8 Replies Latest reply: Sep 7, 2010 11:44 AM by Bill Hunt RSS

    Last ~10% of audio clips do not play

    theGadgetGuy Community Member

      My imported music tracks will not play the last approximately 10% of the clip.  At first I thought it was a result of trying to use 6-10 minute music clips, as 1-3 minute tracks never seem to fail,  but found that even trimming off all but the last minute of a long clip (making a 10 minute clip into a 2 minute clip) and trying to use that resulted in it's last 10% not playing!

       

      The waveform for each audio clip shows up in its Source Tab and is just fine.  But scrubbing or playing the clip works only up to about the 90% point and then sound goes silent.  This is true for the Source player or when the audio is inserted into the Timeline.

       

      I have converted the original .m4a audio files to both mp3 and wma but always with the same result.  All converted clips play fine in both QuickTime and WM Player players, so it is something within CS4 Premier Pro itself that is failing.

       

      I have tried everything I can think of without results, and have run out of ideas.

       

      Any suggestions, anyone?

        • 1. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          I would convert those source files to PCM/WAV 48KHz 16-bit and them Import those into the Project. PrPro should love those files and you should not have any issues. Make sure to give PrPro a few moments to Conform those files, before you drag them to the Timeline (progress bar for Conforming in the lower-right of the GUI). It should take moments only with those files (Duration and your system will dictate just how long), and you might not even see the progress bar.

           

          Good luck,

           

          Hunt

           

          BTW - how are you converting? Both Soundbooth, or Audition can do that easily, along with the free Audacity.

          • 2. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
            JSS1138 CommunityMVP

            Convert the original to WAV files.  Reimport and report back the results.


            • 3. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
              theGadgetGuy Community Member

              That did it!  Converting the original to WAV seems to clear up all the problems (although it creates humungeous file sizes!).

               

              Premier seems to like WAV a lot better than anything else.  Strange that the waveform shows perfectly in the Source monitor tab window, but will not play.

               

              Thanks to BOTH of you for answering so quickly.  I was right in the midst of my project when I ran into this, so your quick response sure helped a lot!

               

              • 4. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
                Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
                Converting the original to WAV seems to clear up all the problems (although it creates humungeous file sizes!)

                Great news!

                 

                You are correct about the file sizes, as PCM/WAV is uncompressed.

                 

                Unfortunately, if one is having to work with material that has already been heavily compressed to begin with, like MP3, the conversion will not regain that lost fidelity - BUT, it will often solve tons of other issues. I do not use MP3 Audio much, but when I do, I just do the conversion at the outset, and have never had one issue.

                 

                Good luck with the Project,

                 

                Hunt

                 

                PS - I also hate what MP3 does to music, but sometimes there is not a better source available. I just avoid it like a plague.

                • 5. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
                  theGadgetGuy Community Member

                  I agree re: MP3.  I seldom use it, but I fell into the trap of thinking that since I was having problems with the captured CD and WMA, that certainly Premier would handle MP3, the most ubiquitous format around, without problems.

                   

                  So I was really buffaloed when even the MP3 formats failed!

                   

                  I usually don't do anything in WAV because the files are so large, but that said I have a 1.5 Tb drive so don't know what in the heck I am worried about!

                   

                  Thanks again.

                   

                  • 6. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
                    Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                    If you are working with CD Audio (CDA in 44.1KHz 16-bit), I find that ripping directly to WAV with Audition (my choice), or Audacity, is the best route. I then do a Save_As PCM/WAV 48KHz 16-bit for Import. Yes, the WAV's are much larger.

                     

                    Now, MP3's can contain a lot of "stuff," though in your case, I do not think that you befell that. Adobe programs do not do that well with MPEG Audio of almost any flavor, so I stay away from those. Another area that can be an issue is when one goes to Adobe Encore for DVD authoring. I stay far away from any muxed MPEG files. Actually, I stay away from muxed files of any sort, when going to Encore. You did not mention DVD authoring, but I'm adding that - just in case.

                     

                    Good luck,

                     

                    Hunt

                    • 7. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
                      theGadgetGuy Community Member

                      Thanks Hunt.

                       

                      Yes.  All of my work is targeted for Blu-Ray authoring.  We travel the world and I produce travelogue videos of the trips.  Fortunately virtually all of the material (except for an occasional information capture off the web) comes from my Sony HD camera, which is a combination video/snapshot camera.

                       

                      I'm adding your thoughts to my "How To Do it" document I made to collect good ideas and hints.

                       

                      Ken Burkhalter

                      • 8. Re: Last ~10% of audio clips do not play
                        Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                        Ken,

                         

                        Sounds like some interesting Projects!

                         

                        Good luck, and hope that all Audio behaves for you from now on.

                         

                        Hunt