Unsupported FLV codec or format

[lovyagin]

I have a big problem, please help!

Some new FLV files appeared on youtube could not be opened anywhere (example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYbF-Yzdf0, used for test purpose only!):

1) flvextract shows that codecid=7 and format=10 are unsupported
2) flvsplitter returns unsupported streams
3) flv input plug-in for virtualdub returns "no video stream"
3) many flv converters (both shareware and free) says that it is not valid flv file

I've ffdshow so most of FLV files plays well, does anyone know what to do with this format or codec?

[jagabo]

VLC 0.9.4 was able to play it. Video is h.264, audio is AAC. I suspect you need an updated FLV file splitter (VLC has its own).

[poisondeathray]

it's AVC/AAC in .flv similar to Hulu videos and most current programs will not accept it yet

Here's more info:
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic357698.html

[Baldrick]

Or if you want to reconvert it to avi, etc you can also use a gui for ffmpeg like WinFF. It works fine with the above flv h264,aac video.

[overflonium]

Using the method described used to work but now does not. The errors are

[aac @ 003EBBC0]Audio object type 1 is not supported.
[mp4 @ 01568070]track 1: codec frame size is not set

ffmpeg -i "INPUT.flv" -vcodec copy -acodec copy "OUTPUT.mp4"

Stream #0.0: Video: h264, yuv420p, 720x400 [PAR 80:81 DAR 16:9], 23.98 tb(r)
Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16

Output #0, mp4, to 'OUTPUT.mp4':
Stream #0.0: Video: libx264, yuv420p, 720x400 [PAR 80:81 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 tb(c)
Stream #0.1: Audio: libfaac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1
[mp4 @ 01568070]track 1: codec frame size is not set
Could not write header for output file #0 (incorrect codec parameters ?)

-vcodec copy -an
will save the video to an MP4 file that MP4Box can use as ususal.
Nothing I have tried will do anything with the AAC stream.

[Placio74]

Hmm...
@overflonium, what's used FFmpeg build? Example SVN-r15625 or older?

[overflonium]

Hmm...
@overflonium, what's used FFmpeg build? Example SVN-r15625 or older?

Yes, all three fail. All three appear to read and write AAC (have faad libfaac support) OK.
SVN-r15666
SVN-r15625
SVN-r13712 (from winff)

FFmpeg version Sherpya-r15666, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
libavutil 49.12. 0 / 49.12. 0
libavcodec 52. 0. 0 / 52. 0. 0
libavformat 52.22. 1 / 52.22. 1
libavdevice 52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
libswscale 0. 6. 1 / 0. 6. 1
libpostproc 51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
built on Oct 22 2008 23:37:16, gcc: 4.2.5 20080919 (prerelease) [Sherpya]


FFmpeg version SVN-r15625, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-gpl --enable-libfaac --enable-libfaad --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --disable-ffserver --disable-vhook --enable-avisynth --enable-pthreads
libavutil 49.12. 0 / 49.12. 0
libavcodec 52. 0. 0 / 52. 0. 0
libavformat 52.22. 1 / 52.22. 1
libavdevice 52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
libswscale 0. 6. 1 / 0. 6. 1
libpostproc 51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
built on Oct 16 2008 05:40:02, gcc: 4.2.4 (TDM-1 for MinGW)


FFmpeg version SVN-r13712, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --enable-avisynth --enable-libxvid --enable-libx264 --enable-libgsm --enable-libfaac --enable-libfaad --enable-liba52 --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-pthreads --enable-swscale --enable-gpl
libavutil version: 49.7.0
libavcodec version: 51.57.2
libavformat version: 52.14.0
libavdevice version: 52.0.0
built on Jun 8 2008 21:33:14, gcc: 4.2.3

[Placio74]

Any sample file (or link)...?

[overflonium]

Any sample file (or link)...?

