Track Time Is Displayed Incorrectly for .MP3 Files in Windows Media Player (306507)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q306507

SYMPTOMS

When you play certain Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) layer 3 (.mp3) files in Windows Media Player for Windows XP, the total track time may be displayed incorrectly. Also, you may not be able to seek correctly on these files and the file properties for the file may also display an incorrect bit rate.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the .mp3 file was encoded at a Variable Bit Rate (VBR). Windows Media Player requires that the TLEN (or total length) field of the ID3v2 tag is set correctly to determine the appropriate length of a VBR .mp3 file. If this field is not set, the Windows Media Player samples the first few frames of the file and then estimates a length.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use an .mp3 encoder that supports the optional TLEN field of ID3v2 version 3 or later. If you do this, Windows Media Player can correctly determine the length of the .mp3 and enable accurate seek support.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

ID3v2 is a general tagging format for audio files that makes it possible to store meta data about the audio inside of the audio file itself.

For more information about the TLEN field of ID3v2 version 3 or later, view the following ID3v2 Web site:

http://www.id3.org/

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	8/18/2006
Keywords:	kbenv kbfile kbprb kbsound KB306507