I (apparently like others) am having problems getting Audacity to recognize the FFmpeg dlls. I have tried installing them in the installer-default \program files\FFmpeg For Audacity folder, in the \program files(x86)\FFmpeg For Audacity folder, and in \program files(x86)\Audacity\plugins\ffmpeg. In all cases Audacity doesn’t find them. Again in all cases when I go to edit > preferences > libraries > locate and browse to the location, it is looking for files of type: Only avformat.dll, there is no such type because the filename is avformat-55.dll. When I set files of type to all and select that file and click OK, nothing happens.
So it still says it can’t find the files, but there they are. What am I doing wrong?
I just downloaded 3.0.4. today 9/17/21 Audacity wants to know where the avformat-55.dll is at so I went to Preferences Libraries hit the Locate button typed in where it’s at and it still says not found, when I close the program and reopen Audacity go back to the Libraries hit it says "Audacity needs the file “avformat-55dll to import and export audio” while at the same time in the box supplied from the locate button it says this “C:\Program Files\Audacity\avformat-55.dll” Which is exactly where the file is? I have attached a screen shot of Audacity showing me it knows where the file is while asking me where the file is??? WTH is up with that!!!
If you have updated from Audacity 2.x to (64-bit) Audacity 3.0.4, you will need to uninstall “FFmpeg for Audacity” and install the 64-bit version.
See: Installing FFmpeg for Windows - Audacity Manual