#1 Burning Software

Good afternoon

I'm currently using StarBurn SDK to burn MP3 Files to Audio CDs. Thus some type of decoding takes place within the StarBurn SDK.

From what I can tell any type of PC Software that decodes an MP3 file is in violation of the MP3's various patents unless they pay fairly large licensing fees (min $15000US per year):

http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/software.html

I'm assuming that Rocket Division has also had to pay these fees so I'm trying to figure out, as the author of software that uses StarBurn SDK, do I need to pay these fees again?

I realize Rocket Division cannot offer any legal advice or patent-related advice but is there an experience out there that anyone has had in this regard?

Many thanks
- Shaun

This is not really true We don't have own MP3 encoder or decoder rather we're using Windows Media Formats SDK to handle all of the compressed audio decoding (and WMA encoding). So it's not RDS <-> MP3 patents holders issue, it's MS <-> MP3 patents holders. So you may freely redistribute your app build at the top of the StarBurn SDK. Hope this helps

Is that so? That's fantastic news!

I know MS paid something like US $1.5 Billion for use of the MP3 patent.

I'm planning on adding support for Ogg Vorbis files nevertheless.

Am I right in assuming that if I have the Codec installed to allow Media Player to play an Ogg Vorbis file then StarBurn SDK will be able to write an audio CD from Ogg Vorbis as well?

Thanks - you made my day.

- Shaun

Yes, exactly! MS had paid your a my bills

No. For OGG Vorbis support (decoding in the 7.xx and encoding in the 9.xx) we use separate redistributable OGG Vorbis DLLs. So you don't need OGG Vorbis codec to be installed (It's rather buggy I'd say...). The same for MP3. Decoding is done via Media Formats SDK (always built-in into your system) and encoding (version 9.xx and up) is done with the nLame.dll wrapper thru the StarBurn.

I sent Thomson the information that you provided and they agree:



As for Ogg, I didn't quite follow - if I don't need the Codec then which files specifically (if any) need to go on the target machine to allow Star Burn SDK to turn an Ogg Vorbis into an Audio CD-R? And where do they go?

Sorry for what is probably a dumb question but Ogg is very new to me.

Actually, all of this is new to me. None of this would be possible without StarBurn SDK. Especially with the free version that allows me to make a freeware app with it now and later, when I want to go shareware, I can buy the shareware license.

I'm a huge fan!

So it's EXACTLY what I've told to you

You need VORBIS.DLL & VORBISFILE.DLL & OGG.DLL to be shipped with your app. They are included with the StarBurn SDK so please don't replace them with the other (probably even newer) files found in the Internet.

Take a look at the AudioCompressor and AudioBurner samples. They will show how to use sound compression API. In general you don't need to do any extra work when burning AudioCD with the StarBurn. We'll find out the file is WMA (or OGG or MP3) and decode it ourselves.

Ah, so you mean exactly what you told me

Thanks, I found exactly what you where telling me about - most appreciated.

- Shaun

)

Since you guys are using Windows Media Formats SDK does the destination machine need to have windows media player installed?

The one coming with the default Windows installation works just fine. And you can always use WMFSDK resitributable files (downloadable from MS site). But it happens virtually never...

Thanks!

You're welcomed

I've got it bombing on Windows 2000 Pro with Windows Media Player 6.4 Installed

But that is seriously to be expected.