The VideoLAN Forums

I have the experimental version of VLC 2.0.7 for Windows 64 bits, Windows x64, downloaded at: http://download.videolan.org/pub/videol ... ast/win64/

VLC 2.0.7 cannot encode MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) . It can play MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) .
When I try to encode to MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) using the MP4/MOV Encapsulation & MPEG 4 Audio ( AAC ) codec, I get the error: Streaming / Transcoding failed: VLC could not open the encoder.

Log:

main debug: processing request item: Streaming, node: Playlist, skip: 0
main debug: resyncing on Streaming
main debug: Streaming is at 0
main debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
main debug: resyncing on Streaming
main debug: Streaming is at 0
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
main debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mp4a,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file,mux=mp4,dst='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'}'
main debug: stream=`std'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-access to file
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-mux to mp4
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-dst to C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4
main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4)
main debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.918 ms - Total 1.918 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.918 ms)
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() : 0.644 ms - Total 0.644 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.644 ms)
stream_out_standard debug: using `file/mp4://C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.391 ms - Total 3.391 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.391 ms)
main debug: stream=`transcode'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vcodec to none
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mp4a
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-ab to 128
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate to 44100
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mp4a 44100Hz 2 channels 128Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=none 0x0 scaling: 0.000000 0kb/s
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.959 ms - Total 0.959 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.959 ms)
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\JONNYD~1\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' gives access `file' demux `' path `/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' file='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.601 ms - Total 0.601 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.601 ms)
main debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3', path='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: looking for access module: 3 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.607 ms - Total 0.607 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.607 ms)
main debug: Using stream method for AStream*
main debug: starting pre-buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 10752 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 4 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.306 ms - Total 0.306 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.306 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.245 ms - Total 0.245 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.245 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' file='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: ID3v2.2 revision 0 tag found, skipping 459491 bytes
main debug: looking for demux module: 55 candidates
es debug: detected format mpga
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.271 ms - Total 0.271 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.271 ms)
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: using demux module "es"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.766 ms - Total 1.766 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.766 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.347 ms - Total 0.347 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.347 ms)
main debug: starting in sync mode
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
taglib debug: Found embedded art: 0 (image/png) is 449229 bytes
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.615 ms - Total 5.615 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.615 ms)
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `file:///C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' successfully opened
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: switching to async mode
main debug: Buffering 8%
main debug: Buffering 17%
main debug: Buffering 26%
main debug: Buffering 34%
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: Buffering 43%
main debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:00000000023cdaf0)
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mpga' to fcc=`mp4a'
main debug: Buffering 52%
main debug: Buffering 60%
main debug: Buffering 69%
main debug: Buffering 78%
main debug: Buffering 87%
main debug: Buffering 95%
main debug: looking for decoder module: 32 candidates
main debug: Stream buffering done (313 ms in 0 ms)
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.423 ms - Total 0.423 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.423 ms)
main debug: looking for encoder module: 13 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec already initialized
avcodec error: cannot open encoder
main debug: no encoder module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.868 ms - Total 2.868 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.868 ms)
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find audio encoder (module:any fourcc:mp4a). Take a look few lines earlier to see possible reason.
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
stream_out_transcode error: cannot create audio chain
main error: cannot create packetizer output (mpga)
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 3 ms
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: waiting decoder fifos to empty
main debug: finished input
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "es"
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
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=std)
main debug: removing module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: removing module "mux_mp4"
mux_mp4 debug: Close
mux_mp4 debug: movie duration 0s
main debug: removing module "access_output_file"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
main debug: destroying chain done
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' : 18.896 ms - Total 18.896 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 18.896 ms)

I also get errors when I try to encode to MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) using the RAW Encapsulation & MPEG 4 Audio ( AAC ) codec.
I 've been trying to get it to encode to MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) using MPEG 4 Audio ( AAC ) codec with different Encapsulations and/or Deinterlace and/or Dump raw input .

I've been searching the forum & some conversion troubles have been found in VLC 2.0.6: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=111080&p=376312 .
Reccomendations have been to revert back to VLC 2.0.5 .

I thought audio encoding fixes, including MPEG 4 Audio (AAC) / (MP4A) encoding, was fixed in VLC 2.0.7 ? Only fixed for VLC 2.0.7 for Windows 32 bits, Windows x32 ? Not VLC 2.0.7 Windows 64 bits, Windows x64 ?

Does it work with the x86 build ?

No, it does not work with the x86 build of VLC 2.0.7 (Windows 32 bits, Windows x32) . I get the same error: Streaming / Transcoding failed: VLC could not open the encoder.

