Playlist (.m3u) bug

[Rexy]

I am running into an error with .m3u playlist files. 

Poweramp build-905-arm-play [905004-96b6d050]

I am creating the .m3u files on my Mac and then transferring them over to the Android via Android File Transfer. The file structure on the Android (SD card) is mirrored from the Mac. I am certain none of the following are the problem:

• wrong-way slashes \'s vs /'s
• mismatched paths
• SD card access
• anything random introduced by Android File Transfer

So here's the weird thing: I put three files to the playlist file, do the transfers (flacs + m3u), and then attempt to load in Poweramp. In Poweramp, Library->Playlists shows me the new playlist, that is has three files, and that is has about the expected playing time. It even shows the cover of one of the music files.

But it still says "Doesn't look like anything to me" and there is nothing to play. 

I think the issue may be the size of the music files. Smaller files do not seem to have an issue (the ones I am trying to add are full album rips, so therefore 40 minutes and up). 

Is this a known problem? Are there limits on playlist entries as to the size or length of the music file? 

I can provide particulars if someone wants. Thanks for reading.

[andrewilley]

There is no limit as to the size of the audio files, if they are in a Playlist then they should be playable from there.

PA does not use full (or even relative) paths, nor does it care about "/" vs "\". Files are matched against playlist entries solely on the quoted full filename and the first level containing folder name, the rest of the path details are irrelevant.

If some contents have changed from previous files during the file transfer process, try doing a Settings > Library > FULL Rescan.

There aren't any CUE files connected to the FLACs are there? Bear in mind that with FLACs, CUE data can be embedded instead of existing as a separate sidecar file.

Andre

[Rexy]

I found what might be the problem. Here are two files I have copied to the Android --

/Music/all/b/bach-english_suite_1-perahia/bach-english_suite_1-perahia.flac
/Music/all/b/bach-english_suite_1-perahia/bach-english_suite_1-perahia.flac.cue

One is the .flac music file, the other is a .cue file for indexing the tracks in it.

Next, I have a .m3u file that looks like this -

#EXTINF:1348, Johann Sebastian Bach - English Suite for Keyboard No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806
\Music\all\b\bach-english_suite_1-perahia\bach-english_suite_1-perahia.flac

(it has more in it than that, I'm just showing the relevant parts) This playlist cannot be processed by Poweramp. It says "Looks like nothing to me." The .cue file can be played by selecting it directly, and so can the .flac file. But the playlist file is a no-go. 

I've been using .m3u files in PA for ages and have never run into this; maybe I never noticed? But the error behavior is 100% consistent on other playlists that refer to files that have the same naming convention (name.flac + name.flac.cue). 

btw, this convention is a leftover artifact of using Total Recorder to generate the .cue files. I will attempt to remove the .flac part of the .cue filename and see if that makes PA any happier. Also btw, I have done a full rescan and it still occurs. 

Thanks for the hint, Andre.

[maxmp]

You may need to enable CUE Image files in Poweramp settings, as otherwise those (large unsplit files) are hidden and can't be resolved for a playlist.

[Rexy]

1 hour ago, maxmp said:

You may need to enable CUE Image files in Poweramp settings, as otherwise those (large unsplit files) are hidden and can't be resolved for a playlist.

That did it! Thanks!

[andrewilley]

Hence my earlier question of whether you had any CUE files involved.

If that CUE file simply points to one audio file in order to play the whole thing as one track, it's probably best to just delete the CUE file completely as it serves no purpose for Poweramp.

However if the CUE file is splitting one large audio recording into several 'pseudo tracks' then you'll need to keep it if you want be able to play those individual songs via the PA Library. But you can't access those fake individual tracks in playlists, only the original large containing audio file (assuming you have enabled display of those full unsplit files, as Max has said).

Andre

[Rexy]

Thanks Andre, it all makes perfect sense now.