How to Split Audio in Premiere Pro (3 Easy Steps)

Trying to cut up your audio in Premiere Pro but not sure where to start? Whether you're editing a podcast, trimming dialogue, or syncing music with video, splitting audio is one of those basic skills that makes everything else easier.

The good news? It’s super simple once you know where to look. Let’s walk through it together.

1. Select the Audio Clip You Want to Split

First things first, make sure your audio is on the timeline. If it's part of a video clip and you only want to split the audio part, you’ll need to unlink it first.

Here’s how:

1. Right-click the clip in the timeline
2. Choose Unlink
3. Now you can click just the audio without affecting the video

If your clip is already just audio (like a voiceover or music track), you're good to go.

2. Use the Razor Tool or Shortcut

Now for the actual split. You’ve got two main options:

Option 1: Use the Razor Tool

• Press C on your keyboard (this switches from Selection Tool to Razor Tool)
• Click on the spot in your audio clip where you want to make the cut
• Press V to switch back to Selection Tool if needed

Option 2: Use a Shortcut

• Move your playhead exactly where you want the cut
• Select the clip
• Press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac)

This will slice right at the playhead position. Super handy if you're making lots of quick cuts.

3. Move, Delete, or Edit Your Split Clips

Once you've made your cuts, each section of audio becomes its own clip. You can now:

• Drag them around independently
• Delete parts you don’t need
• Add fades or effects just to certain sections

Want smoother transitions between cuts? Try adding an audio crossfade from the Effects panel under “Audio Transitions.” Just drag and drop it between two clips.

Quick Tip: Zoom In for Precision

If you're trying to cut right at a specific word or beat, zoom into your timeline using + on your keyboard (or drag the zoom bar at the bottom). This gives you way more control over exactly where you're slicing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to split audio in Adobe Premiere Pro?

1. Unlink audio from video if needed
2. Use Razor Tool (press C) and click where you want to split
3. Or use shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) / Cmd+K (Mac) at playhead
4. Edit or move each section as needed

How to slice audio in Premiere Pro?

Use either of these methods:

• Razor Tool: Press C and click on your clip
• Shortcut: Place playhead and press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac)

Both will split your clip instantly at that point.

How do you split audio tracks?

To split different tracks:

1. Make sure each track is on its own layer
2. Use Razor Tool or shortcut on each track individually
3. You can also mute, solo, or move them separately after splitting

How do I split a clip on Premiere Pro?

To split any clip (video or audio):

1. Select it on timeline
2. Move playhead where you want cut
3. Press Ctrl+K (Windows) / Cmd+K (Mac), or use Razor Tool with C key

That’s it! Each side becomes its own editable piece.