Fedora 20 / Firefox Error: avconv version 9.18 error, Unrecognized option 'preset'. Error splitting the argument list: Option not found

[TallTanBarbie]

Hi...I'm having an error with VDH on Fedora 20 and Firefox.  I can't aggregate HD video files and I get this error:

avconv version 9.18, Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the Libav developers
  built on Mar 31 2015 21:28:50 with gcc 4.8.3 (GCC) 20140911 (Red Hat 4.8.3-7)
Unrecognized option 'preset'.
Error splitting the argument list: Option not found


I've installed avconv, FFMPEG, VLC, etc. so the libraries should be there.  Any suggestions?

[mig]

This is strange. You seem to be having a recent version of avconv and "preset" should be a valid option. Unless your libav version has been compiled without that feature (?).

A couple of things to try: in VDH settings >"Conversion", there is a converter path parameter that should be set to "/usr/bin/avconv", set it to "/usr/bin/ffmpeg" or wherever your ffmpeg executable is.

If that does not work, open URL "about:config" search for "extensions.dwhelper.converter-aggreg-tune-h264" and double click to set the value to false. Does it fix your problem ?

[TallTanBarbie]

Hi...checked which converter it was using and switched from avconv to /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg.  Still didn't work and I got this error output:

ffmpeg version 2.6.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 4.8.3 (GCC) 20140911 (Red Hat 4.8.3-7)
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-libx264
  libavutil      54. 20.100 / 54. 20.100
  libavcodec     56. 26.100 / 56. 26.100
  libavformat    56. 25.101 / 56. 25.101
  libavdevice    56. 4.100 / 56. 4.100
  libavfilter     5. 11.102 /  5. 11.102
  libswscale      3.  1.101 /  3.  1.101
  libswresample   1. 1.100 / 1. 1.100
  libpostproc    53. 3.100 / 53. 3.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/tmp/media.tmp':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : dash
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: iso6mp41
    creation_time   : 2014-05-23 13:45:20
  Duration: 00:03:12.61, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 128 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 125 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2014-05-23 13:45:20
      handler_name    : SoundHandler
Unknown decoder 'copy'

Also, turning off the h264 option didn't do anything.

[TallTanBarbie]

I've also tried using the fedora 20 ffmpeg package (/usr/bin/ffmpeg).  Still doesn't work but I get a different error message:

Failed aggregating "▶ ☭ polyushka polye (1080p HD) ☭ - YouTube"

Log details

Failed aggregating "▶ ☭ polyushka polye (1080p HD) ☭ - YouTube"

ffmpeg version 2.1.7 Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Jan  3 2015 22:57:36 with gcc 4.8.3 (GCC) 20140911 (Red Hat 4.8.3-7)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr --bindir=/usr/bin --datadir=/usr/share/ffmpeg --incdir=/usr/include/ffmpeg --libdir=/usr/lib64 --mandir=/usr/share/man --arch=x86_64 --optflags='-O2 -g -pipe -Wall -Wp,-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -fexceptions -fstack-protector-strong --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -grecord-gcc-switches -m64 -mtune=generic' --enable-bzlib --disable-crystalhd --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-libass --enable-libcdio --enable-libcelt --enable-libdc1394 --disable-indev=jack --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-openal --enable-libopencv --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libv4l2 --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab --enable-avfilter --enable-avresample --enable-postproc --enable-pthreads --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-gpl --disable-debug --disable-stripping --shlibdir=/usr/lib64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect
  libavutil      52. 48.101 / 52. 48.101
  libavcodec     55. 39.101 / 55. 39.101
  libavformat    55. 19.104 / 55. 19.104
  libavdevice    55.  5.100 / 55.  5.100
  libavfilter     3. 90.100 /  3. 90.100
  libavresample   1.  1.  0 /  1.  1.  0
  libswscale      2.  5.101 /  2.  5.101
  libswresample   0. 17.104 /  0. 17.104
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/tmp/media.tmp':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : dash
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: iso6mp41
    creation_time   : 2014-05-23 13:45:20
  Duration: 00:03:12.60, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 128 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 125 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2014-05-23 13:45:20
      handler_name    : SoundHandler
Unknown decoder 'copy'

[mig]

VDH is primarily developed and tested on ubuntu, and we had successful feedback on OpenSUSE (using ffmpeg), and on Mac (BSD, avconv and ffmpeg) but no one reported anything, success or failure, with Fedora.

Could you try to run this command from a shell:

avconv -i <whatever video file you have on your disk> -c copy -f mp4 output.mp4

Does it generate an error ?

Note that the current version of libav (the package providing avconv) is 11.2 (this is the version the windows converter is based on). Even if version 9.18 is working ok on ubuntu, you may want to recompile the latest libav package (sorry i have nothing better to offer).

[TallTanBarbie]

No, runs OK

[mig]

Can you open URL "about:config", search for parameter "extensions.dwhelper.converter-log-calls" and set it to true ?
Then perform a failing access to the converter, and open the VDH panel. You should now see logs at the bottom of the panel that represent the actual calls to avconv. Can you copy the details ?

