Hello, my question regards visualizing waveform in ELAN file on Mac computer. I have an mp4 file linked both for video and waveform (both appear as active in View menu). Also, Signal Viewer is activated. However, no waveform is showing. I have tried opening the same mp4 file on a different computer (Windows) and waveform displays automatically without having to do anything. Could you please help with information on what might be the problem and how I can visualize the waveform in the Elan file on Mac?
I am using the latest 6.5 ELAN version.
Could it be that a preference setting prevents audio extraction from video? This can be checked via Edit->Preferences->Edit Preferences...->Platform/OS tab. Maybe the option None is selected under Extraction of audio samples etc.?
If this is not the case there could be error messages concerning AudioExtraction in the log (View->View Log...) after opening a file with a linked mp4. In case of doubt concerning the messages, you can send them to me (han.sloetjes AT mpi.nl).
Thank you for the fast response. I checked as instructed and Extraction of audio samples is set to “Use FFmpeg”. I tried switching to “Use AV Foundation” to try, but it also didn’t work. I tried switching back to “Use FFmpeg”, still didn’t work. I also saved the file and re-opened it, but still no waveform. I also tried unlinking the video, and then linking it again, but it also didn’t change anything. And there were no error messages. So the issue still remains a mystery unfortunately.
Hi, that’s strange indeed. You’re still welcome to send the contents of the log, maybe there are clues other than clear error messages that give an idea about what’s going wrong.
Apologies for asking, but it isn’t a matter of repositioning the divider between the viewers to make the viewer(s) visible (sometimes this is missed by users)?
The recommended approach for having the visible waveform, by the way, is still to also link a .wav file, extracted (in this case) from the .mp4. This, not to distract from the problem with the visualization directly from the mp4, it would still be good to know what is going on there.
Thank you for the additional info. I did thought of it myself, about repositioning the divider, but it seemed not to be possible, I even asked a colleague (who also uses elan regularly) to try to be sure, but also she couldn’t figure out how to visualize it (including trying to widen the divider). I will try creating a separate wav file and linking that. let’s see whether it works. But indeed, it is interesting what is the reason why mp4 is not showing the soundwave.
