load_dataset() in 4.0.0 failed when decoding audio
Author: jiqing-feng
State: closed

### Describe the bug

Cannot decode audio data.



### Steps to reproduce the bug

```python
from datasets import load_dataset

dataset = load_dataset("hf-internal-testing/librispeech_asr_demo", "clean", split="validation")
print(dataset[0]["audio"]["array"])
```

1st round run, got
```
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/features/audio.py", line 172, in decode_example
    raise ImportError("To support decoding audio data, please install 'torchcodec'.")
ImportError: To support decoding audio data, please install 'torchcodec'.
```

After `pip install torchcodec` and run, got
```
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/_core/_metadata.py", line 16, in <module>
    from torchcodec._core.ops import (
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/_core/ops.py", line 84, in <module>
    load_torchcodec_shared_libraries()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/_core/ops.py", line 69, in load_torchcodec_shared_libraries
    raise RuntimeError(
RuntimeError: Could not load libtorchcodec. Likely causes:
          1. FFmpeg is not properly installed in your environment. We support
             versions 4, 5, 6 and 7.
          2. The PyTorch version (2.8.0a0+5228986c39.nv25.06) is not compatible with
             this version of TorchCodec. Refer to the version compatibility
             table:
             https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec?tab=readme-ov-file#installing-torchcodec.
          3. Another runtime dependency; see exceptions below.
        The following exceptions were raised as we tried to load libtorchcodec:

[start of libtorchcodec loading traceback]
FFmpeg version 7: libavutil.so.59: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
FFmpeg version 6: libavutil.so.58: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
FFmpeg version 5: libavutil.so.57: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
FFmpeg version 4: libavutil.so.56: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
[end of libtorchcodec loading traceback].
```

After `apt update && apt install ffmpeg -y`, got
```
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/workspace/jiqing/test_datasets.py", line 4, in <module>
    print(dataset[0]["audio"]["array"])
          ~~~~~~~^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/arrow_dataset.py", line 2859, in __getitem__
    return self._getitem(key)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/arrow_dataset.py", line 2841, in _getitem
    formatted_output = format_table(
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/formatting/formatting.py", line 657, in format_table
    return formatter(pa_table, query_type=query_type)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/formatting/formatting.py", line 410, in __call__
    return self.format_row(pa_table)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/formatting/formatting.py", line 459, in format_row
    row = self.python_features_decoder.decode_row(row)
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/formatting/formatting.py", line 223, in decode_row
    return self.features.decode_example(row, token_per_repo_id=self.token_per_repo_id) if self.features else row
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/features/features.py", line 2093, in decode_example
    column_name: decode_nested_example(feature, value, token_per_repo_id=token_per_repo_id)
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/features/features.py", line 1405, in decode_nested_example
    return schema.decode_example(obj, token_per_repo_id=token_per_repo_id) if obj is not None else None
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/datasets/features/audio.py", line 198, in decode_example
    audio = AudioDecoder(bytes, stream_index=self.stream_index, sample_rate=self.sampling_rate)
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/decoders/_audio_decoder.py", line 62, in __init__
    self._decoder = create_decoder(source=source, seek_mode="approximate")
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/decoders/_decoder_utils.py", line 33, in create_decoder
    return core.create_from_bytes(source, seek_mode)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torchcodec/_core/ops.py", line 144, in create_from_bytes
    return create_from_tensor(buffer, seek_mode)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.12/dist-packages/torch/_ops.py", line 756, in __call__
    return self._op(*args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
NotImplementedError: Could not run 'torchcodec_ns::create_from_tensor' with arguments from the 'CPU' backend. This could be because the operator doesn't exist for this backend, or was omitted during the selective/custom build process (if using custom build). If you are a Facebook employee using PyTorch on mobile, please visit https://fburl.com/ptmfixes for possible resolutions. 'torchcodec_ns::create_from_tensor' is only available for these backends: [Meta, BackendSelect, Python, FuncTorchDynamicLayerBackMode, Functionalize, Named, Conjugate, Negative, ZeroTensor, ADInplaceOrView, AutogradOther, AutogradCPU, AutogradCUDA, AutogradXLA, AutogradMPS, AutogradXPU, AutogradHPU, AutogradLazy, AutogradMTIA, AutogradMAIA, AutogradMeta, Tracer, AutocastCPU, AutocastMTIA, AutocastMAIA, AutocastXPU, AutocastMPS, AutocastCUDA, FuncTorchBatched, BatchedNestedTensor, FuncTorchVmapMode, Batched, VmapMode, FuncTorchGradWrapper, PythonTLSSnapshot, FuncTorchDynamicLayerFrontMode, PreDispatch, PythonDispatcher].

Meta: registered at /dev/null:214 [kernel]
BackendSelect: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/BackendSelectFallbackKernel.cpp:3 [backend fallback]
Python: registered at /__w/torchcodec/torchcodec/pytorch/torchcodec/src/torchcodec/_core/custom_ops.cpp:694 [kernel]
FuncTorchDynamicLayerBackMode: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/DynamicLayer.cpp:479 [backend fallback]
Functionalize: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/FunctionalizeFallbackKernel.cpp:349 [backend fallback]
Named: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/NamedRegistrations.cpp:7 [backend fallback]
Conjugate: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/ConjugateFallback.cpp:17 [backend fallback]
Negative: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/native/NegateFallback.cpp:18 [backend fallback]
ZeroTensor: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/ZeroTensorFallback.cpp:86 [backend fallback]
ADInplaceOrView: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:104 [backend fallback]
AutogradOther: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:63 [backend fallback]
AutogradCPU: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:67 [backend fallback]
AutogradCUDA: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:75 [backend fallback]
AutogradXLA: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:87 [backend fallback]
AutogradMPS: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:95 [backend fallback]
AutogradXPU: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:71 [backend fallback]
AutogradHPU: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:108 [backend fallback]
AutogradLazy: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:91 [backend fallback]
AutogradMTIA: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:79 [backend fallback]
AutogradMAIA: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:83 [backend fallback]
AutogradMeta: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/VariableFallbackKernel.cpp:99 [backend fallback]
Tracer: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/torch/csrc/autograd/TraceTypeManual.cpp:294 [backend fallback]
AutocastCPU: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:322 [backend fallback]
AutocastMTIA: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:466 [backend fallback]
AutocastMAIA: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:504 [backend fallback]
AutocastXPU: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:542 [backend fallback]
AutocastMPS: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:209 [backend fallback]
AutocastCUDA: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/autocast_mode.cpp:165 [backend fallback]
FuncTorchBatched: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/LegacyBatchingRegistrations.cpp:731 [backend fallback]
BatchedNestedTensor: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/LegacyBatchingRegistrations.cpp:758 [backend fallback]
FuncTorchVmapMode: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/VmapModeRegistrations.cpp:27 [backend fallback]
Batched: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/LegacyBatchingRegistrations.cpp:1075 [backend fallback]
VmapMode: fallthrough registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/VmapModeRegistrations.cpp:33 [backend fallback]
FuncTorchGradWrapper: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/TensorWrapper.cpp:208 [backend fallback]
PythonTLSSnapshot: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/PythonFallbackKernel.cpp:202 [backend fallback]
FuncTorchDynamicLayerFrontMode: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/functorch/DynamicLayer.cpp:475 [backend fallback]
PreDispatch: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/PythonFallbackKernel.cpp:206 [backend fallback]
PythonDispatcher: registered at /opt/pytorch/pytorch/aten/src/ATen/core/PythonFallbackKernel.cpp:198 [backend fallback]
```

