Avidemux or simplescreenrecorder problem

[bigphil]

Hi All,
I’ve downloaded and saved a streaming video using Mikes Appimage SimpleScreenRecorder.
I had to install alsa_audio_capture2.pet in order to record audio.
Screenrecorder Settings -
Audio – Backend ALSA, Source – [hw:1.1] Loopback: Loopback PCM
Video - Container MP4
Audio - MP3

It recorded OK and plays with audio in MPV and VLC.
However I want to watch it on the TV and the only format the TV accepts through USB is DivX (Xvid) so I thought I'd convert it using Avidemux which I've done before with other files..
However when I open the file and play it Avidemux reports ‘Trouble initializing audio device’ and there's no audio.

OS - Fossapup 64 frugal.

Any suggestions?

Regards
Phil.

PS - also tried it with Audio - AAC - same problem.

[Jasper]

@bigphil

You could try:

QWinFF - should be included in Fossapup64

or @plinej FFMpeg toolkit

yff-1.9 yad gui for ffmpeg (audio video and images)

viewtopic.php?t=8916

Just bear in mind only FFMpeg uses a single core for video encoding.

If you have an NVidia Gfx card, you could offload the work to NVenc.

[mikewalsh]

@bigphil :-

DivX, huh? Yeah; TVs are downright weird when it comes to AV stuff, and what they'll condescend to "play nice" with...

Well, now. If this is your issue, you could do worse than to take a look at what has to be the great-grand-daddy of Linux screen-capture apps.....XVidCap.

This thing has pretty much been around since Noah built the ark, yet despite its quirky nature it's very good at what it does. I like it, and @mikeslr is another staunch supporter of it, too. It's the only one I know of that has the ability to record directly into DivX format; I'm not guaranteeing it'll do what you want, but it's got to be worth a try.

I've put together a short demo video, to let you see what's what:-

As with so many other things, I've built a portable version of it. When you fire it up, you want to click on the audio config stuff first; it's important you set this up before attempting to record anything. XVidCap is so old that it doesn't use the standard hw:x,x format; it dates from a time before the older OSS standard morphed into the current ALSA backend, and it uses the /dev/audiox 'block' device layout. Fortunately, device numbers directly correspond between the two; the wee 'how-to' I've included explains how to select the right device.

You can find it here:-

viewtopic.php?t=4217

All you can do is give it a try. What's the worst that can happen?

Mike.

[bigphil]

Mike, I've been playing with XVidCap but can't find out how to route the audio to the sound card output. If it can be done it's ideal for what I want.
How is it done?

Regards

Phil.

[mikewalsh]

@bigphil :-

If you're using my portable version, it's all been explained and simplified as much as possible for the average user. If you're using the .pet package that's knocking around the forum somewhere, you'll need to modify this bit yourself, manually.

First things first. D'you know what your device name & number is? If not, run

Code: Select all

arecord -l

...in the terminal, and post back the readout, please. The important bit is the device number, more so than the name.

Mike.

[bigphil]

Hi Mike,

here is the readout, I hope you understand it coz I don't.

[mikewalsh]

@bigphil :-

Oh, I can understand it OK. So; if you want to record this streaming video, what will you be capturing the sound to.....the 'Loopback' device, or the internal card? (I'm assuming, from the look of it, that you have the kernel 'alsa_loop' module loaded; was there a reason for that?)

What are you trying to accomplish here; record something from a browser?

Mike.

[bigphil]

Mike - the alsa_audio_capture.pet was installed because it seems that is required to get audio in simple screen recorder, see here-
viewtopic.php?t=7838.

I'm not bothered whether I capture sound from 'loopback' or internal card.
I'm trying to record something from the Brave browser.

Regards

Phil

[bigphil]

Mike, unless I've misunderstood your tutorial you click on the 3 dots in Preferences - Multi-frame - Audio Settings then navigate to /dev then select the required 'block' device.
I have 2 audio 'blocks' in /dev, audio and audio1. I have tried them both but still no audio.

Any ideas?

Phil.

[mikewalsh]

@bigphil :-

Hm.... I've found myself that it may be a deeper, underlying issue with the way XVidCap is implemented under the 64-bit architecture. If I try to record audio, it comes out sounding a bit like I've been using laughing gas at the dentist.....all kinda "squeaky" & "warbly". Don't actually know what's happening there, but then most of my Pups are so highly modified, had so many alterations and changes made that it could take an age to track down the issue.

Until - and IF - I can track down the problem, I can't really recommend using XVidCap....

Sorry 'bout that!

Mike.

[bigphil]

Mike - does the 32 bit version work, if so I'll install a 32 bit Pup, probably Dup-stretch.

Phil.

[mikewalsh]

@bigphil :-

Well, this is a sod, and no mistake!

When I first built the XVidCap-portables, I had them working correctly with audio in all my Puppies. It's not one I use a lot; personally, I prefer recordMyDesktop myself, so I don't tend to look at XVidCap very much.

I've just tried the 32-bit portable under DPup Stretch. Same audio "issue".....squeaky, warbly & very muffled sound. I then tried the older .pet package, annnd.......just the same. So; I really don't know what to suggest for your DivX problem with video playback on the TV.....

Mike.

[mikewalsh]

About the only way I can think of to "convert" to DivX format is with ffmpeg. On the command-line, you need to be a top-flight guru to even understand it, but Jasper's suggestion above of using QWinFF might be the way to go.....

I've reached the limit of MY abilities with this stuff, I'm afraid.

Mike.

[bigphil]

The plot thickens,

I attempted to convert a file with Avidemux I downloaded and converted many years ago and, guess what, no audio. Unfortunately I cannot remember what Puppy I used at the time, probably a 32 bit.
I then attempted to convert a downloaded .flv file and again no audio.

I tried QWinff on the file I saved using Simple screen recorder and it just said 'failed' - no clues as to why. I then tried a .flv file - same result.

OO err - I just discovered that VLC can convert it to Xvid with audio but the picture frames are very jerky. I'm beginning to think it's a problem with later versions of Avidemux.

I'm stumped

[bigphil]

Eureka - I've finally managed to convert the video to Xvid with audio using FFconvert which is available in Dpup Stretch and it plays on the TV perfectly.

I guess their must be a problem with Avidemux.

Regards

Phil.