I am converting audiobooks from AAX to M4B with the command:
ffmpeg -activation_bytes xxxxxxxx -i BOOK.AAX -c copy book.m4b
This command works for most books, but large files over approximately 750 MB have an incorrect duration in iTunes and iPods. Musicbee and other programs I've tried work normally. Seeking through the file is not possible, but chapter markers work fine.
Command output:
c:\Utilities\ffmpeg-20200921\bin>ffmpeg -activation_bytes xxxxxxxx -i "E:\test.AAX" -c copy "E:\test.m4b"
ffmpeg version N-99335-gdfbea7b210 Copyright (c) 2000-2020 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 9.3-win32 (GCC) 20200320
configuration: --prefix=/ffbuild/prefix --pkg-config-flags=--static --pkg-config=pkg-config --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --arch=x86_64 --target-os=mingw32 --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-iconv --enable-zlib --enable-libxml2 --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-gmp --enable-lzma --enable-fontconfig --enable-libvmaf --disable-vulkan --enable-libvorbis --enable-amf --enable-libaom --enable-avisynth --enable-libdav1d --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-cuda-llvm --disable-libglslang --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libtheora --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-libmfx --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-librav1e --enable-schannel --enable-sdl2 --enable-libsoxr --enable-libsrt --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --disable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg --extra-cflags=-DLIBTWOLAME_STATIC --extra-cxxflags= --extra-ldflags=-pthread --extra-libs=-lgomp
libavutil 56. 59.100 / 56. 59.100
libavcodec 58.106.100 / 58.106.100
libavformat 58. 58.100 / 58. 58.100
libavdevice 58. 11.102 / 58. 11.102
libavfilter 7. 87.100 / 7. 87.100
libswscale 5. 8.100 / 5. 8.100
libswresample 3. 8.100 / 3. 8.100
libpostproc 55. 8.100 / 55. 8.100
[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0000025962c54e00] [aax] file checksum ==
[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0000025962c54e00] stream 0, timescale not set
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'E:\test.AAX':
Metadata:
major_brand : aax
minor_version : 1
compatible_brands: aax M4B mp42isom
creation_time : 2020-09-08T15:53:16.000000Z
comment : Chapter 93
title : The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
artist : Patrick Rothfuss
album_artist : Patrick Rothfuss
album : The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
genre : Audiobook
copyright : ©2009 DAW Trade (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
date : 2009
Duration: 27:55:57.74, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 64 kb/s
Chapter #0:0: start 0.000000, end 190.728707
Metadata:
title : Chapter 1
Chapter #0:1: start 190.728707, end 2725.233197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 2
Chapter #0:2: start 2725.233197, end 3225.391020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 3
Chapter #0:3: start 3225.391020, end 5021.593832
Metadata:
title : Chapter 4
Chapter #0:4: start 5021.593832, end 5751.768526
Metadata:
title : Chapter 5
Chapter #0:5: start 5751.768526, end 6188.953832
Metadata:
title : Chapter 6
Chapter #0:6: start 6188.953832, end 7423.140862
Metadata:
title : Chapter 7
Chapter #0:7: start 7423.140862, end 8230.312925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 8
Chapter #0:8: start 8230.312925, end 9876.468390
Metadata:
title : Chapter 9
Chapter #0:9: start 9876.468390, end 10645.652608
Metadata:
title : Chapter 10
Chapter #0:10: start 10645.652608, end 11047.822222
Metadata:
title : Chapter 11
Chapter #0:11: start 11047.822222, end 12023.989116
Metadata:
title : Chapter 12
Chapter #0:12: start 12023.989116, end 13666.150748
Metadata:
title : Chapter 13
Chapter #0:13: start 13666.150748, end 14568.338866
Metadata:
title : Chapter 14
Chapter #0:14: start 14568.338866, end 16003.517823
Metadata:
title : Chapter 15
Chapter #0:15: start 16003.517823, end 16770.705125
Metadata:
title : Chapter 16
Chapter #0:16: start 16770.705125, end 18187.865397
Metadata:
title : Chapter 17
