How to import OBS MP4 multitrack audio clip

[Stanley Arthur]

I used to be able to do this a couple of years ago but now I can't seem to make it work. These clips can be imported to the project but creating a new sequence from the clip only shows the first of four stereo tracks. In regard to modify > audio channels, I have tried every setting there is but nothing seems to work. The closest I have come is to have four audio tracks created, but they are all track one. I have verified the integrity of the clip by playing it in VLC player which revealed all four audio tracks. I have not been able to find any YouTube tutorials that address this issue completely. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[Ann Bens]

Try Preferences >Timeline > Multichannel Mono Media set to Adaptive before import the file into project.

[Stanley Arthur]

Thanks but no change or success. BTW, the four tracks are stereo not mono. Do you have any advice on how to navigate the super-unintutive "Modify > Audio Channels"?

[Stanley Arthur · Accepted solution]

I figured it out.

The problem: I was using Premiere Pro
The solution: Davinci Resolve
I installed it for the first time. I opened it, chose the editing workspace, imported the MKV clip and placed it in a sequence. Done. No settings changes. No hassle. No remuxing. No hours of endless trying this, that, and the other thing. It just works. I am a 25-year PPro user (since it was Cool Edit Pro). Why is Adobe struggling so hard to adapt to the changing times? This seems so simple. And now I'll need to make a video about this. The truly insane thing to me is that this used to work in PPro a couple of years ago. I *think* I recall making a minor adjustment in "Modify > Audio Channels" to accomodate this type of file (after remuxing to MP4 from MKV), but it simply does not work now. I'll keep an open mind if anyone can solve this one in PPro. In the meantime, Davinci Resolve works right outta the box.

[Averdahl]

Can you do a short recording in OBS with all audio tracks you need and either upload it here or send it to me in a PM so i can take a look at it and hopefully help you out with it?

Short clip as in 5-10 seconds. 🙂

I'll keep an open mind if anyone can solve this one in PPro.

By @Stanley Arthur

[Stanley Arthur]

Here ya go. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x3-5TEf3RIs4WPPgifrUxI8ibZNKBFIu/view?usp=sharing

[Averdahl]

Thanks! 🙂

Eventhough you wished me luck i could not fix it. @Ann Bens is spot on, iow that it works in the beta but it will take some times before it will be released as a non-beta.

For the beta there is no need to learn a new application. If you download the beta it will co-exist with the version/version you have installed today and will not interfere with them. So it´s safe to install the beta version, and easy to uninstall.

I could fix the issue if i used Shutter Encoder - Encoder|Converter video FREE PC|Mac and transcoded the clip to either H.264 or ProRes. Then i could just import the clip and drop it on the timeline. But yes, it´s may not be the best solution.

Here ya go.

By @Stanley Arthur

[MyerPj]

Trying to learn from this. @Averdahl 

I wasn't getting multiple tracks in either case (Beta or Shipping) for the downloaded file. When I transcoded to ProRes Proxy, I then go all the tracks. 

I tried various sequence settings, all ended up with 10 tracks so when he said track 4 for the sound effects that's track 7 and 8.

For the sake of it, is there a way to combine the channels so we are only seeing the 5 tracks in a sequence in PP?

And, Is it correct that in either PP version, we need to run it thru Shutter Encoder?

[Stanley Arthur]

I held my nose and tried the premiere pro beta. The good news is that it did open the MKV file without remoxing it and all the audio tracks are populated in the timeline. That's great. The bad news is the playback is crap. Still unusable.

[Warren Heaton]

@Stanley Arthur 

Since support for multichannel MKV is in beta, it would be great to have a detailed reply about the unexpected behavior that you are experiencing in this support tread: https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-beta-discussions/now-in-beta-support-for-h-264-in-mkv/m-...

Your input would help to make sure this is working as expected when it makes it to the release version. 

[Ann Bens]

You will have to use beta 25.3 to have support for MKV (which you did not mention the first time) multitrack.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-beta-discussions/now-in-beta-support-for-h-264-in-mkv/m-...

Start reading down from Tom Nord 5 march.

[Stanley Arthur]

Far, FAR too many problems with betas to ever trust them again, even for 'testing'. Be as it may, if I can drop a multitrack MKV clip into a sequence and it just 'works', that will be a beautiful thing. I'm too old to learn new apllications.

[Ann Bens]

Far, FAR too many problems with betas to ever trust them again, even for 'testing'.

By @Stanley Arthur

Its all I use is the beta.

Revert to the public release when stuck in the beta.

When problem is solved i go back to the beta.

It is advised not to use the beta for critical production work.

[Stanley Arthur]

What else is there except for critical production work? I mean seriously. Even if I'm working on Aunt Gladys memoirs, broke is broke And the only advice is, I guess you shouldn't have used the beta for that. 

[Stanley Arthur]

I thought you might like to hear what an OBS MKV multitrack clip sounds like when dropped into a PPro 25.3 Beta sounds like:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wy-N8wII9b66amndhXZkovsG1Nm6qJ1R/view?usp=sharing

[Ann Bens]

Is your audio hardware set correctly?

[MyerPj]

That clip you uploaded earlier didn't sound like that, but it came into PP with only 2 tracks.

Is there an MKV I can test with. A typical one like you are looking for. Thanks! 🙂

[MyerPj]

Cool Edit Pro

By @Stanley Arthur

I believe that was a basis for Adobe Audition.

[Stanley Arthur]

You are correct. Adobe acquired ReelTime before Premiere was launched. I can't remember what I was editing video with before Premiere.

[Stanley Arthur]

Just MME and the built in RealTek audio device. I dropped a phone clip (MP4) into a new timeline in the same project and the audio is fine. Additionally, I remuxed the the MKV clip to MP4 and dropped it in a new sequence. Guess what... only one audio track (not five). Testing that same clip in VLC player shows that it stills has all five tracks after remuxing but PPro isn't seeing them 😞

[Ann Bens]

Default Input should be set to NONE.

[Stanley Arthur]

Are you suggesting that this is the problem???   There is no input and it's set to no input.