P: Add Support for Cinematic video files from iPhone 13 Pro Max

[KellyDione]

I am unable to import the new Cinematic video files to Lightroom Classic (updated) from my iPhone 13 Pro Max (iOS 15.0.2). Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

[sajeeeeee]

I've reported this problem to Adobe support weeks ago, with no resolution and it's really frustrating. I'm using Lightroom Classic 11.1 on macOS 12.0.1, with iPhone 13 with the latest iOS.  When I try to import iPhone "Cinematic" format video files from the iPhone, I get import errors (see below).  The macOS Image Capture app has no problems importing them, so it's not a file corruption issue.    Does anyone have a fix or workaround to get these video files imported?

In the error below, one of the non importable files is IMG_6646.MOV.  While Lightroom only shows a single file, Image Capture shows two files with similar names: IMG_6646.MOV and IMG_E6646.MOV.  The second of these files (the one with the E in the name) is larger and has the background blur effect that's a feature of Cinematic mode. I use Image Capture to import both of these files to my Mac's hard drive.  I then try to import the files on the hard drive into Lightroom, which still only sees the file IMG_6646.MOV.  The import fails with the same error.  Help!

====

The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk. (33)
    IMG_6646.MOV
    IMG_6657.MOV
    IMG_6658.MOV
    IMG_6659.MOV
    IMG_6688.MOV
    IMG_6689.MOV
    IMG_6706.MOV
    IMG_6707.MOV
    IMG_6708.MOV
    IMG_6709.MOV
    IMG_6710.MOV
    IMG_6714.MOV
    IMG_6742.MOV
    IMG_6743.MOV
    IMG_6744.MOV
    IMG_6745.MOV
    IMG_6746.MOV
    IMG_6747.MOV
    IMG_6748.MOV
    IMG_6749.MOV
    IMG_6790.MOV
    IMG_6795.MOV
    IMG_6851.MOV
    IMG_6797.MOV
    IMG_6798.MOV
    IMG_6810.MOV
    IMG_6816.MOV
    IMG_6823.MOV
    IMG_6963.MOV
    IMG_6989.MOV
    IMG_7017.MOV
    IMG_7018.MOV
    IMG_7010.MOV

An unknown error has occurred while reading the video file. Connecting to Dynamic Link server failed. (1)
    IMG_7016.MOV

[Tarun Saini]

Hi there,

We're sorry about the trouble with Lightroom Classic. Since when have you been seeing this issue? Please try updating the macOS to 12.1 and check if that makes any difference.

Try to close Lightroom Classic and also double-check it from Activity Monitor. Go to the location: ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe/ and rename the following folder with a .old.

• dynamiclinkmediaserver
• dynamiclinkmanager
• DyanmicLinkMediaServer

Restart your operating system and check if Lightroom Classic is importing the videos or not.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Tarun

[sajeeeeee]

I will upgrade to macOS 12.1 but that's not going to help me.  As I said above, variations of this problem have been occuring over last few years.  This specific one has been occuring since November. 

As for renaming the Adobe folder, Adobe support connected remotely to my MacBook many times and tried that to no avail.  I still .old versions of these folders from June 26, 2020.  But I will do so again and see what happens.

[sajeeeeee]

I upgraded to macOS 12.1 and I'm seeing new behavior.   When I now try to import, the Lightroom import dialog is showing the Cinematic and non-Cinematic .MOV files (the ones that have an 'E' in the filename).  Previously it only showed the non-Cinematic .MOV files.  I've checked "Don't import suspected duplicates", and all of the Cinematic video files are grayed out, so Lightroom thinks they are imported.  I checked and indeed they are imported.  So my initial assumption, that Lightroom couldn't import the Cinemetic files, is wrong.  It's the non-Cinematic files that Lightroom couldn't import. 

So I tried to import all of the files that caused the error before and I'm in the same place with a Lightroom error.  Sigh...

====

The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk. (38)
    IMG_5645.MOV
    IMG_5655.MOV
    IMG_5665.MOV
    IMG_5666.MOV
    IMG_6646.MOV
    IMG_6657.MOV
    IMG_6658.MOV
    IMG_6659.MOV
    IMG_6688.MOV
    IMG_6689.MOV
    IMG_6706.MOV
    IMG_6707.MOV
    IMG_6708.MOV
    IMG_6709.MOV
    IMG_6710.MOV
    IMG_6714.MOV
    IMG_6742.MOV
    IMG_6743.MOV
    IMG_6744.MOV
    IMG_6745.MOV
    IMG_6746.MOV
    IMG_6747.MOV
    IMG_6748.MOV
    IMG_6749.MOV
    IMG_6790.MOV
    IMG_6795.MOV
    IMG_6797.MOV
    IMG_6798.MOV
    IMG_6810.MOV
    IMG_6816.MOV
    IMG_6823.MOV
    IMG_6851.MOV
    IMG_6963.MOV
    IMG_6989.MOV
    IMG_7010.MOV
    IMG_7016.MOV
    IMG_7017.MOV
    IMG_7018.MOV

[sajeeeeee]

I opened a case with Adobe, and after hours of working with Adobe Support, providing information, sample files, reproducing the error on Adobe's side, the end result is "The feature is currently not available on Lightroom Classic and other Adobe apps, our engineering team is working on it to make it compatible on future updates."   It's been at least four months since Cinematic mode video was released yet Lightroom chokes when importing that video type, which is disappointing.