Also, the correct/accepted Filename extension is M4A . I noticed in the log that MP4A was being used:
acodec=mp4a
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mp4a
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mp4a 44100Hz 2 channels 128Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mpga' to fcc=`mp4a'
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find audio encoder (module:any fourcc:mp4a). Take a look few lines earlier to see possible reason.

Are M4A and MP4A essentially the same? Maybe a fix in the code: M4A = MP4A and/or vice versa.

Log for x86 build of VLC 2.0.7 (Windows 32 bits, Windows x32):

main debug: processing request item: Streaming, node: Playlist, skip: 0
main debug: resyncing on Streaming
main debug: Streaming is at 0
main debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
main debug: resyncing on Streaming
main debug: Streaming is at 0
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
main debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mp4a,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=48000}:std{access=file,mux=mp4,dst='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'}'
main debug: stream=`std'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-access to file
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-mux to mp4
main debug: set config option: sout-standard-dst to C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4
main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4)
main debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.745 ms - Total 0.745 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.745 ms)
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() : 0.573 ms - Total 0.573 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.573 ms)
stream_out_standard debug: using `file/mp4://C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.209 ms - Total 2.209 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.209 ms)
main debug: stream=`transcode'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vcodec to none
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mp4a
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-ab to 128
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate to 48000
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mp4a 48000Hz 2 channels 128Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=none 0x0 scaling: 0.000000 0kb/s
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.195 ms - Total 1.195 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.195 ms)
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\JONNYD~1\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' gives access `file' demux `' path `/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' file='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.791 ms - Total 0.791 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.791 ms)
main debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3', path='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: looking for access module: 3 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.534 ms - Total 0.534 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.534 ms)
main debug: Using stream method for AStream*
main debug: starting pre-buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 10000 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 4 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.342 ms - Total 0.342 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.342 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.310 ms - Total 0.310 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.310 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' file='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\Mladic.mp3'
main debug: ID3v2.2 revision 0 tag found, skipping 459491 bytes
main debug: looking for demux module: 55 candidates
es debug: detected format mpga
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.321 ms - Total 0.321 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.321 ms)
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: using demux module "es"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.978 ms - Total 1.978 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.978 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.384 ms - Total 0.384 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.384 ms)
main debug: starting in sync mode
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
taglib debug: Found embedded art: 0 (image/png) is 449229 bytes
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 6.993 ms - Total 6.993 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 6.993 ms)
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `file:///C:/Users/jonnydmxy/Desktop/Mladic.mp3' successfully opened
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: switching to async mode
main debug: Buffering 8%
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:02e91df0)
main debug: Buffering 17%
main debug: Buffering 26%
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mpga' to fcc=`mp4a'
main debug: Buffering 34%
main debug: Buffering 43%
main debug: Buffering 52%
main debug: Buffering 60%
main debug: Buffering 69%
main debug: looking for decoder module: 32 candidates
main debug: Buffering 78%
main debug: Buffering 87%
main debug: Buffering 95%
main debug: Stream buffering done (313 ms in 1 ms)
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.913 ms - Total 0.913 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.913 ms)
main debug: looking for encoder module: 13 candidates
avcodec debug: libavcodec already initialized
avcodec error: cannot open encoder
main debug: no encoder module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 7.317 ms - Total 7.317 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 7.317 ms)
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find audio encoder (module:any fourcc:mp4a). Take a look few lines earlier to see possible reason.
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
stream_out_transcode error: cannot create audio chain
main error: cannot create packetizer output (mpga)
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 8 ms
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: waiting decoder fifos to empty
main debug: finished input
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "es"
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
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=std)
main debug: removing module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: removing module "mux_mp4"
mux_mp4 debug: Close
mux_mp4 debug: movie duration 0s
main debug: removing module "access_output_file"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
main debug: destroying chain done
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' : 20.428 ms - Total 20.428 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 20.428 ms)

I have the the official version of 2.0.7. and the same issue here.
I will post it in the s-out section as that is the place as it should be.

Try to force strictness to -2 in FFMpeg options in advanced VLC options.

It works! Thank you! I forced strictness to -2 in FFMpeg options in advanced VLC options. It's under Tools>Preferences, then I click All under Show settings, click on Video codecs under Input / Codecs, then FFmpeg . So it's: Tools>Preferences>Video codecs>FFmpeg . Under FFmpeg I scroll down to under Encoding and I go to Strict standard compliance and I set it to -2 .

