Title: Unable to encode using libav
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Unable to encode using libav

 *  Resolved [lucaferr](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lucaferr/)
 * (@lucaferr)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/)
 * This plugin is awesome, but unfortunately I can’t make it work. I’ve a Debian
   Squeeze dedicated server and I’ve installed libav (via the backports package 
   libav-tools).
    I set the path and the plugin seems to correctly see libav in 
   the configuration, since it allows me to choose the default conversion formats.
   But when I upload a video and select the formats, if I press “Encode”, after 
   some seconds of “Loading…” it says:
 * >  **Can’t open movie file.**
   >  built on Jul 11 2013 15:36:12 with gcc 4.4.5 [http://mysite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/clipcanvas.mp4](http://mysite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/clipcanvas.mp4):
   > Input/output error
 * How could I try to solve the problem?
    Thank you very much!
 * [http://wordpress.org/plugins/video-embed-thumbnail-generator/](http://wordpress.org/plugins/video-embed-thumbnail-generator/)

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * (@kylegilman)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082009)
 * Have you had that problem with multiple videos? Can you confirm that the videos
   are not actually being encoded? It’s not a perfect system. Sometimes the plugin
   will give you an error message even though it works. Also, a real link to one
   of your videos would be helpful for troubleshooting.
 *  Thread Starter [lucaferr](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lucaferr/)
 * (@lucaferr)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082017)
 * Thank you for answering soo fast!!!
    I can’t link you, because the server is 
   in internal testing and does not have a public address, unfortunately. Anyway,
   I’ve used this video downloaded from the internet for the test: [http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4](http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4)
   It’s a single video. It generates the thumbnails correctly, but if I press Encode(
   480p H.264) I get that error and no re-encoded files are created. I’ve tried 
   both during the article creation procedure and also later from the media library,
   no way. Many thanks!!!
 *  Plugin Author [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * (@kylegilman)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082022)
 * Ok, try entering this in the command line:
 * `libav -i "http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4"`
 * and post the entire output.
 *  Thread Starter [lucaferr](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lucaferr/)
 * (@lucaferr)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082139)
 * The command “libav” is not registered (it outputs “-bash: libav: command not 
   found”), while the command “avconv” outputs this:
 * >  root@testing:~# avconv -i “[http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4&#8221](http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4&#8221);
   > 
   > avconv version 0.8.6-6:0.8.6-1~bpo60+1, Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the Libav developers
   > built on Jul 11 2013 15:36:12 with gcc 4.4.5 [mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0x195b9c0]
   > max_analyze_duration reached Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from ‘[http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4&#8217](http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4&#8217);:
   > Metadata: major_brand : mp42 minor_version : 1 compatible_brands: isommp41avc1
   > creation_time : 2009-02-19 18:49:05 Duration: 00:00:08.00, start: 0.000000,
   > bitrate: 3141 kb/s Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264 (Main), yuv420p, 1024×576 [
   > PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 3009 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 600 tbn, 50 tbc Metadata: creation_time:
   > 2009-02-19 18:49:05 Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 128
   > kb/s Metadata: creation_time : 2009-02-19 18:49:05 Stream #0.2(eng): Data: 
   > mp4s / 0x7334706D, 0 kb/s Metadata: creation_time : 2009-02-19 18:49:05 Stream#
   > 0.3(eng): Data: mp4s / 0x7334706D, 0 kb/s Metadata: creation_time : 2009-02-
   > 19 18:49:05 At least one output file must be specified root@testing:~#
 *  Plugin Author [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * (@kylegilman)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082157)
 * Right, sorry `avconv` is the command I meant. It’s opening that externally hosted
   video fine. Try this:
    1. In the post edit window hit “Add Media”
    2. Switch to the “Embed Video from URL” tab
    3. Enter [http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4](http://cdn.clipcanvas.com/sample/clipcanvas_14348_offline.mp4)
       in the “Video URL” field.
    4. Wait a few seconds while the plugin loads information about the clip then hit
       the Encode button.
 * If that works, try entering the URL of one of your locally-hosted videos in the“
   Video URL” field.
 *  Thread Starter [lucaferr](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lucaferr/)
 * (@lucaferr)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082158)
 * Many thanks, Kyle!
    I’ve done what you suggested and the video encoding was queued!
   Then in the queue it reported the error “AVCONV missing library libfaac libvo-
   aacenc libx264 required for H.264/AAC encoding.”. After some researches, I installed
   the debian package “libavcodec-extra-53” and it fixed the problem: the file has
   now been correctly encoded into 480p H.264! But unfortunately, if I upload the
   file instead of embedding it directly from the URL, it outputs the same input/
   output error and it doesn’t encode it. I’ve also tried to upload it and the embedding
   it using the WordPress URL…but nothing, the usual input/output error occurs. 
   Do you have any ideas?
 * PS = It’s really really hard to see the error messages: they become gray and 
   disappears within milliseconds, so I always have to press “Print Screen” and 
   then paste the screen to read the message…I’d suggest you to slow down the animation,
   if possible!
 *  Plugin Author [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * (@kylegilman)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082159)
 * I’m not sure why the error messages are disappearing so quickly. I’ll look into
   that. You might be able to see them in the Video Encode Queue at /wp-admin/tools.
   php?page=kgvid_video_encoding_queue
 * AVCONV seems unable to input URLs hosted on your server. The thumbnails are input
   using file paths, which is why you can make thumbnails. This is a little beyond
   my ability. I rely on public web servers to be mostly configured the same. I 
   have to guess at how your particular server is set up. Do you have cURL installed?
 *  Thread Starter [lucaferr](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lucaferr/)
 * (@lucaferr)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082187)
 * Many thanks Kyle, your phrase “AVCONV seems unable to input URLs hosted on your
   server” opened my eyes. Actually, WordPress runs in a virtual environment and
   the Linux hosts file was not set properly (it couldn’t resolve itself in Curl).
   I fixed it and now everything works perfectly!
    Many thanks again for this excellent
   piece of software!!!
 *  Plugin Author [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * (@kylegilman)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082188)
 * Great! Glad it’s working.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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 * 9 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Kyle Gilman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kylegilman/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/unable-to-encode-using-libav/#post-4082188)
 * Status: resolved