Converting AIFF to text

[lemallard]

I am looking to do time-based analysis of the AIFF files that I am creating. (In contrast to frequency-based.) This requires that I convert the AIFF file into something that I can analyze directly, such as a txt file.

I can read the AIFF file in a text editor, but I need to convert the data.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can accomplish this, and where I can get a symbol list to perform the conversion myself?

[CDJonah_alt]

Years ago in a country far away, I used Amadeus (some earlier version)
to write a raw data file out. I then analyzed the data using a simple C
program that I wrote (my first and last C program). I then wrote the
output out and then had Amadeus read it and turn it back into an Aiff
flle. This was for a power pc so of course the bytes were swapped from
the intel.

Probably as easy a route as any is to dump a raw file, read the data
in, byte/word by byte/wordand then print out the values in text to the
screen and pipe the screen to a file.

Chuck
On 9/19/12 10:38 AM, lemallard wrote:

[lemallard]

That is exactly what I am looking to do. However, as I read the file in its native format, the symbols are ineligible. So, I will also need to know what the symbol list is--unless what I am reading is native to Amadeus.

[CDJonah]

Did you read it as a raw file?

I don't think it is practicable to read it into a text editor -- most of
the values are not normal text values -- some will be control
characters, etc.

I can probably find my old C program and rearrange it to generate bytes
to text and then you can read the data in and re-interpret it (have to
put bytes back into 16-bit words, worry about sign, etc.)

Chuck

On 9/19/12 12:34 PM, lemallard wrote:

[lemallard]

Yes, I read it as a raw file. Looking at your C-code would be a good start.

[CDJonah]

Okay, I will need to find it -- maybe tonight

chuck

On 9/19/12 11:07 PM, lemallard wrote:

[lemallard]

Thanks. I know that this is obscure, but it is necessary.

[CDJonah]

It would be except I must have deleted that folder. I have traces of
the program but nothing useful any more. I went back a couple of backups
and still couldn't find it. It may well have been 5 or more years ago.

As I recall, I read the file in byte by byte, put the two bytes together
to make the word and went from there. But I wouldn't want to count on my
memory as I seemed to have deleted everything and I don't remember that.
It was an old laptop with a limited disk drive..

Chuck

On 9/19/12 11:07 PM, lemallard wrote:

[lemallard]

Thanks for the effort, Chuck. I am assuming that I will be able to read this directly, even though it is not a text file. The question now is the format of the file.

[rockbottom]

if you are a programmer the simplest solution would be to use the python language with one of the aif, wav, or audio op modules available from the python standard library:

http://docs.python.org/modindex.html

I tried that approach some time ago, using the aifc module, and I didn't have to worry about what you call the format of the file: it will only take you one line of code to open an aiff file, and another one to read its audio frames; plus any manipulations you'd want to perform on that data, of course;

from my experience, developing such a program is certainly faster than when using the C language... the drawback is that the performance is way slower but for a one-shot program, it's alright!

[lemallard]

Thank you, rockbottom! That does sound much, much simpler. I do not use Python, but I am more than happy to learn to do so, if it simplifies this problem for me!

[rockbottom]

ah, not only does it sound simple but since python code looks much like english, it is actually very simple; all you'll have to learn is how to open a terminal window and type a command...

for instance, if the python program is:

[lemallard]

Thank you again! When I work on this, I will get back to you about how I did it. This is clearly a good route to take.