Having trouble batch encoding M4A to MP3 with VLC 2.0.5.

[MaxyDawg]

I'm using the batch script found on the wiki (http://wiki.videolan.org/How_to_Batch_Encode), and when I run it in the folder where the files are located, it returns:

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[015abb80] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2 [015abb80] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate t o 44100 [015abb80] stream_out_transcode stream out debug: codec audio=mpga 44100Hz 2 cha nnels 512Kb/s [015abb80] main stream out debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode " [015abb80] main stream out debug: TIMER module_need() : 16.443 ms - Total 16.443 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 16.443 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\ Users\MAXIMI~1\AppData\Local\Temp' [002ed400] main input debug: `file:///C:/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim %20Lossless/01%20Jeremy%20Soule%20-%20Before%20the%20Storm.m4a' gives access `fi le' demux `' path `/C:/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/01%20J eremy%20Soule%20-%20Before%20the%20Storm.m4a' [002ed400] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C :/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/01%20Jeremy%20Soule%20-%20B efore%20the%20Storm.m4a' file='C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossle ss\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm.m4a' [0160f1d0] main demux debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates [0160f1d0] main demux debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loa ded [0160f1d0] main demux debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.061 ms - Total 5.061 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.061 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/Users/Maximili an/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/01%20Jeremy%20Soule%20-%20Before%20the%20St orm.m4a', path='C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy So ule - Before the Storm.m4a' [01617138] main access debug: looking for access module: 3 candidates [01617138] filesystem access debug: opening file `C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\Conv erted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm.m4a' [01617138] main access debug: using access module "filesystem" [01617138] main access debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.742 ms - Total 5.742 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.742 ms) [015cdbd0] main stream debug: Using stream method for AStream* [015cdbd0] main stream debug: starting pre-buffering [015cdbd0] main stream debug: received first data after 0 ms [015cdbd0] main stream debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 457 KiB/s [015cdc80] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module: 4 candidates [015cdc80] main stream debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be lo aded [015cdc80] main stream debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.574 ms - Total 3.574 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.574 ms) [015cdc80] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate [015cdc80] main stream debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record" [015cdc80] main stream debug: TIMER module_need() : 4.731 ms - Total 4.731 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.731 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C :/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/01%20Jeremy%20Soule%20-%20B efore%20the%20Storm.m4a' file='C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossle ss\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm.m4a' [0160f288] main demux debug: looking for demux module: 55 candidates [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type ---- (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type ---- (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type disk (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type aART (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type ---- (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type ---- (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream warning: unknown box type ---- (incompletely loaded) [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: dumping root Box "root" [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | + ftyp size 32 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | + moov size 7151 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | + mvhd size 108 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | + trak size 4012 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | + tkhd size 92 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | + mdia size 3912 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + hdlr size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + minf size 3836 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + smhd size 16 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + stbl size 3776 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 88 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | | + alac size 72 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | | | + alac size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + stts size 32 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 40 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 2996 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | | + stco size 612 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | + udta size 3023 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | + meta size 3015 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + hdlr size 34 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + ilst size 913 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ---- size 122 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ---- size 113 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + cnam size 40 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + disk size 30 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + calb size 82 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + cART size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + gnre size 26 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + cwrt size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + