Some MP3 utilities

RLV.EXE - Front-end for LAME (4.5K). This program must be run from a command prompt.  It will search the path for LAME.EXE and use it to encode all WAV files in the directory from which it is run.  LAME parameters default to "-v -V0 -q2 --nohist", but can be overridden on the command line.

DecAPE.EXE - Front-end for Monkey's Audio (6.0K). This program will search the path for MAC.EXE and pass a proper command line to it so that the selected APE file will be decompressed.  The resulting WAV file will have the same filename as the input APE file.  The best use of this utility is realized when it is added to the right-click or double-click menu for APE files under EXPLORER.EXE.

MP3toWAV.EXE - MP3 to WAV converter (36.0K).  This program will decode one or more MP3 files and store the output in the WAV file format.  If a filename is specified on the command line or passed to the program by Windoze, only that file will be converted.  If the program is invoked with no parameters, it will convert all MP3 files in the directory from which it is run.  Output files will have the same names as the input MP3s.  The expected use of this utility is from the command prompt.

TAG.EXE - MP3 tagger (8.0K).  This program will insert or correct ID3 tags based on the Windoze long filenames or the Windoze file path.  If a filename is specified on the command line or passed to the program by Windoze, only that file will be tagged.  If the program is invoked with no parameters or a -a option, it will tag all MP3 files in the directory from which it is run.  In filename mode, the filenames must have one of the following formats:
Artist - Album - Title.mp3
Artist - Track # - Album - Title.mp3
Artist - Album - Track # - Title.mp3
Track # - Artist - Album - Title.mp3
If the track number is present, it will be inserted into the tag.

If the option /p (or -p) is specified, the tag will be created from the Windoze path.  The path to the current directory is searched backwards and the tag fields created from the path and filename.  The directory structure is expected to have the format:
c:\...\Artist\Album\Title.mp3
Track numbers in the title field are stripped (i.e.: 03 - Song Title.mp3 becomes Song Title.

In either mode, files with tags that match their filenames or paths are ignored.  Files with incorrect tags are fixed.  Tags are inserted into files without them.  Up to four instances of this utility can be added to the right-click menu for MP3 files under EXPLORER.EXE, with all combinations of the -a and -p options. Then a single file or directory can be tagged by right-clicking on a file.  A whole directory may also be tagged by running the program from a command prompt with no or the /p option.

TESTMP3.EXE - MP3 file checker (7.0K).  This program checks the format and structure of an MP3 file and reports what it finds.  No changes are made to the file.  The best use of this utility is realized when it is added to the right-click menu for MP3 files under EXPLORER.EXE.

ChkMP3.EXE - MP3 file fixer (7.0K).  This program finds and fixes many strange things some encoders write into MP3 files, many of which preclude proper decoding by MPR.EXE, MPJ.EXE or MPW.EXE.  If a filename is specified on the command line or passed to the program by Windoze, only that file will be checked.  If the program is invoked with no parameters or a -a option, it will check all MP3 files in the directory from which it is run.

The following items are found and repaired:

	ID3 header length
	1st frame negative main_data_begin
	Valid frame header sync words
	Illegal 1st frame sample rate
	Truncated last frame
	Corrupt last-frame tag
	Frame header copyright bits

Warning: This program writes changes to the MP3 file.  If this is not what you want, don't run the program.

Two instances of this utility should be added to the right-click menu for MP3 files under EXPLORER.EXE, one with no parameters and one with the -a option.  Then a single file can be checked by right-clicking on it and selecting the instance with no options.  The entire directory can be checked by right-clicking on any file and selecting the -a instance.  A whole directory may also be checked by running the program from a command prompt without options.

REMFRM.EXE - MP3 leading frame remover (6.0K).  This program removes the specified number of frames or seconds from the beginning of an MP3 file.  It tries to prepend a new first null frame to prevent decode errors.  Any ID3 header is copied to the new file unchanged.  The modified file is written to the same filename with "-rem" appended to the filename.  The best use of this utility is realized when it is added to the right-click menu for MP3 files under EXPLORER.EXE.

REMFRME.EXE - MP3 trailing frame remover (6.0K).  This program truncates an MP3 file at the specified frame or time.  The file is chopped after the requested frame, so any ID3 trailer is lost.  The modified file is written to the same filename with "-rem" appended to the filename.  The best use of this utility is realized when it is added to the right-click menu for MP3 files under EXPLORER.EXE.