How to move audio around its timeline? (It seems to resist...)

[Nedlaw]

Hi. Using Premiere Pro 24.3.0 on Win 11 (with current updates).

I am a relative newbie with this program, so consider me Mr. Clumsy. I am working on a VO with graphics. The first thing I did was put the main audio track on the first audio line -- no video or other assets yet. The track came in with some initial starting info ("take 2"). This I sliced with the razor blade and deleted the offending section. This left the audio track a couple of seconds distant from the zero point.

I cannot figure out how to move the audio track in this brand new project so that it starts at zero. I have turned on "show audio time units" (supposedly smaller increments than frames). This made no difference. I have moved the time pointer. It made no difference. I have tried dragging the audio to the left. Either it bounced back to where it had been (those couple of seconds in) or it replaced the deleted portion of the audio ("take 2") that I thought I had gotten rid of.

I have not put any video into the timelines yet. My aim is to match the video to the audio. But I can't adjust the audio... which I will need to do, one way or t'other. I gotta start somewhere.

How do I move the audio track earlier in the timeline? (or later, for that matter, or adjust it...)

Thanks as always to the community for any help.

-j

[Peru Bob]

Try resetting the preferences:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro/faq-how-to-reset-trash-preferences-in-premiere-pro/td-p/...

If that doesn't work, try resetting the Workspaces:
Reset a workspace
Reset the current workspace to return to its original, saved layout of panels.
1. Do one of the following:
• Click the Workspace menu icon and select Reset to Saved Layout.
• Choose Window > Workspace > Reset to Saved Layout.
from here:
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/workspaces.html

If that doesn't work, try Preferences > Audio Hardware and set Input to None.

If that doesn’t work, try updating or rolling back your graphics driver directly from the video card manufacturer’s site. If NVIDIA, do a clean installation of the latest Studio Driver (NOT the Game Driver).

If that doesn't work, try creating a new project and import the old one into it.

[Peru Bob]

Is the track locked?

[Nedlaw]

No. The track is not locked.

-j

[MyerPj]

Strange problem. Perhaps a screenshot, or even a very brief video of the entire PP window.

[Nedlaw]

Sorry for the size. You'll see the audio track in green on the right. I want to align it to where the time-tick is (which is 00:00). How do I move it?

Thanks.

-j

[Ann Bens]

Did you reset preferences as Bob suggested?

Put a dummy image at the beginning of the timeline then try to move the audio.

[MyerPj]

That part looks fairly normal. A screen capture of the entire PP window would be helpful.

Can you right-click in the blank part between the time-indicator and your clip (in the A1 track) and get 'Ripple Delete'?

[Nedlaw · Accepted solution]

I mentioned that I'm more-or-less a newbie? (I've done a couple of short videos, but I'm not an experienced and facile user.) 

After frustrating myself into a light froth with my inability to move a simple audio track and having it bounce back to where it had been regardless of setting or modifier key, I threw up my hands, left the track in place as-was, saved the project, and closed the program. I stalked off to do other, more satisfying, things. Later, I re-opened the program and project... and the audio track moved just fine, now, thank you.

This suggests to me that creating the project and importing the audio track during the creation process (as you're encouraged to do by the program and which places the audio track automatically) set some kind of flag internally that prevented me from moving the track as I have done in the past. [There's been an update since I last used the program, and you never know what's been "upgraded" to prevent you from doing things in the way you have previously. As I said, I'm not familiar with the program, and there could have been some modifier required that everyone would know but a newbie.]

Now the track moves. All is good. I think this is a subtle bug that could easily frustrate other newbies. I will remember: (1) do not allow the program to place assets for you during the project creation process because it could set some kinds of limitation on the asset; (2) upon placement of any asset -- probably just the first, but who knows -- save the project and close the program, then re-open. I think that is a safe work-around.

Thanks to all who generously helped.

-j

[Peru Bob]

(2) upon placement of any asset -- probably just the first, but who knows -- save the project and close the program, then re-open.

By @Nedlaw

But then you lose your undos.

Unfortunately, Ctrl+Z is one of my most used keystrokes.