No sound on MP4 videos

[Dexdiman]

Hey guys, I tried finding this in the forum and I couldn't find anything pertaining to my problem. If there is already a thread please provide a link. Thanks!

First I would like to mention that VLC is the best video player I have ever used and I have never had a problem ever, except till now... I am using build 0.8.6i on Vista Home and Vista Premium. VLC works perfect and flawless except on MP4 videos, especially .MOV. I am using a Kodak Z1012 IS to capture the video and then playing them on my computer. The video format is 1280x720p at 30 fps.

Basically, the video plays fine but the audio is in and out, there is no audio for a few seconds then the sounds comes in for about a second but it is very scratchy. I know it's not the video itself because when I play it in Quicktime or iTunes, it plays just fine.

Thanks for your help!

[VLC_help]

Have you tried nightlies?
http://nightlies.videolan.org/

[Dexdiman]

Well, I tried the latest release on there and I am still getting the same problem. This time I tried it on a computer with XP as well, and the audio is still scratchy. I am starting to lean towards the possibility that I might not have the right codec. I also found something very strange, if I take a video I shot with the Kodak camera and render it in Vegas 6 as 720p, virtually the exact same, it plays fine, audio and all. The only real difference is that I render it as AVI in stead of MOV, so maybe Kodak and Apple got together and changed the audio codecs just slightly to throw the VLC Team off... OOOHHHH, conspiracy!

[VLC_help]

Could you provide short sample file with shows this issue (about 5-10 seconds long)?

[krolft]

[removed/]

[Lotesdelere]

I've just discovered that I got the same problem when using the nightly build vlc-0.9.2-win32.7z 07/09/2008 02:39.
The files which give me no sound are always MP4 containers (with or without video) with AAC audio.
The same files are playing fine with JB's preview build though.

Examples of files:
http://trailers.nerodigital.com/Warner/GetSmart_HD.mp4 (168 MB)
http://www.sandydoull.com/VCLP0334.MP4 (2.8 MB)
http://www.lillevold.com/files/aac_samp ... 160_51.mp4 (audio only, 625 KB)

Message log for the audio only file:

