How to extract video without re-encoding.

Report · Aug 21, 2022

Hi all.

Question: Can any Adobe app extract sections of video at the file level rather than by decoding and re-encoding?

Details: When preparing video for a project, I like to extract clips from much larger video files so that they don't take up much space. (It's not always possible to link to files so I need separate copies.) Currently, I can do this using FFMPEG, but, being a command-line program, it's not very convenient. Having said that, it works by simply copying the required data blocks into a new container file, so it's lightning-fast and it preserves the exact original quality (obviously). I'm wondering, therefore, if the same is possible in an Adobe app. Thanks in advance.

Report · Aug 22, 2022

Depending on the CODEC being used, yes.

For example, if you're using Apple ProRes, Premiere Pro will not recompress exports from a Sequence with the Video Previews set to the same ProRes settings and exported at the same ProRes settings. Another advantage of ProRes - like most CODECs that are good for editing - is that we can bump it up or down a flavor if needed quickly and usually without taking compression generation hit.

As far as changiung container files goes, some formats can be rewrapped but it depends on the CODEC again. For example, a ProRes 422 HQ mov can be rewrapped into a ProRes 422 HQ mxf.

Report · Aug 23, 2022

Thanks for your answer, Warren.

As it happens, I get given MKV and MP4 files with H.264 and H.265 compression, which is why it's so important that I preserve the available quality – it has been compromised enough already!

Do you know if the same can apply to those codecs?

Report · Aug 23, 2022

You're looking for an non-linear video editor that can do "GOP splitting". That is, segment and extract based on a video file's GOP structure.

I'm don't think that that exists.

If you find a video editor that can do it, please report back!