cday size 28 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + trkn size 32 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + aART size 36 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ---- size 112 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ctoo size 45 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ---- size 85 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | | + ---- size 82 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | | | | + free size 2056 [015cdc80] mp4 stream debug: | + mdat size 4504428 [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: unrecognized major file specification (M4A ). [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: found 1 tracks [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: track[Id 0x1] read 149 chunk [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: track[Id 0x1] read 744 samples length:69s [002ed400] main input debug: selecting program id=0 [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: adding track[Id 0x1] audio (enable) language en [0160f288] main demux debug: using demux module "mp4" [0160f288] main demux debug: TIMER module_need() : 124.020 ms - Total 124.020 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 124.020 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Users\Maximilian\ Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\ [015c70c8] main decoder debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates [015c70c8] main decoder debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_copy" [015c70c8] main decoder debug: TIMER module_need() : 9.608 ms - Total 9.608 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 9.608 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: starting in sync mode [015fb050] main demux meta debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates [015fb050] main demux meta debug: using meta reader module "taglib" [015fb050] main demux meta debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.558 ms - Total 5.558 m s / 1 intvls (Avg 5.558 ms) [0160f288] main demux debug: removing module "taglib" [002ed400] main input debug: `file:///C:/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim %20Lossless/01%20Jeremy%20Soule%20-%20Before%20the%20Storm.m4a' successfully ope ned [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: track[Id 0x1] does not provide Sync Sample Box (stss ) [002ed400] main input debug: Buffering 0% [002ed400] main input debug: switching to async mode [015cdb20] main stream output debug: [adding a new sout input (sout_input:015f99 f8)002ed400] main input debug: Buffering 0%[015abb80] stream_out_transcode stream out debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`alac' to fcc=`mpga'[002ed400] main input de bug: Buffering 33%[01535cd8] main generic debug: looking for decoder module: 32 candidates [002ed400] main input debug: Buffering 66% [002ed400] main input debug: Buffering 100% [002ed400] main input debug: Stream buffering done (400 ms in 20 ms) [01535cd8] avcodec generic debug: libavcodec initialized (interface 0x361e00) [01535cd8] avcodec generic debug: ffmpeg codec (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) star ted [01535cd8] avcodec generic debug: Using 192000 bytes output buffer [01535cd8] main generic debug: using decoder module "avcodec" [01535cd8] main generic debug: TIMER module_need() : 21.434 ms - Total 21.434 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 21.434 ms) [015a7b58] main encoder debug: looking for encoder module: 13 candidates [015a7b58] twolame encoder warning: MPEG audio doesn't support bitrate=512000, u sing 384000 [015a7b58] main encoder debug: using encoder module "twolame" [015a7b58] main encoder debug: TIMER module_need() : 8.073 ms - Total 8.073 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 8.073 ms) [015ca6a0] main mux debug: adding a new input [015ca6a0] mux_ps mux debug: adding input codec=mpga [015ca6a0] mux_ps mux debug: - lang=eng [002ed400] main input debug: Decoder buffering done in 33 ms [002ed400] main input debug: EOF reached [002ed400] main input debug: waiting decoder fifos to empty [[015c70c8] main decoder debug: removing module "packetizer_copy"0 1[015c70c8] main decoder debug: killing decoder fourcc `alac', 0 PES in FIFO5 b[015cdb20] main stream output debug: removing a sout input (sout_input:015f99f8 )6 3[015a7b58] main encoder debug: TIMER encoding audio frame : 2.817 ms - Total 34 49.223 ms / 743 intvls (Avg 4.642 ms)4 0][01535cd8] main generic debug: removing module "avcodec" main playlist debug: finished input[01535cd8] avcodec generic debug: ffmpeg codec (Apple Lossless Aud io Codec) stopped [015a7b58] main encoder debug: removing module "twolame" [015ca6a0] mux_ps mux debug: removing input [015ca6a0] main mux warning: no more input streams for this mux [0160f288] main demux debug: removing module "mp4" [0160f288] mp4 demux debug: freeing all memory [015cdc80] main stream debug: removing module "stream_filter_record" [01617138] main access debug: removing module "filesystem" [002ed400] main input debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES [015b6340] main playlist debug: dead input [015cdb20] main stream output debug: destroying useless sout [015abb80] main stream out debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode) [015abb80] main stream out debug: removing module "stream_out_transcode" [015abb80] main stream out debug: destroying chain done [015abad8] main stream out debug: destroying chain... (name=standard) [015abad8] main stream out debug: removing module "stream_out_standard" [015ca6a0] main mux debug: removing module "mux_ps" [015ca6a0] mux_ps mux: Close [0160f060] main access out debug: removing module "access_output_file" [0160f060] access_output_file access out debug: file access output closed [015abad8] main stream out debug: destroying chain done [002ed400] main input debug: TIMER input launching for 'Before the Storm' : 299. 