Cannot play AAC files

[mtlmeijer]

VLC fails to play any AAC sample files I can find. They do play with Windows Media Player.
I have tried VLC versions 2.2.2, 2.2.8, and 3.0.4.

Samples can be found here, as "Sample AAC File" and "Sample M4A File":
http://techslides.com/sample-files-for-development

Also tried samples from here:
https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html

Thank you for any suggestions!

[garf]

Hello,

on Windows 10 with VLC 3.0.4, I have been able to play every AAC file except the "Sample M4A File".

Can you share the error messages you have received from VLC ?

To help you, we need messages, to completely understand what your problems is.
To fix this, please be sure before you start the playback to:

1. Open: Tools -> Messages.
2. Set Verbosity to 2
3. Start playback to reproduce your issue
4. Save text in a file or copy into clipboard
5. Then paste the full resulting log here between [​code]and[​/code] (or use Pastebin.com if it's too long)

Also don't forget to name your Operating System and provide the VLC media player version.

[Hitchhiker]

I wasn't able to play the M4A file either, but the Sample AAC File on the techslides site played normally.

However, there appears to be a problem with the digital certificate on the Fraunhofer site as shown in the screenshot which is why those samples won't play.


(click to enlarge).

I tried another site though and had no problem playing the AAC file on this site in 3.0.4 on Windows 8.1 Here's the actual link you can stream to.

[Lotesdelere]

on Windows 10 with VLC 3.0.4, I have been able to play every AAC file except the "Sample M4A File".

Hm strange, no problem playing it here on Windows 8.1 with VLC 3.0.4 x64.

[Hitchhiker]

on Windows 10 with VLC 3.0.4, I have been able to play every AAC file except the "Sample M4A File".

Hm strange, no problem playing it here on Windows 8.1 with VLC 3.0.4 x64.

It'll play on vlc if I open it as a URL (Ctrl+V), but it won't stream on my machine even though we both have the same OS.

Here's the log file it produced when I tried to stream it.

Code: Select all

main debug: processing request item: sample.m4a, node: Playlist, skip: 0 main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 2 items, index 1 main debug: starting playback of new item main debug: resyncing on sample.m4a main debug: sample.m4a is at 1 main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'sample.m4a' main debug: requesting art for new input thread main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB main debug: using timeshift path: C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\Temp main debug: `http://techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a' gives access `http' demux `any' path `techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a' main debug: creating demux: access='http' demux='any' location='techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a' file='\\techslides.com\demos\samples\sample.m4a' main debug: looking for access_demux module matching "http": 15 candidates main debug: no access_demux modules matched main debug: creating access: http://techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a main debug: (path: \\techslides.com\demos\samples\sample.m4a) main debug: looking for access module matching "http": 26 candidates main debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher main debug: no meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac main debug: no art finder modules matched http debug: resolving techslides.com ... http debug: outgoing request: GET /demos/samples/sample.m4a HTTP/1.1 Host: techslides.com Accept: */* Accept-Language: en_US User-Agent: VLC/3.0.4 LibVLC/3.0.4 Range: bytes=0- qt debug: IM: Setting an input http debug: incoming response: HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content Server: nginx/1.4.1 (Ubuntu) Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2018 14:34:05 GMT Content-Type: audio/mpeg Content-Length: 34535 Last-Modified: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:49:36 GMT Connection: keep-alive ETag: "53010840-86e7" Content-Range: bytes 0-34534/34535 main debug: using access module "access" main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "prefetch,cache_block": 24 candidates prefetch debug: using 34535 bytes buffer, 16384 bytes read main debug: using stream_filter module "prefetch" main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 24 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\playlist lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\anevia_streams.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\anevia_xml.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\appletrailers.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\bbc_co_uk.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\cue.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\dailymotion.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\jamendo.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\koreus.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\liveleak.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\newgrounds.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\rockbox_fm_presets.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\soundcloud.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\twitch.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\vimeo.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\vocaroo.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\youtube.luac main debug: no stream_filter modules matched main debug: looking for stream_directory module matching "any": 1 candidates main debug: no stream_directory modules matched main debug: attachment of directory-extractor failed for http://techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 24 candidates main debug: using stream_filter module "record" main debug: creating demux: access='http' demux='mp3' location='techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a' file='\\techslides.com\demos\samples\sample.m4a' main debug: looking for demux module matching "mp3": 55 candidates prefetch error: unimplemented query (264) in control es debug: detected format mpga main debug: looking for packetizer module matching "any": 24 candidates main debug: using packetizer module "mpegaudio" mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode es debug: did not sync on first block mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode mpegaudio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame) prefetch debug: end of stream main debug: using demux module "es" main debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.luac main debug: no meta reader modules matched main debug: `http://techslides.com/demos/samples/sample.m4a' successfully opened main debug: EOF reached main debug: removing module "es" main debug: removing module "mpegaudio" main debug: removing module "record" main debug: removing module "prefetch" main debug: removing module "access" main debug: dead input main debug: changing item without a request (current 1/2) main debug: nothing to play qt debug: IM: Deleting the input

[mtlmeijer]

Thank you for having a look,

Running Windows 10 and VLC 3.0.4 (or 2.2.2, 2.2.
The log for opening "Sample AAC File" from
http://techslides.com/sample-files-for-development

The log:

Code: Select all

main debug: processing request item: sample (1).aac, node: Playlist, skip: 0 main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index 0 main debug: starting playback of new item main debug: resyncing on sample (1).aac main debug: sample (1).aac is at 0 main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'sample (1).aac' main debug: requesting art for new input thread main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB main debug: using timeshift path: C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\Temp main debug: `file:///C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac' gives access `file' demux `live555' path `/C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac' main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='live555' location='/C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac' file='C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\sample (1).aac' main debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 15 candidates main debug: no access_demux modules matched main debug: creating access: file:///C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac main debug: (path: C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\sample (1).aac) main debug: looking for access module matching "file": 26 candidates main debug: using access module "filesystem" main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "prefetch,cache_read": 24 candidates cache_read debug: Using stream method for AStream* cache_read debug: starting pre-buffering cache_read debug: received first data after 0 ms cache_read debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s main debug: using stream_filter module "cache_read" main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 24 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\playlist lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\anevia_streams.luac main debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher main debug: no meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\anevia_xml.luac lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\appletrailers.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\bbc_co_uk.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\cue.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\dailymotion.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\jamendo.luac main debug: no art finder modules matched lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\koreus.luac qt debug: IM: Setting an input lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\liveleak.luac main debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher main debug: no meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\newgrounds.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\rockbox_fm_presets.luac lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\soundcloud.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\twitch.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\vimeo.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\vocaroo.luac main debug: no art finder modules matched lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\youtube.luac main debug: no stream_filter modules matched main debug: looking for stream_directory module matching "any": 1 candidates main debug: no stream_directory modules matched main debug: attachment of directory-extractor failed for file:///C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 24 candidates main debug: using stream_filter module "record" main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='live555' location='/C:/Users/xxxxx/Desktop/sample%20(1).aac' file='C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\sample (1).aac' main debug: looking for demux module matching "live555": 55 candidates main debug: no demux modules matched main debug: removing module "record" main debug: removing module "cache_read" main debug: removing module "filesystem" main debug: dead input main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug: nothing to play qt debug: IM: Deleting the input [​/code]

[mtlmeijer]

I thought to reset preferences in Tools > Preferences and now I can play back the "Sample AAC File" and "Sample M4A File".
Fixed!

[Lotesdelere]

Notice that I'm not playing "Sample AAC File" online from the "Open network stream" menu, but I have downloaded the file first.
Any attempt to play it online failed.