Chapter #0:17: start 18187.865397, end 18494.043719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 18
Chapter #0:18: start 18494.043719, end 19109.233197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 19
Chapter #0:19: start 19109.233197, end 19729.438186
Metadata:
title : Chapter 20
Chapter #0:20: start 19729.438186, end 20937.618866
Metadata:
title : Chapter 21
Chapter #0:21: start 20937.618866, end 21563.814603
Metadata:
title : Chapter 22
Chapter #0:22: start 21563.814603, end 23176.997732
Metadata:
title : Chapter 23
Chapter #0:23: start 23176.997732, end 25249.192925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 24
Chapter #0:24: start 25249.192925, end 25489.380136
Metadata:
title : Chapter 25
Chapter #0:25: start 25489.380136, end 25784.552200
Metadata:
title : Chapter 26
Chapter #0:26: start 25784.552200, end 28231.749660
Metadata:
title : Chapter 27
Chapter #0:27: start 28231.749660, end 28624.909932
Metadata:
title : Chapter 28
Chapter #0:28: start 28624.909932, end 29539.079546
Metadata:
title : Chapter 29
Chapter #0:29: start 29539.079546, end 29846.279546
Metadata:
title : Chapter 30
Chapter #0:30: start 29846.279546, end 30200.476735
Metadata:
title : Chapter 31
Chapter #0:31: start 30200.476735, end 31098.671020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 32
Chapter #0:32: start 31098.671020, end 32217.826395
Metadata:
title : Chapter 33
Chapter #0:33: start 32217.826395, end 32899.006984
Metadata:
title : Chapter 34
Chapter #0:34: start 32899.006984, end 33457.168254
Metadata:
title : Chapter 35
Chapter #0:35: start 33457.168254, end 33851.350204
Metadata:
title : Chapter 36
Chapter #0:36: start 33851.350204, end 35979.551927
Metadata:
title : Chapter 37
Chapter #0:37: start 35979.551927, end 37586.697868
Metadata:
title : Chapter 38
Chapter #0:38: start 37586.697868, end 38888.872925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 39
Chapter #0:39: start 38888.872925, end 39644.078730
Metadata:
title : Chapter 40
Chapter #0:40: start 39644.078730, end 41362.262494
Metadata:
title : Chapter 41
Chapter #0:41: start 41362.262494, end 42204.450249
Metadata:
title : Chapter 42
Chapter #0:42: start 42204.450249, end 43088.619683
Metadata:
title : Chapter 43
Chapter #0:43: start 43088.619683, end 45214.778050
Metadata:
title : Chapter 44
Chapter #0:44: start 45214.778050, end 46355.945941
Metadata:
title : Chapter 45
Chapter #0:45: start 46355.945941, end 46616.148753
Metadata:
title : Chapter 46
Chapter #0:46: start 46616.148753, end 48366.329615
Metadata:
title : Chapter 47
Chapter #0:47: start 48366.329615, end 48727.492789
Metadata:
title : Chapter 48
Chapter #0:48: start 48727.492789, end 49112.665397
Metadata:
title : Chapter 49
Chapter #0:49: start 49112.665397, end 49490.872018
Metadata:
title : Chapter 50
Chapter #0:50: start 49490.872018, end 50915.044717
Metadata:
title : Chapter 51
Chapter #0:51: start 50915.044717, end 51550.203356
Metadata:
title : Chapter 52
Chapter #0:52: start 51550.203356, end 53249.393197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 53
Chapter #0:53: start 53249.393197, end 54093.577868
Metadata:
title : Chapter 54
Chapter #0:54: start 54093.577868, end 56342.755556
Metadata:
title : Chapter 55
Chapter #0:55: start 56342.755556, end 56432.941859
Metadata:
title : Chapter 56
Chapter #0:56: start 56432.941859, end 57963.136871
Metadata:
title : Chapter 57
Chapter #0:57: start 57963.136871, end 58539.316825
Metadata:
title : Chapter 58
Chapter #0:58: start 58539.316825, end 59977.514376
Metadata:
title : Chapter 59
Chapter #0:59: start 59977.514376, end 60076.663583
Metadata:
title : Chapter 60
Chapter #0:60: start 60076.663583, end 61934.863673
Metadata:
title : Chapter 61
Chapter #0:61: start 61934.863673, end 63462.040091
Metadata:
title : Chapter 62
Chapter #0:62: start 63462.040091, end 64937.203810
Metadata:
title : Chapter 63
Chapter #0:63: start 64937.203810, end 65434.389478
Metadata:
title : Chapter 64
Chapter #0:64: start 65434.389478, end 66356.593197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 65
Chapter #0:65: start 66356.593197, end 67552.792381
Metadata:
title : Chapter 66
