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Participant
January 2, 2019
Answered

Audio waveform not showing visually

  • January 2, 2019
  • 49 replies
  • 321067 views

Having issues with this since updating to 2019. Basically, after importing a clip into the timeline everything is as it should be (video plays, audio plays) but the audio waveform does not show up until it's played through so I cannot visually see the audio waves unless I play/skip through the whole clip, which obviously makes editing a lot slower.

Attached an example. Image 1 is the clip just imported to the timeline and image 2 is after playing through a few seconds (as you can see the audio only shows up after I've played through the clip and the remaining audio waves are still blank)

Any help would be appreciated!

Using Windows and Adobe Premiere Pro 2019.

Correct answer just take actioi16874188

Another option is to click on the timeline display settings button - it's the wrench icon in this pic.... There you'll see an option to turn the waveforms on or off. 

49 replies

Participating Frequently
April 9, 2019

Is Adobe working on this?  I just got off of tech support and they suggested rendering my audio files, which is something I've never done before.  It will take me at least 2 hours to render a 4 min sequence.  This is a very large project, it will probably take me a few days to render everything... 

Inspiring
April 9, 2019

One work around in to convert your audio files to a video file. Also try placing your cache folder on different drives if you can. That worked for me. I think this is a major bug since more and more people are complaining about it.

Participating Frequently
April 9, 2019

i should note that I have no issue with audio-only files: these come in with waveforms as usual. My issue is with video files (with audio tracks included). Here the audio waveform is currently either: (a) A flat line; (b) not apparently anything to do with the video; or (c) correct. On bringing a video file in the audio tracks will either display or not. If they display, they may be correct, or they may not relate to the video. The waveforms if present can change from synched to meaningless in mid-clip without warning. In these circumstances reloading the clip has no effect (the same with all of the remedies proposed in this conversation so far).

Participating Frequently
April 8, 2019

For me, the latest update (13.1.0 Build 193) results in waveforms being shown again most of the time, but not always: every so often a clip comes in with an audio flatline.

In addition, from time to time the waveform doesn't match the audio - suddenly, in the middle of a clip, the waveform stops relating to the audio and goes off on its own.

KillyjoyyJess
Participant
April 8, 2019

The last update completely fixed it for me and all of my co-workers, thankfully :/ good luck to those that didn't benefit from the update. It might be worth uninstalling and re-installing now that we know the update is supposed to fix it.

Inspiring
April 8, 2019

Congrats but the update did nothing to help me like I hoped

Participant
April 8, 2019

Just downloaded and used the latest update of PrPro - no luck with waveforms.

Adobe please help??? My work flow has slowed down dramatically... Final Cut X is looking more interesting all them time, especially considering the render times that program offers with Mac computers.

Participant
April 1, 2019

Hi guys - I've trashed the preferences and done the other tips but no good.

Very frustrating - really slows down editing audio when you can't see the waveform, means selecting the talking parts needs to be done aurally and in real time not visually.

Has there been a fix yet?? Adobe help?????????

Inspiring
April 1, 2019

One work around would be to convert the audio file to a video file

Participating Frequently
March 31, 2019

I've suddenly got the same issue - existing audio files show waveforms, newly-brought-in ones do not. None of the suggestions above solves the problem, including the so-called "answer". This is obviously something different from the problem noted in January - it's an "end of March" version of the issue.

No known software updates, Adobe or system (Mojave 10.14.3) here since last time I used the app the other day.

ryanf61127703
Participant
March 29, 2019

I to am having this issue. When the sound clip is playing I can see the levels from the sequence timeline but on my screen its just a flat line.

Inspiring
March 29, 2019

SAME HERE. AND IT HAPPENED FOR NO REASON

Inspiring
March 26, 2019

I found the problem this. Make sure the

save .cfa and .pek media cache files next to original media file when possible

is checked i goes it can't find the files if it not next to the originals.

this is in the Media cache preference

Averdahl
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2019

First, go to Edit > Preferences > Audio and make sure that the setting "Automatic audio waveform generation" is ticked. If this is un-ticked no waveforms are generated when importing files. This will not affect already imported clips, it will only affect clips you import from now on.

Second, for creating audio waveforms on clips that dont have them, select the clip/s in the Program panel and go to Clip > Generate Aduio Waveform.

If the first trick fails i would have trashed the Preferences in Premiere Pro since odd behaviours often are linked to corrupted preferences: FAQ: How to reset (trash) preferences in Premiere Pro?

Participating Frequently
March 25, 2019

So waveforms are not visible in Premiere today. Both on my computer and everyone else in my department. I've tried every "fix" "trick" the internet has to offer and still nothing.

Anyone else experiencing this fun quirk today?

Inspiring
March 27, 2019

That's ... intriguing. SOMETHING changed there. Adobe hasn't shipped an updated version in some time. So ... what could have changed locally?

Sounds like something got updated or changed there. But .. what?

Neil


So when premier writes the pek file to the high speed scratch drive premiere doesn't see it but when it writes the pek file next to the original file premiere sees the pek  file. I'm confused.