Poor quality 4k Premiere Elements

Report · May 05, 2020

Trting to edit 4k in PE. Download files from high speed SD card to PE Organizer. Import to PE at max bit rate. Video play back is smooth but quality is not even close to 4k. Tried exporting in 4k but finial export looked the same. What am I doing wrong? This is the trial version. Video shot with Autel Evo drone at 4K 30fps.

Report · May 05, 2020

Depends on the specs of your video file and if Premiere Elements' project settings match those specs.

To find the specs of your video, open one of your drone videos in the free download MediaInfo. In MediaInfo, set View to Text and copy the text from that report and paste them to this forum. Once we know the specs of your drone footage we'll be able to tell you how to ensure Premiere Elements is matching it with its project settings -- or if you'll need a different video editor for that footage.

Report · May 16, 2020

General

Complete name : C:\Users\stpmt\Videos\MAX_0002_THM.MP4

Format : MPEG-4

Format profile : Base Media / Version 1

Codec ID : mp41 (mp41)

File size : 103 MiB

Duration : 4 min 48 s

Overall bit rate mode : Variable

Overall bit rate : 2 998 kb/s

Encoded date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Tagged date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

GPS : W:-82.9317, N:34.9885, H:308M

Video

ID : 1

Format : AVC

Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec

Format profile : High@L4

Format settings : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames

Format settings, CABAC : Yes

Format settings, Reference frames : 1 frame

Codec ID : avc1

Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding

Duration : 4 min 48 s

Bit rate mode : Variable

Bit rate : 2 999 kb/s

Width : 1 280 pixels

Height : 720 pixels

Display aspect ratio : 16:9

Frame rate mode : Constant

Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS

Color space : YUV

Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0

Bit depth : 8 bits

Scan type : Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.109

Stream size : 103 MiB (100%)

Title : AVC Media Handle

Language : English

Encoded date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Tagged date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Color range : Full

Color primaries : BT.709

Transfer characteristics : BT.709

Matrix coefficients : BT.709

Codec configuration box : avcC

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Report · May 16, 2020

General

Complete name : E:\DCIM\100MEDIA\MAX_0002.MP4

Format : MPEG-4

Format profile : Base Media / Version 1

Codec ID : mp41 (mp41)

File size : 3.35 GiB

Duration : 4 min 48 s

Overall bit rate mode : Variable

Overall bit rate : 99.9 Mb/s

Encoded date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Tagged date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

GPS : W:-82.9317, N:34.9885, H:308M

Video

ID : 1

Format : AVC

Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec

Format profile : High@L5.2

Format settings : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames

Format settings, CABAC : Yes

Format settings, Reference frames : 1 frame

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

Codec ID : avc1

Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding

Duration : 4 min 48 s

Bit rate mode : Variable

Bit rate : 100.0 Mb/s

Width : 4 096 pixels

Height : 2 160 pixels

Display aspect ratio : 1.896

Frame rate mode : Constant

Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS

Color space : YUV

Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0

Bit depth : 8 bits

Scan type : Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.377

Stream size : 3.35 GiB (100%)

Title : AVC Media Handle

Language : English

Encoded date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Tagged date : UTC 2020-05-14 12:04:42

Color range : Full

Color primaries : BT.709

Transfer characteristics : BT.709

Matrix coefficients : BT.709

Codec configuration box : avcC

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Report · May 16, 2020

Sorry, first response was wrong file. Please look at the second response, the 4096/2160 file.

Report · May 05, 2020

I routinely use Premiere Elements to edit and output 4K video. The quality of the output is as good as the source. You previews during edit depend on your computer, some settings and how you set up the project. They are created in "real time" and not meant to match the output. The output should match. What are your output steps? Can you provide some screen shots of your workflow?

Report · May 16, 2020

I have a couple questions....

You wrote "Import to PE at max bit rate." There is no way to change the bit rate when adding a file in "Add Media". Are you using an alternate procedure from simple additions"

You wrote..."Video play back is smooth but quality is not even close to 4k." Video editing is down with previews created in real time by your computer. It may not be possible to create previews of 4K quality. They are only previews to allow you to set all the editing markers. Can you provide a screen shot that shows the quality of the video editing previews?

You wrote "Tried exporting in 4k but finial export looked the same." The output settings determine the quality. The sources are read using the editing markers as a guide and then processed to be whatever you ask for. Matching the source will create output as good as the source. What are your output settings and how did you set them? (Screen shots help.)

Report · May 17, 2020

Bill, do you have experience editing drone footage using the L5.2 codec and a 4026x2160 (1.896 apsect ratio) video frame rather than the traditional 3840x2160 (1.77 aspect ratio)?

I wonder of these issues are keeping the program from matching its settings to the video specs.

Report · May 17, 2020

Steve,

You probably have it figured out. Everything I've tried is 3840x2160 and both H.264 and H.265 up to 60fps. My "normal" from my own gear is 3840x2160, 30fsp, H.264 and PrE 2020 never hicups. I did get tangled up with some H.265 from my phone and a few files from forum posters. It turned into a few conference calls with India over a couple weeks. I learned a lot and enjoyed the contact.

(Side note: Creating a forced 1080p project, "Default Scale to Frame Size" set on and using 4K footage opens up lots of options in the project with cropping, framing and Pan/Zoom. Output at 1080p shows no picture qaulity loss.)

Other than asking the OP for a sample clip (DropBox) I don't know what can be done. I looked up his drone and discovered one I'd not seen or heard of before.

Report · May 18, 2020

I think I can change the settings on my drone to H.264 and 3840x2160. Would that help? Does the 60fps versus 30 make a differance?

Report · May 18, 2020

I don't have your drone. I have three cameras that shoot H.264/3840x2160 at 30fps. I have one Samsung phone that shoots 3840x2160 at 60fps and H.265. I get excellent results that equal the results from Premiere Pro.

I can get in over my head with codecs. Your MediInfo says AVC1 High@L5.2 . When I look that up it says that is an H.264 variant. So my guess right now is that the trouble might be that Premiere Elemens only likes 3840x2160 and not 4026x2160.

Report · May 18, 2020

Thank you. I will continue to play around with settings. I may have to get back with you with more questions if you don't mind.

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Poor quality 4k Premiere Elements