Concatenating mp3s

[Todd_Delaney]

I can easliy concatenate mp3's in a batch file:

type audio1.mp3 > final.mp3
type audio2.mp3 >> final.mp3
type audio3.mp3 >> final.mp3

any suggestions on doing this with PHP?

[Drakla]

Do you mean create a single mp3 from a few? Like a 12 minute one from 3 x 4 minute ones? If so then there's a few problems, some of them might be of different bitrates, some might be variable bitrate, so they'd have to be converted, and with that comes a loss in quality. You'd have to strip the headers...

So it's not an easy thing to do - especially not with php

[Todd_Delaney]

That's correct - create a 12 minute mp3 from 3 x 4 minute files.

The bitrate stays the same.

The batch file works fine - I've done it several times.

Does this help at all?

[tommynanda]

When u have a batch file that can do the work, why not just use exec() or system() command to execute that batch file

TommYNandA

[Shrike]

Well you peaked my interest, so I tried it.

<?php
$composite = 0;
$files = array("1.mp3", "2.mp3");
foreach($files as $file){
	$fdata = file_get_contents($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].$file);
	$composite .= $fdata;
}
$fhandle = fopen("composite.mp3", "w+");
fputs($fhandle, $composite);

?>

This seems to work, the resulting file contained the two MP3's and played back ok. I reckon you may have to adjust PHP's memory allowance, and as has been said bit rates might have an impact. Seems pretty straightforward though.

[Mordecai]

When you do this, you essentially have two headers, which may confuse the player. I'd read up on the MP3 format on how to remove the headers from each of the files and create a new one for the batch file.

[Todd_Delaney]

Superb! I thank you all for your help!