AVI-to-MP4, Hybrid doesn't like my audio settings?
 

Hi there. Using Hybrid to convert an AVI file to MP4 (while doing some deinterlacing).

I understand that PCM audio inherent in AVI files won't translate or convert for MP4. So, I first pulled the audio track from the AVI file and converted it to a separate 160kbps AAC file, based on a previous recommendation on this forum.

Under Hybrid's Base tab -> Processing section, I chose "Custom" under the "Audio" drop-down menu:
Attachment 18582


Then, under the "Audio" tab, I selected my AAC audio file to be used as the final audio track:
Attachment 18583

But when I hit the shovel man to process the new file, Hybrid says, "You just added a job with an empty audio queue while audio handling !+ ignore. Maybe you forgot to put an audio stream in the audio queue."
Attachment 18584

But... audio handling is not set to "ignore," and my audio queue is not empty... So I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Any advice much appreciated! :)

You added the audio, but didn't set a job. On the audio tab, click the vertical + sign, which adds based on the encode settings. You have 160kbps AAC set. But for pre-encoded, just uncheck encode, and it will stream copy.

The error messages stated this. "You just added a job with empty audio".

Don't feel too bad/dumb here. It's not the most newbie-obvious/dummy-friendly software, but it's the most powerful GUI with a slight learning curve. Even I make simple mistakes, especially when I rush the settings. Perhaps I should help selur make a better official guide, add some default templates. I know I need to sit down, help with MPEG encoding.

I often use Huffyuv lossless files, which have PCM WAV 48kHz 16-bit, and it converts without issues. It's only when I try to feed it that audio via Avisynth files that it balks. In those cases, I just feed it the pre-AVS AVI source files, which extracts the WAV just fine.

I convert to AAC 160kbps stereo.

Thanks! I see the problem in my thought process - I thought that Audio tab was simply to choose whatever audio track I wanted to replace the original with and it's done... in other words, "Here it is - this one."

... but if I'm understanding correctly, I haven't added an audio track to the video processing job until I hit that + button... which means if I wanted to, I could then select a different audio file, and hit the + button again to add it as a SECOND optional audio track... and so on. Is that right?

Sorry... could you elaborate on this? By "Uncheck encode," do you mean to uncheck the "Audio Encoding Options" section? Just want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly.

(I'm trying to find an emoji offering a fistful of cash to use here)

Are you saying it converts to MP4 without audio issues? Like I wouldn't have to do all this "creating a separate, converted audio track to then remux into the video during the conversion-to-MP4" process?

Thanks as always! Much appreciated.

Looking at it, you might need to set it manually because the audio is set to custom, I set it to auto add (all). That makes it so the audio always has one queued element, being the audio from the original avi file

Though if you do want to change the audio source from the default audio that is baked into the file, just click that folder icon and select the given audio file you want to it. End result would look like this, having two queued elements, first one being the original .avi which I end up deleting from the list so that the edited wav file is used.

Attachment 18585

I actually do want to keep the original audio intact. All I'm really wanting to do with 99% of my captured videos is apply deinterlacing, maybe do a little cropping, and convert them to MP4. But whenever I've set the audio to auto add (all), I always get the following message:
Attachment 18586

And my understanding has been that if I want to convert from AVI to MP4 while deinterlacing in Hybrid, my only option to keep the audio intact is to first pull the audio from the AVI file and make a separate AAC file, which I can then re-mux into the MP4 file as it's being created in Hybrid. If there's an easier and more efficient way to do this, I'd love to know! :laugh: But thus far this is the best I've come up with.

... is there a way to set VirtualDub to capture my AVI files paired with a different audio format to begin with? Like AAC or MP3? That would save me a lot of headache.

Holy shit, nevermind... I think I finally figured it out. I think the missing step that's been holding me back and keeping me confused all this time was not knowing to hit that + button to add my audio selection to the job. Looking back now, that feels pretty stupid. :laugh: Oh well. Glad I'm learning.

I see now that if I simply choose "Custom" from the Audio Processing section in the Base tab, then head to the Audio tab and select AAC as my audio format under the "Audio Encoding Options" section... and hit the + button to add this audio selection to the job... :smack: ... then Hybrid will convert the AVI file's PCM audio to AAC for me, and use it for the newly-created MP4 file.

Holy shit, this stuff all seems so simple once you actually figure it out. And looking back, I have a feeling a few people tried explaining this to me, but I didn't understand it. Several people told me that they would "create an AAC file" for their audio in order to convert the AVI to MP4, but I misunderstood - I kept thinking they meant that they were doing this separately, outside of Hybrid, in order to plug the file back into Hybrid.

Okay. Moving on. Thanks again, everbody! :clap:

That error happens because the audio format/codec in the audio tab was set to pcm which mp4 doesn't accept. But I'm glad you managed to figure out your problem.

video is full of “holy shit” moments.

Maybe? Easy to test:
- open/import audio file, +
- open/import different audio file, +

Correct.

Yep, that would work. When paid enough, I can reserve time for whatever is needed. Otherwise it's just volunteer time, which is never enough.

MP4 is a container. The PCM inside the AVI is encoded to my AAC specs, which is added to the new H.264 video file, in MP4 container, created as Hybrid output.

Correct, good call, that's a setting on the Basic tab.

PCM is not valid in MP4, encoding to AAC (or AC3, MP3, for others) is required.

Nope, extra steps not needed, Hybrid processes.

Yes ... but no. That will cause dropped frames.

Feeling stupid is a good thing, especially taken with self-deprecating humor. It shows awareness, something most people lack. And it shows learning growth, with many people also lack. With all the "proud stupidity" seen on Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, etc, these days, it's refreshing to see that "light bulb moments" still happen. :)

True, true. :laugh: