[aac @ 0x17c8fe0] The encoder 'aac' is experimental but experimental codecs are not enabled, add '-strict -2' if you want to use it.

[dgibbs64]

Hello Don. I have updated to the latest version however this has broken the converter for me. I think it may be related to a change you made in version 0.15.0

I am getting the following error

[aac @ 0x17c8fe0] The encoder 'aac' is experimental but experimental codecs are not enabled, add '-strict -2' if you want to use it.

Its been working great until I have updated. My conversion server is running Ubuntu 16.04. Would you be able to re add to experimental option back in? or add an if statement adding it back for Ubuntu?

Let me know if you need any more info. Thank you

[lisamelton]

@dgibbs64 Sorry I took so long to respond.

This is not a bug. It's likely that your version of ffmpeg is too old so it's requiring that deprecated option. What version of ffmpeg are you running now?

[dgibbs64]

ffmpeg version 2.8.11-0ubuntu0.16.04.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2017 the FFmpeg developers Ideally as Ubuntu 16.04 LTS it is unlikely to get the update to remove the experimental warning having a check to identify a ffmpeg version older that X will still have the experimental option used.

edit:

Here are the supported versions currently https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg

Released notes for version 3.0 of ffmpeg

FFmpeg 3.0 "Einstein", a new major release, is now available! Some of the highlights:

The native FFmpeg AAC encoder has seen extensive improvements and is no longer considered experimental
Removed support for libvo-aacenc and libaacplus
Over 30 new filters have been added
Many ASM optimizations
VP9 Hardware Acceleration (DXVA2 and VA-API)
Cineform HD decoder
New DCA decoder based on libdcadec with full support for DTS-HD extensions
As with all major releases expect major backward incompatible API/ABI changes
See the Changelog for a list of more updates
We strongly recommend users, distributors, and system integrators to upgrade unless they use current git master.

So if its version 3.0 of above the experimental can be removed but if 2 or below it is still required.

[lisamelton]

@dgibbs64 That's an ancient version of ffmpeg and likely other things, like proper crop detection, won't work either, at least not correctly. You need version 3 or later.

You can find up to date packages for Ubuntu here:

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg

I won't restore the option for older versions of ffmpeg because the latest ffmpeg spews warnings about it. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. :)

[dgibbs64]

Yes I get your point if 3.0 is way better. However as the current LTS version of Ubuntu does not have 3.0 its kind of an issue. The only way to go about this is updating to a non LTS version which I would rather avoid.

If I remember correctly you use this mainly on mac? If possible it may be worth adding further installation notes for at least Ubuntu/debian. Also stating that ffmpeg 3.0 is only supported now.

Right dist upgrade for me. My conversion/transcode server has been great using your program and my automated bash script. I just drop the files in a directory and let them to go.

[lisamelton]

@dgibbs64 Yes, I use the tools mainly on my Mac. You make a good point about documentation. I described the ffmpeg version requirement when I made the change to convert-video in the feature proposal, but I didn't include it the "README" document other than in the change log. I'll figure out how to mention that.

I'm glad the tools are working out for you! But I'm sorry you hit this snag.

[dgibbs64]

I have completed a dist upgrade now and its all working again :D. Thanks

[lisamelton]

@dgibbs64 Excellent! Sorry to have to put you through that. :)

OK, I'll close this then.