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A
Anonymous
June 14, 2020
Answered

Can't import DV video (dvsd) on macOS: "We were unable to open the file on the disk."

  • June 14, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 4045 views

I am using Adobe Premiere Pro 14.2.0 on macOS Catalina. I want to import an AVI video file into my new project. However, I get this error: "We were unable to open the file on the disk."

 

I can play the AVI file with VLC without problems. According to VLC the codec is "DV video (dvsd)". The file permissions are -rwxr-xr-x@.

Years ago I was able to import this file with Premiere Pro on Windows 7.

 

How can I get a more detailed error message? How can I import this AVI file?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ann Bens

You cannot due to Catalina. It dropped support for avi.

Only way to solve this is to roll back your OS.

2 replies

Jeff Bellune
Jeff Bellune
Legend
December 8, 2020

iMovie imports DV avi files just fine in Catalina. You can export them via the Share button to get a ProRes mov file that Pr will accept. You may have to use the interpret footage command on the mov file, depending on your project sequence.

 

Handbrake can convert DV avi files to mp4 files with proper aspect ratio, frame rate and frame size. You will have to encode them, most likely, to H.264, but the quality loss at DV resolution is negligible.

 

VLC can convert the DV avi files as well, but it is a little more hit-and-miss and much less intuitive than Handbrake or iMovie.

 

B
basil1891
Inspiring
December 9, 2020

Before any transcoding I'd recommend to try rewrapping into .mov container, ffmpeg can do that:
ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -i "input.avi" -c copy "output.mov"
https://ffmpeg.org/download.html#build-mac

    Jeff Bellune
    Jeff Bellune
    Legend
    December 9, 2020

    That is a brilliant idea; if it works. Have you tested it with good results?

    Ann Bens
    Community Expert
    Ann BensCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 14, 2020

    You cannot due to Catalina. It dropped support for avi.

    Only way to solve this is to roll back your OS.

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