ffmpeg throwing “Non-monotonous DTS in output stream”

[cwinthrop]

So I'm trying to concatenate 5 video files. I'm running Linux, and the command line looks like this:

ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i blist.txt -c copy output.mp4

blist.txt contains this:

file '00 - Test Pattern.mp4'
file '01 - In Memoriam.mp4'
file 'Feature Presentation 01.mp4'
file 'The Head.mp4'
file 'Intermission 03.mp4'

Soon as it starts processing the second file, it throws errors like this, but continues running:

[mp4 @ 0x1c4c4c0] Non-monotonous DTS in output stream 0:1; previous: 274141424, current: 253439430; changing to 274141425. This may result in incorrect timestamps in the output file.

The resulting video plays perfectly, up until the end of the 4th video. The 5th video has video, but no audio. Last run I did on this, with the same files, had audio but no video, just a black screen.

I know I need to re-encode all the files, but I have no idea what parameters to use, and nobody seems willing to tell me.

Can someone please help me with this? I'm going bald from pulling my hair out over this. 3 days now, and the majority of places I've tried, I either get told "paste the incredibly long log so we can ignore you" or they just ignore me. I'm at my wits end over this.

[LigH.de]

"Non-monotonous Display Time Stamp" means that a later segment in the concat list does not continue the time stamps from the end of the first segment. That may make seeking in the result unreliable. Therefore, ffmpeg started to fix it by rewriting time stamps.

A warning is not an error. If it were an error, ffmpeg would have aborted.

Regarding the missing video or audio ... that needs someone with more experience than me.

[badyu17]

If the video and audio formats match, why don't you join your files using mkvtoolnix-gui?

[cwinthrop]

Because I'm limited to console only. Headless machine, no X server, no gui.

[badyu17]

mkvtoolnix-gui is actually using mkvmerge which has no gui. It's part of the same package.

[cwinthrop]

So I just tried mkvmerge... Interesting, but no cigar:

    charlie@workshop:/mnt/media$ mkvmerge -o "upload/upload.mp4" "upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4" +"upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4" +"upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4" +"upload/Intermission 03.mp4"
    mkvmerge v8.8.0 ('Wind at my back') 64bit
    'upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4': Using the demultiplexer for the format 'QuickTime/MP4'.
    'upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4': Using the demultiplexer for the format 'QuickTime/MP4'.
    'upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4': Using the demultiplexer for the format 'QuickTime/MP4'.
    'upload/Intermission 03.mp4': Using the demultiplexer for the format 'QuickTime/MP4'.
    'upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4' track 0: Using the output module for the format 'AVC/h.264'.
    'upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4' track 1: Using the output module for the format 'AAC'.
    'upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4' track 0: Using the output module for the format 'AVC/h.264'.
    'upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4' track 1: Using the output module for the format 'AAC'.
    'upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4' track 0: Using the output module for the format 'AVC/h.264'.
    'upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4' track 1: Using the output module for the format 'AAC'.
    'upload/Intermission 03.mp4' track 0: Using the output module for the format 'AVC/h.264'.
    'upload/Intermission 03.mp4' track 1: Using the output module for the format 'AAC'.
    No append mapping was given for the file no. 1 ('upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4'). A default mapping of 1:0:0:0,1:1:0:1 will be used instead. Please keep that in mind if mkvmerge aborts with an error message regarding invalid '--append-to' options.
    No append mapping was given for the file no. 2 ('upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4'). A default mapping of 2:0:1:0,2:1:1:1 will be used instead. Please keep that in mind if mkvmerge aborts with an error message regarding invalid '--append-to' options.
    No append mapping was given for the file no. 3 ('upload/Intermission 03.mp4'). A default mapping of 3:0:2:0,3:1:2:1 will be used instead. Please keep that in mind if mkvmerge aborts with an error message regarding invalid '--append-to' options.
    Error: The track number 1 from the file 'upload/Intermission 03.mp4' cannot be appended to the track number 1 from the file 'upload/Feature Presentation 01.mp4'. The track parameters do not match.