[Rulett R]

 I have the same error on Debian 7 wheezy 64 bit with firefox 37.0.1:

p11-kit: invalid config filename, will be ignored in the future: /etc/pkcs11/modules/gnome-keyring-module
ffmpeg version 1.2.12 Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Feb 12 2015 18:03:16 with gcc 4.7 (Debian 4.7.2-5)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-cflags='-g -O2 -fstack-protector --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -Wformat -Werror=format-security ' --extra-ldflags='-Wl,-z,relro' --cc='ccache cc' --enable-shared --enable-libmp3lame --enable-gpl --enable-nonfree --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --enable-libfaac --enable-libxvid --enable-postproc --enable-x11grab --enable-libgsm --enable-libtheora --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libx264 --enable-libspeex --enable-nonfree --disable-stripping --enable-libvpx --enable-libschroedinger --disable-encoder=libschroedinger --enable-version3 --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-avfilter --enable-libfreetype --enable-libvo-aacenc --disable-decoder=amrnb --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libaacplus --libdir=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu --disable-vda --enable-libbluray --enable-libcdio --enable-gnutls --enable-frei0r --enable-openssl --enable-libass --enable-libopus --enable-fontconfig --enable-libpulse --disable-mips32r2 --disable-mipsdspr1 --dis  libavutil      52. 18.100 / 52. 18.100
  libavcodec     54. 92.100 / 54. 92.100
  libavformat    54. 63.104 / 54. 63.104
  libavdevice    54.  3.103 / 54.  3.103
  libavfilter     3. 42.103 /  3. 42.103
  libswscale      2.  2.100 /  2.  2.100
  libswresample   0. 17.102 /  0. 17.102
  libpostproc    52.  2.100 / 52.  2.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/tmp/media.tmp':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : dash
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: iso6mp41
    creation_time   : 2014-07-19 15:03:31
  Duration: 00:02:29.11, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 128 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 125 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2014-07-19 15:03:31
      handler_name    : SoundHandler
Unknown decoder 'copy'

[mig]

Can you run the test as of my last comment ?

[Rulett R]

Yes:

[
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media-3.wmv"
]

[
    "-y",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.tmp",
    "-c:a",
    "copy",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media-3.wmv",
    "-c:v",
    "libx264",
    "-preset",
    "fast",
    "-tune",
    "film",
    "-profile:v",
    "baseline",
    "-level",
    "30",
    "-threads",
    "auto",
    "-strict",
    "experimental",
    "/tmp/media-2.wmv"
]

[mig]

I think i found the problem. This was (if i'm correct, you'll tell) related to the order of arguments when calling the converter (but it does explain exactly why the problem happens on Fedora and Debian and not Ubuntu and OpenSUSE).

Version 5.2.0a4 has just been released and contains a possible fix. Please install that version from https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/video-downloadhelper-5/FLFioS-AOEY and let me know if it's ok now.

[Rulett R]

 I think you gave wrong url: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/video-downloadhelper-5/FLFioS-AOEY

[Rulett R]

I mean I cannot download extension from that page.

[mig]

The link points to the topic telling about 5.2.0a4 and providing a link to install the version.

[mig]

Oh, i see now what you mean. The link to the install page is fixed now !

[Rulett R]

 Yes 5.2.0a4 version converts now, thanks. Now I can download 1080p videos using your extension.
Here are logs:

[
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media-1.wmv"

]

[
    "-y",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.tmp",

    "-i",
    "/tmp/media-1.wmv",

    "-c:a",
    "copy",

    "-c:v",
    "libx264",
    "-preset",
    "fast",
    "-tune",
    "film",
    "-profile:v",
    "baseline",
    "-level",
    "30",
    "-threads",
    "auto",
    "-strict",
    "experimental",

    "/tmp/media.wmv"
]

[
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.wmv"
]
[
    "-y",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.wmv",
    "-c:a",
    "wmav2",
    "-f",
    "asf",
    "-c:v",
    "wmv2",
    "-b:v",
    "500k",

    "-threads",
    "auto",
    "-strict",
    "experimental",

    "/home/r/Desktop/Get a Pilot's Eye View of the F-35 Head-Up Display - AINtv.wmv"
]

[mig]

Thanks for the positive feedback !

[TallTanBarbie]

Hello Again... OK, I've tried your latest update and get the same error:

Failed aggregating "Whitney Houston: Star Spangled Banner (1991 HBO Special)"

avconv version 9.18, Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the Libav developers
  built on Mar 31 2015 21:28:50 with gcc 4.8.3 (GCC) 20140911 (Red Hat 4.8.3-7)
Unrecognized option 'preset'.
Error splitting the argument list: Option not found

Converter logs:

Log details

Converter call

[
    "-y",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.tmp",
    "-i",
    "/tmp/media.mp4",
    "-c:a",
    "copy",
    "-c:v",
    "libx264",
    "-preset",
    "fast",
    "-tune",
    "film",
    "-profile:v",
    "baseline",
    "-level",
    "30",
    "-threads",
    "auto",
    "-strict",
    "experimental",
    "/home/diana/dwhelper/Whitney Houston Star Spangled Banner (1991 HBO Special).mp4"
]

[TallTanBarbie]

OK, I've tried again with your new version and it only works if I uncheck the H.264 option.  Both avconv and ffmpeg work.  It wants to use ffmpeg by default if I choose Recheck Converter. 

[mig]

Thanks for the feedback. Apparently your libav and ffmpeg versions are not compiled with the right support for presets. By unchecking the H264 tuning, the aggregation does not make use of the preset. Anyway, this option was a workaround to a bug on some Windows players, you don' need it.

When you do a "Recheck converter", VDH search an existing and executable file in this order: whatever is set in parameter "Converter path" (if any), /usr/bin/avconv, /usr/local/bin/avconv, /usr/bin/ffmpeg, /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg.

So if you remove what's in "Converter path" and do a recheck, it should pick avconv.