Is there a way to change JUST the audio on a video clip?

[jbitakis]

How do I change Just the audio from say mp3 to flac, but keep the same video.

[davexnet]

In what? An MKV?
Download the mkvtoolnix package from the tools section and try MKVmerge

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/MKVtoolnix

[jbitakis]

No, this is not an MKV, this is an AVI Container with HD video (m2ts files).

[davexnet]

Can you put FLAC in an AVI? I've never seen it before.

[Cornucopia]

I haven't tried it, but it shouldn't be difficult to put flac inside an AVI. The question I have is WHY?

If it's because you think that "flac is lossless so is better quality than mp3", you'd be wrong. An LPCM WAV or flac that is taken from an mp3 source is going to sound JUST THE SAME as the mp3 source. Just a LOT bigger in size. Very NOT worth it.

If you were to say, "well, I've got a copy of the source that is in flac and so I could replace the mp3 with a higher quality", at least you'd be on the right track. First, you'd have to make sure they are identical in their program (no cuts, no rate changes), then you'd have to make sure they start and end at the same time. Only then would it make sense to replace the mp3 (for quality purposes).

But even then, I put it to you that it doesn't make sense to use flac. I'd replace it with LPCM WAV. It is universally acceptable and the filesize difference between it and flac, while possibly substantial, is inconsequential compared to the filesize of the video.

Scott

[jbitakis]

LPCM Wav. I will try. The only reason I was thinking of changing the audio from mp3 to flac was because the WD TV Player states that it supports flac audio for video files of m2ts. Because the audio keeps going out after 10 seconds of my m2ts video files on my WD TV. I called them and they said flac would make the audio work. But I couldn't get it to work anyway.

[Cornucopia]

It could be that the trouble your WDTV is having with the mp3 content might be because some of the mp3's are VBR instead of CBR. Many devices are known to have trouble with that, yet people still insist on encoding as VBR in the misguided idea that it will help greatly with the filesize. IMO, it's NEVER worth it for audio.
If that is the trouble you've been having, WAV should help. (Normally, WDTV shouldn't have trouble with mp3)

Scott