[poisondeathray]

I was going to say use some linux NLE since you've decided to re-encode , just drop them on a timeline - done. But that might be hard running headless

What are the video characteristics of each video ? Use ffprobe or mediainfo

[cwinthrop]

Here's the data using ffprobe:

    charlie@workshop:/mnt/media$ /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i "upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4"
    ffmpeg version N-92086-gd702769 Copyright (c) 2000-2018 the FFmpeg developers
      built with gcc 5.4.0 (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.10) 20160609
      configuration: --disable-x86asm
      libavutil      56. 19.101 / 56. 19.101
      libavcodec     58. 31.102 / 58. 31.102
      libavformat    58. 18.103 / 58. 18.103
      libavdevice    58.  4.105 / 58.  4.105
      libavfilter     7. 33.100 /  7. 33.100
      libswscale      5.  2.100 /  5.  2.100
      libswresample   3.  2.100 /  3.  2.100
    Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4':
      Metadata:
        major_brand     : isom
        minor_version   : 512
        compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
        encoder         : Lavf56.40.101
      Duration: 00:02:26.87, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 243 kb/s
        Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 106 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 30k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : VideoHandler
        Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : SoundHandler
    	  
    charlie@workshop:/mnt/media$ /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i "upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4"
    ffmpeg version N-92086-gd702769 Copyright (c) 2000-2018 the FFmpeg developers
      built with gcc 5.4.0 (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.10) 20160609
      configuration: --disable-x86asm
      libavutil      56. 19.101 / 56. 19.101
      libavcodec     58. 31.102 / 58. 31.102
      libavformat    58. 18.103 / 58. 18.103
      libavdevice    58.  4.105 / 58.  4.105
      libavfilter     7. 33.100 /  7. 33.100
      libswscale      5.  2.100 /  5.  2.100
      libswresample   3.  2.100 /  3.  2.100
    Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4':
      Metadata:
        major_brand     : isom
        minor_version   : 512
        compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
        encoder         : Lavf56.40.101
      Duration: 00:01:32.07, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 219 kb/s
        Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 82 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 30k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : VideoHandler
        Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : SoundHandler
    	  
    charlie@workshop:/mnt/media$ /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i "upload/99 - End Loop.mp4"
    ffmpeg version N-92086-gd702769 Copyright (c) 2000-2018 the FFmpeg developers
      built with gcc 5.4.0 (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.10) 20160609
      configuration: --disable-x86asm
      libavutil      56. 19.101 / 56. 19.101
      libavcodec     58. 31.102 / 58. 31.102
      libavformat    58. 18.103 / 58. 18.103
      libavdevice    58.  4.105 / 58.  4.105
      libavfilter     7. 33.100 /  7. 33.100
      libswscale      5.  2.100 /  5.  2.100
      libswresample   3.  2.100 /  3.  2.100
    Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'upload/99 - End Loop.mp4':
      Metadata:
        major_brand     : isom
        minor_version   : 512
        compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
        encoder         : Lavf56.40.101
      Duration: 00:00:15.05, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 236 kb/s
        Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 99 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 30k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : VideoHandler
        Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
        Metadata:
          handler_name    : SoundHandler

[poisondeathray]

Are you missing a couple ? Why only 3 ?

upload/00 - Test Pattern.mp4
upload/01 - In Memoriam.mp4
upload/99 - End Loop.mp4


file '00 - Test Pattern.mp4'
file '01 - In Memoriam.mp4'
file 'Feature Presentation 01.mp4'
file 'The Head.mp4'
file 'Intermission 03.mp4'



1) You can try manually demuxing them to elementary streams , then appending video & audio segments separately, but you might still have problems and potential desync . This would be preferred because if it works, you avoid re-encoding and quality loss

2) Higher chance of success is decoding to some I-frame format (uncompressed or lossless compression) and uncompressed PCM audio, append, then re-encode to your final format . This is essentially the same thing as using a NLE which decodes on the timeline.

[cwinthrop]

So we have a working solution!

