Details: By: Derek Moran; In: FAQs; Published: 09 April 2012; Last Updated: 02 September 2022

Q: Why is no Sound coming from my Videos on the Vegas Timeline?

Answer: There can be a couple of different reasons why you may not be getting any sound from a Video, once you place it onto the Vegas Timeline.

The main causes for this problem are the following:

#1. The Video Codec of your source media is not a codec/format that Sony Vegas supports.
#2. The settings in the program and/or device you used to record your video/audio with, are not compatible with Vegas.
#3. You have accidentally MUTED one of the Sound Controls on the Vegas Desktop.
#4. You have the wrong Audio Device or Speakers selected inside the Vegas Preferences for "Audio Devices".
#5. You have the Project Properties set to 5.1 Surround Sound and are rendering to normal Stereo output OR vise versa.

Video Codecs

There are a huge amount of different video and audio codecs and formats in use Worldwide. Many of these codecs are invented by a particular company and are designed only for use in the devices they make. Often these more unusual codecs have licensing agreements attached to them, which basically means they charge other companies for the right to use these special codecs in their Software or devices. Because of this reason you will find that Software companies limit the amount of 3rd Party codecs they support, otherwise the cost of their software would become too expensive.

So if all your settings in Vegas are correct and you are getting no audio, then you can bet that the video you are using was made with a non-standard codec. Examples of codecs that Vegas cannot play are DivX, Xvid and particular Apple Codecs. The best way to fix this is to either record your source video using a different video codec or convert it into one that Vegas likes.

Gameplay Video Capture using Software and/or Capture Devices

A lot of Gamer's on YouTube record their game-play with a screen capture device or screen capture program and then edit their videos with Vegas. These types of devices and programs, often have many different recording mode options and settings. Normally you will find different video formats/codecs you can record to within the settings for your device/program, however not all of these formats will be compatible with Vegas. On top of that, it is also typical to find many different audio recording options, depending on how many channels of audio you are recording.

Some recording mode options/combinations may produce video that does not work properly in Vegas - typically the Audio file may be missing or not displaying properly on the timeline.

There are too many different brands and models of screen capture devices and software programs, to list them all here.

If you are a gamer and are having problems with audio working properly in Vegas, I recommend you Google the device or program you are using and add "Vegas Pro" to your search string. You should find other forums, websites or videos, where experienced gamer's have shared the (secret sauce) correct settings for recording video that works in Vegas.

I also recommend that you perform your own experiments, and record some sample videos to all the different formats/codecs your device or program offers. Quite often you will discover the format that works yourself, if you spend a little time experimenting first.

The one thing I DO NOT recommend Vegas users do, is to modify any of the program folders for Vegas. There are a lot of YouTube videos out there, where people show ways to hack the Vegas code and they claim that doing this will "fix" your audio problems. While this may work temporarily for one type of problem, it can often cause other bigger problems down the track. If you start modifying the Vegas code, do so at your own risk!

Sony Vegas ONLY Supports the following Codecs and Formats:

Opens: AAC, AA3, AIFF, AVCHD, AVI, BMP, CDA, FLAC, GIF, JPEG, MP3, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MVC, OGG, OMA, PCA, PNG, RealMedia®, QuickTime®, SND, SFA, W64, WAV, WDP, WMA, WMV

Saves: AAC, AC3, AA3, AIFF, AVC, AVI, BMP, FLAC, JPEG, LPEC, MP3, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MVC, OGG, PCA, PNG, RealMedia®, TIFF, QuickTime, W64, WAV, WDP, WMA, WMV

Mute Controls on the Vegas Desktop

why-no-sound-1

Make sure you DO NOT have any MUTE Buttons turned ON

why-no-sound-2

If you have added this ICON to the Top Toolbar - make sure this is NOT MUTED

Set your Audio Devices and Speakers Correctly

There are a couple of different Audio Device Type settings that you can choose.
To access your Audio Device Settings please follow this pathway:
Go to Top Menu - Options - Preferences - Audio Device
I have found that Windows Classic Wave Driver is the best setting for most computers, so if you are on a different setting right now like Microsoft Sound Mapper try changing it. Depending on what type of computer you have, you may have more or less options than what you see below.