Not all, but most of the major network's programming released this week at hulu. The major shows like The Office, etc. This is an example that should lead you to a "Hi-res" 720x400 AVC H.264/AAC stream of the smallest file I currently see.
http://www.hulu.com/hd/43181
It will be 150 MB. It was obtained like the other above videos in the thread that are OK to time-shift for personal use, but not share. The free demo version of applian.com Replay Media Catcher will allow you to record a sample up to 75% of the length of this 1/2 hour program for you if you want to check.

Significant changes I can see is that Mediainfo is reporting this week episodes as 48 KHZ and FFMPEG says 44.1 KHz. From last week to this week MediaInfo reports SBR No last week and does not mention SBR this week.<= Is AAC SBR the problem?

This week (FFMPEG no works)
===================
Format AAC
Format/Info Advanced Audio Codec
Format version Version 4
Format profile Main
Channel(s) 2 channels
Channel positions L R
Sampling rate 48.0 KHz
Resolution 16 bits
Video delay 135ms

FFMPEG reports 44.1 KHz as in
Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16



Last week's episodes are reported as SBR No by MediaInfo. Both FFMPEG and MediaInfo agree on 48 KHz.

This week (FFMPEG yes works)
===================
Format AAC
Format/Info Advanced Audio Codec
Format version Version 4
Format profile LC
Format settings, SBR No
Channel(s) 2 channels
Channel positions L R
Sampling rate 48.0 KHz
Resolution 16 bits
Video delay 135ms

Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16

Example of AAC FFMPEG handles OK. Again this should be a "Hi-res" hulu stream
http://www.hulu.com/hd/40682

[Placio74]

Ah, hulu.com.
Unfortunately... "Sorry, currently our video library can only be streamed from within the United States."

[overflonium]

10 MB Sample

[minidv2dvd]

i can play the 10mb sample ok, but nothing will accept it as input for rendering.

[Placio74]

Hmm... possible decoding to WAV PCM used MPlayer.

mplayer -ao pcm:file=name_file.wav -vo null name_file.flv

Other...
Can 'dump' audio used MPlayer, but... obtained audio file is not playable ('missing' properties - raw stream).


Other...
Can use VLC > Convert/Save > Encapsulation = MP4
Then have MP4 file with AAC audio (not re-encoded) and... playable (can mux with video).

[poisondeathray]

Is AAC SBR the problem?

I think it is the problem - at least for now - if you use that method

(August 21, 2008) The AAC decoder from FFmpeg Summer of Code 2006 has finally been cleaned up and is now in FFmpeg trunk. It supports Main and Low Complexity profile AAC but does not yet support HE AAC v1 (LC + SBR) or v2 (LC + SBR + PS), though implementation of this support is underway.

http://ffmpeg.mplayerhq.hu/

[Placio74]

Same issue when try decode (used FFmpeg) same audio from MP4 (exclude - can demux).
Well... post above - probably FFmpeg not (yet) support this audio.

Can use VLC > Convert/Save > Encapsulation = MP4

[overflonium]

Yes VLC works. Is there a command line use of VLC that will produce the output? MP4Box and MKVToolnix will both import the VLC converted MP4 output. I just need a CL for VLC if exists.

On SBR and FFMPEG: I can create an AAC HEv2 with SBR using Nero AAC Encoder/Decoder v 1.3.3 One older version (SVN-r12665) of FFMPEG will handle the HEv2 SBR AAC and convert it to MP3

General
Complete name someVBR.aac
Format MPEG-4
Format profile 3GPP Media Release 6 Basic
Codec ID 3gp6
Writing application Nero AAC codec / 1.3.3.0
cdec ndaudio 1.3.3.0 / -q 0.50 -hev2

Audio
Format/Info Advanced Audio Codec
Format version Version 4
Format profile LC
Format settings, SBR Yes
Format settings, PS Yes
Codec ID 40
Duration 6s 605ms
Bit rate mode Variable
Bit rate 64.3 Kbps
Maximum bit rate 68.4 Kbps
Channel(s) 2 channels
Sampling rate 44.1 KHz
Resolution 16 bits
Stream size 51.9 KiB (96%)
Chapters 1 00:00:00.127 -

