Strange effect of mangled MP3

This might not be a bug, but might help people who fine-tune decoder. Ergo:

I downloaded (while testing LimeWire Gnutella client) a badly mangled Simon&Garfunkel's tune. It was missing a part near the beginning, CRC was bad, and VBR header missing or bar (all as reported by MP3Trim). Old decoder played it without a hitch (as does, say, WinAmp). Even the timecodes were reasonable.

The new decoder plays it up to the place where the piece is missing normally, then shifts in sixth gear: it plays the tune at approximately double speed (with the corresponding frequency shift). After finishing, it repeats the last part at normal speed.

The version 'repaired' by MP3Trim plays up to the missing piese, and then the player complains about bad format. Forcing it to play advances only a fraction of a second, then it complains again etc.

In the case somebody wishes to inspect the file, the zip with both original and MP3Trim-processed tune and their tag files will for the next few days be here.

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Zagreb, Croatia
Q#5196, MkII#80000376, 18GB green

Here's another one:

Some tunes from MP3.com Sampler #1 CD-ROM (some 2 or so years old) cause the player to pause with 'Illegal Format' error a second or two before the end. Unpausing causes screech, thump or something unpleasant like that and another pause. After two or three play button presses the tune is over and the next plays normally. The bug (?) is reproducible. MP3Trim gives the file clean bill of health.

I am currently uploading the sample file here. It will take some 20 minutes (till 2:30 Central European) - analog modem...

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Zagreb, Croatia
Q#5196, MkII#80000376, 18GB green

Edited by bonzi on 21/10/01 01:15 AM.

I have had several MP3's that used to play fine have some minor as well as major problems. Just reencode and all is well.