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Answered

Premiere Pro Import: File contains a complex edit list

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
December 12, 2018
36 replies
32543 views

I just got my first Mac and am using Premiere Pro. I'm trying to import some screen recordings from my desktop, and only one will upload. The rest receive an error message that says "File contains a complex edit list", then a window pops up with those three clips' file names and says "We were unable to open the file on disk."

I moved them from the desktop into a folder and have the same problem. Any suggestions? Using Premiere CC 2018.

Correct answer Trent Happel

Premiere Pro does not currently have full support for clips with complex edit lists. The error message is letting you know the reason why the clip could not be imported.

Until full support is added, a possible workaround it to encode the clips in another application. This should then allow Premiere to import the encoded clip.

I also encourage you to add your request to User Voice (to support clips with complex edit lists). Premiere Pro: Hot (3536 ideas) – Adobe video & audio apps

Hope this helps.

M

Muhammad324528620kx9

Participant

I faced the same problem, and all the things that you mentioned,@Hexsus . VLC media player Convert stream to mp4 also works for some as shown in many YouTube tutorials, but my VLC always stuck at the end giving overwrite or keeping the existing file option, tried all day, but it was no use. The simplest trick that worked for me, was to show the extension name from Windows Preview and rename it to mp4. Now my clip is running fine in Premiere Pro.

TASCAM_Sean

Participant

Here we are, three years after this initial post and this just happened to me today. On an almost daily basis I'm importing screen recordings from Quicktime to Media Encoder, then into Premiere for editing - in fact, I did it fifteen hours ago. And this morning? Premiere refuses to import and Adobe Media Encoder won't recognize the file either. I mean, clearly I can use some third party application to encode the screen recording, but I do pay for an Adobe subscription and these apps were working yesterday with no problems. The files were all created with the same computer and the same audio inputs - nothing has changed. I don't understand.

M

Matt5cfa17573013

Participant

I had this issue, and i tried right-clicking on the file, selecting 'Encode Selected Video Files' and it created a new video which seems to work.

J

JENNHSKIM123

Participant

WORKED:

go to files, double click on the video file, click rename, and rename the .MOV to .MP4

You're welcome.

S

Serene_video0D4C

Known Participant

Already advised six months ago. Adamchap Oct 29, 2029

YOU’RE welcome.

N

nitzanr50347414

Participant

I found a workaround for Mac users, using the quick time screen recorder.

S

Serene_video0D4C

Known Participant

Nope, even the Quicktime Screen Recorder doesn’t work if you’re importing more than one .mov file. Actual solution: Adamchap October 21, 2019

Jessfeb

Participant

This happened to me just now. I changed the .mov extension to .mp4 and it imports just fine.

P

peterb87992626

Participant

This worked for me as well (astonishingly). I had the problem with a QT screen record and Premiere 2020.

S

Serene_video0D4C

Known Participant

PLUS ONE! Two nearly identical files, both from Quicktime screen recordings. First recording imported with no problems, second wouldn’t import (“complex file” error). Changed the extension of the second file from .mov to .mp4. Imported with no problems.

Why this is still an issue more than a year since first being reported, I’d love to know.

danielsssssss

Participating Frequently

Here's a python script to quickly fix multiple screen recordings: https://github.com/lys0l/movBaker

P

Pooyan Adib

Participant

You are a true hero!

D

denise_sherman

Participating Frequently

Also having this problem, only since the last update.

both in AME and in premier, complex edit list footage not supported. this is really silly. I switched to Adobe from Final Cut years ago because of the ease of handling different types of footage, but now it seems that advantage is being thrown away and nobody at adobe is responding.

H

hugokeijzer007

Participant

Alright, found a quick solution that doesn't involve encoding. Download MPEG Streamclip and create a batch list (if you have this issue with multiple files) and select option to save as mp4 -- it's lightning speed and you can import them in Premiere without an issue.

D

denise_sherman

Participating Frequently

thanks for the workaround, but that's a bit counter-productive. the whole point of using Premiere over Final Cut for example, when so many peopl eswitched a few years back, is that you would not have to transcode first.

J

justinf89490095

Participant

Easy Answer!

open in quick time

- Go to "FILE"

- Select "Export As:

- Export in whatever resolution you'd like

- Save to whatever location you'd like

You should be able to import the newly exported video into premiere with no problems

Hopefully, this helps!

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