--recode-video argument affecting audio files

[Saklad5]

Please follow the guide below

• You will be asked some questions and requested to provide some information, please read them carefully and answer honestly
• Put an x into all the boxes [ ] relevant to your issue (like that [x])
• Use Preview tab to see how your issue will actually look like

---

Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2016.09.11.1. If it's not read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

• I’ve verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2016.09.11.1

Before submitting an issue make sure you have:

• At least skimmed through README and most notably FAQ and BUGS sections
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

• Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
• Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
• Feature request (request for a new functionality)
• Question
• Other

---

The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your issue

---

---

---

Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

I use the argument “--recode-video mp4” in my config, as I prefer the format’s portability. However, I have noticed that this flag actually results in music (i.e. Bandcamp) being converted to MP4 as well, despite having no video file. I assume this behavior isn’t intended, judging by the argument itself. Could you modify the argument’s functionality to only affect something with a video component?

[dstftw]

That is expected behavior. Option name is most likely a remnant of the old times when no audio-only extractors existed. No, we won't change it in order not to break backward compatibility.

[Saklad5]

Could you add anything that would solve the problem I described, then?