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If LosslessCut 3.59.1 shows an audio stream but plays no sound, the file is usually using a container or codec combination that Chromium cannot decode natively. The audio may be valid even though the built-in preview is silent. Convert the file to a supported playback format, preview that converted copy, and keep the original file as the source for the final lossless cut.

What the silent preview means

LosslessCut 3.59.1 includes audio timeline features, including a waveform display toggle and the ability to read frame rate from audio files. Those features do not guarantee that every media file can be played audibly in the preview window.

LosslessCut’s built-in player uses Chromium’s native HTML5 video playback. Chromium supports only certain container-and-codec combinations. FFmpeg can report an audio stream in the file even when Chromium cannot decode the complete media combination, so seeing AAC, stereo channels, or an audio track in file information does not prove that preview playback will work.

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Why AAC audio can still be silent

A common example is an MP4 containing HEVC video and AAC audio at 44.1 kHz stereo. AAC itself may be supported, but Chromium’s ability to play the file depends on the entire combination of container, video codec, audio codec, profile, and platform decoding support. If the video side prevents the HTML5 player from starting correctly, the audio preview can also remain silent.

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This is a playback-path limitation, not evidence that LosslessCut removed the audio stream or that the source file is necessarily damaged.

Check whether the file has an audio stream

  1. Open the media in LosslessCut and inspect its file information or stream list.
  2. Confirm that an audio stream is listed, including its codec and channel information when available.
  3. If the result is unclear, probe the original with an independent media-information tool such as FFmpeg’s ffprobe.

If no tool detects an audio stream, the source may genuinely contain no audio, or the stream may be malformed. If an audio stream is present but the preview is silent, continue with the playback-compatibility steps below.

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Official workaround: create a supported playback copy

LosslessCut’s documented workaround is to convert the file for playback using the application’s FFmpeg-assisted software-decoding option.

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  1. In LosslessCut, open File.
  2. Choose Convert to supported format.
  3. Select the option that uses FFmpeg-assisted software decoding for playback, when offered.
  4. Wait for the conversion to finish, then open or preview the converted file.
  5. Use the converted copy only as a preview proxy. Select the original file when performing the final cut or export.

The conversion changes the playback path, not the original source. LosslessCut can therefore retain the original codecs for a lossless export while you use the compatible copy to hear and inspect the material.

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How to isolate a file problem from an application problem

Test a known-compatible file

Open another ordinary MP4, MOV, WebM, or standalone audio file that is known to play in Chromium. If that file has sound, the problem is specific to the original media’s format combination.

Compare the original and converted copies

If the converted copy plays audio, the diagnosis is confirmed: the original stream exists, but the native HTML5 player could not decode the original combination.

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Check system audio separately

If both a known-compatible file and the converted proxy are silent, check the operating system output device, application volume, mute state, and whether another application can play sound. Those checks address system playback rather than the source codec.

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Should you upgrade from 3.59.1?

It is reasonable to test a newer LosslessCut build. In a May 22, 2024 AnandTech report, a user with an HEVC video and AAC 44.1 kHz stereo MP4 reported no audio preview in 3.59.1 and heard sound after trying a 3.61.0 pre-release. That is a single user observation, not a guarantee that every 3.59.1 case is fixed by upgrading.

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When testing another build, keep the original file unchanged and repeat the same known-compatible-file test. If the newer version still cannot play the source, use the supported-format conversion workflow.

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What changes—and what does not—with each option

Option Preview decoding path Changes the original media? Suitable for final lossless export? What it tells you
Play the original in 3.59.1 Chromium native HTML5 decoding No Yes, if playback works Works only when the complete format combination is natively supported
Convert to supported format FFmpeg-assisted software decoding No; creates a separate converted copy Use the original for the final export Separates a codec/container playback issue from a missing-stream issue
Try a newer LosslessCut build Depends on that build’s Chromium/player environment No Yes, if the build plays the source May improve behavior, but no universal fix is established
Open a known-compatible test file Chromium native HTML5 decoding No Not applicable to the source Shows whether the problem is file-specific or application/system-wide

Common mistaken assumptions

  • “The stream is listed, so preview must work.” Metadata tools and Chromium use different decoders; stream detection does not guarantee browser playback.
  • “AAC is supported, so the MP4 should play.” The video codec and the full container combination can still block playback.
  • “Converting means the final cut will be re-encoded.” The supported-format copy is for playback. Export from the original when you need LosslessCut’s lossless workflow.
  • “No waveform means there is no audio.” Waveform display and audible preview are separate functions; 3.59.1 has waveform-related controls even when native playback fails.

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