Chapter #0:66: start 67552.792381, end 68699.951020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 67
Chapter #0:67: start 68699.951020, end 69503.129252
Metadata:
title : Chapter 68
Chapter #0:68: start 69503.129252, end 71055.290340
Metadata:
title : Chapter 69
Chapter #0:69: start 71055.290340, end 73339.483719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 70
Chapter #0:70: start 73339.483719, end 74739.646984
Metadata:
title : Chapter 71
Chapter #0:71: start 74739.646984, end 76989.799909
Metadata:
title : Chapter 72
Chapter #0:72: start 76989.799909, end 79985.081179
Metadata:
title : Chapter 73
Chapter #0:73: start 79985.081179, end 81746.268299
Metadata:
title : Chapter 74
Chapter #0:74: start 81746.268299, end 82711.428934
Metadata:
title : Chapter 75
Chapter #0:75: start 82711.428934, end 82815.593651
Metadata:
title : Chapter 76
Chapter #0:76: start 82815.593651, end 83242.794376
Metadata:
title : Chapter 77
Chapter #0:77: start 83242.794376, end 85966.030658
Metadata:
title : Chapter 78
Chapter #0:78: start 85966.030658, end 86589.207800
Metadata:
title : Chapter 79
Chapter #0:79: start 86589.207800, end 87930.392381
Metadata:
title : Chapter 80
Chapter #0:80: start 87930.392381, end 89250.586122
Metadata:
title : Chapter 81
Chapter #0:81: start 89250.586122, end 89325.772336
Metadata:
title : Chapter 82
Chapter #0:82: start 89325.772336, end 90794.945306
Metadata:
title : Chapter 83
Chapter #0:83: start 90794.945306, end 91014.141678
Metadata:
title : Chapter 84
Chapter #0:84: start 91014.141678, end 92237.322449
Metadata:
title : Chapter 85
Chapter #0:85: start 92237.322449, end 92911.490612
Metadata:
title : Chapter 86
Chapter #0:86: start 92911.490612, end 93676.680998
Metadata:
title : Chapter 87
Chapter #0:87: start 93676.680998, end 94375.880272
Metadata:
title : Chapter 88
Chapter #0:88: start 94375.880272, end 97204.117188
Metadata:
title : Chapter 89
Chapter #0:89: start 97204.117188, end 97281.300317
Metadata:
title : Chapter 90
Chapter #0:90: start 97281.300317, end 98427.483719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 91
Chapter #0:91: start 98427.483719, end 98986.666667
Metadata:
title : Chapter 92
Chapter #0:92: start 98986.666667, end 100557.740000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 93
Stream #0:0(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (aavd / 0x64766161), 22050 Hz, stereo, fltp, 62 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-08T15:53:16.000000Z
handler_name : ?Apple Sound Media Handler
Stream #0:1(eng): Data: bin_data (text / 0x74786574) (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-08T15:53:18.000000Z
handler_name : ?Apple Text Media Handler
Stream #0:2: Video: mjpeg (Baseline), yuvj420p(pc, bt470bg/unknown/unknown), 500x500 [SAR 1:1 DAR 1:1], 90k tbr, 90k tbn, 90k tbc (attached pic)
Output #0, ipod, to 'E:\test.m4b':
Metadata:
major_brand : aax
minor_version : 1
compatible_brands: aax M4B mp42isom
date : 2009
comment : Chapter 93
title : The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
artist : Patrick Rothfuss
album_artist : Patrick Rothfuss
album : The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
genre : Audiobook
copyright : ©2009 DAW Trade (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
encoder : Lavf58.58.100
Chapter #0:0: start 0.000000, end 190.728707
Metadata:
title : Chapter 1
Chapter #0:1: start 190.728707, end 2725.233197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 2
Chapter #0:2: start 2725.233197, end 3225.391020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 3
Chapter #0:3: start 3225.391020, end 5021.593832
Metadata:
title : Chapter 4
Chapter #0:4: start 5021.593832, end 5751.768526
Metadata:
title : Chapter 5
Chapter #0:5: start 5751.768526, end 6188.953832
Metadata:
title : Chapter 6
Chapter #0:6: start 6188.953832, end 7423.140862
Metadata:
title : Chapter 7
Chapter #0:7: start 7423.140862, end 8230.312925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 8
Chapter #0:8: start 8230.312925, end 9876.468390
Metadata:
title : Chapter 9
Chapter #0:9: start 9876.468390, end 10645.652608
Metadata:
title : Chapter 10
Chapter #0:10: start 10645.652608, end 11047.822222
