2.6 on Mavericks : dual audio MP4 and tagging

[UKenGB]

I'm just starting to look at Avidemux to edit some 'h264 video with AC3 audio' files (i.e. cut ads from beginning middle and end). They're currently M2TS or MP4 (but I don't think that makes any difference as Avidemux opens both) and I want to end up with MP4s that will play on all my Apple devices which means I need to insert an AAC audio track. I've read on this forum that 2.6 can handle 4 audio tracks and should be able to add this additional AAC track, converted from the AC3 original. But I cannot see how to do this.

It would also be useful if I could add some tags so the resultant video shows the correct information (title, show, description etc.) in iTunes and TV etc. But I cannot see how to do this either.

Can anyone please help with these 2 issues?

[styrol]

I've read on this forum that 2.6 can handle 4 audio tracks and should be able to add this additional AAC track, converted from the AC3 original. But I cannot see how to do this.

Adding external audio track: Audio -> "Select Track" -> Enable "Track 2" and select "ââ,¬Â¦.Add Audio Track" from the drop down list.

Beware, three years ago I've tested dual AAC audio MP4 and AppleTV. Apple TV did only see the first audio track and I couldn't switch tracks. I hope that's no issue anymore.

And AC3 is only "Apple compliant" if packed in an MV4 container. So at least rename the extension from MP4 to MV4.

It would also be useful if I could add some tags so the resultant video shows the correct information (title, show, description etc.) in iTunes and TV etc. But I cannot see how to do this either.

Use iTunes itself or better MetaX for tagging MP4 files.

[UKenGB]

Thanks for the response. I've since found where I can add the extra audio track and indeed I can arrange that the converted AAC is the first track and the second track is the original AC3 which is how it is supposed to be. Looking good.

But when I Ok that dialog, I get an error saying I'm using the same track twice. Er, yes, that's exactly what I want to do. So even though it appears I can do what I want, it won't let me actually do it.

There are other apps that will add such an additional audio track to create this 'hybrid' audio, but I really want to be able to do all this editing in a single app (and hopefully with a single 'Save') and Avidemux is so close. It almost looks like it CAN do it, but the developers haven't realised anyone would want to do this and so haven't allowed it. Is it possibly as simple as changing the source code to not actually prevent it?

The tagging, yes I can do in iTunes, but again I was just hoping perhaps it could be done in Avidemux and that might be easier. However, not sure that it is easier, so no problem if Avidemux can't do it, but good to know either way.

Would REALLY like to be able to create hybrid audio within Avidemux though. Is this something we can suggest to the developers?

[mean]

Save audio track as foobar.ac3 then reload it as external track

[styrol]

The tagging, yes I can do in iTunes, but again I was just hoping perhaps it could be done in Avidemux and that might be easier.

The GUI of Avidemux is not complex. In the time you've written your post you would have seen there is no such option.

There are other apps that will add such an additional audio track to create this 'hybrid' audio, but I really want to be able to do all this editing in a single app (and hopefully with a single 'Save') and Avidemux is so close.

I use Avidemux only for cutting and very rarely in the case MPEG Streamclip fails (as a Mavericks User you can't use it, because Apple have degraded functionality in the QuickTime framework ââ,¬â€œ no QuickTime Plugins anymore).

All other video related tasks are done by iFFmpeg, e.g. converting (re-encoding), remuxing to another container (copy mode), creating dual audio in one step, tagging if you really want to.

[UKenGB]

Save audio track as foobar.ac3 then reload it as external track

Yes, that's what I thought I'd try next, but first I added in the same complete file so I had the 2 audio tracks listed as required and this time no complaint when closing the dialog box and I was able to save it. But playing revealed serious problems in the AAC encoded audio (cracks and glitches every few seconds). The AC3 played perfectly though. Was this a problem with the AAC encoder? There are 2, is one better than the other? Or was it due to using the same file for both audio tracks?

Would it be easy/possible to provide the ability to simply add an additional audio track i.e. based on the original, without having to add it from an external file and allow trimming, cutting, audio track set up and then just a single save?

Overall I'm finding Avidemux the best I've tried, but if only it could add the additional audio track at the same time, it would be perfect.

[UKenGB]

In the time you've written your post you would have seen there is no such option.

Even you should realise how hard it is to determine something is NOT there. I looked for it in the app but couldn't find it, I checked the docs but they're for a different version and I checked this forum but couldn't find anything definitive as to whether it is possible or not. So I asked here, isn't that what a forum is for? You got a problem with that?

I don't have a problem if Avidemux cannot tag the files - I'll do it in iTunes which is their intended destination, no problem. I only wanted to know about Avidemux's capabilities in this regard as tagging them there might have made more sense in my workflow of getting a lot of videos from their current location and into iTunes. Thank you for providing the confirmation I was seeking. 

I use Avidemux only for cutting and very rarely in the case MPEG Streamclip fails (as a Mavericks User you can't use it, because Apple have degraded functionality in the QuickTime framework ââ,¬â€œ no QuickTime Plugins anymore).

The odd thing about MPEG Streamclip in Mavericks is that it seems to work perfectly and can happily play (with sound) a video with only AC3 audio, so no codec problem. But if you 'Save' the file (i.e. 'Copying' as in Avidemux, NO transcoding) the file is saved without any audio track. However, if the video instead has a different audio type, there's no problem. So mostly MPEG Streamclip seems to work and I'm not sure exactly what the Mavericks issue is to which you are referring. But that's not important as I'm using Avidemux instead.

[styrol]

So mostly MPEG Streamclip seems to work and I'm not sure exactly what the Mavericks issue is to which you are referring.

But if you 'Save' the file (i.e. 'Copying' as in Avidemux, NO transcoding) the file is saved without any audio track.

So in your case MPEG Streamclip does not work at all what cutting is concerned. You really have to learn, what a demuxer/muxer does and what the difference between encoder and decoder is before you make statements like above and this one:

And I think you're obviously not qualified to judge that.

Ok, your new to the program, you do not like to do some own search or have a quick look in the menus before posting, but you put a lot of demands, how to program should work ( e.g. "I want to be able to do all this editing in a single app (and hopefully with a single 'Save')", "I want this feature"). You may have forgotten to mention "and I want this at no cost and immediately, so please hurry up."
I spent more time as intended to answer not a few questions of yours and to explain some basics in two threads. Obviously it's not really appreciated. So I'm done.

[UKenGB]

Styrol, now you're just being a complete jerk. I've tried to be nice about your unpleasant and worthless drivel, but now...

I have made no demands only enquiries and suggestions. So far you have made only disparaging remarks and provided NOTHING useful whatsoever, thus it would appear your knowledge is more limited than mine.

BTW, the MPEG Streamclip problem has nothing to do with cutting or editing. If you actually read my post you would see that I said 'Save' without any reference to having modified the file. I am not the only one to be experiencing this problem, a fact of which you would be aware if you actually had the knowledge which you arrogantly and mistakenly appear to believe you have.

Really, if you've nothing useful to say, then keep your mouth shut (and fingers off the keyboard).

I am now unsubscribing from this thread so I will be subjected to no more of your flatulent output.