Can't export, need "properly configured FFmpeg"

[kdw72697]

Hello,

I am running Audacity ® 1.3.12-beta (Unicode) an a 1-year-old Macbook Pro (OS X?). I can't get audacity to make my .aup projects into playable files. Here is a play-by-play description of what I am seeing (pardon the excessive detail).

I finished my project and saved it as .aup.

I then tried to convert it to a "playable" format by exporting.

When I attempt to do this, I get the following message: "properly configured FFmpeg is required to proceed. You can configure it at Preferences > Libraries."

When I go to Preferences > Libraries, I get a pop-up menu:
MPs Export Library (which my computer doesn't appear to be using)
MP3 Library: locate
LAME Mp3 library: download

***AND***

FFMpeg Import/Export Library
FFmpeg library version: FFmpeg library not found.
FFMpeg library: locate
FF MPEG library: Download

When I attempt to "locate", the following info appears: /usr/local/lib/audacity/libavformat.52.dylib.
If I tell it "ok", it sends me back and says "not found".

So I then tried the "download" option. I downloaded from here:
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... tallffmpeg

I followed the first set of Mac instructions with no success.

I then followed the zip instructions, but I was't sure how to proceed after downloading that.

I tried restarting the computer, but audacity did not recognize what I had downloaded.

Help!!

[Gale Andrews]

What format are you exporting to? You need LAME for MP3 export and FFmpeg for MP4/AAC export.

Please upgrade to Audacity 1.3.13:
http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/au ... 1.3.13.dmg

As it says on http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... Ins#ffdown:

FFmpeg 0.6.2 for Windows and Mac listed below requires Audacity 1.3.13 or later.

it is safer to use the zip version of 1.3.13. Extract the contents to a folder called "FFmpeg_v0.6.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX" anywhere in your own user space such as your Desktop, then use the "Locate..." button in the Libraries Preferences to select and open the libavformat-52.dylib you extracted from the zip. Having done that, the FFmpeg version numbers should appear in the Libraries Preferences and you can export AAC.

Alternatively, export as WAV or AIFF and convert to MP3 or MP4 in iTunes. Here is how to convert to MP3 in iTunes:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Expor ... od#convert

Just change the iTunes Preference to AAC encoder if you want to convert to AAC.



Gale

[kozikowski]

I finished my project and saved it as .aup.

Just a point. You saved it as an Audacity Project which is a bunch of files and folders managed by the AUP file. AUP isn't a sound file.

What's the job? What are you trying to do?
Koz

[kozikowski]

That link acts funny on my machine. Try this.

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Expor ... s_and_iPod

iTunes conversion happens at the incoming step, not the export step. You change iTunes to your preferences and then import the file. Then you can drag the file back out in the new format.

Open in QuickTime Player and Command -I to get the INFO panel to make sure you did what you think you did.

Koz

[kdw72697]

thanks SO much for the quick replies. Will give it a shot this week.

I was just changing keys of songs to make it easier for my kids to sing, nothing complicated.

[Gale Andrews]

That link acts funny on my machine.

It is supposed to jump to the specific anchor point on the page that gives the iTunes instructions. Where does it go on your machine?

iTunes conversion happens at the incoming step, not the export step. You change iTunes to your preferences and then import the file. Then you can drag the file back out in the new format.

. Not on Windows. If you drag in a WMA file, iTunes offers to convert it to MP3, otherwise it imports pre-existing audio files exactly as they are. That "Import Settings" button is only concerned with the format to which CD tracks are ripped, but as a confusing "bonus" feature it also controls the format to which files are converted on right-click. I would be shocked if you had that set to MP3 for CD ripping and then you drag in a WAV and it converts it to MP3. Can you please check that?

Also, is that "Import Settings" button called that on Mac?


Gale

[billw58]

Also, is that "Import Settings" button called that on Mac?

Yes.

-- Bill

[Gale Andrews]

iTunes conversion happens at the incoming step, not the export step. You change iTunes to your preferences and then import the file. Then you can drag the file back out in the new format.

. Not on Windows. If you drag in a WMA file, iTunes offers to convert it to MP3, otherwise it imports pre-existing audio files exactly as they are. That "Import Settings" button is only concerned with the format to which CD tracks are ripped, but as a confusing "bonus" feature it also controls the format to which files are converted on right-click. I would be shocked if you had that set to MP3 for CD ripping and then you drag in a WAV and it converts it to MP3. Can you please check that?

Could you please do that, Koz (or someone else on Mac). If what you say is correct, the Wiki needs to be tweaked for Mac. If you were mistaken, your post needs to be corrected.



Gale

[billw58]

I drag AIF files into iTunes all the time, with my "Import Settings" set to MP3. iTunes brings in the AIFs unconverted.

There's a preference under the "Advanced" tab: "Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library". I have it unchecked. So when I drag and drop AIFs into iTunes it merely creates a reference to those files.

My workflow is to export from Audacity as AIF, drag and drop those AIFs into iTunes, right-click in iTunes to convert to MP3, then delete the AIFs from iTunes. iTunes does not trash the original AIFs, it merely deletes its reference to them.

-- Bill

[Gale Andrews]

Thanks for the clarification, Bill.


Gale