P: Audio "can't be read quickly enough" from storage

[tranhoangcalvin]

Just started getting this error window today while working on a very simple project that only has a couple After Effects motion graphics clips, and three tracks of audio: VO, music, and light SFX:

Event Details:

Can't access audio

the audio for _____.wav can't be read quickly enough from storage. Please check your storage and try again.

Build:

Windows 11 Pro 26100.3624

12th Gen Intel i7-12700K 3.60 GHz

32 GB of RAM

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 

The local C drive is an NVME SSD, but the file in question is stored on a Synology NAS with IronWolf HDDs. Both the computer and the NAS were built from new parts this year.

Premiere: 25.2, installed this week.

The same error happened on a second computer (same build, also connect to the NAS).

[nicole_salas_sony]

I have the same problem, and I can't resolve it please anybody help! I have to close and reopen the project over and over and just for seconds I can hear but just for seconds. We need to work 😞 Help

[Andrew251801670jel]

I suggest you save your project, close Premiere Pro, Uninstall Premiere Pro, turn off automatic updates on Primiere Pro and install version 25.1. It worked for me, I hope it does for you.

[richard_5820]

We're processing millions of vertices simultaneously in 3D space, in real time now, but apparently reading 10mbs of audio has become a feet of epic proportions for adobe. Brilliant stuff guys! idk about you all, but this app has become absolutely worthless to me as it feels practically unusable without footage that isn't meticulously encoded the ever loving bleep out of. Everytime I go to use this thing I'm sitting here staring at blank screens, trouble shooting rather than doing any sort of editing- even in the most basic of environments. 

[richdenmark]

This is happening to me too, it's a new issue on PP 25.2.1 (build 2). I'm on OS Sequoia 15.3.1

Error appears when scrubbing or playing audio on the timeline. This is fixed frame rate footage from a Sony F6. So 4k footage. I'm only running premiere and chrome and have 32GB of ram. 

[hakankadioglu]

The cause of the problem is not audio files or reading speed, friends, it's all software. The problem stems from the fact that it can't read the image files and it gives a warning error that it can't access the audio files because it causes a delay. If you turn off the images you will see that the audio works fine. So when Adobe is testing I guess it tests with a quantum computer and decides that everything is fine, but remember dear adobe we are normal people, the configurations you use as a basis for testing the software should not be too superior. 🙂

[WarriorKnot]

Having the same issue but it only happens to a few clips and the rest are fine. It seems to change which file is the issue if I try some work arounds with the clip. Definitely agree it's software and rolling back to 25.1 is the best possible fix.

Can you clarify what image files you're refering to, to turn off? Thanks!

[hakankadioglu]

What I mean to say is that you turn the video layers off, the sounds work without any problems, but the problem occurs when you want to play the audio layers and video layers simultaneously. 

[intuitive_worldview6017]

backtracking to version 25.1 does seem to fix the issue, not happening anymore and I can actually finish my project. It was happening almost every time I closed and reopened a project no matter where i stored the audio files.

[Kyle Kramb]

Slight update- downgraded to 25.1 and realized I was have issues here as well, but instead of giving the error the audio just drops out on what ever track / file is having the issue.

• Issue - Audio drops out durning playback with dialogue box poping up that reads "Can't Access Audio".
• Steps to reproduce - make edit. hit play.
• Expected result - sequence should playdown.
• Actual result - Audio drops out diurning playback with dialogue box poping up that reads "Can't Access Audio"
• Adobe Premiere Pro version -25.2.1
• Operating system - Mac OS 15.3.2 (24D81) - iMac Pro - 3 GHz 10-Core Intel Xeon W, Radeon Pro Vega 64 16 GB, 128 GB 2666 MHz DDR4
• Video (and Audio) format - All sorts - but one specifically is Apple ProRes 422 Proxy UHD 23.98 with multitrack audio - these are transcodes made in Resolve from R3D RAW. Also happening with Stock footage downloaded from Filmsupply, wave audio files from Marmoset, mp3 files from unknown source (stereo music), and sfx wave files from Snoundsnap.

[arthurs61284981]

Same issue. Please fix this Adobe. 

[jonathanbecker]

No can do. The best they can do is rush out AI features to appease shareholders. Bug fix? That'll take a few months at least. 

[elijahl68805581]

This is still happening on 4/22/25 is there any talk of an update soon? 

[hakankadioglu]

Under another title, information was given that the problem was being investigated and even a form was shared, so I filled it out and sent an e-mail but I don't think they will release an update anytime soon. 

[Andrew251801670jel]

Please tell us the name of the other thread

[Sebastian26721671o2hb]

I tried that and it worked for me. I just updated PR today, and this popped up. I cleared my cache last night since the program was acting up. still acted up, so that's why I updated. 

[Gigowatt Film]

Same error here, windows 10 and NVME only volume...

I've been experiencing the audio dropout for quite a while while playing. Now I have the error report... It seems to export fine though. 15.2

[ilhanp14039373]

same here

[hakankadioglu]

Hello everyone The problem seems to be solved with 25.2.3. Make sure that the files are cached (cache options in the program settings) are turned on.

[Paul2971790848zl]

Not Fixed!! as far as I can tell. 

[Gigowatt Film]

Hilarious : with 25.2.3, I no longer have the error message but I'm still experiencing the audio dropouts...

So it seems to me like the dust has been put under the rug.

[Paul2971790848zl]

My experience as well. It is slightly less disruptive. Still 100% intolerable. I wonder how many of us are considering switching platforms so that we can stop wasting our time and creative energy on this mess? 

[gordonw50483927]

WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE FIXED? IT HAS IMPACTED MY WORKFLOW NOW FOR ALMOST A FULL MONTH.

[Espen5EAA]

It's now aparently been fixed in the 25.2.3 update.

[Gigowatt Film]

@Espen5EAA

The error message does not appear anymore, so that is "fixed", but the audio dropouts remain.

I kinda liked it better with the error message : at least Adobe could see what was going wrong. Now it is again a lot harder to pinpoint.

[Annaistryingtowork]

Apparently 25.2.3 still has issues, so how does one roll back to a previous version? I did a quick Google search, do I need to download a "downgrading" tool?