Work with audio and video in the Viewer

If you have imported audio and video files into Aperture, you can use the Viewer to review and edit them. You can edit the length of video and audio clips using the video and audio controls in the Viewer. You can also set the poster frame for a video clip (the frame that appears as the video’s thumbnail in the Browser), as well as create a JPEG image from any frame in the video clip.

Note: If you have a camera that can record audio annotations or if you have manually attached an audio file to a photo, you use the Info inspector to listen to and edit audio attachments. For more information, see Modify metadata in the Info inspector and Inspector HUD.

Listen to audio clips or view video clips

In the Library inspector, select an item that contains audio or video clips.
The audio and video clips appear in the Browser as thumbnails.
In the Browser, select an audio clip or a video clip.
In the Viewer, do one of the following:
- If you selected an audio clip: Audio controls with the audio clip’s filename appear in the Viewer. Click the Play button to listen to the audio clip, and use the playhead to navigate forward and backward.
- If you selected a video clip: The video clip appears in the Viewer. Move the pointer over the Viewer, and the video controls appear. Click the Play button to view the video clip, and use the playhead to navigate forward and backward.

Trim an audio clip

Select the audio clip in the Browser.
The audio controls appear in the Viewer with the selected audio clip’s filename displayed at the top.
In the Viewer, click the Trim button.
The Trim controls appear.
Click the Play button to listen to the audio clip and determine which parts of the audio you want to keep.
Drag the Start point to the beginning of the audio you plan to use, and drag the End point to the position where you want the audio to end.
The Trim button turns yellow, indicating that the length of the audio clip has changed.
When you’re satisfied with the length of the audio clip, click the Trim button.

Tip: If you want to use more than one part of the audio clip, choose Photos > New Version from Original (or press Option-G) for each additional part of the clip you plan to use, and repeat the steps above.

Trim a video clip

You adjust the length of a video clip by choosing Trim from the Action pop-up menu.

Figure. Video clip controls in the Viewer.

Select the video clip in the Browser.
Move the pointer over the video image in the Viewer.
The video controls appear.
Choose Trim from the Action pop-up menu in the video controls.
The Trim controls appear.
Click the Play button to view the video clip and determine which parts of the video you want to keep.
Note: If you move the pointer away from the Trim controls, they disappear. Move the pointer over the Viewer to show them again.
Drag the Start point to the beginning of the video you plan to use, and drag the End point to the position where you want the video to end.
The Trim button turns yellow, indicating that the length of the video clip has changed.
When you’re satisfied with the length of the video clip, click the Trim button.

Tip: If you want to use more than one part of the video clip, choose Photos > New Version from Original (or press Option-G) for each additional part of the clip you plan to use, and repeat the steps above.

Set the poster frame for the video clip’s thumbnail in the Browser

Select the video clip in the Browser.
Move the pointer over the video in the Viewer to show the video controls, and drag the playhead to the frame of video you want to set as the poster frame.
Choose “Set as poster frame” from the Action pop-up menu in the video controls.

Create a JPEG image from a video frame

Select the video clip in the Browser.
Move the pointer over the lower portion of the video in the Viewer to show the video controls, and drag the playhead to the video frame you want to create a JPEG image from.
Choose “New JPEG from frame” from the Action pop-up menu in the video controls.

A JPEG image of the video frame is created, and the thumbnail image appears in a stack with the video clip in the Browser. For information about working with stacks, see Stacking photos overview.