diff --git a/frontend/package-lock.json b/frontend/package-lock.json
index 6a0dceb..f0b6d2e 100644
--- a/frontend/package-lock.json
+++ b/frontend/package-lock.json
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
         "hls.js": "^1.6.15",
         "react": "^18.3.1",
         "react-dom": "^18.3.1",
-        "react-router-dom": "^6.28.0"
+        "react-router-dom": "^6.28.0",
+        "wavesurfer.js": "^7.12.5"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/react": "^18.3.12",
@@ -1884,6 +1885,12 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/wavesurfer.js": {
+      "version": "7.12.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/wavesurfer.js/-/wavesurfer.js-7.12.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-MSZcA13R9ZlxgYpzfakaSYf8dz5tCdZKYbjtN1qnKbCi+UoyfaTuhvjlXHrITi/fgeO3qWfsH7U3BP1AKnwRNg==",
+      "license": "BSD-3-Clause"
+    },
     "node_modules/yallist": {
       "version": "3.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yallist/-/yallist-3.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index a08cf73..2d20444 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
     "hls.js": "^1.6.15",
     "react": "^18.3.1",
     "react-dom": "^18.3.1",
-    "react-router-dom": "^6.28.0"
+    "react-router-dom": "^6.28.0",
+    "wavesurfer.js": "^7.12.5"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/react": "^18.3.12",
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.css b/frontend/src/App.css
index 2dc1025..64b60e9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.css
+++ b/frontend/src/App.css
@@ -5909,6 +5909,25 @@ a.app-footer__about:hover,
 
 /* ── Player Controls ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 
+/* ── Audio Waveform (wavesurfer.js) ────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+.audio-waveform {
+  background: #000;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  padding: 1rem;
+  min-height: 160px;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  justify-content: center;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+}
+
+.audio-waveform__canvas {
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+/* ── Player Controls (continued) ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
 .player-controls {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AudioWaveform.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AudioWaveform.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad1ea2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AudioWaveform.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import WaveSurfer from "wavesurfer.js";
+import type { MediaSyncState } from "../hooks/useMediaSync";
+
+interface AudioWaveformProps {
+  mediaSync: MediaSyncState;
+  src: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Audio-only waveform visualiser powered by wavesurfer.js.
+ * Renders a hidden <audio> element owned by useMediaSync and an
+ * interactive waveform. Used when no video URL is available.
+ */
+export default function AudioWaveform({ mediaSync, src }: AudioWaveformProps) {
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
+  const wsRef = useRef<WaveSurfer | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    const audio = mediaSync.videoRef.current as HTMLAudioElement | null;
+    if (!container || !audio) return;
+
+    const ws = WaveSurfer.create({
+      container,
+      media: audio,
+      height: 128,
+      waveColor: "rgba(34, 211, 238, 0.4)",
+      progressColor: "rgba(34, 211, 238, 0.8)",
+      cursorColor: "#22d3ee",
+      barWidth: 2,
+      barGap: 1,
+      barRadius: 2,
+      backend: "MediaElement",
+    });
+
+    wsRef.current = ws;
+
+    return () => {
+      ws.destroy();
+      wsRef.current = null;
+    };
+    // Re-create when src changes
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [src]);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="audio-waveform">
+      <audio
+        ref={mediaSync.videoRef as React.RefObject<HTMLAudioElement>}
+        src={src}
+        preload="metadata"
+        style={{ display: "none" }}
+      />
+      <div ref={containerRef} className="audio-waveform__canvas" />
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useMediaSync.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useMediaSync.ts
index cd1a1ee..5156f5d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useMediaSync.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useMediaSync.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export interface MediaSyncState {
   playbackRate: number;
   volume: number;
   isMuted: boolean;
-  videoRef: React.RefObject<HTMLVideoElement | null>;
+  videoRef: React.RefObject<HTMLMediaElement | null>;
   seekTo: (time: number) => void;
   setPlaybackRate: (rate: number) => void;
   togglePlay: () => void;
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export interface MediaSyncState {
  * timeupdate, play, pause, ratechange, volumechange, and loadedmetadata.
  */
 export function useMediaSync(): MediaSyncState {
-  const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null);
+  const videoRef = useRef<HTMLMediaElement | null>(null);
   const [currentTime, setCurrentTime] = useState(0);
   const [duration, setDuration] = useState(0);
   const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState(false);
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/WatchPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/WatchPage.tsx
index 4007da3..ef33489 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/WatchPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/WatchPage.tsx
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ import { useParams, useSearchParams, Link } from "react-router-dom";
 import { useDocumentTitle } from "../hooks/useDocumentTitle";
 import { useMediaSync } from "../hooks/useMediaSync";
 import { fetchVideo, fetchTranscript } from "../api/videos";
+import { BASE } from "../api/client";
 import type { VideoDetail, TranscriptSegment } from "../api/videos";
 import { ApiError } from "../api/client";
 import VideoPlayer from "../components/VideoPlayer";
+import AudioWaveform from "../components/AudioWaveform";
 import PlayerControls from "../components/PlayerControls";
 import TranscriptSidebar from "../components/TranscriptSidebar";
 
@@ -90,6 +92,8 @@ export default function WatchPage() {
 
   if (!video) return null;
 
+  const streamUrl = `${BASE}/videos/${videoId}/stream`;
+
   return (
     <div className="watch-page">
       <header className="watch-page__header">
@@ -106,11 +110,15 @@ export default function WatchPage() {
 
       <div className="watch-page__content">
         <div className="watch-page__player-area">
-          <VideoPlayer
-            src={video.video_url ?? null}
-            startTime={startTime}
-            mediaSync={mediaSync}
-          />
+          {video.video_url ? (
+            <VideoPlayer
+              src={video.video_url}
+              startTime={startTime}
+              mediaSync={mediaSync}
+            />
+          ) : (
+            <AudioWaveform src={streamUrl} mediaSync={mediaSync} />
+          )}
           <PlayerControls mediaSync={mediaSync} />
         </div>