thanks Bill,
the files play fine and I have tried a lot of them.
I haven't done a disk check for a couple months so I will try that next, and see if that helps. If not then I will reinstall the program and take another look from there.
I note that if I go to program files and open real audio and then click on the convertor file I get this as it goes on line:
The XML page cannot be displayed
Cannot view XML input using XSL style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invalid at the top level of the document. Error processing resource 'file:///C:/Program Files/Real/RealConverter/RealConver...

this would indicate to me that I might need to reinstall??
OK, I just did a disk clean, then a disk check and repair, then a defrag of the c drive and the music applications partition.
Nothing changed.
I guess next is reinstall, however I will await your comments on this post first.
Thanks,
Bebop Bill
Thanks,
Bill

[This message has been edited by BEBOP (edited 03-14-2010).]

Bebop, Your post, “I am looking for a software that will convert from Real Audio (.ra)to MP3 Files”. I presume that Ra (real audio) is what you hear from a tape recorder or radio and I know you asked for a free program but I found that the program I gave you gives you options you do not get with most of the free programs.

I records from any audio source including the computer -- making wave file for a CD or MP3 file for an Ipod or MP3 player. My results have been great. There is also a program that will take your MP3 recorded songs and adjust the play back volume so that the are equal. If you are using a program just to convert to wave so that you can make CDs and have no reason to convert to MPs format then maybe my program is not right for you.

John C.

thanks John for your reply,
Real Audio was the premier compression software and maybe the only one in the past for songs you wanted to put on websites so they would stream, and the size would be smal for downloads and emails. I recorded only in Real Audio for several years. I would now like to convert all these real audio files of mine and others to MP3 so other people can receive them in email and play them.
I have a converter but it isn't working, see the posts above. I hope to resolve this problem pretty soon with Abacus Bill's help. He is my guru for such things as this problem.
Bebop

Abacus Bill,
I deleted Real Player properly and then deleted all traces left and installed a new copy.
NO joy, still same problem. Plays files fine after auto downloading a quick auto update.
Still will not convert files to MP3
What now?
Thanks,
Bebop

There's a media conversion program called Mediacoder that covers quite a lot of formats, although having had a quick look at the website it doesn't state real audio as one of the audio formats :-( but it might be worth a go!
http://www.mediacoderhq.com/

Maybe this can be for any help?
As far as I can see it's free, just have to register:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

About codecs etc, same site, another page:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central.htm

Cheers
GJ

Hi Bebop
Can you email me or upload one of the files you are having problems with, and I will try it on my system to see if the problem occurs this end. (My email is in My Profile)

One more thought, they aren’t protected files are they, (When DRM was running around Real also dabbled with protection) as this would prevent conversion. (The protection may be tied to an earlier version of Real Player)

I await your response

Bill

BTW: The dbpoweramp mentioned by others, also gets good write ups, however I have not tried it myself, so I cannot give you any further information on it.

sent you an email with three random RA files,
thanks for your ongoing help.
I got your email reply this morning Bill and gratified to hear that they won't convert on your computer for the same reason, Parsing error.
It is possible that we may be just beating a dead horse here so to speak.
I hope you come up with an easier workaround then the one I am doing. I am currently playing the RA files in to Cakewalk and recording them into MP3 one at a time. Sure is time consuming and IRRITATING that Real Audio can't/won't convert their own files
Thanks Bebop

[This message has been edited by BEBOP (edited 03-16-2010).]

Hi Bebop
You have Mail

For others that are interested, older versions (A good number of years old) of ra files cannot be converted only played, this is due to earlier security issues. (Unfortunately no currently available program will convert these earlier ones, however if anybody does come across one please post)

Bill

Thanks Bill,
I surely do appreciate your time, effort and talent to try to help me with this problem. You are appreciated not just by this write but I am sure by many of the people on this forum I have seen you help over the years, even the ones that never bothered to thank you for your efforts.
THANK YOU
Bebop