Windows 7 VLC 1.1.5 Lose Audio from .mkv to mp4

[fscii]

Hi I'm brand new to VLC and I love this program but I am having a problem converting mkv to mp4. I lose all sound. I will try to do my best to put all information I know here to get help.

Let me say that when I do this from AVI->mp4 it works fine. BUT mkv->mp4 = no audio [hopefully this is a clue/tipoff to some known problem or solution?!]

First I can convert basically anything to mkv and I like this new format. Then my girlfriend asks me "hey can you convert a bunch to mp4 for my ipod please?" So I set out to do this and read through this:

http://wiki.videolan.org/IPod -- yes this is older but it still helped me understand the basics (h.264, aac, 320x240, mp4 container etc). My problem is when I do this, I end up with a playable file with no audio

Here are the steps used to do this (the only difference is selecting avi source file works, selecting mkv source file means i will have no audio )

Launch VLC
Media->Convert/Save

[Convert Window]
[Source Section]
Source: Somefile.mkv (or Somefile.avi etc)
Type: File/Folder (I cannot edit this anyway)
[Destination Section]
Destination: Somefile.mp4
Display the Output: NOT checked
[Settings Section]
Profile: iPod
Deinterlace: NOT Checked
Dump Raw Input: NOT Checked (I don't understand this one anyway)

[My iPod Profile]
[Encapsulation Tab]
Encapsulation: MP4/MOV
[Video Codec Tab]
Video: Checked
Keep Original Video: UNCHECKED
Codec: H-264 ( I read someplace this may need to be configured for ipod basline but see no way of doing this?)
Bitrate: 1024kbs
Framerate: 0.00 fps (I was thinking change this to 24 or 30 -- any advice on this?)
[Resolution Box]
Scale: Blank but I have had '1' in this too
Width: 320
Height: I have left this blank to scale - sometimes when I put 240 in here I get tall skinny people w/wrong aspect ratio

*** AUDIO ***

[Audio Tab]
Audio: CHECKED
Keep original audio track: UNCHECKED
Codec: MPEG 4 AUDIO (AAC)
Bitrate: 128 kb/s
Channels: 2
Sample Rate: 44100

[Subtitle Tab]
Nothing selected.


With these settings I take avi's and make them into ipod movies and have happy girlfriend With these settings using MKV source file I have high stress, no sound and unhappy girlfriend

Why would this work with AVI source file and fail w/mkv source when using same settings?! I would try w/other formats but I don't have any other format movies... and just seeing that one works and one don't shows me something is wonky.

please help I'm going crazy here.

[fscii]

Can anyone figure this out? I'm stuck

Also take note that 2 avi's that I converted easily, won't copy to her ipod they give me this error:

Somefile.mp4 was not copied to the iPod "Her Pod" because it cannot be played on this iPod.

However in desperation I tried some converter thing from the web and it worked - but I just want vlc so i really need some help here please

[VLC_help]

You have to set right H.264 encoding levels in case you want to playback the files in iPod. And currently you cannot do that easily from GUI, so you have to use command-line.

[fscii]

Thank you that may explain ipod rejecting the files I did create avi->mp4. However why am I losing sound (playing back files in windows) converting mkv->mp4 - but I have full audio when I convert avi->mp4? This is something I am in dire need of help with I can't figure it out for the life of me

Also is there an example of this command line settings to configure h.264 and stuff for ipod (the tutorial showed using GUI but using mp4 i believe). Lastly will next version of vlc allow us to configure h.264 via GUI please?

[VLC_help]

However why am I losing sound (playing back files in windows) converting mkv->mp4 - but I have full audio when I convert avi->mp4? This is something I am in dire need of help with I can't figure it out for the life of me

Open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you do transcoding, the log will complain

Also is there an example of this command line settings to configure h.264 and stuff for ipod (the tutorial showed using GUI but using mp4 i believe).

Something like

Code: Select all

--sout=#transcode{fps=25,vcodec=h264,venc=x264{aud,profile=baseline,level=30,keyint=30,bframes=0,ref=1,nocabac},acodec=mp3,ab=56,audio-sync,deinterlace}

Lastly will next version of vlc allow us to configure h.264 via GUI please?

Most likely not.

[fscii]

I've decided to break this task down to make my life and your life easier lol and to more readily pinpoint

problems. So for now I'm going to focus on MP4 which works in both command line and GUI modes.

