]

Windows' Explorer (not Internet Explorer (or Firefox) ).

Media Player probably won't let you copy files from the player, as I believe stopping people from copying files from their players (or hiding the folders in which the music is contained) is usually (primarily) a digital-rights issue.

There could be other players or software you could use to access the player's library and copy files from it, but I'm unaware of anything specific for the NW-E107. I suggested WinAmp, because it's supposed to be able to connect to a wide variety of portable players, and allow copying from them as well.

[aelfheah]

I just clicked 'start' then 'programs' but there isn't a Windows Explorer option/program...? Alot of other Windows stuff though.

[kush]

Explorer.exe, aka your desktop/folder browser. Just open My Computer, open the player's corresponding 'drive'.

[aelfheah]

Explorer.exe, aka your desktop/folder browser. Just open My Computer, open the player's corresponding 'drive'.

Thanks

I have plugged in the mp3's usb and opened the drive E folder, (OMGAudio), then tried to open/play the many files there but to no avail.

It shows about 10 video cd movies- even though I didn't upload vids to my mp3 knowingly anyway.

There's also four folders(two empty) which have a large number of OMA files in them, none will play or open?

[mats.hogberg]

First thing first:
Try to get all files you find on on your E drive (I presume that's the Sony player?) to your HDD.
Then start worrying about trying to play them back/converting.
The "video cd movies" you see, surely is just Windows mistaking some file format for another.
The .OMA files are your music files.

/Mats

[aelfheah]

First thing first:
Try to get all files you find on on your E drive (I presume that's the Sony player?) to your HDD.
Then start worrying about trying to play them back/converting.
The "video cd movies" you see, surely is just Windows mistaking some file format for another.
The .OMA files are your music files.

/Mats

Thanks Mats, you're a lifesaver!

Ok, they're now in a folder on my HD, do I now convert them somehow? And what program is best, IYO?

[mats.hogberg]

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Sony_ATRAC3_Audio_Codec.htm
As I have never used atrack, I can't tell if it works, but this looks like a codec for DirectShow based players (like WMP) to play atrac files.
Google for "atrac to wav" and/or "atrac to mp3" and I'm sure you'll find some solution to getting your audio back into a more common format.

/Mats

[aelfheah]

Cheers Mats

Fantastic advice, succinctly put!

Without this board I- as a technophobe- would be sunk, as the Americans say!