4K@60fps File Imported as Audio Only in Adobe Premiere Pro

Search for an easy solution? Click here: The solution most recommended by us [95%]

This issue can be solved by "transcoding 4K to ProRes / CineForm"

"I can't import 4K video from GoPro Hero 6 to Premiere Pro. I had some problem when I was trying to edit my shoots in Premiere Pro. I imported the 4K@60fps video file into the Premiere Pro, but the program only showed it as an audio file. And the same in After Effects."

There are three types of errors you may have when importing footages in Adobe Premiere Pro:

Error 1: File import failure for format not supported. You can't bring in both video and audio file.
Error 2: Your footage, for example a 4K 60fps GoPro video, is imported as audio only in Premiere Pro.
Error 3: Premiere Pro only imports video and audio stream is missing.

Analysis: Why does Premiere Pro import video as audio only? if you add a file in Premiere Pro but got the error message "File Import Failure", then it should be the format incompatibility problem, especially the video container format. If you bring in a footage but Premiere Pro imports it as audio only or video only, there is a great possibility the video or audio stream wrapped in the container is not supported, which can be solved by video transcoding.

The major cause for "4K 60fps video import as audio only in Premiere Pro": codec issue The Key: Transcoding video to ProRes or CineForm The Easiest Solution

Solution: Videos shot by GoPro HERO7 and previous models, for example, are all output in MP4, encoded in h.264 or HEVC. Both codecs are supported by Premiere Pro. It is weird that Premiere Pro works well with your video in 1080p/2.7k, be it 60fps or 120fps, but imports 4K 60fps as audio only. It should not have had such importing errors. But if your 4K 60fps video imported as audio only, transcoding video with VideoProc might be the way out. Given that H.264 and HEVC are lossy compression schemes, good for file sharing but bad for video editing, it is recommended to transcode 4K video to ProRes or CineForm.

VideoProc - Transcodes 4K and Large Video to Fix "Recognizing Audio Only" Issues

Accepts 4K videos, 60/120/240 fps, H.264/HEVC videos
Converts videos to ProRes / CineForm MOV format - makes files more compatible
Transcode, passthrough and process videos superfast with GPU acceleration
Easy editing experience: cut, crop, merge, stabilize...

Download VideoProc on Windows to transode 4K and any video

Download VideoProc on Mac to transode 4K and any video

Step-by-step Guide: How to Convert 4K Video to ProRes Easily with VideoProc

Step 1. Import a 4K video in VideoProc

- Free download and install VideoProc on your Windows (10) PC or Mac.
- Click "Video" to turn into the "VideoProc - Video" interface.
- Load your local footage into VideoProc by clicking "+ Video" button at the top left corner.

Step 2. Set ProRes as output format

- Click "Target Format" button at the bottom left in the main interface.
- Then the "Output Profile" window pops up. Find "Apple Device" under Mobile Video Profile.
- "to ProRes Video"
- Select "MOV Video (ProRes 422HQ)"
- or ProRes 422, ProRes 422LT, ProRes 422 Proxy, ProRes 4444

Step 3. Run the conversion

- Set the output folder
- Enable "Nvidia/Intel/AMD" GPU acceleration
- Press button RUN to start transcoding video in ProRes.

Possible solution 2: Transcode 4K video to CineForm with GoPro Studio [Not Always Feasible]+

CineForm is another video format recommended for editing. You can convert GoPro MP4 video to CineForm through GoPro Studio editor and then import it into Adobe Premiere Pro.

Frankly speaking, if you have already installed GoPro Studio, it won't be necessary to load videos in Premiere Pro for basic editing like cutting, merging, tentative color correction, etc.

How to convert GoPro video to CineForm in GoPro Studio

Step 1. Free download GoPro Studio from safe third-party websites, for it has been officially replaced by GoPro Quik. The last version is GoPro Studio 2.5.9.2658.
Step 2. Open GoPro Studio, and "IMPORT NEW FILES".
Step 3. Add clip to conversion list, click "CONVERT ALL" and wait.
Step 4. Proceed to step 2.
Step 5. Choose an edit template, or just use the blank template.

Step 6. Drag your footage to the timeline zone and do some editing if needed.
Step 7. Switch to "STEP 3 EXPORT" and select "Archive/Edit". Quality can be adjusted from Low to High to Film Scan 2.
Step 8. Press button "EXPORT".

Cons: Our test shows that GoPro Studio doesn't import HEVC video. So you may have to convert HEVC to H.264 first with VideoProc, and then do the MP4 to ProRes transcoding.

Go back to the easiest and most effective solution

Final Words:

Besides converting videos, VideoProc is also able to perform some video editing tasks, including cutting, trimming, merging, splitting, deshaking, denoising, adding special effects, and more. The operation is really beginner-friendly. Moreover, it can digitize DVDs, convert audios, download videos and music from 1000+ sites, and record screen and webcam.