Code: Select all

main info: Exécuter VLC avec l'interface par défaut. Utilisez 'cvlc' pour utiliser vlc sans interface. main debug: adding item `E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' ( E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4 ) main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Liste de lecture main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1 main debug: starting new item main debug: processing request item E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4 node null skip 0 main debug: resyncing on E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4 main debug: E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4 is at 0 main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: thread 5056 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:368) main debug: selected audio language[0] fr qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 3 main debug: selected subtitle language[0] fr main debug: `E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' gives access `' demux `' path `E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate main debug: creating access '' path='E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates vcd debug: trying .cue file: E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.cue vcd debug: could not find .cue file access_file debug: opening file `E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: using access module "access_file" main debug: Using AStream*Stream main debug: pre-buffering... main debug: received first data for our buffer main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' main debug: looking for demux module: 59 candidates mp4 debug: found Box: ftyp size 24 mp4 debug: found Box: mdat size 634670 mp4 debug: skip box: "mdat" mp4 debug: found Box: mdat size 36 mp4 debug: skip box: "mdat" mp4 debug: found Box: moov size 4870 mp4 debug: found Box: mvhd size 108 mp4 debug: read box: "mvhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s time scale 90000 duration 694977d-48h:00m:43s rate 1.000000 volume 1.000000 next track id 4 mp4 debug: found Box: iods size 42 mp4 warning: unknown box type iods (incompletely loaded) mp4 debug: found Box: trak size 3332 mp4 debug: found Box: tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: read box: "tkhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s duration 695010d-08h:58m:30s track ID 1 layer 0 volume 1.000000 width 0.000000 height 0.000000 mp4 debug: found Box: mdia size 3232 mp4 debug: found Box: mdhd size 32 mp4 debug: read box: "mdhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s time scale 22050 duration 694985d-04h:16m:00s language ``` mp4 debug: found Box: hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: read box: "hdlr" handler type soun name mp4 debug: found Box: minf size 3159 mp4 debug: found Box: smhd size 16 mp4 debug: read box: "smhd" balance 0.000000 mp4 debug: found Box: dinf size 36 mp4 debug: found Box: dref size 28 mp4 debug: found Box: url size 12 mp4 debug: read box: "url" url: (null) mp4 debug: read box: "dref" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stbl size 3099 mp4 debug: found Box: stsd size 103 mp4 debug: found Box: mp4a size 87 mp4 debug: read box: "soun" mp4 or qt1/2 (rest=51) mp4 debug: found Box: esds size 51 mp4 debug: found esds MPEG4ESDescr (34Bytes) mp4 debug: found esds MP4DecConfigDescr (20Bytes) mp4 debug: found esds MP4DecSpecificDescr (2Bytes) mp4 debug: read box: "soun" in stsd channel 2 sample size 16 sample rate 22050.000000 mp4 debug: read box: "stsd" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stts size 24 mp4 debug: read box: "stts" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stsz size 2780 mp4 debug: read box: "stsz" sample-size 0 sample-count 690 mp4 debug: found Box: stsc size 40 mp4 debug: read box: "stsc" entry-count 2 mp4 debug: found Box: stco size 144 mp4 debug: read box: "co64" entry-count 32 mp4 debug: found Box: udta size 538 mp4 debug: found Box: meta size 91 mp4 debug: found Box: hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: read box: "hdlr" handler type mdir name mp4 debug: found Box: ilst size 46 mp4 debug: found Box: ctoo size 38 mp4 warning: unknown box type ctoo (incompletely loaded) mp4 debug: found Box: hnti size 439 mp4 debug: found Box: rtp size 431 mp4 warning: unknown box type rtp (incompletely loaded) mp4 debug: found Box: trak size 429 mp4 debug: found Box: tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: read box: "tkhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s duration 695010d-08h:58m:30s track ID 2 layer 0 volume 0.000000 width 0.000000 height 0.000000 mp4 debug: found Box: mdia size 305 mp4 debug: found Box: mdhd size 32 qt4 debug: New Event: type 1103 mp4 debug: read box: "mdhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s time scale 1000 duration 694977d-56h:53m:59s language ``` qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 2 mp4 debug: found Box: hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: read box: "hdlr" handler type odsm name mp4 debug: found Box: minf size 232 mp4 debug: found Box: nmhd size 12 mp4 debug: found Box: dinf size 36 mp4 debug: found Box: dref size 28 mp4 debug: found Box: url size 12 mp4 debug: read box: "url" url: (null) mp4 debug: read box: "dref" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stbl size 176 mp4 debug: found Box: stsd size 76 mp4 debug: found Box: mp4s size 60 mp4 debug: found Box: esds size 44 mp4 debug: found esds MPEG4ESDescr (27Bytes) mp4 debug: found esds MP4DecConfigDescr (13Bytes) mp4 debug: read box: "stsd" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stts size 24 mp4 debug: read box: "stts" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stsz size 20 mp4 debug: read box: "stsz" sample-size 19 sample-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stsc size 28 mp4 debug: read box: "stsc" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stco size 20 mp4 debug: read box: "co64" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: tref size 24 mp4 debug: found Box: mpod size 16 mp4 warning: unknown box type mpod (incompletely loaded) mp4 debug: found Box: trak size 413 mp4 debug: found Box: tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: read box: "tkhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s duration 695010d-08h:58m:30s track ID 3 layer 0 volume 0.000000 width 0.000000 height 0.000000 mp4 debug: found Box: mdia size 313 mp4 debug: found Box: mdhd size 32 mp4 debug: read box: "mdhd" creation 731512d-06h:29m:57s modification 731512d-06h:29m:57s time scale 1000 duration 694977d-56h:53m:59s language ``` mp4 debug: found Box: hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: read box: "hdlr" handler type sdsm name mp4 debug: found Box: minf size 240 mp4 debug: found Box: nmhd size 12 mp4 debug: found Box: dinf size 36 mp4 debug: found Box: dref size 28 mp4 debug: found Box: url size 12 mp4 debug: read box: "url" url: (null) mp4 debug: read box: "dref" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stbl size 184 mp4 debug: found Box: stsd size 84 mp4 debug: found Box: mp4s size 68 mp4 debug: found Box: esds size 52 mp4 debug: found esds MPEG4ESDescr (35Bytes) mp4 debug: found esds MP4DecConfigDescr (21Bytes) mp4 debug: found esds MP4DecSpecificDescr (3Bytes) mp4 debug: read box: "stsd" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stts size 24 mp4 debug: read box: "stts" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stsz size 20 mp4 debug: read box: "stsz" sample-size 9 sample-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stsc size 28 mp4 debug: read box: "stsc" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: found Box: stco size 20 mp4 debug: read box: "co64" entry-count 1 mp4 debug: dumping root Box "root" mp4 debug: | + ftyp size 24 mp4 debug: | + mdat size 634670 mp4 debug: | + mdat size 36 mp4 debug: | + moov size 4870 mp4 debug: | | + mvhd size 108 mp4 debug: | | + iods size 42 mp4 debug: | | + trak size 3332 mp4 debug: | | | + tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: | | | + mdia size 3232 mp4 debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32 mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: | | | | + minf size 3159 mp4 debug: | | | | | + smhd size 16 mp4 debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12 mp4 debug: | | | | | + stbl size 3099 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 103 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + mp4a size 87 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | | + esds size 51 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stts size 24 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 2780 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 40 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stco size 144 mp4 debug: | | + udta size 538 mp4 debug: | | | + meta size 91 mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: | | | | + ilst size 46 mp4 debug: | | | | | + ctoo size 38 mp4 debug: | | | + hnti size 439 mp4 debug: | | | | + rtp size 431 mp4 debug: | | + trak size 429 mp4 debug: | | | + tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: | | | + mdia size 305 mp4 debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32 mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: | | | | + minf size 232 mp4 debug: | | | | | + nmhd size 12 mp4 debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12 mp4 debug: | | | | | + stbl size 176 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 76 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + mp4s size 60 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | | + esds size 44 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stts size 24 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 20 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 28 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stco size 20 mp4 debug: | | | + tref size 24 mp4 debug: | | | | + mpod size 16 mp4 debug: | | + trak size 413 mp4 debug: | | | + tkhd size 92 mp4 debug: | | | + mdia size 313 mp4 debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32 mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 33 mp4 debug: | | | | + minf size 240 mp4 debug: | | | | | + nmhd size 12 mp4 debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12 mp4 debug: | | | | | + stbl size 184 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 84 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + mp4s size 68 mp4 debug: | | | | | | | | + esds size 52 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stts size 24 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 20 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 28 mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stco size 20 mp4 debug: unrecognized major file specification (mp42). mp4 debug: found 3 tracks mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] read 32 chunk mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] read 690 samples length:32s main debug: selecting program id=0 qt4 debug: New Event: type 1108 mp4 debug: adding track[Id 0x1] audio (enable) language en mp4 debug: ignoring track[Id 0x2] mp4 debug: ignoring track[Id 0x3] main debug: using demux module "mp4" mp4 warning: DEMUX_GET_FPS unimplemented !! mp4 warning: DEMUX_GET_FPS unimplemented !! main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Utils\VLC\ main debug: `E:/Temp/mp4_he-aac160_51.mp4' successfully opened main debug: control type=1 main debug: EOF reached main debug: finished input main debug: dying input qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 8 main debug: dying input mp4 debug: freeing all memory main debug: removing module "mp4" main debug: removing module "access_file" main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.109375s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.015625s main debug: thread 5056 joined (playlist/engine.c:244) main debug: starting new item main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug: nothing to play