[Specs From Apples iPod Classic Site]
"MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio

up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats"

Result I'm after for testing:
ipod low settings: 320x240 24fps. 512bit video. 64bit 22050hz AAC 2 channel.
ipod hi settings: 640x480 30fps 1024bit video. 128bit 44100hz AAC 2 channel. (Unused for this test)

[Source File Specs]
Audio: AAC (mp4a) 2 channel 44100hz (unknown bitrate as VLC doesn't show it in codec details - why not?)
Video: H264 720x384 25fps (again bitrate unknown)


[Problem]
VLC is generating a widescreen file like 640x240 HOWEVER Tools->Codec shows it as 320x240. So VLC is both
reporting the size wrong and converting the size wrong. Other programs reveal what my eyes tell me that
the video is truly 640x240.

I found this in the messages: (during a prior attempt)

stream_out_transcode debug: source 720x384, destination 320x240
stream_out_transcode debug: encoder aspect is 640:240


Attempt 1: GUI -- Failure. Wrong Size Resulted! No Audio!
----------
sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,fps=24,scale=1,width=320,height=240,acodec=mp4a,ab=64,channels=2,samplerate=22050}:file{dst='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'}

Right Click->Windows 7 Properties shows:
Video: 320x240, 511kbs, 24fps
Audio: NOTHING

VLC Tools->Codec Details:
Resolution 320x240
Frame Rate: 24
Audio: Nothing

Quicktime:
Resolution: 640x240 (THIS IS CORRECT! Its not even close to 320x240 in reality)
FPS: 24
Data Rate: 499 kb


[Rebooted PC]


Attempt 2: GUI (dropping scale=1 in case its forcing the 640:240)
----------
sout=#transcode

{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,fps=24,width=320,height=240,acodec=mp4a,ab=64,channels=2,samplerate=22050}:file

{dst='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'}


Identical Results - regardless of removing the scale=1, I still have a file that is 640x240 with no audio. However VLC and Windows both report 320x240 (without audio).

Here is a dump of the message file:

