Skip to main content
GPearce10
GPearce10
Participating Frequently
February 25, 2022
Question

Applied Effects Offline (filter unavailable)

  • February 25, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 2460 views

Premiere Elements 2021 version 19.0 running on Windows 10, running in Expert mode.

  • Beginning a new project, I applied an audio effect (a compressor) to a 30 minute clip, then began editing the clip to remove pauses, 'uhs', etc. 
    • I disconnected my network connection because I was having a problem with playback stopping by itself frequently enough to be irritating. A forum post suggested trying that. It seemed to help, at least after a few minutes.
  • I closed the project to take a break.
  • When I reopened the project (internet still disconnected), the audio sounded low. I checked for the compressor, and under 'Applied Effects', the box where the compressor effect should be read Offline (filter unavailable)

  • Hmmm, OK the internet was disconnected. Was this effect looking for a network connection for some reason?
  • I reconnected the network cable, half expecting the effect to magically reappear. 
    • It didn't.
  • I closed the project, reopened it... still Offline (effect unavailable)
    • I rebooted the PC. No help.
  • I searched the forum for the keywords "Applied Effects" "Offline (filter unavailable)".
    • I didn't find anything specifically germane, but one post mentioned something about that issue, and noted that the user reapplied an effect, but when they closed the project and reopened it, the effect was Offline again.
  • I deleted that 'effect' with the trash icon, and reapplied the effect.
  • I closed the project, and reopened it.
  • The effect was Offline again for me, too.
  • I opened an early version of the project from the Auto-Save folder.
    • This version was very early, after I had applied the compressor effect to the long clip, and before I began editing it.
  • The effect was Offline here, too. 
  • Next, I created a completely new project.
    • I applied my compressor effect
    • I closed the project, and reopened it
    • The effect was Offline!!
    • I applied a video effect (a blur)
      • Close, reopen..
      • the blur is still there
  • It occured to me that I was using a 'My Presets' saved effect.
    • So I deleted the 'offline' effect (I'm still in the 'new' project)
    • and applied the 'original' version of the effect from the FX panel

  • Close, reopen the project (close Premiere Elements completely, not just reselecting a project)
  • The 'new' effect was Offline!! (OK, that surprised me)
  • I deleted the Offline compressor, and applied a lowpass filter, just to try a different effect.
    • confidence level: low
    • Offline!! (low confidence justified)
  • Opened an 'old' project (from a week ago) that used the same compressor effect (ALL my projects use that compressor effect, if they have any audio in them)
    • You're guessing 'Offline', but nope, the compressor was there!

 

10:30 PM. Wife wants me to come watch TV. So over to you guys.... I'll get back to beating my head against this tomorrow. (BTW, and for the record, I'm a retired video editor with 45 years experience, with nonlinear editing starting with Avid Media Composer (I mistyped 'Composter' at first and almost left it) in 1995, and Premiere Pro since 2005, so I know what crappy, buggy software is and does. Premiere Pro started getting pretty reliable, but I can't do the monthly subscription for simple home/free projects. I was hoping Elements would be a good product (because 2021), but it's turning out to be pretty crappy. I don't think Adobe cares much about it.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

GPearce10
GPearce10Author
Participating Frequently
February 25, 2022

Workaround Solution:

  • I added a video clip from another project (a 1080p camera video clip) to the Project Assets of my test and original project. After Saving, Closing and Opening the project, the 'offline' audio effects all became 'online' again.

 

Read below for a play-by-play of my troubleshooting steps:

 

The next morning (and we're now in Play by Play Troubleshooting mode)

  • The source video I've been using came from a Zoom cloud recording. It's a 720p .mp4 file.
    • A test I did a few minutes before starting today's log indicates that may be key, but I don't see why (yet?).
    • I started another new project (Offline Effect Test 2), but this time with different footage from a video camera, 1080p. 
      • I added the audio effect, closed and re-opened Elements.
      • The effect was still present in the timeline. It had not 'gone offline'.
      • I added the video from my Zoom meeting to that new project, and tagged it to the end of the timeline. Then I added the audio effect to that clip.
      • Close, re-open... the effect is still there! On the 'bad' video clip.
        • Now we're getting into 'workaround' territory, at least.
    • I start a third new project (Offline Effect Test 3). 
      • First, I just bring in my Zoom meeting footage, and apply the audio effect.
      • Close (Save), Open, Effect Offline.
      • I bring that 1080p camera footage into this project..
        • add it to the end of the timeline
        • add the audio effect
          • so far, the audio effect on the Zoom clip is still offline
      • Close (Save), Open.... drumroll.... The effect is still there on both clips!
        • definately in workaround territory.
    • I re-run this test as Offline Effect Test 4. Same result - the effect has not gone offline.
    • Curious, I delete the 1080 footage from the timeline and the Project Assets.
      • Close (Save), Open, and the effect is still there.
      • Risking all, I make a few edits, just to manipulate the timeline some.
        • Close, Open, Weirdness:
          • I edited the footage into three clips.
          • The effect is offline on two of the clips
          • and online (present) on the third clip.
      • I add back a 1080 clip. I do not add an audio effect to that clip
        • Close, Open, and the effect is present on all three Zoom clips.
      • I delete the 1080 clip from the timeline and Project Assets box again.
        • Close, Open, still there in the Zoom media, all three edits.
        • Add another edit (1080 media still out of the project).
        • Close, Open, effect is present in clips 1, 2 and 4, but missing from 3.

