http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#ffdown
I followed the instructions to install ffmpeg in order for Audacity to be able to import mp4 files. It doesn’t work.
Before I go more into this, can I ask why this plugin is required as a separate download in the first place? Is it difficult for the programmers to program audacity to be able to just import some audio format like an mp4?
It doesn’t work.
Maybe it doesn’t work on your file. You can use MediaInfo to tell what you really have…
http://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download
…or you can get an idea by telling Windows to stop hiding the filename extensions.
Hidden File Extensions - Windows
– Start > My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View > [ ] Hide Extensions for Known File Types (deselect)
– Apply (to this folder) or Apply to All Folders
– OK
Audacity uses external software because of copyright issues, program size issues and in the case of FFMpeg, I’m guessing it changes more often than Audacity does. You can’t hide license fees in a free sound program. Koz