Avidemux Cannot Use That File As Audio Track Jun 2026

The "cannot use that file as audio track" error in Avidemux typically occurs because the software is strict about the format and container of external audio files. Common Causes and Solutions Unsupported Audio Container:

The most common culprit is attempting to import an or OGG file directly into a project where the output is set to copy, or simply because the internal decoder is failing to read the file header.

ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i new_audio.mp3 -c:v copy -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 -shortest output.mp4

The most reliable fix is to convert your audio file into a format Avidemux natively accepts using a tool like Audacity or VLC.

The most reliable way to fix this error is to convert your external audio file into a format Avidemux loves: . While AAC is technically supported, Avidemux can be finicky with raw AAC files. Converting to MP3 almost always resolves the issue. avidemux cannot use that file as audio track

Based on countless user reports, here are the top reasons this error occurs, along with their technical explanations.

Let’s walk through two real-world scenarios.

This command copies the video ( -c:v copy ), takes the first audio stream from the external file ( -map 1:a:0 ), and trims to the shortest input length ( -shortest ).

: If your video project is strictly expecting a standard 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz stream, and you attempt to force an unusual or corrupted sample rate, the application's muxer will throw an error. The "cannot use that file as audio track"

Ensure the audio file is not "Read Only" or being used by another program (like a media player) while you are trying to import it. 3. Use the "Add" Method via CLI (Advanced)

This command takes any input file (in this case, a FLAC) and converts it to a standard 16-bit WAV file, which is almost universally compatible with Avidemux.

If you are using , try switching to MP4 Muxer (or vice versa).

menu correctly. Sometimes, toggling the "Enabled" checkbox or manually selecting the "Add audio track" option from the dropdown menu bypasses the initial error. Update the Software: The most reliable way to fix this error

Fix: Avidemux "Cannot use that file as audio track" Error The . While Avidemux is an exceptional tool for quick, lossless video cutting and multiplexing, it lacks internal demuxers for external audio tracks wrapped inside standard multimedia containers like .m4a or .mp4 .

Common causes

Open your original video, and select this new extracted file as the external audio. Best Practices to Avoid This Error

This is the culprit in 80% of cases. If your video is in an but you are trying to add an MP3 audio track , Avidemux will often refuse. Why? The MP4 specification strongly prefers AAC audio. While some players accept MP3-in-MP4, Avidemux adheres strictly to standards.