690 ms - Total 299.690 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 299.690 ms) [015b6340] main playlist debug: changing item without a request (current 0/2) [015b6340] main playlist debug: using item 1 [015b6340] main playlist debug: starting playback of the new playlist item [015b6340] main playlist debug: resyncing on vlc:quit [015b6340] main playlist debug: vlc:quit is at 1 [015b6340] main playlist debug: creating new input thread [002ed400] main input debug: Creating an input for 'vlc:quit' [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: using sout chain=`transcode{acodec=mpga,ab= 512,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:standard{access=file,mux=mpeg1,dst=C:\Users\Max imilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm.m4a.m p3}' [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: stream=`standard' [015abb80] main stream out debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate [015abb80] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-standard-access to fil e [015abb80] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-standard-mux to mpeg1 [015abb80] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-standard-dst to C:\Use rs\Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm .m4a.mp3 [015ff050] main access out debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate [015ff050] access_output_file access out debug: file access output opened (C:\Us ers\Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Stor m.m4a.mp3) [015ff050] main access out debug: using sout access module "access_output_file" [015ff050] main access out debug: TIMER module_need() : 8.256 ms - Total 8.256 m s / 1 intvls (Avg 8.256 ms) [015ca760] main mux debug: looking for sout mux module: 1 candidate [015ca760] mux_ps mux: Open [015ca760] main mux debug: using sout mux module "mux_ps" [015ca760] main mux debug: TIMER module_need() : 6.276 ms - Total 6.276 ms / 1 i ntvls (Avg 6.276 ms) [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: muxer support adding stream at any time [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: muxer prefers to wait for all ES before sta rting to mux [015abb80] stream_out_standard stream out debug: using `file/mpeg1://C:\Users\Ma ximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\01 Jeremy Soule - Before the Storm.m4a. mp3' [015abb80] main stream out debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard" [015abb80] main stream out debug: TIMER module_need() : 43.868 ms - Total 43.868 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 43.868 ms) [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: stream=`transcode' [015aba30] main stream out debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate [015aba30] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mp ga [015aba30] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-ab to 512 [015aba30] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2 [015aba30] main stream out debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate t o 44100 [015aba30] stream_out_transcode stream out debug: codec audio=mpga 44100Hz 2 cha nnels 512Kb/s [015aba30] main stream out debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode " [015aba30] main stream out debug: TIMER module_need() : 17.534 ms - Total 17.534 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 17.534 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\ Users\MAXIMI~1\AppData\Local\Temp' [002ed400] main input debug: `file:///C:/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim %20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit' gives access `file' demux `' path `/C:/Users/Maximilian/ Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit' [002ed400] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C :/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit' file='C:\Users\ Maximilian\Music\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\vlc:quit' [015ff1c0] main demux debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates [015ff1c0] main demux debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loa ded [015ff1c0] main demux debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.514 ms - Total 2.514 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.514 ms) [002ed400] main input debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/Users/Maximili an/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit', path='C:\Users\Maximilian\Musi c\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\vlc:quit' [0160f060] main access debug: looking for access module: 3 candidates [0160f060] filesystem access debug: opening file `C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\Conv erted\Skyrim Lossless\vlc:quit' [0160f060] filesystem access error: cannot open file C:\Users\Maximilian\Music\C onverted\Skyrim Lossless\vlc:quit (No such file or directory) [0160f060] main access error: File reading failed [0160f060] main access error: VLC could not open the file "C:\Users\Maximilian\M usic\Converted\Skyrim Lossless\vlc:quit". (No such file or directory) [0160f060] main access debug: no access module matching "file" could be loaded [0160f060] main access debug: TIMER module_need() : 12.326 ms - Total 12.326 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 12.326 ms) [002ed400] main input error: open of `file:///C:/Users/Maximilian/Music/Converte d/Skyrim%20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit' failed [002ed400] main input error: Your input can't be opened [002ed400] main input error: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'file:///C:/Users/Max imilian/Music/Converted/Skyrim%20Lossless/vlc%3Aquit'. Check the log for details . [015b6340] main playlist debug: finished input [015b6340] main playlist debug: dead input [015cdbd0] main stream output debug: destroying useless sout [015aba30] main stream out debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode) [015aba30] main stream out debug: removing module "stream_out_transcode" [015aba30] main stream out debug: destroying chain done [015abb80] main stream out debug: destroying chain... (name=standard) [015abb80] main stream out debug: removing module "stream_out_standard" [015ca760] main mux debug: removing module "mux_ps" [015ca760] mux_ps mux: Close [015ff050] main access out debug: removing module "access_output_file" [015ff050] access_output_file access out debug: file access output closed [015abb80] main stream out debug: destroying chain done [002ed400] main input debug: TIMER input launching for 'vlc:quit' : 115.525 ms - Total 115.525 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 115.525 ms) [015b6340] main playlist debug: changing item without a request (current 1/2) [015b6340] main playlist debug: nothing to play

