Re: [Audacity-devel] FFmpeg export GSM, AMR and MP4 on Windows

[Gale A. <ga...@au...>]

| From LRN <lr...@gm...> 
| Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:17:14 +0400
| Subject: [Audacity-devel] FFmpeg export GSM, AMR and MP4 on Windows
> Gale Andrews wrote:
> > OK, but I think this raises the question of whether we even include AMR
> > as an option. As far as the general user goes, they won't be able to
> > build FFmpeg, and even to the more savvy it presents big problems
> > building it on Windows as there is no MSVC support.
> >    
> On Linux building FFmpeg with AMR support is trivial, so the option stays.

Yes, fair enough. Thanks. 

> > If we do offer it as an option, the current error provided isn't really
> > helpful. So I guess it would make more sense to point them to the
> > FFmpeg FAQ I suggested (which will also have links to FFmpeg hosted
> > outside Europe/USA). Whether on the FAQ we tell the general
> > Windows user to go and make the AMR using SuperPlayer:	
> > http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html#Dnload
> >
> > would be a moot point?
> >    
> OK, i can add custom error message for AMR - that's no problem.

Perhaps a cleaner solution might be to have a Help button in the message 
which points to an expanded "wma-proprietary" section in HelpText.cpp?
This would then be like the Help button we have for the "Error importing"
dialogue. 

In any case, there is now some provisional text to cover this here
which could be linked to:
http://www.audacityteam.org/manual/index.php?title=FAQ:Installation_and_Plug-Ins#errorffmpeg	

similarly a holding section for FFmpeg downloads you could link
your download button to:
http://www.audacityteam.org/manual/index.php?title=FAQ:Installation_and_Plug-Ins#installffmpeg

I think our current plan for the Manual is to have pages for each FAQ
section, rather than pages for each individual FAQ. The reasoning 
is that this increases reading of the FAQs - certainly the Forum helpers
are of this view. 

> 
> > I did some testing of all FFmpeg formats that native Audacity does not
> > support:
> >
> > * MP4 (8 bit or 16 bit) gives this Quick Time for Windows error:
> >    "Error -2041: an invalid sample description was found in the movie (ffmpeg.mp4)"
> >
> >     So of course iTunes for Windows does not play it either (no error,
> >     nothing happens). MP4 will have to work in iTunes for it to be
> >     useful, needless to say. Does iTunes for Windows use DirectShow?
> >     The MP4s play fine in VLC.
> >    
> About DirectShow and iTunes - no idea. Since i don't have iTunes, i'll 
> stick with DirectShow and foobar2000 - i'll stop digging this issue once 
> they are playing mp4s produced by Audacity.


As Martyn also suggested, we will need our MP4 and AACs to open 
in iTunes (if at all possible). I would suggest you grab iTunes for
testing purposes (just don't let them force Safari onto you into the
bargain :=) 

> 
> > * Real Audio: MPC can't play .ra v3 ("unspecified error"); it opens and
> >     plays .ra v9 but there is no sound. I have Real Alternative installed.
> 
> >    
> RA3 = AC3
> RA9 = AAC
> Or, at least, Wikipedia says so.


Same comment pretty much, as I suspect Real Alternative is increasingly
popular as Real Player piles on the ads and nags.

Thanks

Gale