### Expected behavior

The result is 
```
[0.00238037 0.0020752  0.00198364 ... 0.00042725 0.00057983 0.0010376 ]
```
on `datasets==3.6.0`

### Environment info

[NV official docker image](https://catalog.ngc.nvidia.com/orgs/nvidia/containers/pytorch): `nvcr.io/nvidia/pytorch:25.06-py3` 

```
- `datasets` version: 4.0.0
- Platform: Linux-5.4.292-1.el8.elrepo.x86_64-x86_64-with-glibc2.39
- Python version: 3.12.3
- `huggingface_hub` version: 0.34.2
- PyArrow version: 19.0.1
- Pandas version: 2.2.3
- `fsspec` version: 2025.3.0
```

Comments: Hi @lhoestq . Would you please have a look at it? I use the official NV Docker ([NV official docker image](https://catalog.ngc.nvidia.com/orgs/nvidia/containers/pytorch): `nvcr.io/nvidia/pytorch:25.06-py3`) on A100 and encountered this issue, but I don't know how to fix it.

Use !pip install -U datasets[audio] rather than !pip install datasets

I got the solution from this link [https://github.com/huggingface/datasets/issues/7678](https://github.com/huggingface/datasets/issues/7678), and it processes the data; however,  it led to certain transformer importnerrors

> https://github.com/huggingface/datasets/issues/7678

Hi @asantewaa-bremang . Thanks for your reply, but sadly it does not work for me.

It looks like a torchcodec issue, have you tried to look at the torchcodec issues here in case someone has the same issue ? https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues

otherwise feel free to open a new issue there

@jiqing-feng, are you running the code on Colab? If you are, you should restart after making this installation ! pip install -U datasets[audio]. 

> [@jiqing-feng](https://github.com/jiqing-feng), are you running the code on Colab? If you are, you should restart after making this installation ! pip install -U datasets[audio].

No, I ran the script on the A100 instance locally.

> It looks like a torchcodec issue, have you tried to look at the torchcodec issues here in case someone has the same issue ? https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues
> 
> otherwise feel free to open a new issue there

Thanks! I've opened a new issue on torchcodec. Could we have a fallback implementation without torchcodec (just like datasets==3.6.0) ?

> Thanks! I've opened a new issue on torchcodec. Could we have a fallback implementation without torchcodec (just like datasets==3.6.0) ?

For now I'd recommend using `datasets==3.6.0` if this issue is blocking for you

Resolved by installing the pre-release torchcodec. Thanks!

Same. torchcodec==0.6.0 failed, torchcodec==0.5.0 solved

So what combination of 'datasets' and 'torchcodec' worked out?

> So what combination of 'datasets' and 'torchcodec' worked out?

nice mate! 
just about to write this massage!!!!!



when this will solve????


torchcodec 0.7 fails
0.5  not guaranty to work with torch 2.8



> Resolved by installing the pre-release torchcodec. Thanks!

how to install the pre-release torchcodec, when I use pip install --pre torchcodec, it do not download new version

i fixed this issue by install :

conda install "ffmpeg<8"
or
conda install "ffmpeg<8" -c conda-forge

you can find more info : https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec?tab=readme-ov-file#installing-torchcodec

It loads fine with datasets==3.6.0