[Dexdiman]

Thank you Lotesdelere for jumping on this and showing all this information. I should have run the debugger too.

I am still getting scratchy audio with JB's build. Do you have any special codecs installed besides the usual DivX or K-Lite stuff?

[Lotesdelere]

I have FFdshow installed but it doesn't matter as VLC is using its own built-in codecs and not the DirectShow ones.
You can use the DMO codecs for Windows Media but you have to specify it because this option is disabled by default. AFAIK there is no other way to use an external DirectShow codec but the WM ones with VLC.

Only audio problems I got with recent builds are the ones I've mentionned in this thread and some files, but not all, using WMA2 codec.
Not to mention that I also have some MP4 files with H264/VC-1 video and AAC audio which are playing fine with both JB's build and the nightly build.

[Dexdiman]

Would you be so kind as to explain how to specify the DMO codecs, please? I thought I could find it but I guess not.

BTW I'm using build 0.9.2.

Thanks

[Lotesdelere]

Would you be so kind as to explain how to specify the DMO codecs, please?

More infos in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=44013

[Lotesdelere]

I've just discovered that I got the same problem when using the nightly build vlc-0.9.2-win32.7z 07/09/2008 02:39.
The files which give me no sound are always MP4 containers (with or without video) with AAC audio.
The same files are playing fine with JB's preview build though.

Examples of files:
http://trailers.nerodigital.com/Warner/GetSmart_HD.mp4 (168 MB)
http://www.sandydoull.com/VCLP0334.MP4 (2.8 MB)
http://www.lillevold.com/files/aac_samp ... 160_51.mp4 (audio only, 625 KB)

For the info, I've just noticed that these MP4 videos start playing with the sound disabled for some reason.
If I activate the audio track then I can hear the sound. It's strange that the sound is enabled by default with some videos and not with some other ones.

The audio only file still doesn't want to play at all though.

EDIT:
Little question: do you have a prefered audio language set in the Audio Language option of the preferences ?
If so, are the videos playing fine if you remove this language and leave this option blank ?

[Dexdiman]

It's blank, I have never even changed the language in VLC before.

[Dexdiman]

I saw that the sound was disabled for them too, but when I enabled them my sound was still not working. I am not sure what to do, they work fine in WMP. So, I guess I will use WMP for those kinds of files but I don't really like WMP considering it's such a big RAM hog.

[VLC_help]

http://www.sandydoull.com/VCLP0334.MP4 works fine with 0.9.2 using default options. Have you tried to reset VLC settings?

[GreenReaper]

I had a similar problem, but starting VLC with the command line option
--codec=faad
fixed it for me. Make a shortcut and add it after everything else on the target (leave a space after the quote marks).