Metadata:
title : Chapter 11
Chapter #0:11: start 11047.822222, end 12023.989116
Metadata:
title : Chapter 12
Chapter #0:12: start 12023.989116, end 13666.150748
Metadata:
title : Chapter 13
Chapter #0:13: start 13666.150748, end 14568.338866
Metadata:
title : Chapter 14
Chapter #0:14: start 14568.338866, end 16003.517823
Metadata:
title : Chapter 15
Chapter #0:15: start 16003.517823, end 16770.705125
Metadata:
title : Chapter 16
Chapter #0:16: start 16770.705125, end 18187.865397
Metadata:
title : Chapter 17
Chapter #0:17: start 18187.865397, end 18494.043719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 18
Chapter #0:18: start 18494.043719, end 19109.233197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 19
Chapter #0:19: start 19109.233197, end 19729.438186
Metadata:
title : Chapter 20
Chapter #0:20: start 19729.438186, end 20937.618866
Metadata:
title : Chapter 21
Chapter #0:21: start 20937.618866, end 21563.814603
Metadata:
title : Chapter 22
Chapter #0:22: start 21563.814603, end 23176.997732
Metadata:
title : Chapter 23
Chapter #0:23: start 23176.997732, end 25249.192925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 24
Chapter #0:24: start 25249.192925, end 25489.380136
Metadata:
title : Chapter 25
Chapter #0:25: start 25489.380136, end 25784.552200
Metadata:
title : Chapter 26
Chapter #0:26: start 25784.552200, end 28231.749660
Metadata:
title : Chapter 27
Chapter #0:27: start 28231.749660, end 28624.909932
Metadata:
title : Chapter 28
Chapter #0:28: start 28624.909932, end 29539.079546
Metadata:
title : Chapter 29
Chapter #0:29: start 29539.079546, end 29846.279546
Metadata:
title : Chapter 30
Chapter #0:30: start 29846.279546, end 30200.476735
Metadata:
title : Chapter 31
Chapter #0:31: start 30200.476735, end 31098.671020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 32
Chapter #0:32: start 31098.671020, end 32217.826395
Metadata:
title : Chapter 33
Chapter #0:33: start 32217.826395, end 32899.006984
Metadata:
title : Chapter 34
Chapter #0:34: start 32899.006984, end 33457.168254
Metadata:
title : Chapter 35
Chapter #0:35: start 33457.168254, end 33851.350204
Metadata:
title : Chapter 36
Chapter #0:36: start 33851.350204, end 35979.551927
Metadata:
title : Chapter 37
Chapter #0:37: start 35979.551927, end 37586.697868
Metadata:
title : Chapter 38
Chapter #0:38: start 37586.697868, end 38888.872925
Metadata:
title : Chapter 39
Chapter #0:39: start 38888.872925, end 39644.078730
Metadata:
title : Chapter 40
Chapter #0:40: start 39644.078730, end 41362.262494
Metadata:
title : Chapter 41
Chapter #0:41: start 41362.262494, end 42204.450249
Metadata:
title : Chapter 42
Chapter #0:42: start 42204.450249, end 43088.619683
Metadata:
title : Chapter 43
Chapter #0:43: start 43088.619683, end 45214.778050
Metadata:
title : Chapter 44
Chapter #0:44: start 45214.778050, end 46355.945941
Metadata:
title : Chapter 45
Chapter #0:45: start 46355.945941, end 46616.148753
Metadata:
title : Chapter 46
Chapter #0:46: start 46616.148753, end 48366.329615
Metadata:
title : Chapter 47
Chapter #0:47: start 48366.329615, end 48727.492789
Metadata:
title : Chapter 48
Chapter #0:48: start 48727.492789, end 49112.665397
Metadata:
title : Chapter 49
Chapter #0:49: start 49112.665397, end 49490.872018
Metadata:
title : Chapter 50
Chapter #0:50: start 49490.872018, end 50915.044717
Metadata:
title : Chapter 51
Chapter #0:51: start 50915.044717, end 51550.203356
Metadata:
title : Chapter 52
Chapter #0:52: start 51550.203356, end 53249.393197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 53
Chapter #0:53: start 53249.393197, end 54093.577868
Metadata:
title : Chapter 54
Chapter #0:54: start 54093.577868, end 56342.755556
Metadata:
title : Chapter 55
Chapter #0:55: start 56342.755556, end 56432.941859
Metadata:
title : Chapter 56
Chapter #0:56: start 56432.941859, end 57963.136871
Metadata:
title : Chapter 57
Chapter #0:57: start 57963.136871, end 58539.316825
Metadata:
title : Chapter 58
Chapter #0:58: start 58539.316825, end 59977.514376
Metadata:
title : Chapter 59
Chapter #0:59: start 59977.514376, end 60076.663583
Metadata:
title : Chapter 60
Chapter #0:60: start 60076.663583, end 61934.863673
