Avidemux Cannot Use That File As Audio Track [2021]
Sometimes the issue isn't the file itself, but how Avidemux is trying to "package" it.
Why does this happen? Is the file corrupt? Is Avidemux broken? The answer is usually more technical but entirely fixable. This article will explore every possible cause and provide step-by-step solutions.
Ensure that the audio codec and bitrate are compatible with Avidemux. You can check the audio codec and bitrate using a tool like MediaInfo or FFmpeg.
This error typically triggers when you navigate to Audio -> Select Track , attempt to load an external audio file (like an MP3, AAC, or WAV), and Avidemux abruptly rejects it. avidemux cannot use that file as audio track
If you are seeing this, don't worry. This guide will walk you through the reasons this happens and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it. Why Does This Error Occur?
That dreaded "Cannot use that file as audio track" error message in Avidemux is a frustrating roadblock for many users trying to add external audio to their videos. It's a common issue, but fortunately, it's usually easy to fix once you understand why Avidemux is refusing to accept your audio file.
The "Cannot use that file as audio track" error is a sign of a fundamental incompatibility, not a bug. By understanding that Avidemux works with raw, elementary audio streams and not container files, you can easily resolve the issue. The simplest and most reliable fix is to convert your audio file to a compatible 16-bit WAV file using a free tool like FFmpeg or Audacity. This process ensures your project can proceed and that your final video will have the audio you intended. For many users, the even simpler alternative is to bypass the issue entirely and use a tool like MKVToolNix to mux the files together without any conversion. With these solutions at hand, that frustrating error message will be a thing of the past. Sometimes the issue isn't the file itself, but
You can use (free, open-source) or FFmpeg (command line) to achieve this. Using Audacity:
ffmpeg -i "your_audio.aac" -acodec aac -ab 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 -f adts audio.adts
This command copies the audio stream ( -acodec copy ) but discards all global metadata from the file ( -map_metadata -1 ), leaving you with a clean stream that Avidemux can read more easily. Is Avidemux broken
: While Avidemux reads many video formats, its external audio track importer prefers raw, un-containerized audio bitstreams or very specific container formats. Loading a .m4a (AAC inside an MPEG-4 container) often fails, whereas a raw .aac or basic .mp3 succeeds.
The most reliable solution is to re-encode your audio file into a format that Avidemux natively accepts without issue.
$$ffmpeg -i input.mp3 -c:a aac output.aac$$
Method 1: Convert the Audio to a Lossless WAV File (Recommended)
If Avidemux rejects your current audio file, the easiest workaround is to transcode it into a standard, constant-bitrate (CBR) format that Avidemux natively accepts.