No Sound when importing m2ts file with Dolby Digital audio into Premiere PPro

[filmspezialist]

I know that this problem was discussed in another thread already but I post it here anyway.

I am currently on PP 25.6.3 on a Windows 11 PC

When I am importing a .m2ts file with Dolby Digital audio there is no sound in PP. When I double click on the .m2ts file OUTSIDE PP the video plays back perfectly with picture and sound in Windows Mediaplayer.

Any solution?

[filmspezialist]

I found that certain .m2ts files are imported with sound, others without. I have made two screenshots. The first shows the media info of the file which is imported without sound, the second screenshot is the one which is imported with sound.

[Ann Bens]

W11 does not support ac3 audio any more

You need to convert the files (eg Prores) or install the ac3 codec.

Download Dolby AC-3/AC-4 Installer - MajorGeeks

Solved: No AC3 codec in Windows 11 24H2 - Solution is need... - Adobe Product Community - 14972524

[filmspezialist]

Thanks, Ann.

I am a bit puzzled now. Why would one file have sound when imported and another one stays mute when imported (see attached screenshots in my second message. Also I am pretty sure that I do have the AC-3 codec installed on my Windows 11 machine. 

[Peru Bob]

Try downloading them from the camera again?

[filmspezialist]

Why?

The problem is that both .m2ts files do have AC-3 audio. In one case the audio is not imported into PP, in the other case it is. If I play those .m2ts files outside of PP both videos are played back with sound.

[filmspezialist]

@Ann Bens The AC-3 codec is installed on my W11 PC

[Ann Bens]

If your W11 is an upgrade from W10 then you have the codec installed.

A clean W11 does not have the codec.

What is the origin of the file that that does not import the audio or imports the audio but stays mute?

[Peru Bob]

@Ann Bens 

The MediaInfo screenshot shows a Sony camcorder.

[Ann Bens]

No they are two different sources (25 fps and 23,97 fps) cannot be from the same camera.

[filmspezialist]

Sorry for the confusion:

The 25fps file comes from a Sony Camcorder and works perfectly

The 23,97fps file comes from a blu-ray and has no sound once imported into PP

[filmspezialist]

The file that does not work comes from a blu-ray, the file that does work comes from a Sony camcorder.

[Ann Bens]

Those are not quite the same sort of files: audio differs.

m2ts is just a container.

You will have to convert the file.

[filmspezialist]

The funny thing is: if I import that file which has no audio in PP 25.2.3 into PP CS6 it comes complete with sound

[Ann Bens]

CS6 might be more forgiving.