Certain audio codecs—such as raw .flac , .ogg (Vorbis), or high-bitrate QuickTime PCM variants—are explicitly unsupported by Avidemux when imported as standalone external tracks. While it may re-encode these formats internally from an existing video stream, it cannot parse them externally. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix the Error Method 1: Convert to Uncompressed WAV (Recommended)
When to seek alternatives
Are you encountering the frustrating "Avidemux cannot use that file as audio track" error while trying to edit your video files? This error can be a major roadblock in your video editing workflow, but don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll explore the possible causes of this error, and provide you with step-by-step solutions to resolve it. avidemux cannot use that file as audio track
Avidemux operates on a principle by default. This means it tries to copy audio data directly from the source file (or external track) to the output without re-encoding. For this to work, the audio format must be compatible with the video container (MKV, MP4, AVI) you are using.
Open your terminal and run: ffmpeg -i input_audio.mp3 -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 output_fixed.mp3 Certain audio codecs—such as raw
If Avidemux continues to be uncooperative, or if you need more advanced features like mixing audio tracks, it's best to use a more robust tool.
The audio is packed within an unsupported container, such as a high-definition video container (e.g., .mkv or .ts) that contains only audio. This error can be a major roadblock in
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.
The "Avidemux cannot use that file as audio track" error is not a bug but a feature of Avidemux's specialized design. It is an excellent tool for simple video cutting and copying, but its audio handling is very strict. By understanding the difference between containers and raw streams, and by pre-processing your audio with FFmpeg or Audacity, you can consistently and successfully add external audio tracks. If your workflow becomes too complex, however, do not hesitate to switch to a tool like Shutter Encoder or MKVToolNix for a more flexible approach.
If Avidemux refuses to merge the audio and video tracks internally, you can bypass the issue entirely by using an external multiplexer (remuxer). is the best tool for this, as it combines tracks without losing quality or re-encoding. Download and open MKVToolNix GUI .