Can't play MP3s with <SFML/Audio>?

[AceDawg45]

So, first I'll post the code, then explain:

#include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
#include <SFML/Audio.hpp>
#include <Windows.h>

int main()
{
        ShowWindow(GetConsoleWindow(), SW_HIDE);
        sf::Music music;
        if (!music.openFromFile("C:\Users\Public\Music\Sample Music\Kalimba.mp3"))
                return -1; // error
        music.play();
        return 0;
}

I am using Visual Studio 2013 Express, and when I run this program, I get an irritating beeping noise and get this message:

Unhandled exception at 0x0F26DEF8 (msvcr110.dll) in sfmoDemo.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0x00297000.

I don't really know what that means. Is there anything wrong with the code? I got it from the resources page - http://www.sfml-dev.org/tutorials/2.1/audio-sounds.php - so I assume it isn't that. Is there a way that I setup SFML wrong? I'd appreciate any help I can get! Thanks!

[Jesper Juhl]

Try a .ogg file or other free format.
Mp3 is patent encumbered and I can't remember if it is supported.

[Ixrec]

Quoth the FAQ:

What audio formats does SFML support?

In addition to the formats supported by libsndfile (wav, flac, aiff, au, raw, paf, svx, nist, voc, ircam, w64, mat4, mat5 pvf, htk, sds, avr, sd2, caf, wve, mpc2k, rf64) the Audio module is also capable of playing ogg files. Unfortunatly MP3 is covered by a license from Thompson Multimedia and thus support for it is not included in SFML. For more information regarding the MP3 license, see http://www.mp3licensing.com.

[Strelok]

Bear in mind this holds true for SFML 2.1 as it might change in the future versions of SFML https://github.com/SFML/SFML/compare/feature/no_libsndfile but I don't see mp3 ever being taken in consideration.

[Nexus]

Bear in mind this holds true for SFML 2.1 as it might change in the future versions of SFML

Unless MP3 suddenly gets a different licensing model, this is not likely to happen. The restriction is not a result of the underlying sound library, as such it won't change if libsndfile is replaced.

[Strelok]

Bear in mind this holds true for SFML 2.1 as it might change in the future versions of SFML

Unless MP3 suddenly gets a different licensing model, this is not likely to happen. The restriction is not a result of the underlying sound library, as such it won't change if libsndfile is replaced.

I was referring to Ixrec's post, I see only vorbis files supported, am I wrong?

[Laurent]

The list of supported formats is clearly mentioned in the documentation. Please read it.

Future versions won't support MP3, but will provide an easy way to add it with a plugin.

[Strelok]

The list of supported formats is clearly mentioned in the documentation. Please read it.

Future versions won't support MP3, but will provide an easy way to add it with a plugin.

What I don't understand is you added vorbis as dependency, can it support all the aforementioned formats or you're still working on it?

[Laurent]

I don't know what you're referring to, but so far we are using libsndfile which handles all the formats that we want (and also some that we don't need).

But due to its license, it will soon (2.2 or 2.3) be replaced with lower level libraries (libogg, libvorbis, libflac, ...) and we'll support WAV, OGG/Vorbis and FLAC. This new system will also make it very easy to write extensions to handle other formats. In the end, people will probably be able to use plugins written by the community to extend the set of formats (including MP3, if they can handle the license).

[Strelok]

we'll support WAV, OGG/Vorbis and FLAC. This new system will also make it very easy to write extensions to handle other formats. In the end, people will probably be able to use plugins written by the community to extend the set of formats (including MP3, if they can handle the license).

So I was right, the supported formats will change in the next releases. I phrased everything wrong but what I meant was "it's likely the supported formats will change in the future, but mp3 won't be part of the changes" that's why I linked the git branch.
Sometimes I switch to lazy non sensical english when I'm on my tablet. Sorry for the misunderstanding and thanks for the heads up. 

[Laurent]

No problem

[Mario]

Ignoring licensing/file support, I don't think this should cause any exception to be thrown. Are you sure you're using the correct library version, i.e. SFML compiled with VS 2012 as well?

[Laurent]

The irritating beeping noise is most likely caused by a debug/release mix.

[FRex]

And so is the crash, for me it has clear error

Failed to open sound file "mp3.mp3" (File contains data in an unknown format.)

[Mario]

That error message is fine and intentional, but the program should quite (follow your return -1;) rather than crashing (before leaving SFML).