This error occurs because Avidemux requires raw audio streams when adding an external track. It cannot "demux" an external file if it is already inside a container (like .m4a or .mp4). 🛠️ Common Fixes
Convert to WAV or MP3: The most reliable solution is to convert your audio file to a standard format like 16-bit WAV or CBR MP3 before importing.
Avoid M4A files: Avidemux does not support .m4a as an external track because it is a container, not a raw stream. avidemux cannot use that file as audio track
Remove Metadata: High-end audio tools (like Traktor) add metadata headers that can confuse Avidemux. Re-saving the file without metadata often fixes this. 💡 How to Add the Track Correctly Once your file is in a compatible format (WAV or MP3): How to add audio to video with VLC and Avidemux
When encountering the issue "Avidemux cannot use that file as audio track," there are several potential reasons and solutions to consider: This error occurs because Avidemux requires raw audio
Try playing the audio file in a media player like VLC or Windows Media Player to ensure it's not corrupted. If the file is corrupted, you may need to re-encode it or use a different copy.
Ensure that you're running the latest version of Avidemux. You can check for updates by: Opening Avidemux and clicking on "Help" > "Check
Use Audacity, FFmpeg, or XMedia Recode to convert your audio file to:
FFmpeg one-liner (to convert input.m4a to Avidemux-friendly WAV):
ffmpeg -i input.m4a -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 output.wav