FFMPEG handles SBR
FFmpeg version SVN-r12665, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-postproc --enable-swscale --enable-avfilt
er-lavf --enable-pthreads --enable-liba52 --enable-avisynth --enable-libfaac --e
nable-libfaad --enable-libgsm --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enabl
e-libnut --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid
--cpu=i686 --extra-ldflags=-static
libavutil version: 49.6.0
libavcodec version: 51.54.0
libavformat version: 52.13.0
libavdevice version: 52.0.0
built on Apr 2 2008 22:35:11, gcc: 4.2.3

but the prerelease will not, throwing the error
[aac @ 003EBB70]SBR not implemented. Update your FFmpeg version to the newest one from SVN.
so maybe a build tweak is in order

FFMPEG does not handle SBR
FFmpeg version Sherpya-r15666, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
libavutil 49.12. 0 / 49.12. 0
libavcodec 52. 0. 0 / 52. 0. 0
libavformat 52.22. 1 / 52.22. 1
libavdevice 52. 1. 0 / 52. 1. 0
libswscale 0. 6. 1 / 0. 6. 1
libpostproc 51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
built on Oct 22 2008 23:37:16, gcc: 4.2.5 20080919 (prerelease) [Sherpya]

[Placio74]

Example...

"C:\path\vlc.exe" "C:\path\name_file.flv" :sout=#duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=mp4,dst="C:/path/name_file.mp4"}}

[overflonium]

Yes, that did it. And to demux the video with recent SVN FFMPEG

ffmpeg -i "SOME.FLV" -f mp4 -r 29.970 -s 720x400 -aspect 16:9 -vcodec copy -an "SOMEOUTPUT.mp4"

So we have audio and video streams. Problem solved. Thanks!
Sample has been deleted.

[lovyagin]

thank you all a lot!

ffmpeg (beta version from sourceforge) really can extract video to MP4,
VLC extract audio only (why???) to MP4

saving video to .mp4 with ffmpeg and audio to .audio.mp4 with VLC I may use this avs script

v = DirectShowSource("FILE.mp4")
a = DirectShowSource("FILE.audio.mp4")
AudioDub(v, a)

to convert source flv video to other format, thanks.

But also I've found that new beta version of MediaCoder (0.6.2.4205) can create mp4 with both audio and video (select video -> copy video, audio -> copy audio, video-> container = MP4). I've tried to use AVI as container but it does not work properly, I do not know why.

Thanks for idea of using MP4 instead of AVI! But I still could not understand why AVI is not proper, especially bearing in mind that MediaCoder and ffmpeg produce unplayable one without any error message...

But I hope that new flvsplitter and virtualdub plug-in will accept AVC/AAC format too cos it's much easy to use them...

[Placio74]

VLC extract audio only (why???) to MP4

It's for specific FLV file (not from YT), when FFmpeg have problems with audio.
MP4 (used VLC), to preserve audio properties and later muxing with video used Yamb (MP4Box).

saving video to .mp4 with ffmpeg and audio to .audio.mp4 with VLC I may use this avs script

v = DirectShowSource("FILE.mp4")
a = DirectShowSource("FILE.audio.mp4")
AudioDub(v, a)

Not only...
Can mux audio and video to MP4 used Yamb or to MKV used MKVtoolnix.
Can open and re-encode MP4 in VirtualDub (with QuickTime input plugin) or Avidemux.
Can use different Avisynth script (decoding video used DGAVCDec and audio used BassAudio or can use QTSource or FFmpegSource).

For FLV with AVC/AAC from YT and maybe some other (but not for all), can use just FFmpeg or some GUI's (WinFF, MediaCoder, ...) - remux to MP4 (or MKV) or transcode to other.

I've tried to use AVI as container but it does not work properly, I do not know why.

AVI it's not native container for AVC.
AVC in AVI? Possible, but need extract raw video stream and use avc2avi tool.

Thanks for idea of using MP4 instead of AVI! But I still could not understand why AVI is not proper, especially bearing in mind that MediaCoder and ffmpeg produce unplayable one without any error message...