qt4 debug: MRL passed to the Sout: C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv
qt4 warning: Transcode MRL: sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,fps=24,width=320,height=240,acodec=mp4a,ab=64,channels=2,samplerate=22050}:file{dst='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'}
qt4 debug: Adding option: file-caching=300
qt4 debug: Adding option: sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,fps=24,width=320,height=240,acodec=mp4a,ab=64,channels=2,samplerate=22050}:file{dst='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'}
main debug: adding item `Streaming' ( C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv )
qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv
main debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1
main debug: processing request item Streaming node null skip 0
main debug: resyncing on Streaming
main debug: Streaming is at 0
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
main debug: thread started
main debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,fps=24,width=320,height=240,acodec=mp4a,ab=64,channels=2,samplerate=22050}:file{dst='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'}'
main debug: stream=`file'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:214)
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-dst to C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4
stream_out_standard debug: creating `file/(null)://C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'
stream_out_standard debug: extension is mp4
stream_out_standard debug: extension -> mux=mp4
stream_out_standard debug: using `file/mp4://C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4'
main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity_iPod_Low.mp4)
main debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.263 ms - Total 1.263 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.263 ms)
stream_out_standard debug: access opened
main debug: looking for sout mux module: 1 candidate
mux_mp4 debug: Mp4 muxer opened
main debug: using sout mux module "mux_mp4"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.126 ms - Total 1.126 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.126 ms)
stream_out_standard debug: mux opened
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 4.864 ms - Total 4.864 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.864 ms)
main debug: stream=`transcode'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vcodec to mp4v
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vb to 512
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-fps to 24
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-width to 320
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-height to 240
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mp4a
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-ab to 64
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate to 22050
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mp4a 22050Hz 2 channels 64Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=mp4v 320x240 scaling: 0.000000 512kb/s
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.437 ms - Total 1.437 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.437 ms)
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 4 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 9.703 ms - Total 9.703 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 9.703 ms)
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv'
main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
filesystem debug: opening file `C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.705 ms - Total 1.705 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.705 ms)
main debug: Using AStream*Stream
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 40000 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.114 ms - Total 0.114 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.114 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.109 ms - Total 0.109 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.109 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv'
main debug: looking for demux module: 51 candidates
mkv debug: | + Seek head
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - info at 282
mkv debug: | + Information
mkv debug: | | + TimecodeScale=1000000
mkv debug: | | + Muxing Application=Lavf52.84.0
mkv debug: | | + Writing Application=Lavf52.84.0
mkv debug: | | + UID=1304903568
mkv debug: | | + Duration=4914520
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - tracks at 359
mkv debug: | + Tracks
mkv debug: | | + Track Entry
mkv debug: | | | + Track Number=1
mkv debug: | | | + Track UID=1
mkv debug: | | | + Track Lacing=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track Language=`und'
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecId=A_AAC
mkv debug: | | | + Track Type=audio
mkv debug: | | | + Track Audio
mkv debug: | | | | + achan=2
mkv debug: | | | | + afreq=44100
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecPrivate size=2
mkv debug: | | + Track Entry
mkv debug: | | | + Track Number=2
mkv debug: | | | + Track UID=2
mkv debug: | | | + Track Lacing=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track Language=`und'
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecId=V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
mkv debug: | | | + Track Type=video
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default Duration=40000000
mkv debug: | | | + Track Video
mkv debug: | | | | + width=720
mkv debug: | | | | + height=384
mkv debug: | | | | + display width=720
mkv debug: | | | | + display height=384
mkv debug: | | | | + Track Video Display Unit=inches
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecPrivate size=41
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - tags at 563
mkv debug: | + LoadSeekHeadItem Unknown (N11libmatroska7KaxTagsE)
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | | + Unknown (N7libebml8EbmlVoidE)
mkv debug: | - cues at 542581747
mkv debug: | + Cues
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
mkv debug: | - loading cues done.
mkv debug: | + Preload Unknown (N7libebml8EbmlVoidE)
mkv debug: | + Information
mkv debug: | + Tracks
mkv debug: | + Preload Unknown (N11libmatroska7KaxTagsE)
mkv debug: | + Cluster
mkv debug: found 2 es
main debug: selecting program id=0
mkv debug: Starting the UI Hook
main debug: thread (mkv event thread handler) created at priority 0 (../../../.././modules/demux/mkv/demux.cpp:201)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using demux module "mkv"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 25.464 ms - Total 25.464 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 25.464 ms)
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
packetizer_mpeg4audio debug: running MPEG4 audio packetizer
packetizer_mpeg4audio debug: AAC 44100Hz 1024 samples/frame
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpeg4audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.661 ms - Total 5.661 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.661 ms)
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
packetizer_h264 debug: found NAL_SPS (sps_id=0)
packetizer_h264 debug: found NAL_PPS (pps_id=0 sps_id=0)
packetizer_h264 debug: avcC length size=4, sps=1, pps=1
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_h264"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.161 ms - Total 1.161 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.161 ms)
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 0 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
main debug: starting in sync mode
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.lua
main debug: no meta reader module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.741 ms - Total 0.741 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.741 ms)
main debug: `C:\Users\User\Desktop\Paranormal_Activity.mkv' successfully opened
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: switching to async mode
main debug: Buffering 53%
main debug: Buffering 26%
main debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:04b56738)
main debug: Buffering 7%
main debug: Buffering 13%
main debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:04b7c428)
stream_out_transcode debug: creating video transcoding from fcc=`h264' to fcc=`mp4v'
main debug: Buffering 15%
main debug: Buffering 23%
main debug: Buffering 40%
main debug: Buffering 30%
main debug: Buffering 38%
main debug: Stream buffering done (320 ms in 0 ms)
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec initialized (interface 0x345d00)
avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) started
main debug: using decoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 10.943 ms - Total 10.943 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 10.943 ms)
main debug: looking for encoder module: 12 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec already initialized
avcodec debug: found encoder MPEG-4 Video
main debug: using encoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.330 ms - Total 3.330 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.330 ms)
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mp4a' to fcc=`mp4a'
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "faad"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.238 ms - Total 0.238 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.238 ms)
main debug: looking for encoder module: 12 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec already initialized
avcodec debug: found encoder MPEG AAC Audio
main debug: using encoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.763 ms - Total 1.763 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.763 ms)
stream_out_transcode debug: Looking for filter (f32l->s16l, channels 2->2, rate 44100->22050)
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
main debug: no audio filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 20.656 ms - Total 20.656 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 20.656 ms)
main error: Failed to create audio filter
stream_out_transcode error: Failed to find conversion filter for resampling
main debug: removing module "faad"
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
stream_out_transcode error: cannot create audio chain
main error: cannot create packetizer output (mp4a)
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 37 ms
avcodec debug: using direct rendering
stream_out_transcode debug: drift is too high, resetting master sync
stream_out_transcode debug: decoder aspect is 1.875000:1
stream_out_transcode debug: source pixel aspect is 1.000000:1
stream_out_transcode debug: scaled pixel aspect is 1.406250:1
stream_out_transcode debug: source 720x384, destination 320x240
stream_out_transcode debug: encoder aspect is 640:240
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
swscale debug: 720x384 chroma: I420 -> 320x240 chroma: I420 with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.568 ms - Total 2.568 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.568 ms)
main debug: Filter 'Swscale' (04c08934) appended to chain
stream_out_transcode debug: destination (after video filters) 320x240
main debug: looking for encoder module: 12 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec already initialized
avcodec debug: found encoder MPEG-4 Video
main debug: using encoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.752 ms - Total 0.752 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.752 ms)
main debug: adding a new input
mux_mp4 debug: adding input
stream_out_transcode debug: drift is too high, resetting master sync
main debug: meta ok for (null), need to fetch art
main debug: looking for meta fetcher module: 1 candidate
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.lua
main debug: using meta fetcher module "lua"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.932 ms - Total 0.932 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.932 ms)
main debug: removing module "lua"
main debug: searching art for Streaming
main debug: looking for art finder module: 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.lua
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.lua
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.lua
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\04_musicbrainz.lua
main debug: no art finder module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.716 ms - Total 2.716 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.716 ms)
main debug: art not found for Streaming
qt4 debug: Using a general info windows
mkv warning: find KaxCues FIXME
mkv warning: cannot get block EOF?
main debug: thread times: real 6m55.403759s, kernel 0m0.280801s, user 0m0.218401s
main debug: removing module "packetizer_mpeg4audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mp4a', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: thread times: real 6m55.441761s, kernel 0m1.872012s, user 6m51.686639s
main debug: removing module "packetizer_h264"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `h264', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing a sout input (sout_input:04b56738)
main debug: TIMER encoding video frame : 0.542 ms - Total 95851.961 ms / 117943 intvls (Avg 0.813 ms)
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) stopped
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
main debug: Filter 04c08934 removed from chain
main debug: removing module "swscale"
mux_mp4 debug: removing input
main warning: no more input streams for this mux
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: finished input
main debug: thread ended
main debug: thread times: real 6m55.504765s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.015600s
mkv debug: Stopping the UI Hook
main debug: removing module "mkv"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: destroying useless sout
main debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode)
main debug: removing module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: destroying chain... (name=file)
mux_mp4 debug: Close
mux_mp4 debug: movie duration 4914s
mux_mp4 debug: created 1 chunks (stco)
main debug: removing module "mux_mp4"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
main debug: removing module "access_output_file"
main debug: removing module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: thread times: real 6m55.549768s, kernel 0m0.811205s, user 0m2.340015s
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'Streaming' : 52.526 ms - Total 52.526 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 52.526 ms)

