iMovie won't play audio

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Level 1

8 points

iMovie won't play audio

There are quite a few topics on why iMovie won't play the audio of a file imported into itself. None of them seem to address the issue we're having.

My wife just got her first Macbook, after having all manner of Apple devices. She's having trouble with a single aspect of iMove: Any file imported has no audio. Quicktime plays audio for the same files, as will any other computer or player.

After import, there is no soundwave (even though the option is checked). The whole bar is completely blue, as if there is no audio in the recorded video. On only one video can a click be heard just as the clip starts, then nothing.

We've seen the "suggestions" that removing the clips, restarting the program or checking for the AAC codec, etc could help. Nothing has helped so far. Any other direction someone could point us in?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 16, 2019 3:42 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Manderburg

Level 1

18 points

Jan 23, 2019 1:28 PM in response to Rich839

Reformatting with Handbrake is the only thing that works. I've been struggling with this issue on many projects for years. When you import a file and there's no sound it's almost always iMovie's poor codec handling. Handbrake will quickly convert your file so you can move on.

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Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

47,250 points

Jan 16, 2019 4:31 PM in response to SteveS801

It may be that the audio is DRM protected. If so, it won't play in iMovie, but may still play on other players.

To cover the bases, make sure that the sound on the clip is not muted. That would remove the wave forms as well.

-- Rich

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Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

47,250 points

Jan 16, 2019 5:10 PM in response to SteveS801

Try restarting your computer while holding down the Option and Command keys and selecting to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your project. Import a clip in and see if you get audio.

If the above doesn't work try importing your media into a newly created project and see if that solves it.

If not, reformat the clips to Mp4/AAC from your desktop with the free download, Handbrake. Do that even if the clip is already in that format. Now see if you get audio.

You can obtain Handbrake at this website:

https://handbrake.fr/

-- Rich

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Answer 4

Rich839

Level 8

47,250 points

Jan 16, 2019 6:52 PM in response to SteveS801

Glad it worked. The original movie may have contained a codec unsupported by iMovie. Not all Mp4 is alike. Re-encoding with a converter like Handbrake sometimes can cure the problem, as it did in your case.

-- Rich

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