[FFmpeg-user] FFmpeg produces m4a files that won't play on 2nd generaton iPod Shuffle Model A1204.

[bat guano]

Hi
The m4a files that I create using ffmpeg/libfaac won't play in my iPod.
Any ideas what's causing this?


I did some tests.

Software used:-
Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10 operating system.
FFmpeg version git-N-28651-gf55dd6c.
gtkpod 0.99.14.
EasyTAG 2.1.5.

Method
Convert a file to m4a, make two copies.
ffmpeg -i foo.wav -acodec libfaac test1.m4a
ffmpeg -i foo.wav -acodec libfaac test2.m4a

Use gtkpod to load files onto the iPod.

Load file test1.m4a, it won't play.
Delete file test1.m4a from the iPod.

Load file test2.m4a, it won't play either.
Delete file test2.m4a from the iPod.

Load file test2.m4a into EasyTAG.
Change any of the tags - for example, delete 'Lavf52.103.0' from the 'Encoded by' field.
Use 'Save file(s)' to write the tag of file test2.m4a and exit the program.


Load file test2.m4a onto the iPod.
This time it plays OK.

I've uploaded both files in a zip here:- http://www.mediafire.com/?tiohrr0tg91hch5

This is the ffprobe information for file test1.m4a.
The file that won't play.

@ubuntu:~$ ffprobe test1.m4a
FFprobe version git-N-28651-gf55dd6c, Copyright (c) 2007-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Mar 26 2011 11:51:58 with gcc 4.4.1
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-pthreads --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab --disable-encoder=vorbis
  libavutil    50. 40. 0 / 50. 40. 0
  libavcodec   52.115. 0 / 52.115. 0
  libavformat  52.103. 0 / 52.103. 0
  libavdevice  52.  3. 0 / 52.  3. 0
  libavfilter   1. 76. 0 /  1. 76. 0
  libswscale    0. 13. 0 /  0. 13. 0
  libpostproc  51.  2. 0 / 51.  2. 0
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/home/ron/test1.m4a':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : M4A 
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2
    creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    encoder         : Lavf52.103.0
  Duration: 00:01:18.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 66 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 63 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00

This is the ffprobe information for file test2.m4a.
The file that will play.

@ubuntu:~$ ffprobe test2.m4a
FFprobe version git-N-28651-gf55dd6c, Copyright (c) 2007-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Mar 26 2011 11:51:58 with gcc 4.4.1
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-pthreads --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab --disable-encoder=vorbis
  libavutil    50. 40. 0 / 50. 40. 0
  libavcodec   52.115. 0 / 52.115. 0
  libavformat  52.103. 0 / 52.103. 0
  libavdevice  52.  3. 0 / 52.  3. 0
  libavfilter   1. 76. 0 /  1. 76. 0
  libswscale    0. 13. 0 /  0. 13. 0
  libpostproc  51.  2. 0 / 51.  2. 0
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/home/ron/test2.m4a':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : M4A 
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2
    creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    encoder         : 
    title           : 
    artist          : 
    album           : 
    date            : 
    track           : 0
    genre           : 
    comment         : 
    composer        : 
  Duration: 00:01:18.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 66 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 63 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00