Premiere Elements 2023 can't import .mov file

Report · Nov 23, 2023

File(s) were shot on a Sony Camcorder around the year 2000 or 2001. When I select Properties in Win 10 the file type list's all of them simply as "File". They are named Clip 01, Clip 02, etc. They will open and play nice in VLC but PE 2023 won't import them because of what it calls a "Generic error." I've tried adding a .mov extention to the file name which didn't help. Can anyone recall solving a similar situation and remember how to solve this? I can't be the first customer with this issue.

I might add that this is a brand new install of PE, and it's up to date, so I don't suspect corrupt prefs or anything like that grounding my plans. Thanks for any/all ideas and/or pointers.

Report · Nov 23, 2023

MOV is a wrapper, what is inside YOUR wrapper - Exactly what is INSIDE the video you are editing?
Report back with the codec details of your file, use the program below
Free program to get file information for PC/Mac http://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download
- a MediaInfo tutorial https://youtu.be/Ivy9ckSX1M0
- when you analyze your file in MediaInfo and post a screen shot in the forum, do so in TREE view
- post your information IN your message, not as an attachment that someone would have to download

Report · Nov 24, 2023

General
Complete name : C:\Users\bkexp\OneDrive\Desktop\Movies from F Drive\Home Movies\Richie's Party\Media\Clip 02
Format : DV
Commercial name : DVCPRO
File size : 94.8 MiB
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 28.8 Mb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Recorded date : 2000-05-06 17:37:43.000
FileExtension_Invalid : dv dif

Video
Format : DV
Commercial name : DVCPRO
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 24.4 Mb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 (29970/1000) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:1:1
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 2.357
Time code of first frame : 00:00:59;06
Time code source : Subcode time code
Stream size : 80.4 MiB (85%)
Encoding settings : ae mode=full automatic / wb mode=automatic / white balance= / fcm=manual focus

Audio #1
ID : 0
Format : PCM
Format settings : Big / Signed
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 768 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 32.0 kHz
Bit depth : 12 bits
Stream size : 2.53 MiB (3%)

Audio #2
ID : 1
Format : PCM
Format settings : Big / Signed
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 768 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 32.0 kHz
Bit depth : 12 bits
Stream size : 2.53 MiB (3%)

Report · Nov 24, 2023

>Complete name : C:\Users\bkexp\OneDrive\Desktop\Movies from F Drive\Home Movies\Richie's Party\Media\Clip 02

>FileExtension_Invalid : dv dif

I am confused... is the file named 'Clip 02' or 'Clip 02.dv dif' ?

Report · Nov 24, 2023

My files, as displayed inside the folder they presently live in, are named simply Clip 01, Clip 02, etc, with file name extentions box checked (in windows "view" options).

Report · Nov 24, 2023

First put the file on an internal drive. One drive is not for editing just for backup.

It seem the file does not have an extension. Add .avi and see if it will import.

Report · Nov 24, 2023

If Ann's suggestion doesn't work, share a file and I will try to figure it out.

Report · Nov 24, 2023

Thanks everyone, I already tried opening in Handbrake and converting to MP4. Premiere Elements will play ball with it now and audio converted along with the video so I'm good. For any that might be wondering about the details, the file looks like this in mediainfo now.

Complete name : C:\Users\bkexp\OneDrive\Desktop\Clip 02 encoded to MP4.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 27.1 MiB
Duration : 27 s 648 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 8 222 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.7 2017040900

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Bit rate : 8 062 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.778
Stream size : 26.6 MiB (98%)
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2708 86b7198
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=30 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=15.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=20000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 NTSC
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 27 s 648 ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 32.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 541 KiB (2%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC

Complete name : C:\Users\bkexp\OneDrive\Desktop\Clip 02 encoded to MP4.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 27.1 MiB
Duration : 27 s 648 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 8 222 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.7 2017040900

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 27 s 628 ms
Bit rate : 8 062 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.778
Stream size : 26.6 MiB (98%)
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2708 86b7198
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=30 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=15.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=20000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 NTSC
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 27 s 648 ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 32.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 541 KiB (2%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-11-24 21:58:03 UTC

Report · Nov 24, 2023

I would try to get the original file working.

Because when using the Handbrake file, after editing you will have to encode again.

Double encoding will definitely reduce image quality.

Report · Nov 25, 2023

Thanks Ann that's certainly a valid concern that didn't occur to me but I wouldn't know where to begin. If my edits are limited to cutting frames in the timeline and re-stitching clips back together I'll have no degradation worries as things stand. But I agree with you, much better if the file(s) were fixed..

Report · Nov 25, 2023

Actually, it doesn't matter what you do... every time you export to a new file you MAY lower the quality, and video at 720x480 is not high quality to begin with

Are those files in a folder on your computer drive, or are they located in a 'cloud' onedrive folder?

Report · Nov 25, 2023

John, they're on my C drive.

Report · Nov 25, 2023

If my edits are limited to cutting frames in the timeline and re-stitching clips back together I'll have no degradation worries as things stand.

By @Phinny

Unfortunately, that is not how it works.

All export formats will reduce image quality, regardless of just cutting frames.

There are a few exceptions, but not supported by Elements.

Report · Nov 25, 2023

I'm a novice video editor but not so much in the image editing world where an image can be saved as a jpg (lossy) or as a .tif (lossless) for example. I did notice that my MP4 file is lossy in its current form. If I understand, you're saying there's nothing Elements can do about that going forward?

Report · Nov 25, 2023

As i said before try to get the originals working: will save one compression.

Report · Nov 25, 2023

Got it. Thanks.

Report · Mar 23, 2024

I have just gone onto this forum with a similar problem to the one described above. I am trying to import movie files from an Iphone into Premiere Elements. I have the error message "the importer reported a generic error". I tried using Handbrake as suggested and seem to be able to import the file now but it is only the audio that is coming in. Any ideas??

Report · Mar 24, 2024

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Premiere Elements 2023 can't import .mov file

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