<p>If you want to Preview Audio you need to use <strong>RAM Preview</strong>... <em>Press <kbd>Numpad 0</kbd></em> on the number pad (shortcut key for Ram Preview), then you can hear the audio.</p>

<p>Press <kbd>Numpad 0</kbd> on the Numberpad.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZPfG8.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T19:04:15.873Z
Thanks. Turns out I was using AE when I should have been using Premier.
Josh M.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-19T21:14:01.193Z
Make sure number lock is on.
user3643
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T15:18:24.243Z
2015-06-29T07:43:55.070Z
2015-06-29T07:43:55.070Z
Prem Gurusamy
<p>After Effects is not designed as an editing platform.  Audio preview only works when you do a RAM Preview and pre-render all the frames for the content you are previewing.  You never get Audio with the real-time preview.</p>

<p>The intent behind RAM Preview is that it lets you check the final quality of the render prior to writing it to disk, but it isn't really designed to be used constantly while doing effects work in most cases.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T04:56:28.313Z
So there is no way to efficiently preview footage and trim/cut/insert into the timeline? Seems like a feature that must exist - unless I'm missing something...or using AE improperly and should trim/cut my clips in Premiere first?
Josh M.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T04:57:34.617Z
@JoshM That's it exactly, AE is designed for manipulating individual clips (compositions) and then those clips are put together in to sequences in Premiere.  It is possible to embed an After Effects composition directly in to Premiere, including transparency support.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T05:08:48.667Z
Interesting. My understanding was that Premiere was to get video content (from DV/cam, etc.), layout out the timeline and then bring it into AfterEffects to do overlays and such. Is the "After" in AfterEffects not to be taken literally?
Josh M.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T05:18:46.427Z
@JoshM yeah, not to be taken literally.  It's effects after shooting, not editing.  Workflow is generally, capture shots, edit individual shots (if needed) in After Effects (color correction, stabilization, composition, etc) and then edit shots together in to a video in Premiere.  Premiere is pretty much always the final output.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-26T02:17:37.637Z
Yeah, complete opposite of how I was thinking! Hmm...
Josh M.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T04:13:53.777Z
2014-02-25T04:13:53.777Z
AJ Henderson
<p>I'm using AfterEffects CS6 on Windows 7. During footage preview/playback, I never get any audio. I have the <code>Mute Audio</code> option in the <code>Preview</code> panel turned off (audio is not muted). I checked the <code>Edit &gt; Preferences &gt; Audio Hardware</code> settings and found that 1) the only device listed in the <code>Default Device</code> list is "After Effects WDM Sound", and 2) clicking the <code>Settings</code> button and checking all of my audio devices (with and without the <code>Device 32-bit Playback</code> option selected) does nothing.</p>

<p>Am I missing something here? I have to preview my clips in Windows Media Player and then go back to AfterEffects to do the trimming - it's annoying!</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/upDRi.png" alt="AfterEffects audio settings."></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-29T07:46:48.450Z
related: http://video.stackexchange.com/questions/15319/how-can-i-preview-with-audio-in-after-effects-and-be-able-to-pause-resume-the/15321#15321
p2or
<after-effects><editing>
No audio during footage preview
Josh M.
# No audio during footage preview

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-25)

I'm using AfterEffects CS6 on Windows 7. During footage preview/playback, I never get any audio. I have the `Mute Audio` option in the `Preview` panel turned off (audio is not muted). I checked the `Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware` settings and found that 1) the only device listed in the `Default Device` list is "After Effects WDM Sound", and 2) clicking the `Settings` button and checking all of my audio devices (with and without the `Device 32-bit Playback` option selected) does nothing.

Am I missing something here? I have to preview my clips in Windows Media Player and then go back to AfterEffects to do the trimming - it's annoying!

![AfterEffects audio settings.](https://i.sstatic.net/upDRi.png)

**Tags:** after-effects, editing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: related: http://video.stackexchange.com/questions/15319/how-can-i-preview-with-audio-in-after-effects-and-be-able-to-pause-resume-the/15321#15321  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-02-25. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

After Effects is not designed as an editing platform. Audio preview only works when you do a RAM Preview and pre-render all the frames for the content you are previewing. You never get Audio with the real-time preview.

The intent behind RAM Preview is that it lets you check the final quality of the render prior to writing it to disk, but it isn't really designed to be used constantly while doing effects work in most cases.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So there is no way to efficiently preview footage and trim/cut/insert into the timeline? Seems like a feature that must exist - unless I'm missing something...or using AE improperly and should trim/cut my clips in Premiere first?  
> **username_4**: @JoshM That's it exactly, AE is designed for manipulating individual clips (compositions) and then those clips are put together in to sequences in Premiere.  It is possible to embed an After Effects composition directly in to Premiere, including transparency support.  
> **username_0**: Interesting. My understanding was that Premiere was to get video content (from DV/cam, etc.), layout out the timeline and then bring it into AfterEffects to do overlays and such. Is the "After" in AfterEffects not to be taken literally?  
> **username_4**: @JoshM yeah, not to be taken literally.  It's effects after shooting, not editing.  Workflow is generally, capture shots, edit individual shots (if needed) in After Effects (color correction, stabilization, composition, etc) and then edit shots together in to a video in Premiere.  Premiere is pretty much always the final output.  
> **username_0**: Yeah, complete opposite of how I was thinking! Hmm...  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-02-28. Score: 10

If you want to Preview Audio you need to use **RAM Preview**... *Press `Numpad 0`* on the number pad (shortcut key for Ram Preview), then you can hear the audio.

Press `Numpad 0` on the Numberpad.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZPfG8.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. Turns out I was using AE when I should have been using Premier.  
> **username_3**: Make sure number lock is on.  

---

