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How to Quickly Mute Clips in Premiere Pro

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Picture this: you're working in Adobe Premiere Pro, and you need to mute an audio track. It's a common situation when you need to focus in on something specific. It helps to learn how to mute clips in Premiere Pro to do just that.

This tutorial will cover a variety of ways for how to mute audio in Premiere Pro. Whether you want to mute a specific clip, or an entire track, we've got you covered. These skills help you work more efficiently in the app than ever before. 

How to Mute Clips in Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a highly flexible video editor. There are usually multiple methods to accomplish the same task. Learning how to mute a clip in Premiere Pro is no exception! Let's look at several techniques in this tutorial.

In this tutorial, we'll work with a variety of clips from Envato Elements. This is an all-you-can-download source for creatives. It includes access to stock videos, sound effects, background music, and more.

Here are the files we'll use to learn how to mute clips in Premiere Pro:

All of these files are included with a single flat rate subscription to Envato Elements. Let's dive in and learn how to mute clips in Premiere Pro with a variety of settings.

1. How to Mute Clips in Premiere Pro

Let's start off with a simple skill: how to mute a clip in Premiere Pro. This is helpful when you need to simply toggle off a single audio file.

Check out the screenshot below. You'll see a series of video and audio clips on the timeline. The technique for how to mute a clip in Premiere Pro is helpful when you have many files on your timeline.

How to mute single clip Premiere ProHow to mute single clip Premiere ProHow to mute single clip Premiere Pro
Learning how to mute audio in Premiere Pro is helpful when you have many clips in one project.

To mute an individual clip, right-click on the clip in your timeline on Windows., or control-click on macOS. You'll see a context menu appear. Simply choose the Enable option to mute the clip.

Untick enable Premiere ProUntick enable Premiere ProUntick enable Premiere Pro
Learning how to mute a clip in Premiere Pro? Simply untick the right-click menu's Enable option to mute it.

After you untick Enable, the clip will grey out on the timeline. This is how you know that it's muted. As you play a preview, you won't hear the clip anymore. If you want to reverse this option, simply follow the same steps to re-enable it. That's it!

Pro tip: you can even mute separate, individual clips with this same approach. Hold Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on macOS and select multiple clips, then use the same right-click (or control-click on macOS) menu to untick Enable.

2. How to Mute Audio Attached to a Video Clip

Let's say that you're working with a video file that also includes audio. This is quite common, as many video files also include audio attached to them.

Let's learn how to mute audio when it's part of a video clip. It's important that we don't disable the clip entirely, or else the video will turn off as well!

In the example below, I've started with linked audio and video. This is common when you download video clips that also have built-in audio, such as a voiceover or background music.

Linked audio clips Premiere ProLinked audio clips Premiere ProLinked audio clips Premiere Pro
In this example, a video clip in Premiere Pro is linked to audio, so you'll need to unlink it before disabling the audio.

We need to separate the audio and video tracks so that we can disable only the audio. Right-click on the joined tracks, and choose Unlink. Premiere Pro now treats the audio and video separately.

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Use the right-click (control-click on macOS) menu to first Unlink audio before you disable it.

Now, right-click (control-click on macOS) on the newly separated audio. Untick the Enable option. You've now muted only the audio clip. 

3. How to Mute an Entire Audio Track

Let's say that you want to learn how mute all of the clips on a track in Premiere Pro. It's helpful when you have an entire audio "layer" with multiple clips that you wish to mute.

This is extremely easy to do. On the timeline, find the track that you wish to mute. Then, simply click on the icon. This is the Mute Track option. When you play your preview, you'll notice that all clips on that track are now muted.

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To learn how to mute clips in Premiere Pro on an entire track, simply use the M icon on the timeline.

This option certainly comes in handy with busy timeline tracks. Remember it when you need to mute all tracks simultaneously.

The Best Source for Top Adobe Premiere Pro Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)

Need an assist on your upcoming video project? The best way to do that is with Adobe Premiere Pro templates. And the best source for Premiere Pro templates is Envato Elements.

Envato Elements homepageEnvato Elements homepageEnvato Elements homepage
Envato Elements: one subscription, unlimited downloads, millions of assets.

Elements has an unbeatable offer: unlimited downloads of digital assets. One subscription gives you access to everything you need for a great production. When you use Premiere Pro templates, video editing becomes as easy as drag-and-drop. Just add your specifics to a template, and you've created a top-notch production.

Envato Elements Premiere templateEnvato Elements Premiere templateEnvato Elements Premiere template
Envato Elements gives you unlimited access to Premiere Pro templates that make production a breeze.

Premiere Pro templates are just the beginning with Envato Elements. Thanks to Elements, you'll enjoy all of the following - and more:

  • Stock photos
  • Sound effects
  • Royalty-free music tracks
  • Graphics and illustrations

Envato Elements is the top value for creatives. Join today and start producing your project for one flat rate!

Now You Know How to Mute Clips in Premiere Pro

Now, you know a variety of ways for how to mute a clip in Premiere Pro. These are helpful skills that help you focus on specifics while editing. Remember the variety of options that you learned for how to mute audio in Premiere Pro to save time while working in projects.

It's your turn to try out your skills. Open up a recent Premiere Pro project and project each of the methods for how to mute clips in Premiere Pro. Once you do, you're more likely to remember these steps - and save time in all future projects!