Some kind soul took pity of me over on Reddit, and walked me through converting to .mkv format from the original .mp4 format. And the files link up beautifully now!

Keep lurking!

[pauloctavio]

So I'm trying to concatenate 5 video files. I'm running Linux, and the command line looks like this:

ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i blist.txt -c copy output.mp4

Notepad++ Malwarebytes FileZilla
blist.txt contains this:

file '00 - Test Pattern.mp4'
file '01 - In Memoriam.mp4'
file 'Feature Presentation 01.mp4'
file 'The Head.mp4'
file 'Intermission 03.mp4'

Soon as it starts processing the second file, it throws errors like this, but continues running:

[mp4 @ 0x1c4c4c0] Non-monotonous DTS in output stream 0:1; previous: 274141424, current: 253439430; changing to 274141425. This may result in incorrect timestamps in the output file.

The resulting video plays perfectly, up until the end of the 4th video. The 5th video has video, but no audio. Last run I did on this, with the same files, had audio but no video, just a black screen.

I know I need to re-encode all the files, but I have no idea what parameters to use, and nobody seems willing to tell me.

Can someone please help me with this? I'm going bald from pulling my hair out over this. 3 days now, and the majority of places I've tried, I either get told "paste the incredibly long log so we can ignore you" or they just ignore me. I'm at my wits end over this.

I would state utilize some linux NLE since you've chosen to re-encode , simply drop them on a course of events - done. In any case, that may be hard running headless

[bilbobaggin]

So we have a working solution!

Some kind soul took pity of me over on Reddit, and walked me through converting to .mkv format from the original .mp4 format. And the files link up beautifully now!

Keep lurking!

Hello. I'm running into the same problem as you and I need your solution. Could you be so kind to post it here or PM me how you solve it. Thanks in advanced

[abolibibelot]

Hello. I'm running into the same problem as you and I need your solution. Could you be so kind to post it here or PM me how you solve it. Thanks in advanced

I had a similar issue a few years ago, trying to concatenate three parts of a TV recording in MP4, a temporary conversion to TS format did the trick.

ffmpeg -i input1.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp1.ts
ffmpeg -i input2.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp2.ts
ffmpeg -i input3.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp3.ts
ffmpeg -i "concat:temp1.ts|temp2.ts|temp3.ts" -c copy -absf aac_adtstoasc output.mp4

I don't remember what the “-bsf h264_mp4toannexb” means though, and find no mention of it in the integrated help.
Or you can use MKVToolNix as suggested above, with the “append” feature.

[Ross_R]

Hello. I'm running into the same problem as you and I need your solution. Could you be so kind to post it here or PM me how you solve it. Thanks in advanced

I had a similar issue a few years ago, trying to concatenate three parts of a TV recording in MP4, a temporary conversion to TS format did the trick.

ffmpeg -i input1.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp1.ts
ffmpeg -i input2.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp2.ts
ffmpeg -i input3.mp4 -c copy -bsf h264_mp4toannexb temp3.ts
ffmpeg -i "concat:temp1.ts|temp2.ts|temp3.ts" -c copy -absf aac_adtstoasc output.mp4

I don't remember what the “-bsf h264_mp4toannexb” means though, and find no mention of it in the integrated help.
Or you can use MKVToolNix as suggested above, with the “append” feature.

Life saver! I've registered here just to try and express my gratitude to you!

I would be very thankful if someone'd described to me what exactly "-bsf h264_mp4toannexb" command does though, just for the sake of knowledge.

[Selur]

I would be very thankful if someone'd described to me what exactly "-bsf h264_mp4toannexb" command does though, just for the sake of knowledge.

See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32028437/what-are-bitstream-filters-in-ffmpeg, I think it offers a good explanation.

[Ross_R]

I would be very thankful if someone'd described to me what exactly "-bsf h264_mp4toannexb" command does though, just for the sake of knowledge.

See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32028437/what-are-bitstream-filters-in-ffmpeg, I think it offers a good explanation.

Thanks a lot!