Partial log:

main debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mp4a,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=48000}:std{access=file,mux=mp4,dst='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'}'
main debug: stream=`std'

Add to your command line. So no need to change it in the Gui

Wow this helped me a lot !!!

Thanks guys.

Just to say that I was having the same problem with VLC 2.1.4 on Ubuntu 14.04 and this advice worked for me too.

So this isn't just a Windows problem (perhaps this thread should be moved?) but the solution certainly works.

What is the implication of changing this setting? Why does it need to be -2 (does this mean that VLC/ffmpeg will produce files that do not follow the standards and hence are not as likely to play on a wide range of devices)?

Thanks for the solution.

I, too, just wanted to say that I was having the same issue originally posted by mahal (" Streaming / Transcoding failed: VLC could not open the encoder."), while using VLC 2.1.3, running on Windows 7 64-bit, and it was fixed with the FFMpeg solution given above.

I can now convert out to an H.264 + AAC (MP4) video file (*.mp4), though I'm not sure that this will solve my main quest, which is to hardcode subtitles (*.srt) onto a video. However, I know this isn't the appropriate thread for that so I'm not trying to hijack.

I found this thread because I was having the same problem after a new install of Windows 8.1. Since the solution (and it worked for me--thanks!) seems to apply in so many circumstances, if you move the thread, could pointers to the new placement be put in other locations?

I also met this issue. Thanks for the sharing. The solution is workable for me.
Win 7 64bits
VLC 2.2.0 b4bits

This adjustment allowed my version of VLC 2.2.1 to finally open and run through a conversion, sadly for me I still get no audio in my resulting file.

Hello! So I am running into the same situation as mahal did in his original post but now that it is September of 2016, his solution no longer works. I am using VLC 2.2.4 Weathermax 32-bit. and whatever option/settings layout you all had in 2.1.4 is not the same as it is now. As a result, I cannot find anything to do with ffmpeg in the settings. Either under 'Audio' or 'Input/Codec' settings. If someone knows where these settings could be found I would greatly appreciate you pointing me in the right direction. Please help.

so the setting is in the advanced settings, (sorry if thats not exac, im translating from polish UI)
=> INput/codecs => video codecs => FFmepeg => strict compatibility with standards
to help with this preety damn configurable FFmepeg (thanx, authors, no sarcasm, seriously thanx!)
2 positions above you have Trellis quantization (i butched it, right?)

and btw, thank you for solution! I can finally fix headers of all those damn files that I have!

Im using 2.2.2
If you cannot find it I may only suggest you downgrade. ps. Im allways very sceptic for any updates, if something just works.

This saved my Day ... I have struggled for over a year with this problem. Thank You so Much... Don.

It works! Thank you! I forced strictness to -2 in FFMpeg options in advanced VLC options. It's under Tools>Preferences, then I click All under Show settings, click on Video codecs under Input / Codecs, then FFmpeg . So it's: Tools>Preferences>Video codecs>FFmpeg . Under FFmpeg I scroll down to under Encoding and I go to Strict standard compliance and I set it to -2 .

Partial log:

main debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mp4a,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=48000}:std{access=file,mux=mp4,dst='C:\Users\jonnydmxy\Desktop\tig.mp4'}'
main debug: stream=`std'

It worked finally! Unfortunately the video and audio is slightly out of sinc now. Any idea how that can be fixed? wmv to mp4 convert.

It worked finally! Unfortunately the video and audio is slightly out of sinc now. Any idea how that can be fixed? wmv to mp4 convert.

I made this account just to help you out.

after fiddling with the ffmpeg settings (setting it to -2).

Do the usual thing, go to the convert menu, select the settings you want, etc.

Once you have your desired setup, go to the "Audio Codec" tab, change the Codec to MPEG 4 Audio (AAC), and change the sample rate (to 41000, or 48000)

Doing this, I was able to convert my WMV to MP4 with no sync or audio issues.

Good luck!

Hi all, the recommendations above helped completely solve the audio issues! However, the video framerate is now really low when I play in iTunes, it's very choppy. Any suggestions to bring the video back to normal framerates?
Some background, it was an .AVI file which I converted to .MP4 and after conversion it works perfectly in VLC player. When I play it in Itunes, the audio is perfect but the video is choppy.
I need it to work perfectly in iTunes so that in turn it will then be perfect when I move it to the iPad.

Update: I got it to work. all I did was change the framerate under Video Codec from the default setting which something like "Same as original" to a set number, 24 in my case.

Thanks,
Max