Also check that the Speaker selection is correct. Sometimes I have seen a Microphone be incorrectly defaulted to read as a Speaker Device - if this happens you definitely won't be getting any sound.

why-no-sound-3

Here are your choices

why-no-sound-4

Also make sure you have the CORRECT Speakers Selected !

Set your Project Properties correctly for Audio

Stereo or 5.1 Surround Sound

Most projects are normally set to standard Stereo - Left and Right speakers only. The standard Stereo configuration will not give you any problems because it is a basic default. However when working with 5.1 Surround Sound, you must also render to an output format that supports 5.1 Surround Sound. If you have set your Project Properties to 5.1 Surround Sound but only output to Stereo, there will be no sound. So open the Project Properties right now and go to the audio tab. If you are only working with Stereo, make sure it is not set to 5.1 Surround Sound.

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rfrye7533

Member
· 07:56 22/07/2022
Derek, I'm glad I found you and your tutorials. I am a new user of Vegas Movie Studio 14 Platinum. I have been trying to use downloaded Facebook videos as part of a movie I am creating. When I take added media and drop it on the timeline all I get is the video. I can play the downloaded clip using VLC with no problems. I have followed the above suggestions with no good results. Can you help?
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  Derek
  
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  · 13:05 23/07/2022
  
  The downloader you are using has probably grabbed the wrong type of audio format, which is NOT compatible with VEGAS. Internet video like you see on YouTube and Facebook, uses multiple different types of audio and video formats. It will change depending on what type of device is viewing the video and quality is selected. Some video downloader apps do not "auto-select" the best audio format.
  I recommend try the following:
  1. See if you can select a different format in the controls for Video Downloader app.
  2. Try a different video downloader app.
  3. I use 4K Video Downloader and it works well most of the time. You can use the free version - paid version has more functions.
  https://www.4kdownload.com/products/videodownloader/18
  
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Davod · 10:11 25/05/2021
Sound and microphone work fine with Microsoft 10 tests. Movie Studio 17 worked fine before latest update. Sound works fine through speakers until a USB microphone is plugged in. Then no sound and no microphone.
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  Derek
  
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  · 12:48 25/05/2021
  
  This sounds like a Windows 10 Sound configuration problem.
  I experience the same problem when I connect my Rode USB Microphone for the first time.
  1. Close Vegas
  2. Connect Microphone
  3. Right-click Speaker icon in lower right corner of Windows Taskbar
  4. Make sure Output is set to Speakers and not headphone monitoring for USB Mic
  5. Set Input to Microphone
  6. Open Vegas and set Windows Classic Wave Driver
  7. Now you can configure speakers and mic in Vegas, if needed
  
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  David · 21:32 25/05/2021
  
  It was. Microsoft decided the microphone was both and input and output device somehow. I don't understand how my speakers passed the output with that configuration. I suspect that I will have to correct this problem each time I plug the microphone in. Thanks.
  
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Agas · 00:12 16/06/2020
Hi Derek.. a million thank you to you. This has solved my problem.
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  Derek
  
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  · 14:16 16/06/2020
  
  Happy to help :)
  
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zakaria · 09:23 16/10/2019
Thanks this helped
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Zanbot · 06:45 11/04/2019
In Movie Studio Platinum 14, I have been having problems with sound lately. In the software, it sounds fine, but when I upload it to YouTube, my second sound bar doesnt sound. When i have my music in that second bar, the music doesnt play, but when my sfx are in that bar, the sfx doesnt play.
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  Derek
  
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  · 14:37 11/04/2019
  
  Please Copy & Paste your question into the MSZ Forum.
  This is a better place to ask this question. Thanks.
  https://www.moviestudiozen.com/forum/index
  
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Anonymous · 23:07 27/12/2017
Hi Derek,

I've started once with Sony Movie Studio and now I use Vegas Pro 13 and I still use the Magic Bullet Quick looks in Vegas Pro, which was included in Movie Studio and I find them quite usefull. Do you know if these MB Quick looks do work in Vegas Pro 14 or 15 too?
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  Derek
  
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  · 10:17 28/12/2017
  
  Good news :)
  Magic Bullet Quick Looks from Movie Studio will also show up in all Vegas Pro versions.
  I have it installed on my own computer and it works.
  
