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emilyy9561681
emilyy9561681
Participant
Dec 12, 2018 5:31 PM UTC
Answered

Premiere Pro Import: File contains a complex edit list

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.

      Trent HappelCorrect answer
      Adobe Employee
      Dec 12, 2018 6:10 PM UTC

      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.

      View reply

      36 replies

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      SquidTeeth
      SquidTeeth
      Participating Frequently
      Feb 26, 2019 12:46 AM UTC

      I too am in the same boat.  Simple OS X 10.14 screen capture utility, but the video contains a complex edit list.  I have tried "Save As..." in quicktime, but still the same.  other than 60fps, i see nothing odd. I can re-encode with VLC, but more curious why.

      Any thoughts ?

      Media Info to follow

      General

      Complete name                            : /Users/zesty/Desktop/FB Notifications 1.mov

      Format                                   : MPEG-4

      Format profile                           : QuickTime

      Codec ID                                 : qt   0000.00 (qt  )

      File size                                : 16.6 MiB

      Duration                                 : 1mn 26s

      Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable

      Overall bit rate                         : 1 609 Kbps

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:53

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:55

      Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime

      com.apple.quicktime.make                 : Apple

      com.apple.quicktime.model                : MacBookPro11,2

      com.apple.quicktime.software             : Mac OS X 10.14.3 (18D109)

      com.apple.quicktime.creationdate         : 2019-02-25T16:21:09-0800

      Video

      ID                                       : 1

      Format                                   : AVC

      Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec

      Format profile                           : Main@L4

      Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames

      Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes

      Format settings, ReFrames                : 2 frames

      Format settings, GOP                     : M=2, N=60

      Codec ID                                 : avc1

      Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding

      Duration                                 : 1mn 26s

      Source duration                          : 1mn 26s

      Bit rate mode                            : Variable

      Bit rate                                 : 1 603 Kbps

      Maximum bit rate                         : 768 Kbps

      Width                                    : 1 081 pixels

      Original width                           : 1 080 pixels

      Height                                   : 837 pixels

      Original height                          : 836 pixels

      Display aspect ratio                     : 1.292

      Frame rate mode                          : Variable

      Frame rate                               : 60.000 fps

      Minimum frame rate                       : 30.000 fps

      Maximum frame rate                       : 60.000 fps

      Color space                              : YUV

      Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0

      Bit depth                                : 8 bits

      Scan type                                : Progressive

      Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.030

      Stream size                              : 16.5 MiB (100%)

      Source stream size                       : 16.5 MiB (100%)

      Title                                    : Core Media Video

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:53

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:55

      Color range                              : Limited

      Color primaries                          : BT.709

      Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709

      Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

      Codec configuration box                  : avcC

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      alexv79269683
      Participant
      Mar 4, 2019 6:42 AM UTC

      SquidTeeth  wrote

      I too am in the same boat.  Simple OS X 10.14 screen capture utility, but the video contains a complex edit list.  I have tried "Save As..." in quicktime, but still the same.  other than 60fps, i see nothing odd. I can re-encode with VLC, but more curious why.

      Any thoughts ?

      What worked for me, is opening the file in QuickTime and choosing the 'Export' feature.

      This seems to have removed the 'complex edit list' and Premier is now happy to consume those files.

      Translate
        crystlike1
        Participant
        Jul 23, 2019 5:32 PM UTC

        I had the complex edit issue and this quicktime resolution worked!! Thank you. Whew!

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        Marcus.Jonsson
        Participant
        Jan 9, 2019 1:53 PM UTC

        Hey Emilyy9561681,

        I got the same problem today. Weird that it's still not fixed in Adobe since it's the built in screen recorder for Mac. I found that the Stream / Convert function (Shift + Cmd + S) in the VLC player did the trick. I converted my files to "Video H.264 + MP3" No errors when importing to Premiere (Pro CC 2019).

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          excited_Genie16B8
          Legend
          Dec 12, 2018 7:41 PM UTC

          Step 2B below will solve this.

          Unofficial Premiere Pro Troubleshooting Guide

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          Adobe Employee
          Trent HappelCorrect answer
          Adobe Employee
          Dec 12, 2018 6:10 PM UTC

          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.

          Translate
          ericbnpusa
          ericbnpusa
          Inspiring
          Mar 25, 2019 11:06 PM UTC

          Why would you do this?  It's been supporting this all along?  WHY  WOULD YOU CHANGE THIS ?  It doesn't make sense? 

          [Profanity removed by moderator]

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            Kulpreet
            Participating Frequently
            Dec 12, 2018 5:39 PM UTC

            Did you use any particular screen recording application? Post a screenshot of the MediaInfo (tree view) of your files.

            -K

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              emilyy9561681
              emilyy9561681Author
              Participant
              Dec 12, 2018 6:07 PM UTC

              I used the built-in screen recording capability on Mac.

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