Did I screw something up? The batch file seems to be finding the M4A's that I want it to work on.
Is the batch script screwed up? I highly doubt that.
Is this the same MP3 transcoding bug that was plaguing 2.0.4 (even though the release notes said that would be fixed)? I'm really hoping it's not.

[bat999]

I'm using the batch script found on the wiki (http://wiki.videolan.org/How_to_Batch_Encode)...
... Is the batch script screwed up?

Hi
Those scripts are five years old.
Better make sure you can convert one of your m4a files to mp3 using command line first.
Like this:-

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"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" -I dummy -vvv "filename.m4a" --sout=#transcode{acodec=mp3,ab=320,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file,mux=raw,dst="output.mp3"} vlc://quit

[MaxyDawg]

Alright. That worked. The original M4A file sounds pretty screwed up (Not sure why. Good thing I saved the FLAC I transcoded from, I guess.) but VLC transcoded pretty accurately.

Wait. All of my M4A files sound like that. And just in VLC. Crap.

But anyway yeah I guess the script wasn't working. Now the question is (a) what is wrong with VLC that all of my M4A files are suddenly sounding so jacked up, and (b) do you know how I can correctly script for a batch encode? (I'd rather you help me learn; you know, teach a man to fish and all that.)

Here's the output of the MP3 transcode as an example of what VLC is doing when it plays back my M4As

Here's the source M4A

[bat999]

... what is wrong with VLC that all of my M4A files are suddenly sounding so jacked up...[/url]

Hi
Seems that VLC-v2.0.5 has problems with ALAC m4a files.
Here ---> search.php?keywords=alac&terms=all&auth ... mit=Search
Use some different software to play/convert them until it's fixed.

[MaxyDawg]

Awesome, thanks for that.

I'm gonna try to hack that script into being a bit less outdated; and to work with my FLAC files instead. I'll let you know how it goes.

EDIT: By George, I think I've got it. The only hitch seems to be that it doesn't want to do all of the files, but I think that's mainly because there's so many of them and it just trips over itself.

Here's the script I wound up using; you can basically plug in whatever file format you are inputting instead of FLAC.

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@ECHO OFF FOR /R %%G IN (*.flac) DO (CALL :SUB_VLC "%%G") FOR /R %%G IN (*.flac.mp*) DO (CALL :SUB_RENAME "%%G") GOTO :eof :SUB_VLC SET _firstbit=%1 SET _qt=" CALL SET _newnm=%%_firstbit:%_qt%=%% SET _commanm=%_newnm:,=_COMMA_% REM echo %_commanm% CALL "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" -I dummy -vvv %1 --sout=#transcode{acodec=mp3,ab=320,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file,mux=raw,dst="%_commanm%.mp3"} vlc://quit GOTO :eof :SUB_RENAME SET _origfnm=%1 SET _endbit=%_origfnm:*.flac=% CALL SET _newfilenm=%%_origfnm:.flac%_endbit%=.mp3%% SET _newfilenm=%_newfilenm:_COMMA_=,% COPY %1 %_newfilenm% DEL %1 GOTO :eof :eof

EDIT AGAIN: Nope. Didn't work. Spat out a bunch of useless 0 byte MP3s. Damn.

[bat999]

... Spat out a bunch of useless 0 byte MP3s...

Better make sure you can convert one of your flac files to mp3 using command line first.