[fscii]

I did another test with success and therein lies more confusion. Basically all I did was eliminate scale=1,height=240 and I changed audio to 44.1khz, 128bit, 2 channel.

The results came out 320x170 (I wanted 320x240), and audio resulted 92kbs (I selected 128!!!), 44khz, 2 channel.

This file is what I consider low_video_mid_audio in my personal specs:

ipod low settings: 320x240 24fps. 512bit video. 64bit 22050hz AAC 2 channel. -- failing miserably.
ipod hi settings: 640x480 30fps 1024bit video. 128bit 44100hz AAC 2 channel. -- haven't tried

ipod lowvid_midaud: 320x240 24fps 512bit video. 128bit 44100hz AAC 2 channel audio. --- this is what worked.


However this does bring to light that there is some kind of glitch using width=320,height=240 (with or without scale=1). Bizarre results come out as seen in prior posts. This is contrary to just about all posts w/transcode lines I see all over the site that will have all 3 options set. It seems as if VLC's order of precedence is height over width. Not sure that scale matters at all?!

I'm at a loss why audio bombs out if at lower settings.

Question: Is there a way to crop the video to fullscreen so I could crop 320x240 essentially? Also of course I still need help on the audio and video issues that are confounding me here.

[VLC_help]

If you want crop when transcoding
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59081#p255653

if you want to mess with aspect ratio when resizing, then
viewtopic.php?t=49811#p258179

[fscii]

Thanks for those links. Any idea how to resolve all of the issues I've documented? I'm pulling my hair out. From the quirky things like wrong bitrate recording and wrong scaling (620:240 when I picked 320:240) etc. not to mention sound evaporating?

[VLC_help]

Sound issues are usually ones that cannot be cured, specially if another codec and container format combination produces same issues.

[fscii]

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say. I have a mkv that works - working audio, working video. Why then would any conversion fail and just drop the audio?!

[VLC_help]

Because there are bugs in conversion/transcoding engine.