MP4 import issues even with ffmpeg and latest version

[lkwelsh]

**************************RESOLVED****************************




Hi there!

OS=10.14.6
Audacity=2.3.2.0

I've tried everything short of completely uninstalling and wiping all audacity folders from my computer but can't seem to solve this issue. I tried all the instructions twice just to make sure, but can't seem to figure out where it went wrong:

Even when I confirm the ffmpeg is correct and mounted, I get a scrambled screeching sound for every mp4 I try to import. Sample attached.

I viewed the Diagnostics>show log and didn't really understand the majority of the messages, but it seemed to be correct. Attached here as well.

I'd appreciate any help I can get, and sorry if it's a simple fix that I somehow have overlooked!

[kozikowski]

I confirm the ffmpeg is correct and mounted

How? There are two different FFMpegs now. One for 32-bit and one for 64-bit. It's possible you carefully mounted the wrong one. Checking.

Koz

[kozikowski]

https://lame.buanzo.org/#lameosx64bitdl

64-bit Libraries.

Did you allow your Mac to hide filename extensions? That's probably a bad idea when you're having troubles. This may look different on yours.

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 5.41.22.png (53.01 KiB) Viewed 463 times

Where did you get your sound files from and do they actually have the .mp4 extension? Also, right-click on one and Get-Info.

How long are they? If they're under 2MB, you can try to attach one here.

Test.m4a

(122.77 KiB) Downloaded 11 times

Audacity can't make a video file.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Does that open in your Audacity? If not, you have the wrong FFMpeg.

Koz

[lkwelsh]

I confirm the ffmpeg is correct and mounted

How? There are two different FFMpegs now. One for 32-bit and one for 64-bit. It's possible you carefully mounted the wrong one. Checking.

Koz

Thanks for helping to trouble shoot:

I used this link to download a 64-bit ffmpeg:https://lame.buanzo.org/#lameosx64bitdl >> https://lame.buanzo.org/ffmpeg_64bit_osx.pkg like it says on the official audacity manual.

https://lame.buanzo.org/#lameosx64bitdl

64-bit Libraries.

Did you allow your Mac to hide filename extensions? That's probably a bad idea when you're having troubles. This may look different on yours.



Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 5.41.22.png

Where did you get your sound files from and do they actually have the .mp4 extension? Also, right-click on one and Get-Info.

How long are they? If they're under 2MB, you can try to attach one here.


Test.m4a

Audacity can't make a video file.

Koz

Not sure if hiding filename/extensions affects how audacity sees the files, and it seems to be the correct one when I use the Preferences>>Library>>Locate feature in audacity to confirm it's the correct ffmpeg.

I've attached a screenshot of an mp4 as example, and I'll put a link for the original mp4 here. It was sent by a client that I'm dubbing over the video for.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x2ulv06b594q5 ... 1.mp4?dl=0

Does that open in your Audacity? If not, you have the wrong FFMpeg.

Koz

It "opens" in audacity...but it create the screeching garbled audio file I attached above for any mp4 I import.

[kozikowski]

It "opens" in audacity...but it create the screeching garbled audio

To back up a bit. I mean the little .m4a that I posted. We know yours have problems. Mine should be a short, mellow, 400Hz broadcast test tone. Is it?

Not sure if hiding filename/extensions affects how audacity sees the files

Now how Audacity sees them. How you see them. You wouldn't be the first person to pound away at trying to open a file only to have it turn out to really be a foreign file type with a hidden file extension and no amount of pounding is going to open it.

~~

Fascinating. It opens in the older Audacity 2.3.0 and two different machines internal video player but not in Audacity 2.3.1.

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 18.39.02.png (19.19 KiB) Viewed 433 times

I think you're going to wander right out of my field. I don't have 2.3.2 on anything, or the updated plugins, so I can't test this particular problem. But yes, it does appear to be technically correct and as I said, it does open and play perfectly on an older Audacity. Did you do updates between now and the last time this worked?

This will take me a bit to catch up. As we go.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Just to do it, I opened 2.3.0 on two different machines and the video opens and plays perfectly.

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 18.59.05.png (44.19 KiB) Viewed 432 times

With honey crystals and brown rice......

????

Koz

[lkwelsh]

It "opens" in audacity...but it create the screeching garbled audio

To back up a bit. I mean the little .m4a that I posted. We know yours have problems. Mine should be a short, mellow, 400Hz broadcast test tone. Is it?

Not sure if hiding filename/extensions affects how audacity sees the files

Now how Audacity sees them. How you see them. You wouldn't be the first person to pound away at trying to open a file only to have it turn out to really be a foreign file type with a hidden file extension and no amount of pounding is going to open it.

~~

Fascinating. It opens in the older Audacity 2.3.0 and two different machines internal video player but not in Audacity 2.3.1.



Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 18.39.02.png


I think you're going to wander right out of my field. I don't have 2.3.2 on anything, or the updated plugins, so I can't test this particular problem. But yes, it does appear to be technically correct and as I said, it does open and play perfectly on an older Audacity. Did you do updates between now and the last time this worked?

This will take me a bit to catch up. As we go.

Koz

Sorry for misunderstanding. Yes, the M4a you sent opens perfectly fine. I think I had this issue with the prior install 2.3.x but I'm not sure which it version it was. I just know it didn't happen before I did the last two updates.

Would you recommend I find the 2.3.0 and see if the problem persists with the older version that works on your computer?

[kozikowski]

Not done yet. (Rolling up sleeves)

I just did a fresh install of Audacity 2.3.2 on my High Sierra 10.13.6 and installed the recommended FFMpeg. Now the video opens correctly in both 2.3.0 and 2.3.2. I would have put money on the new install crippling the older Audacity, but no. Both live.

I am opening the video by dragging it from the desktop into the open-and-waiting Audacity. If that how you're doing it?

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 19.35.37.png (31.78 KiB) Viewed 425 times

Did you get a bad download? 89MB. The string between me and the central office got hot.

Koz

[kozikowski]

The sound rate is 48000 standard for video and the show length is 1 min 11.68 Seconds.

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 19.40.14.png (67.98 KiB) Viewed 425 times

I just hate it when I get toxic chemicals in my exfoliate.

Koz