Metadata:
title : Chapter 61
Chapter #0:61: start 61934.863673, end 63462.040091
Metadata:
title : Chapter 62
Chapter #0:62: start 63462.040091, end 64937.203810
Metadata:
title : Chapter 63
Chapter #0:63: start 64937.203810, end 65434.389478
Metadata:
title : Chapter 64
Chapter #0:64: start 65434.389478, end 66356.593197
Metadata:
title : Chapter 65
Chapter #0:65: start 66356.593197, end 67552.792381
Metadata:
title : Chapter 66
Chapter #0:66: start 67552.792381, end 68699.951020
Metadata:
title : Chapter 67
Chapter #0:67: start 68699.951020, end 69503.129252
Metadata:
title : Chapter 68
Chapter #0:68: start 69503.129252, end 71055.290340
Metadata:
title : Chapter 69
Chapter #0:69: start 71055.290340, end 73339.483719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 70
Chapter #0:70: start 73339.483719, end 74739.646984
Metadata:
title : Chapter 71
Chapter #0:71: start 74739.646984, end 76989.799909
Metadata:
title : Chapter 72
Chapter #0:72: start 76989.799909, end 79985.081179
Metadata:
title : Chapter 73
Chapter #0:73: start 79985.081179, end 81746.268299
Metadata:
title : Chapter 74
Chapter #0:74: start 81746.268299, end 82711.428934
Metadata:
title : Chapter 75
Chapter #0:75: start 82711.428934, end 82815.593651
Metadata:
title : Chapter 76
Chapter #0:76: start 82815.593651, end 83242.794376
Metadata:
title : Chapter 77
Chapter #0:77: start 83242.794376, end 85966.030658
Metadata:
title : Chapter 78
Chapter #0:78: start 85966.030658, end 86589.207800
Metadata:
title : Chapter 79
Chapter #0:79: start 86589.207800, end 87930.392381
Metadata:
title : Chapter 80
Chapter #0:80: start 87930.392381, end 89250.586122
Metadata:
title : Chapter 81
Chapter #0:81: start 89250.586122, end 89325.772336
Metadata:
title : Chapter 82
Chapter #0:82: start 89325.772336, end 90794.945306
Metadata:
title : Chapter 83
Chapter #0:83: start 90794.945306, end 91014.141678
Metadata:
title : Chapter 84
Chapter #0:84: start 91014.141678, end 92237.322449
Metadata:
title : Chapter 85
Chapter #0:85: start 92237.322449, end 92911.490612
Metadata:
title : Chapter 86
Chapter #0:86: start 92911.490612, end 93676.680998
Metadata:
title : Chapter 87
Chapter #0:87: start 93676.680998, end 94375.880272
Metadata:
title : Chapter 88
Chapter #0:88: start 94375.880272, end 97204.117188
Metadata:
title : Chapter 89
Chapter #0:89: start 97204.117188, end 97281.300317
Metadata:
title : Chapter 90
Chapter #0:90: start 97281.300317, end 98427.483719
Metadata:
title : Chapter 91
Chapter #0:91: start 98427.483719, end 98986.666667
Metadata:
title : Chapter 92
Chapter #0:92: start 98986.666667, end 100557.740000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 93
Stream #0:0: Video: mjpeg (Baseline), yuvj420p(pc, bt470bg/unknown/unknown), 500x500 [SAR 1:1 DAR 1:1], q=2-31, 90k tbr, 90k tbn, 90k tbc (attached pic)
Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 22050 Hz, stereo, fltp, 62 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2020-09-08T15:53:16.000000Z
handler_name : ?Apple Sound Media Handler
Stream mapping:
Stream #0:2 -> #0:0 (copy)
Stream #0:0 -> #0:1 (copy)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame= 1 fps=0.0 q=-1.0 Lsize= 779347kB time=27:55:57.72 bitrate= 63.5kbits/s speed=1.21e+03x
video:68kB audio:770806kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 1.099302%
I know this works correctly on older versions (3.1.4 for sure), but old versions do not copy artwork without a separate program. Note, the format flag is required on the old version and I've tried it on new versions with no effect:
ffmpeg -activation_bytes xxxxxxxx -i BOOK.AAX -c copy -f mp4 book.m4b
I thought maybe the cover artwork was the issue and tried the -vn flag with no effect. However, converting to AAC first and then to M4B outputs a working file. These commands output a good file, without chapters, cover art, etc:
ffmpeg -activation_bytes XXXX -i "book.AAX" -c:a copy "temp.aac"
ffmpeg -i "temp.aac" -c:a copy "book.m4b"
Is there a command parameter to fix these larger files (besides throwing out the iPod)? It seems like a bug to me, but I hesitate to submit since I have little experience with ffmpeg.