To summarize the problem, Cinematic mode produces two files per video, e.g: IMG_6646.MOV and IMG_E6646.MOV.  Lightroom will import the file with the E in the file name (which is the video with the blurred background produced by Cinematic mode) but will throw this misleading error on the other file "The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk."  There's nothing wrong with this file.  It can be imported via Image Capture and viewed on my Mac.  But for whatever reason, Lightroom (as of version 11.2), chokes when importing these files.  

So now I wait, for who knows how long, for the bug to be fixed.

[KellyDione]

Thank you for pursuing this!

[Leander25446874frn3]

Now in late July 2022, other users are still keeping watch, looking for an answer to thoughtful, detaiuled, politely worded question from sajeeeeee of Dec 2021 and Feb 2022.

[sajeeeeee]

So after 6+ months of going back & forth with Adobe, this issue was closed with no resolution.  The message was ~"this is not a bug and a feature to import Cinematic Video may be added in a future release".  There was no timetable offered.   Yesterday, on macOS 12.5 and LR Classic 14.4.1, this bug is still not fixed.  I got the same "The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk" error as I did in December.  I also get to pay $10/month for this awesome broken experience.  In addition to the unhelpful error message, the import times are extremely long, followed by a totally useless error which leads one to believe the video files are corrupt when they are not (Image Capture can import them while LR chokes).  The only consolsation here is that the Cinematic mode file does get imported.  The non Cinematic mode file (the one w/o the background blur) doesn't and causes the errors.   It's pathetic that 10 months after the release of iPhone Cinematic mode, LR is unable to support it or at the very least error out gracefully.

[sajeeeeee]

@Tarun Saini is there any way you can help with this?

[djc007]

June 2023 - just checking in for progress on this. Frustrating missing capability that I thought would have been a simple fix.

[sajeeeeee]

Nope, no changes at all. Today, n the latest version of LR Classic, 12.4, I tried to import set of 492 photos and videos (< 10 Cinematic videos) and it's broken as ever. The import process was at two hours when I aborted. During that time, the Import window provided no information whatsoever, no previews, status, nothing. The only sign of life was the status bar. It progressed at a snail's pace, probably tripped up errors in the import of the Cinematic video, but displaying nothing. (see below)

After the abort, I got the following nosensical errors. Same as ever.

I tried Importing again, and within 5 secs, I received the following error:

Excellent job Adobe.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings all,

Updates for the Adobe Photography Products have been released.  The August 2023 updates contain a fix for this issue. 

If you do not see the update in your Creative Cloud Application, you can refresh it by hitting [Ctrl/Cmd]+[Alt/Opt]+[ R ].

Note: It may take up to 24 hours for your update to be available in your Creative Cloud app.

Thank you for your patience.

[SusanWagener]

As of August 19th, with the lastest version of Lightroom classic,  I still cannot import cinematic videos.  When will this be fixed?  iPhone 14 Pro Max IOS 16.6  / Lightroom Classic version 12.5

[sajeeeeee]

I'm happy to report my Lightroom 12.5 import from my iPhone went well. In fact, it's the smoothest import in years with no errors. Cinematic Video was imported without errors. I was able to import 657 photos and videos in about 10 mins.  Thank you Adobe for finally fixing this. 👏

[hellodumdum]

I'm running Lightroom 12.5 and cinematic videos were not imported correctly from my iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk. (3)
    IMG_2285.MOV
    IMG_2465.MOV
    IMG_2466.MOV

[brianbphoto]

Same - I have version 12.5 and was not able to import cinematic videos from my iPhone 13 pro: 

The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk. (80)
IMG_1714.MOV
IMG_1634.MOV
IMG_1713.MOV
IMG_1637.MOV
IMG_1649.MOV
IMG_9606.MOV
IMG_9601.MOV
IMG_0545.MOV
IMG_0635.MOV
IMG_0611.MOV
IMG_0612.MOV
IMG_0636.MOV

...etc.

[brianbphoto]

Rikk - can we get an update? The August 'fix' didn't seem to work right.  Is there something we need to do?

[sajeeeeee]

It appears I spoke too soon. Several files during my import failed, all Cinematic videos. 😫 LR Classic 13.0.1 macOS 14.1.2

[sajeeeeee]

@Rikk Flohr: Photography Can you please provide some insight into what's happening here?

[iltb2000]

I too am experiencing this problem.  iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 17.2.1, macOS 14.2.1, Lightroom 13.1.

[sajeeeeee]

I tried again today on LR 13.1, and same old problem.

[djc007]

Still no fix.

I have narrowed the issue down to files with "dish" in the codec:

 

[sajeeeeee]

Two and a half years after Apple introduced iPhone Cinematic Video, LR Classic (13.2) still cannot import them. 😡 

[Sland Studios]

Running Lightroom Classic 13.2, and I'm still getting the error:

The video file appears to be corrupted or unrecognizable. We were unable to open the file on disk.

I've confirmed the videos that are mentioned in the error message are cinematic / HDR videos (other videos are indeed importing okay, so there is that). 

Any update on importing Cinematic/HDR videos being patched? Or is this a me issue? If so, can anyone out there confirm if they are able to do this successfully??

For context to my importing; I have a NAS where I placed the directories containing photos and videos primarily shot on iPhone and did an import. All media was imported and previews generated except for a number of listed files (~15%). Upon looking into the un-imported media, they appear to be Cinematic videos shot on iPhone... so I'm assuming that is the reason. 

[iltb2000]

I am also getting the error when I try to import Cinematic videos.