FFmpeg issues Windows 11

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

Hello All!

I have been trying to fix this issue all day, and reading as much as I can on the Forum, but I’m just plain exhausted and don’t know how to fix this issue. I could only find information on the forum about this problem from a few years ago, nothing very recent.

I have the latest Audacity version 3.7.3 and Windows 11

I have recorded a chapter of an audio book and each time I try to copy/paste something the program freezes up. This is the error I’m getting. I have downloaded all the modules, they are all enabled. I have tried to locate the two dll’s I’m missing 60dll and 61dll FFmpeg. I there anyone that can give me a hand with this or send me to a youtube video? I’ve been at this for 16 hours. Thanks to everyone!

22:32:13: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-61.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
22:32:13: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-60.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
22:32:13: FFmpeg libraries loaded successfully from: C:\Program Files\FFmpeg For Audacity\avformat-59.dll

2

I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s not related to FFmpeg and those “error” messages aren’t really errors. They just mean the optional FFmpeg library isn’t installed, or isn’t installed correctly.

The FFmpeg import-export library adds support for importing-exporting additional formats such as M4A and AC3, etc.

3

If you could give me a bit more insight please. I’m reading in my ‘log’ that these are ‘errors’. I don’t know what you mean by these aren’t really errors and that the FFmpeg isn’t installed , or isn’t installed correctly. I’ve tried to install it more than once, probably about 3 times. If it isn’t installed correctly, I would love to know which button I need to push to install it correctly.

This -

The FFmpeg import-export library adds support for importing-exporting additional formats such as M4A and AC3, etc.

Does not make any sense to me. All I’m trying to do is edit a recording of my voice, no instruments, no overdubs, no BG vocals… just my voice, which I recorded. It has been working fine for 4 separate chapters of an audio book, and on this particular chapter I can’t copy a 1 second piece of ‘dead air’ and place it in a spot where I want to take out a breath.

4

Audacity looks in multiple places for multiple versions of Audacity. In the log info that you posted (shown below), we can see that:

  • the first attempt was looking for avformat-61.dllbut it was not found.
  • the second attempt was looking for avformat-60.dll but it was not found.
  • the third attempt was looking for avformat-59.dll, which was found and successfully loaded without error.
5

Hi Steve,

Yes, that 59.dll was fixed after I re-downloaded the library from the Audacity site, but the 60.dll and 61.dll did not download with it.

6

Again… Installing the OPTIONAL FFmpeg Import/Export Library will NOT fix your editing problems. :frowning:

…If you are making an ACX audiobook book they want MP3 which doesn’t not require FFmpeg.

+++++++++++++
If FFmpeg is installed it should show-up under Edit → Preferences → Libraries.

Normally, all you have to do is download and RUN FFmpeg_5.0.0_for_Audacity_on_Windows_x86_64.exe. It should get installed and you should be ready-to-go. (You might have to re-start Audacity.)

P.S.
I don’t have 60 or 61 on my computer so I don’t think they are part of the Audacity FFmpeg install and I have no idea why you’re seeing that message.

7

if you are still having editing problems and freezing, you might need to give us more details about exactly what you’re doing when that happens.

Or you can try oceanaudio (free) or GoldWave ($60 for a lifetime license after free trial).

But you’ll probably want to come-back to Audacity to run the Audiobook mastering macro and ACXcheck before you submit it to ACX.

8

Hi DVDoug,

Yes, I am narrating an audio book for ACX. While I’m editing, I’ll copy a small snip of dead air to paste into a different section i.e. to eliminate a breath, or a pop of room noise. Copy function is fine, but when I go to paste the program freezes. This is what happens. Any help would be so appreciated. My book is due in a couple of weeks. I am recording one chapter at a time, so the files shouldn’t be too big, if that might be an issue? I am just so frustrated, especially if I have to switch to a new recording program, trying to learn the new program and get the work done. this is a screen shot.

image
image1419×919 88.4 KB

Thanks,
Lisa

9

This is the log that I got from the diagnosis on Audacity after I the program freezes and then I have to restart it.

12:00:01: Audacity 3.7.3
12:00:01: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-61.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
12:00:01: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-60.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
12:00:01: FFmpeg libraries loaded successfully from: C:\Program Files\FFmpeg For Audacity\avformat-59.dll
12:00:03: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-61.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
12:00:03: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-60.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
12:00:03: FFmpeg libraries loaded successfully from: C:\Program Files\FFmpeg For Audacity\avformat-59.dll

10

I know that you don’t have avformat-61.dll or avformat-60.dll on your computer because the Audacity log message says that they cannot be found on your computer .

The log is NOT an “error”, it is just a log that shows some of the things that Audacity is doing - in this case it is looking to see if you have any supported version of FFmpeg installed, and it finds that:

  • You DO NOT have avformat-61.dll
  • You DO NOT have avformat-60.dll
  • You DO have avformat-59.dll, and Audacity has been able to load it successfully.
11

Thanks so much DVDoug! I have downloaded oceanaudio at this point, now I’m off to You Tube university to learn how to work with the program to finish the editing. I really love the Audacity program and find it so user friendly so I’m sad to move away from using it. But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do lol :slight_smile:

12

I can’t duplicate that but here’s another way to try:

Instead of “cut”, select the part you don’t want and then use Generate → Silence to overwrite that part with silence.

Then Tracks → Add New.

Copy and past your “room tone” into the new track. You can drag it left or right in the timeline.

When you play or export, the two tracks will be mixed.

You can also try fading-in and fading out and overlapping for a better “blend”. Or you might want to wait for next time when you’re not under as much time-pressure.

13

Just an update, I actually tried to do a ‘copy/paste’ with an already finished chapter of the book, and it worked just fine, absolutely no issues. So it might actually just be the audio file I’m working on. Just wanted to pass that along.

14

And, as if by magic, the University of YouTube comes to you: Ocenaudio tutorials by Osirus.
These seem to be the best resources I’ve found for Ocenaudio (only one ‘a’)
I hope they help.
Mark B

15

Hmm… how can audacity ask for “avformat-61.dll” &al? These are from later
versions of ffmpeg. How would it know about them? Is it possible that a plugin
or other add-on is somehow attached to them and brought this dependency with it?

If you want to try using a more recent ffmpeg which does have these dlls rather
than the audacity favored one (which is fairly old),
you can look at the thread where I describe my adventures getting it to work.
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/cant-use-alternate-ffmpeg/129597

Read thru the thread and the ffmpeg discussion in audacity’s guide
[Installing FFmpeg | Audacity Support]
(Installing FFmpeg | Audacity Support)
and you’ll be able to install a more recent version of ffmpeg. I can’t guarantee that
it will work for your application, but I’ve been using it for the past 3 months with no
issues.

16

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