[FFmpeg-user] Fix .mp4 file with error: channel element 1.0 is not allocated

[Tom Worster]

How can I repair a file with an error like this?

     [aac @ 0x5d738c0] channel element 1.0 is not allocated

Instead of what you see below, the file should have, i think

     Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, 
stereo, fltp,

% ~/ffmpeg-git-20201020-amd64-static/ffprobe -i 
WOWD-20201116T210000Z.m4a
ffprobe version N-54690-g682990a849-static 
https://johnvansickle.com/ffmpeg/  Copyright (c) 2007-2020 the FFmpeg 
developers
   built with gcc 8 (Debian 8.3.0-6)
   configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-static 
--disable-debug --disable-ffplay --disable-indev=sndio 
--disable-outdev=sndio --cc=gcc --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r 
--enable-gnutls --enable-gmp --enable-libgme --enable-gray 
--enable-libaom --enable-libfribidi --enable-libass --enable-libvmaf 
--enable-libfreetype --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb 
--enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-librubberband 
--enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libvorbis 
--enable-libopus --enable-libtheora --enable-libvidstab 
--enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp 
--enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libdav1d 
--enable-libxvid --enable-libzvbi --enable-libzimg
   libavutil      56. 60.100 / 56. 60.100
   libavcodec     58.111.101 / 58.111.101
   libavformat    58. 62.100 / 58. 62.100
   libavdevice    58. 11.102 / 58. 11.102
   libavfilter     7. 88.100 /  7. 88.100
   libswscale      5.  8.100 /  5.  8.100
   libswresample   3.  8.100 /  3.  8.100
   libpostproc    55.  8.100 / 55.  8.100
[aac @ 0x5d738c0] channel element 1.0 is not allocated
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'WOWD-20201116T210000Z.m4a':
   Metadata:
     major_brand     : M4A
     minor_version   : 512
     compatible_brands: M4A isomiso2
     encoder         : Lavf58.45.100
   Duration: 00:04:59.45, start: 38994.477007, bitrate: 126 kb/s
     Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (LTP) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 7350 Hz, 
5.0, fltp, 125 kb/s (default)
     Metadata:
       handler_name    : SoundHandler

I've had no luck so far reproducing the error that created files like 
these. If that's important, lemmy know I'll keep trying.

thanks
Tom