APE2021: Problem with H.265 files

[tomek398]

Hi 

I have a problem with H.265 files. I have a lot of files compressed with Nvidia NVENC to H.265 format with Handbrake. This is how I archive my GoPro videos. 

I can add H.265 files to PE2021 and place them on the timeline. I can even play them, however, when I move timeline marker a few times (3-4) the whole program freezes. I don't see any error message. It is just not responsing.   I need to end the process in the Windows. 

Other than that, I have no issues with APE2021 

Windows is playing H.265 without any problems.

[Bill Sprague]

Gopro is not the same as Avidemux is not the same as Handbrake (has several different codec on board).

There are good codec for H.265 and there are lesser codec for H.265.

How will I know which codec is 'good' for current and future version of Adobe Premiere Elements?

I don't understand that. It says h.265 is supported format for Adobe Premiere Elemets:

Supported file formats in Adobe Premiere Elements

It doesn't say anything about various 'types' of H.265

If there are some issues with particular video file, APE should give me a error message or similar, that this file is not supported and why.  

By @tomek398

You've spotted a flaw where the marketing people and development people are not on the same page about H.265.  Neither group participates in this user forum.   Participants here are only here to try to help other users.  They do not have direct communication to either marketing or development.  H.265 has had issues of ownership, licensing and fees since it was introduced.  H.264 does not have those issues.  Consequently H.265 has not become a universal replacement.   Premiere Elements is an excellent, easy to use video editor that covers the bases for most consumers.  There are pieces left out that are needed by more advanced users that would benefit from using Premiere Pro.  

As another user, I can't speak for Adobe, but from participation here for a few years, I don't see using H.265 as a universally good solution.  It works for many and not others. 

I hope you can find a solution that works for you.    

[tomek398]

I explained clearly that I used H.265 (Nvidia NVEnc) 

I also did a test with H.265 (x265) but it didn't help  (in Handbrake)

When I used H.265 (Nvidia NVEnc) in AviDemux everything was working well in Premiere.

[tomek398]

Codec I used is the same in both cases. It is H.254 

[tomek398]

I reproduced the whole problem:

https://youtu.be/XWo7HNMZfbE

[tomek398]

I did a few tests with H.265 files over the weekend and results are ..... strange. It seems that APE2021 is NOT fully supporting H.265 format contrary to official information on Adobe webpage:

Supported file formats in Adobe Premiere Elements

This is very frustrating as I wasted a lot of time because of it. H.265 has been available for around 10 years already!!!!  It is not new format and it is still not properly implemented in APE.  

I also did a test with trial version of APE 2023 (no HW acceleration) and results are similar which means that H.265 is not fully supported in that version as well.

As I wrote, results of my testing are strange. Some H.265 files seem to work OK and APE is quite responsive even after importing 4K 60 fps H.265. It was even more responsive when working with H.265 than H.264 (lower CPU usage). However, I had problems with even basic transitions. They were not visible in the output video file.

https://youtu.be/IJxHRkvEyqI

Some other H.265 files, converted with HandBrake and Shutter Encoder can be imported but they quickly make APE unresponsive. I have no idea why and nobody was able to explain me that.

Overall, I’m very disappointed

[tomek398 · Accepted solution]

I think I know why I had issues with H.265 files in Adobe Premiere Elements 2021. I will write what I know just in case, some else might have similar issues.

In order to edit video files in H.265 format in APE 2021 I had to set GOP to around 100 in external encoder. After that, I can easily edit even 4K 60fps H.265 videos in APE.

GOP is Group of pictures - Wikipedia

I do not know if GOP 100 is optimal value but it works at least. I did test with GOP 50 and GOP 20 and it was working as well.

It seems that default setting of some encoders regarding the GOP is causing issues with APE. It could be some issues in APE. I don’t know that.

In conclusion. APE2021 can edit H.265 files but for some reason is not compatible with certain encoder parameters. Unfortunately, you can’t find any info about it.