Is there any way to verify or repair an MP3 File?

Question

I've got a Rio Cali MP3 Player. I occasionally have problems with MP3's -- they won't play. I may upload 140 tracks to the Rio's memory card, and out of the 140, 3 or 4 tracks won't play. They play fine in iTunes and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them, however they won't play on the Rio, even if I reload them.
This makes me suspect that there is something wrong with the MP3 file, however I can't figure out what's wrong or how to verify the file.
Is there some way I can check and repair a damaged MP3 file -- perhaps a mac or unix utility?

Answer 1

MP3Trimmer will give you a report of what problems it
encountered. You will have to scroll through a long
list of the frames though. Unfortunately as you have
pointed out it does not batch process files,
something i have long asked him to implement, amongst
other things.
The report may identify that there were problems
which at least tells you were you stand.
Thanks. I'll take a closer look at MP3Trimmer and see if I can figure out exactly what's happening with the error files.
Definitely try changing your format for those
particular problem files and see if that fixes
things.
The other thing is to examine your original CD for
defects if the problems reappear at the same point. I
have found that CD drives with diferent lasers can
give different results. When my slower dual layer
DVD/CD drive in my iMac G5 fails me I will often
successfully use my high speed external CD burner.
Also give the CD a careful wipe with an optical
(glasses) cloth it may just be a smudge or grime on
the surface.
I have had problems with CDs. I typically copy all the AIFF's to my HD first, and have had some files not copy. I usually try cleaning the disk or use a different CD reader for those files. I usually manage to get all the AIFFs onto my HD, where I run an Applescript that renames the files. I then import them into iTunes where i rip them and add ID3 tags. They rip and play fine i iTunes.
I noted your settings. I do a heck of a lot of what
you are talking about and have a How to make
Audiobooks "manual" floating around the net.
I'll do some trolling and see if I can find it.
I suggest you forget the VBR, it makes little
difference to a 32kbs MP3 ripped from a good quality
source but as I have noted seems less reliable.
Sounds like a good suggestion. I haven't done any size comparisons with and without VBR, but I suspect it's pretty negligible.
Also I suggest you join the tracks into one file per CD,
usually 30-60mins long and much less cumbersome than
hundreds of meaninglessly divided tracks.
That alone may ride over your problem.
That might get pretty labor-intensive especially for a 10 or 15 disk set. Plus, the Rio chokes on big files -- I think it's more than the ram can handle. I've downloaded a few books from iTunes and have had to cut them up into smaller segments. I've also found it easier to bookmark smaller files than to try to scroll thru a 30 min track to find the spot where you left off.