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Luc1le
Luc1le
Participating Frequently
February 28, 2019
Question

Premiere Elements 15 - Preview not playing

  • February 28, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 1071 views

Hello,

I've just started using Premiere Elements 15 and when I put videos and pictures on my timeline, the preview isn't playing. I'm trying to click play but nothing is happening. I'm on Windows 10, could it be a compatibility problem?

Thanks,

Lucile

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    S
    Steve Grisetti
    Legend
    March 1, 2019

    Your video appears to be from an iPhone and uses a variable frame rate. Premiere Elements 2019 supports variable frame rate video. Version 15 does not.

    The video is also a non-standard resolution 560x320 that Premiere Elements does not support. This is why you're seeing poor performance from the program.

    As an experiment, try converting your MOV into a standard 855x480 MP4 with 30 fps constant frame rate using the free download Handbrake and see is this MP4 performs better in your Premiere Elements project. (You also should NOT  see a yellow orange render line above the clip when you add it to your timeline.)

    You'll find instructions for using Handbrake in my free tutorial.

    Fixing video with Handbrake - YouTube

      Luc1le
      Luc1leAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      March 1, 2019

      Sure, I'll try that. I actually don't want to edit that video, I just used it as a test as what I'm actually trying to do is use images to create a video. I've tried dropping a few images one after the other and that's when I noticed the preview wasn't working and tried adding video.

      Sorry this is confusing!

      B
      Community Expert
      Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 1, 2019

      Can you start from scratch?

      On the opening screen for a new project, pick a setting that will match the viewing screen of the final video slide show and check the box to Force The Selected Project Settings.

      Now try to use Add Media for one of your still image files.  With a strong enough computer, most any image file will work.   On weaker computers, you may have to "resize" the image and/or convert to a JPEG that matches the project settings.

      What are the project settings you are picking?  What is the image file type, size and source that you are using?

      Parenthetically, there is one setting in the Audio Hardware Preferences that has occasionally caused trouble and it might be relevant.  Check to see if the Default Input is "None".  What seems to happen is that the computer will get busy trying to process audio that is not existent or doesn't match causing the computer to crawl.  

      S
      Steve Grisetti
      Legend
      March 1, 2019

      Your processor is at the lower end of system requirements for editing HD video with Premiere Elements. As you can see from the chart, it rates a 2,500. In my books I recommend at least at 6,500-10,000 rating.

      PassMark CPU Benchmarks - Low Mid Range CPUs

      So a lot depends on the nature of your video. I'm not sure why the program isn't matching its project settings to your video specs, but doing so may give you the little extra oomph you'll need to do some minimal editing.

      Open a sample of your video in the free download MediaInfo. In MediaInfo, set View to Text and then copy the report and paste it tot his forum.

      Luc1le
      Luc1leAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      March 1, 2019

      Here it is: (I do have the same problem with adding a couple of pictures to the timeline without any video though)

      General

      Complete name                            : C:\Users\lucil\Desktop\30th VIDEOS\Colin Currie.MOV

      Format                                   : MPEG-4

      Format profile                           : QuickTime

      Codec ID                                 : qt   0000.00 (qt  )

      File size                                : 5.62 MiB

      Duration                                 : 55 s 357 ms

      Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable

      Overall bit rate                         : 852 kb/s

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-19 10:07:58

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-19 10:08:03

      Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime

      com.apple.quicktime.location.ISO6709     : +51.4517-000.0081+029.335/

      com.apple.quicktime.make                 : Apple

      com.apple.quicktime.model                : iPhone 8

      com.apple.quicktime.software             : 12.1.2

      com.apple.quicktime.creationdate         : 2019-02-19T10:06:36+0000

      Video

      ID                                       : 2

      Format                                   : AVC

      Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec

      Format profile                           : Baseline@L3

      Format settings                          : 1 Ref Frames

      Format settings, CABAC                   : No

      Format settings, RefFrames               : 1 frame

      Format settings, GOP                     : M=1, N=15

      Codec ID                                 : avc1

      Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding

      Duration                                 : 55 s 357 ms

      Bit rate                                 : 722 kb/s

      Width                                    : 568 pixels

      Height                                   : 320 pixels

      Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9

      Rotation                                 : 180°

      Frame rate mode                          : Variable

      Frame rate                               : 29.970 (29970/1000) FPS

      Minimum frame rate                       : 28.571 FPS

      Maximum frame rate                       : 30.000 FPS

      Color space                              : YUV

      Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0

      Bit depth                                : 8 bits

      Scan type                                : Progressive

      Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.133

      Stream size                              : 4.77 MiB (85%)

      Title                                    : Core Media Video

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-19 10:07:58

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-19 10:08:03

      Color range                              : Limited

      Color primaries                          : BT.709

      Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709

      Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

      Codec configuration box                  : avcC

      Audio

      ID                                       : 1

      Format                                   : AAC LC

      Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity

      Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2

      Duration                                 : 55 s 357 ms

      Source duration                          : 55 s 426 ms

      Bit rate mode                            : Variable

      Bit rate                                 : 101 kb/s

      Channel(s)                               : 1 channel

      Channel layout                           : C

      Sampling rate                            : 44.1 kHz

      Frame rate                               : 43.066 FPS (1024 SPF)

      Compression mode                         : Lossy

      Stream size                              : 681 KiB (12%)

      Source stream size                       : 682 KiB (12%)

      Title                                    : Core Media Audio

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-19 10:07:58

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-19 10:08:03

      Other #1

      Type                                     : meta

      Duration                                 : 55 s 357 ms

      Bit rate mode                            : VBR

      Other #2

      Type                                     : meta

      Duration                                 : 55 s 357 ms

      B
      Community Expert
      Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 1, 2019

      Your video is shot on your phone in a "Variable Frame Rate".  Premiere Elements has not included the capability to edit variable frame rate video until the current version 2019.

      The solution is to either upgrade to the new version or convert the clips to a fixed frame rate using the free program Handbrake.

      Peru Bob
      Community Expert
      Peru BobCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 28, 2019

      Please use the free MediaInfo and post a screenshot the properties of your media in tree view:

        MediaInfo

      Luc1le
      Luc1leAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      March 1, 2019

      Hi Bob,

      I've actually tried it with different things, pictures as well as several videos and the result is the same.

      Lucile

      S
      Steve Grisetti
      Legend
      March 1, 2019

      Which processor do you have with how much RAM?

      What happens if you use only one video clip on the timeline and there is no other media in your project?

      When you add this video clip to your timeline do you see a yellow orange "render" line above the clip? A render line indicates that the project settings are not matched to your video specs and this can cause inefficient performance.

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