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80430

But I hope that new flvsplitter

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=142551

and virtualdub plug-in will accept AVC/AAC format too cos it's much easy to use them...

How to decode audio/video, if VD and FLV input plugin use VfW and ACM? Well... doubtful.
May be in Avidemux (at this moment, not yet)...

[poisondeathray]

Just a heads up Motiah's new flv splitter is released and works with h264/aac in flv now

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=142551

You can register the FLVSplitter.ax separately as a standalone if you want and it works with graphstudio/graphedit

[Placio74]

Works. Thanks.

Well... at this moment can also:
- re-encode with used Avisynth script (DirectShowSource),
- re-encode with used DirectShow input driver in VirtualDub,
- re-mux to MKV used Haali's DS Mux,
...

[lovyagin]

standing alone filter flvsplitter.ax from MPC-HC svn 812 at
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1213075#post1213075
( http://www.xvidvideo.ru/content/view/390/1 ) really works, so problem solved completely, thanks to you all and special thanks to Moitah!

[harrier]

Some new FLV files appeared on youtube could not be opened anywhere (example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYbF-Yzdf0, used for test purpose only!):

Okay, some other forums have recognized it's a problme of some FLV files which contain H.264 w/ AAC codecs, this is supported since Flash Player 9.0.115, many media sites bring this format online in recent days, this causes matters because many players/converters still not support this format, include newest FFmpeg, Mplayer, and Nero Show Time etc.

There are some commercial software have solved this problem, but everyone prefer a free solution. (Linus: Software is like sex, it's better when it's FREE. <g>)

Well, we can handle this new FLV format via follow procedures now:

1. Install latest ffdshow, you can download it from http://www.free-codecs.com/FFDshow_download.htm ;
2. Get FLV Extract 1.4.0 from http://moitah.net/ , use it to extract H.264 & AAC streams from FLV file;
3. Use avc2avi to convert H.264 stream file to AVI file, get it from http://sourceforge.net/projects/avc2avi ;
4. Use Free Mp3 Wma Convertor to convert AAC stream file to WAV file, you can download it from http://www.koyotesoft.com/ ;
5. Finally, use VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) to rejoin video (AVI file) & audio (WAV file) again, we can process them at here too;

Now, we get an AVI file that we can convert it to any format which we really want.

[Placio74]

Enough just simple Avisynth script (of course if have installed ffdshow and patched FLV Splitter).

BTW
FFmpeg and MEncoder can re-encode or re-mux some FLV's (with AVC/AAC), but just not all.

[squidget]

Some new FLV files appeared on youtube could not be opened anywhere (example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYbF-Yzdf0, used for test purpose only!):

Okay, some other forums have recognized it's a problme of some FLV files which contain H.264 w/ AAC codecs, this is supported since Flash Player 9.0.115, many media sites bring this format online in recent days, this causes matters because many players/converters still not support this format, include newest FFmpeg, Mplayer, and Nero Show Time etc.

There are some commercial software have solved this problem, but everyone prefer a free solution. (Linus: Software is like sex, it's better when it's FREE. <g>)

Well, we can handle this new FLV format via follow procedures now:

1. Install latest ffdshow, you can download it from http://www.free-codecs.com/FFDshow_download.htm ;
2. Get FLV Extract 1.4.0 from http://moitah.net/ , use it to extract H.264 & AAC streams from FLV file;
3. Use avc2avi to convert H.264 stream file to AVI file, get it from http://sourceforge.net/projects/avc2avi ;
4. Use Free Mp3 Wma Convertor to convert AAC stream file to WAV file, you can download it from http://www.koyotesoft.com/ ;
5. Finally, use VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) to rejoin video (AVI file) & audio (WAV file) again, we can process them at here too;

Now, we get an AVI file that we can convert it to any format which we really want.

truthfully, the free option is a little over my head. (but still appreciated for compiling together in one post!) what commercial software has been updated to do handle this? I'm just trying to convert flv to mp4 again.