Show Audio Waveform on Main Video Track

Hi,

As of now, CapCut does not display an audio waveform directly on the main video track by default like some other video editors (e.g., Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve). However, you can view audio waveforms for video clips in the audio track section under certain conditions. Here's how to work around it:

How to Show Audio Waveform for Video in CapCut (PC)

1. Add Your Video Clip

   • Drag and drop your video onto the main timeline.

2. Detach Audio (to see waveform clearly)

   • Right-click the video clip.

   • Select "Separate audio".

   • This moves the audio to a dedicated audio track below the video with a visible waveform.

3. Alternative (for visual sync without detaching)

   • If you don't want to separate the audio:

     • Click on the video clip.

     • In some cases, CapCut PC may show a small, faint waveform overlay on the clip itself — but only when zoomed in very closely on the timeline.

     • Use the timeline zoom slider (bottom right) to zoom in.

Optional Workaround Without Detaching Audio

• Duplicate the video (Ctrl + C → Ctrl + V).

• Mute the top video layer.

• Detach audio from the bottom one to show waveform.

• This preserves sync and allows full waveform visibility.

For CapCut Mobile (iOS/Android)

• CapCut mobile does not show audio waveforms on the video track.

• To see waveforms:

  • Tap on the clip → tap "Extract audio".

  • The waveform will appear under the timeline as a separate audio layer.

Here's how to ensure you see the audio waveforms and adjust it:

1. Default Display:

• When you import a video with embedded audio: CapCut usually shows the audio waveform directly on the video clip in the timeline. You'll see the peaks and troughs representing the audio levels.
• When you add a separate audio track: If you import an audio file or extract audio from a video, it will appear as its own track below the video track, and its waveform will be visible there.

2. Adjusting Waveform Size/Track Height (CapCut PC): If the waveform is too small to see clearly, you can often adjust the track height to make it larger.

• Look for three dots or a similar icon on the left side of your timeline, near the track controls.
• Click on it to reveal options for "Track Height" and "Audio Waveform Size."
• You can choose options like "Short," "Tall," or percentage values (e.g., 30%, 60%, 100%) to increase the visibility of the waveform. Many users find 60% or 100% to be helpful for precise editing.

3. If you want a visual audio waveform (like a spectrum analyzer) on your video: This is different from the waveform that helps you edit. If you want a graphical representation of the audio to be part of your video's visual elements, you'll need to add an "audio spectrum" or "audio visualizer" sticker/effect.

• Go to the "Stickers" tab in CapCut.
• Search for "audio waveforms" or "audio spectrum" (or similar terms).
• Drag the desired audio waveform sticker/effect onto your timeline.
• Adjust its position, size, and duration to fit your video.
• If it's a green screen effect, you'll need to use the "Chroma Key" feature to remove the green background. Select the green screen clip, go to "Cutout," enable "Chroma Key," and use the color picker to select the green.

Troubleshooting:

• Audio not showing at all? Double-check that your video actually has an audio track, or that your audio file imported correctly.
• Extracted audio not staying connected to video? While extracting audio gives you more control, it can sometimes be a pain to re-sync if you move the video clips around. For basic edits, relying on the waveform displayed directly on the video clip might be easier.