How can I determine the length (i.e. duration) of a .wav file in C#?

Question

In the uncompressed situation I know I need to read the wav header, pull out the number of channels, bits, and sample rate and work it out from there: (channels) * (bits) *

Answer 1

I had difficulties with the example of the MediaPlayer-class above. It could take some time, before the player has opened the file. In the "real world" you have to register for the MediaOpened-event, after that has fired, the NaturalDuration is valid. In a console-app you just have to wait a few seconds after the open.

using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows;

namespace ConsoleApplication2
{
  class Program
  {
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
      if (args.Length == 0)
        return;
      Console.Write(args[0] + ": ");
      MediaPlayer player = new MediaPlayer();
      Uri path = new Uri(args[0]);
      player.Open(path);
      TimeSpan maxWaitTime = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10);
      DateTime end = DateTime.Now + maxWaitTime;
      while (DateTime.Now < end)
      {
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);
        Duration duration = player.NaturalDuration;
        if (duration.HasTimeSpan)
        {
          Console.WriteLine(duration.TimeSpan.ToString());
          break;
        }
      }
      player.Close();
    }
  }
}