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To edit a video clip’s sound independently in Premiere Pro, select the linked clip in the timeline and choose Clip > Unlink. For a one-time selection, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking the audio or video portion. If you need a separate audio source in the Project panel—or an audio file on disk—use the distinct extraction or export workflow instead.
Choose the right method for what you want to do
| Goal | Premiere Pro method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Edit audio and video independently in the timeline | Clip > Unlink | The timeline components can be moved, trimmed, or edited separately. Adobe Help Center |
| Select only audio or video for one edit | Alt-click (Windows), Option-click (macOS), or turn off Linked Selection | Targets one component without creating a separate source clip. Adobe Help Center |
| Create a separate audio source clip in the project | Clip > Audio Options > Extract Audio | Adds an audio source clip to the Project panel and preserves the original source. Adobe Help Center |
| Save audio as a file | File > Export > Media | Exports the selected sequence range or entire sequence in an audio format. Adobe Help Center |
| Align audio recorded separately from video | Clip > Synchronize or Merge Clips | Aligns clips using an available sync reference. Adobe Help Center Adobe Help Center |
How to unlink audio and video in the timeline
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In the Timeline panel, select the linked clip whose audio or video you want to edit separately.
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Choose Clip > Unlink.
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Select the audio or video component and move, trim, or edit it as needed.
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Play the edited section and check that the sound still matches the picture before exporting.
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Linked audio and video normally respond together to operations such as moving, trimming, or applying effects. Unlinking lets you work on the components independently. If you want them linked again, select the timeline clips and choose Clip > Link. Adobe’s help page was last updated January 7, 2026; menu labels can differ in later versions.
Select one component without unlinking
For a quick edit that does not require changing the clip’s linked state, hold Alt on Windows or Option on macOS and click the audio or video portion. You can also use the Timeline panel’s Linked Selection control to change whether linked components are selected together. Adobe’s clip-selection help was dated April 22, 2026.
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Create an audio source clip in the Project panel
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In the Project panel, select one or more source clips that contain audio.
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Choose Clip > Audio Options > Extract Audio.
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Locate the new audio item in the Project panel; Adobe says its filename includes “Audio Extracted.”
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This creates a separate audio source clip while retaining the original source. Adobe says the extracted clip carries over source channel mapping, gain, speed, duration, and interpret-footage adjustments. This differs from Unlink, which changes how components of a timeline instance can be edited. Adobe’s extraction help was dated January 21, 2026.
Export audio as a separate file
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Prepare the audio you want to export in a sequence. Unlink the clip first if you need to edit its sound independently.
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Set sequence In and Out points if you want only a particular range. For the complete sequence, use the entire-sequence source range.
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Choose File > Export > Media, choose an audio format, and confirm that the intended tracks are enabled and unwanted tracks are excluded.
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Export the file. Adobe lists AAC, MP3, and WAV as common choices in its extraction guidance; the available controls may vary with Premiere Pro version and export interface.
Extracting audio creates a project source clip; exporting renders audio to a file. They are different operations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Synchronize separately recorded audio and video
If the sound was recorded on a separate device, unlinking does not align it with the picture. Use a known sync reference in the Timeline panel with Clip > Synchronize, or use Merge Clips to create a merged project item. Adobe’s timeline synchronization guidance, dated October 20, 2025, lists these references:
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- Timecode, when the recordings share usable timecode.
- Clip Marker, when a corresponding numbered marker is available.
- Audio track channel, when Premiere can use the selected audio channel as the reference.
Adobe’s Merge Clips guidance describes synchronization by In points, Out points, matching timecode, or numbered clip markers; the merged item appears in the Project panel and can contain one video clip with audio clips. Choose a reference supported by the recording—for example, a slate clap at the beginning, a tail slate at the end, shared timecode, or corresponding markers—rather than assuming the clips began together.
Quick Recap
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