Avidemux Cannot Use That File As Audio Track Work May 2026
The error "Cannot use that file as audio track" in Avidemux typically occurs because the software is unable to handle certain container formats or specific codecs when they are loaded as external tracks. Why This Happens
Unsupported Containers: Avidemux often cannot demux external audio that is still wrapped in a container like .m4a or .mp4. It generally requires raw audio streams (e.g., raw AAC, MP3, or AC3) rather than files meant for playback in media players. avidemux cannot use that file as audio track
Codec Incompatibility: Certain codecs, such as Vorbis or specific AAC variants in proprietary Apple formats, may not be supported for external insertion without first being re-encoded or extracted. The error "Cannot use that file as audio
Software Version: Older versions (like 2.7.x) sometimes trigger this error for files that work in legacy versions like 2.5 or newer nightly builds. How to Fix It Cannot use mp3 as audio track - avidemux.org Fix #6: Check File Permissions and Path
Fix #6: Check File Permissions and Path
- Move both the video and the audio file to a folder with a short, simple name (e.g.,
C:\Videos\). - Rename the audio file to something like
audio.mp3(no spaces, no special characters). - Ensure the file is not “Read Only.”
1. Incompatible Audio File Format
Avidemux supports a variety of audio and video formats, but it's not exhaustive. The most commonly supported audio formats include WAV, MP3, and AAC. If your audio file is in a less common format, Avidemux might not support it.
- Solution: Try converting your audio file to a more widely supported format like WAV or MP3 using another software tool (e.g., Audacity, FFmpeg).
Preventing the Error in the Future
- Standardize on AAC (in M4A) for external audio if you work with MP4 files.
- Use MKV as your editing container in Avidemux. It is far more forgiving with audio codecs.
- Keep audio sampling rates consistent: 48 kHz for any video project.
- Test your audio file first: Load it as the only file in Avidemux (File → Open → select just the audio). If Avidemux can open it alone, it will likely work as an external track.