Topic: using shntool to fix sbe's on .wav files

[Albix714]

I have a .shn fileset that I converted to .wav. After listening to the show it was obvious that it was full of sector boundry errors. I have installed shntool sucessfully and attempted using some of the commands to fix the files. The tutorial confuses me and if at all possible, could someone break down the basics for me? Thanks.

[dnsacks]

why not just use the current version of the flac frontend to flac compress the wav files using the "align on sector boundaries" option -- as long as the files are in trackorder in flac frontend before you start, this will properly fix the sbes.

[Albix714]

I did that and the errors were still there.

[Brian Skalinder]

From the command line, in the directory in which your WAVs are located:

shntool fix *.wav

[dnsacks]

Likely not a sector boundary issue any more.  Can you open the offending files in soundforge, etc. and see what you're hearing?

Sector boundaries will not show up as a problem in a wav editing program, as what you're hearing is the zeros padded onto the end of a track by the cd burning program. However, there's a way in which a disk with sector boundary errors can be extracted to wav files and the wav files themselves will have the noise/error from the sbe in the wav file itself. 

Bottom line, I'd be willing to bet that if the flac frontend won't fix what appears to be a sbe, shntool won't either

[Albix714]

Ok, I typed cmd
then 'shntool -v'
then "E:\SHN - FLAC FILES\Garcia\JGB\jgb1984-08-07.editshntool fix* .wav" and got
'E:\SHN' is not a recognized as a internal or external command, etc.

[dnsacks]

easier --

1) open a dos window

2) switch to the directory in which the problem files are located (hint, first move the file to an easy to type directory like "c:\easy") -- you can get to that directory by typing at the dos prompt "cd\easy")

3) once in the directory where the problem files are located, type "shntool fix *.wav"

[Albix714]

Ok, I got it. Thanks all.

[dnsacks]

did shntool fix your problem?

[pfife]

I'm wondering that too.

[Albix714]

Ok, shntool did it's job. Then I flac'ed the file using "verify" and "align on sector boundries". When the file was flac'ed I got no notice of sbe's like I did before. But, I am still hearting the digi noise. It sounds like skips in a record. Hmmm

[pfife]

Ok, shntool did it's job. Then I flac'ed the file using "verify" and "align on sector boundries". When the file was flac'ed I got no notice of sbe's like I did before. But, I am still hearting the digi noise. It sounds like skips in a record. Hmmm

hmmmm... something with sample rate/bitrate maybe?  I've gotten wierd things like that before too...

[dnsacks]

Ok, shntool did it's job. Then I flac'ed the file using "verify" and "align on sector boundries". When the file was flac'ed I got no notice of sbe's like I did before. But, I am still hearting the digi noise. It sounds like skips in a record. Hmmm

where is the diginoise/skip noise?  At track breaks, or within tracks?  If the former, you might be able to carefully edit out the problem bits using soundforge, etc.

[Albix714]

The digi noise is within quite a few tracks. I'd like to fix the problem, it's a great show and a pretty good recording. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[dnsacks]

If the noise is not at track breaks, it's not a sbe problem.  Your best likely solution is to track down another copy and/or the original transcription cds

[Albix714]

Thanks. I was thinking along those lines. Anyone know how to get in touch with John Ficca?

[dnsacks]

joe jupille (jjoops)?

[Albix714]

He seeded the show today, same guy?

[wharfrat73]

Here's a couple of things that will make working with shntool easier.  (It doesn't sound like these are SBEs, but you still may find them useful).

For navigating to the directory you're working on: http://www.ngweb.biz/tweak/cmdprompt.shtml

Many shntool functions can be preformed thru a GUI now: http://thor.prohosting.com/roh0205/

I hope some of this is helpful in the future.

[dmonterisi]

Many shntool functions can be preformed thru a GUI now: http://thor.prohosting.com/roh0205/

I hope some of this is helpful in the future.

thanks for that link...+t.  i haven't heard of it before, do you use it?  can you speak to its reliability?  thanks.

[wharfrat73]

Thanks for that link...+t.  i haven't heard of it before, do you use it?  can you speak to its reliability?  thanks.

I've been using TLH along with shntool and mkw (or md5check for flac) for a couple of weeks running both to make sure there were no errors.  I haven't had a problem yet and I'm starting to feel pretty confident.  No, hangs or crashes either.

[dmonterisi]

Thanks for that link...+t.  i haven't heard of it before, do you use it?  can you speak to its reliability?  thanks.

I've been using TLH along with shntool and mkw (or md5check for flac) for a couple of weeks running both to make sure there were no errors.  I haven't had a problem yet and I'm starting to feel pretty confident.  No, hangs or crashes either.

great, thanks for the info.  looks like a nice substitute for the damn command prompt.

[dmonterisi]

follow up question, does it handle the "shntool len" function?

[wharfrat73]

If you mean y what process is in running shntool len, I don't know.  If you mean is the output accurate when compared to the typical command line shntool len function, then it's been handeling it fine for me.

[Joe w.]

Thanks for that link...+t.  i haven't heard of it before, do you use it?  can you speak to its reliability?  thanks.

I've been using TLH along with shntool and mkw (or md5check for flac) for a couple of weeks running both to make sure there were no errors.  I haven't had a problem yet and I'm starting to feel pretty confident.  No, hangs or crashes either.

great, thanks for the info.  looks like a nice substitute for the damn command prompt.

I know. double clicking a batch file has been killing me

[wharfrat73]

I know. double clicking a batch file has been killing me

 

Probably the best things about it are it's abilities to verify ffps and to generate and verify "shntool md5" files which look only at the wav data and are therefore the same regardless of whether the files are in flac, shn, ape or wav format.  But I'm glad to hear it's helping with your tired fingers too 

[dmonterisi]

Thanks for that link...+t.  i haven't heard of it before, do you use it?  can you speak to its reliability?  thanks.

I've been using TLH along with shntool and mkw (or md5check for flac) for a couple of weeks running both to make sure there were no errors.  I haven't had a problem yet and I'm starting to feel pretty confident.  No, hangs or crashes either.

great, thanks for the info.  looks like a nice substitute for the damn command prompt.

I know. double clicking a batch file has been killing me

whatever, russ, whatever.  i've never used shntool batch files, i got used to using the command prompt and didn't want to have learn anything new.  and in reality, the only shntool function i use consistently is the len function for txt files.  my transfers never have sbe's.  so typing "shntool len *.flac > shntooloutput.txt" is not very difficult and i'll probably stick with that.

[todd e]

something nobody has mentioned.  not only do you have to use the "fix" feature if you are using Wavelab, but don't forget to use the "strip" feature, as wavelab creates wave header problems too.