Nero AAC and the Zen

[MoreMiPlez]

Is there any option to make the Nero AAC encoder work with the Zen? I read it only uses iTunes... but I could have just bought an iPod if I wanted that.


Anybody try tweaking it? I know the iPod only accepts LC-AAC, it doesn't take HE-AAC. Nero encodes in both, but does HE-AAC default.

Anybody mess with LC-AAC?

[CrowdAds]

[Valdr]

Have you tried latest firmware? It improves AAC support.

[wizard_sexy]

Did it help??
i too had this problem... long back..
but now i simply convert them to MP3

[skippyg]

WAIT! i found something on this it IS INDEED possible.
http://forums.creative.com/creativel...sage.id=207028

[ZenChick]

Originally Posted by skippyg

WAIT! i found something on this it IS INDEED possible.
http://forums.creative.com/creativel...sage.id=207028

Nice find!

So it seems the only difference between Nero AAC and iTunes AAC is some header data?

[skippyg]

Yuppers

[Apprentice57]

I primarily use my zen for listening to audiobooks. I usually borrow them on CD from my local library, and rip them to high quality mp3 (for compatability). Lately I have settled on AAC as a solution to make the size of my audiobooks smaller, (I would use WMA pro, or voice, but I find neither of them are supported). I heard of the problems of Nero AAC support, so I used Itunes to convert my mp3 files from 320kbs mp3 to 80kbs aac, with CBR. I try to add these to my zen, and it comes up with an error message stating the problem was "unknown".

This leads me to my question, am I doing something wrong that prevents the zen from being able to process the file? And are you guys (and girls) facing the same problems?

*side note* Yes they are in a .m4a extension, and I checked this with smaller music files also, and at different bitrates- the outcome does not change.

[skippyg]

it may be some issue thats the same with Nero AAC idk try this
http://forums.creative.com/creativel...sage.id=207028

[Apprentice57]

I tried that, and it finishes in about a second, which either means the program isn't working, or my files should work with the zen.

[Apprentice57]

Anybody else? Even if you don't have a solution, you could post if you are/ or if you are not experiencing the same problem. This is annoying me greatly, and I don't want to use wma.

[ZenChick]

Try 64 or 128kbps AAC. 80kbps seems like a rather odd/unusual figure.

[tas69]

The new Nero AAC codec 1.3.3.0 seems to support the Zen *.m4a format. So far I've used foobar2000 to convert to vbr q0.50 and those files work on the Zen, though I had to rename the files from *.mp4 to *.m4a. This new version of the codec replaces the previous version which was about a year old judging by their release notes (found here: http://www.nero.com/eng/technologies...ase-notes.html)

The codec is free and available from Nero here:
http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-ne...-aac-codec.php

[BobbyRS]

Nice find tas69. Thanks for posting.

Thread merged with existing Nero thread.

[matt_t]

I'm sure I've seen something somewhere on Hydrogenaudio which suggests that Nero 1.3.3.0-encoded AAC files will play on the Zen - or rather that the new version was meant to be compatible with the Zen. Don't think there was any confirmation.

Anyone tried it? Does it work? (He asked hopefully....)

Thanks for any info.

[BobbyRS]

Thread merged with existing Nero thread.

[matt_t]

Maybe if a definitive answer can be established, it could be added to the FAQs? Just un petit suggestion.....

BTW This "FQT" (Frequently Quoted Thread): http://forums.creative.com/creativel...cending&page=1 was last active in June, whereas Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 was released in September, so it might be obsolete.

[BobbyRS]

Originally Posted by matt_t

Maybe if a definitive answer can be established, it could be added to the FAQs? Just un petit suggestion.....

Maybe. It isn't much of a frequently asked question though.

Originally Posted by matt_t

BTW This "FQT" (Frequently Quoted Thread): http://forums.creative.com/creativel...cending&page=1 was last active in June, whereas Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 was released in September, so it might be obsolete.

Did you see this a few posts up:

Originally Posted by tas69

The new Nero AAC codec 1.3.3.0 seems to support the Zen *.m4a format. So far I've used foobar2000 to convert to vbr q0.50 and those files work on the Zen, though I had to rename the files from *.mp4 to *.m4a. This new version of the codec replaces the previous version which was about a year old judging by their release notes (found here: http://www.nero.com/eng/technologies...ase-notes.html)

The codec is free and available from Nero here:
http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-ne...-aac-codec.php

[ClonZa]

It's damn confused to play aac on ZEN(no metadata or couldn't even play!), but here's a PERFECT solution(after a long time of experiment).

1, Rip your CD with Foobar2000 with Latest Release of Nero-AAC Encoder [IMPORTANT]

CBR or VBR,410Kbps max.

[File bitrate over 410Kbps can not be transferred into ZEN.]


2, Edit metadata and add your Album Art Cover...........

3, Transfer them with ZEN Media Explorer ["Add Media"]

[IMPORTANT: Never ever drag-and-drop your AAC files into ZEN,
or music METADATA will be lost!
and The most serious thing is:the estimated and remaining time will always be 00:00, you can not fast forward of fast reward! So, Please use "Add Media" to avoid these ******* problem.]



4,
Whew...all done! ENJOY!

[BobbyRS]

Welcome ClonZa. Thread merged with existing Nero AAC thread.

[Jethro]

Originally Posted by ClonZa

It's damn confused to play aac on ZEN(no metadata or couldn't even play!)...

Originally Posted by tas69

The new Nero AAC codec 1.3.3.0 seems to support the Zen *.m4a format. So far I've used foobar2000 to convert to vbr q0.50 and those files work on the Zen, though I had to rename the files from *.mp4 to *.m4a.

$79 from Amazon is tempting, but I'm curious about NeroAAC before buying. Is it working with the Zen? From creative's forum, I noticed that a new Zen Compatability tool was uploaded today.
tas69 have you tried encoding foobar/Nero with the .m4a container instead of .mp4? I'm curious if that would make a difference with metadata. Thanks