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Maha · 04:36 24/12/2017
Hi, thank you for this it is very informative. However I have tried all of these but I am still not getting any audio from media files I put on to Sony Vegas. Can you please help? P.s I am using Sony Vegas on a mac with Windows also installed.
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  Derek
  
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  · 08:30 24/12/2017
  
  It would be easier if you asked this question on the forum, because on the forum we can share screen shots if needed.
  The forum is free to join and easy to use. Copy and paste your question into the forum and as soon as I see your message I will reply.
  https://www.moviestudiozen.com/forum/index
  
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Ezequiel · 08:31 19/10/2017
Hello, can you please help me. I am editing a video on Vegas Pro Edit 15 and I recorded the footage with a GoPro Hero 6. The Video looks great but the audio just sounds like tons of static. If I turn off the left channel of the audio it sounds a bit better but still very distorted. Do you know what audio settings I should be using for my projects? Thank you very much in advance!=)
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  Derek
  
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  · 11:11 19/10/2017
  
  You may be experiencing a problem caused by the new Magix Encoder they are now using.
  I believe that Magix knows about this problem and is working on it.
  First make sure you have installed the new build version for VP15 #216
  Then read this forum post for a temporary solution:
  https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/new-avc-issues-in-vp15-try-disabling-so4compoundplug-dll--108345/
  
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Steve · 02:57 06/10/2017
Hi, can you help please. When I record Xbox footage via obs then load it into sony vegas 14, the sound is there but I have no audio waves (even if I check uncheck audio waves) it doesn't register it. However if i record my mic it does show me sound waves on a seperate channel. I am recording with a HD60 pro ... Can you help ... Thanks
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  Derek
  
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  · 09:16 06/10/2017
  
  I am confused by your message - are you recording with OBS or HD60 ?
  
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  Steve · 10:13 08/10/2017
  
  Hi Derek .... My capture is a HD60. I record through OBS ... So this is how it works ... I have mic audio on channel 1, xbox audio on channel 2 ... I record thr footage through OBS and then when I load it into Sony Vegas I have audio waves on the mic channel but on the audio footage of the gameplay there is no audio waves ... the audio is there just no visible waves ... I have checked the show waveform markers but nothing appears on the xbox audio ... does that make sense?
  
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  Derek
  
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  · 11:09 08/10/2017
  
  OBS has a large amount of settings/options, which still confuse me to this day.
  I do not have the same set up as you, so have no experience.
  I would go back to your HD60 and see if there are DIFFERENT audio recording options. I know from the past, that some of the recording options for audio in the HD60, are not compatible with Vegas. But one of the settings, definitely does work. So I recommend you perform some BASIC tests first. Take your Mic recording out of the equation and just focus on the HD60 options first. Try all combinations and by-pass OBS. Import HD60 directly into Vegas and use ALL different recording modes.
  If you can't work this out, I recommend posting your problem on a forum like Linus Tech Tips - there is a large amount Gamers on this forum and many would probably be using a similar setup to you.
  
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Angie · 09:28 26/07/2017
Please help! When i import a video the audio shows but its mute? The audio waves goes up and down like there is sound but i can't hear anything there is no sound. It wasn't like this before i don't know what happened. I checked everything and nothing is mute. Please help
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  Derek
  
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  · 15:17 26/07/2017
  
  Hi Angie
  It sounds like you have accidentally turned on the MUTE or SOLO button, on one or more of your Video/Audio tracks.
  If you want quick help with this, post your message on the MSZ Forum and then upload a screen-shot showing your Vegas desktop, then we can see if anything doesn't look right.
  AND/OR
  Also upload a copy of your Vegas project file - this is a tiny file and contains no video, but it does show all of your settings.
  The forum is free to join and easy to use. If you are unsure, read the HELP file on forum for beginners.
  Please let us know which exact version of Vegas you are using.
  https://www.moviestudiozen.com/forum/index
  
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