 

  • Next, added a 1080 clip to the Project Assets, but not the timeline.
    • Close, Open... effect is present in all edited clips!!!
    • I think we have a workaround.
  • Holding breath, opening original project...
    • I had made a few dozen edits to the original, single Zoom 720 media file.
    • Some still had offline effects, and some still had online effects. Most had no effect, but I don't really remember the quick screwing around that I had done while still in WTF mode.
    • So I deleted the offline and online effects in all but the first few edits (tediously, clip by clip). I left the (offline) effects in the first few clips to see what happened when I added a 1080p clip to the project.
    • Close, Open, and all the offline effects I had left in the first few edits came back to life.

 

To review: 

  • Audio effects clips went 'offline' when I closed and re-opened a project with footage saved and downloaded from the Zoom cloud.
  • Other Elements projects, including one with a different Zoom cloud video clip, continue to work properly.
  • Adding a 'good' clip to the project (a 1080p clip from a video camera) fixed whatever was glitching in the program.
    • After adding that 1080 clip to the Project Assets - and not necessarily to the timeline...
    • ... then closing and re-opening the project...
    • ... restored all the 'offline' audio effects.

 

So, back to work. Finally.

B
Community Expert
Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 25, 2022

Between your two posts I tried to find an answer on my machine.  I think it is clear that you don't need my help.   

 

I did learn something interesting, at least to me.  I first opened the 2022 version and couldn't find the Dynamics effect at all.  I still have the 2021 version so looked there and it is present.   And, it worked normally for me on a camera produced clip.   

 

Apparently the effect has be removed for 2022.  A few other audio effects were missing too.  I don't have a guess as to why.  Nor will I miss them because I've not used them.   

 

Your comments about your history with NLEs is interesting.   For what its worth, I've used Premiere Elements for a decade and it has been reliable and useful.   My best guess is that it is not related to Premiere Pro, except in name.  Development teams, marketing and licensing are all different.   From my point of view, it is far from "crappy".   I've gradually been learning parts of Premiere Pro and enjoying the sophistication and complexity of the tools for more complex projects.  In my view, Premiere Elements is quicker, easier and more effective for ordinary, less involved projects.  

GPearce10
GPearce10Author
Participating Frequently
February 25, 2022

Thanks for the reply. Adobe 'removed' this particular audio compressor from Pro a few years ago, but it remained in a 'legacy' folder. I always found it to the the easiest to use, giving the most clear feedback on what the adjustments were doing (the little bar at the top that shows how much an audio peak was being compressed). So I continued to live dangerously and use it.

 

My best guess is that it was a licensing issue rather than someone thinking they had a better tool, but who the people who know aren't talking... or at least I haven't heard them. 

 

As for being 'crappy' - that comes from my long history of using fairly early versions of editing software (Media Composer, Premiere 1.5) that crashed a lot, or had features that wouldn't work reliably. Some of it was bad user interface or bad implementation of things that otherwise did work but were hard to use, or obviously needed features that were missing. And over time, things stabilized, features were improved, and crashes were rare. (Although I have noted that some software seemed to 'get better' the more I used it and understood it.)  Also, while things may be working pretty well for me, there are plenty of people who are still having problems, filing bug reports and filling up the forums.

 

As for Elements, I'm having the 'stops randomly while playing' issue that a forum thread on that topic has been going for 5 years. I'm hoping this 'effect offline' issue is a one-off. My main gripe with the way it's designed is that it is way too aggressive in rippling the timeline when I adjust a clip. It takes way to many clicks to trim a video edit a few frames one way or the other without rippling the timeline. You'll find the 'double roller' option in Pro a very useful tool. 

 

I expect the 'it gets better the more I use it' experience to apply to Elements over time, but some things ought to work better now.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices