AVI Files in Premiere Pro on a Mac

Report · Nov 30, 2016

Here is my issue. My video is an AVI with an alpha channel on it. Unfortunately, this AVI file is all I have to work with. Up until now, all I have been able to find on this issue is ways to convert the AVI file to another movie wrapper. I don't want to do that because I don't want to loose the alpha channel. I can't even figure out a way to play the AVI file on my computer. The file plays fine on a Windows computer (NewTek's TriCaster) and my coworker's Premiere Pro project on his Mac, so I know it can be done. I just haven't been able to find an answered question on this, yet.

When I try importing it into Premeire, I get the error message that reads: "The file has no audio or video streams."

When I try importing it into After Effects, I get the error message that reads: "After Effects error: file 'filename.avi' cannot be imported - this 'MooV' file is damaged or unsupported."

When I try importing it into Media Encoder, I get the error message that reads: "The file /filename/filename.avi could not be imported. Source file has no importable streams. Please check that it is a valid video/audio file."

I am working on Mac OS X El Capitan Version 10.11.6. This is the software that I have installed on my computer: QuickTime Player 10, QuickTime Player 7, QuickTime Player 7 Pro, VLC, Flip4Mac, MEPG Streamclip, Smart Converter, DivX

Report · Dec 01, 2016

After several days, I found out that the AVI had a NewTek SHQ3 (4:2:2:4) codec. I was able to find the codec from Updates and Downloads under the section called Codecs and Utilities, install it, reboot, and boom - it imported perfectly into Premiere Pro. It doesn't have the alpha channel like I thought, though. Somehow it does when it is played on our TriCaster 455

Anyways, if anyone else works with NewTek's TriCaster and LiveText and runs into this problem, hopefully this helps them.

Report · Dec 14, 2016

Thank you I will look in the codec downloads I am having similar issues importing footage rendered as AVI from an old storage drive hooked up to a MAC. Pretty sure if I was running a PC I would have no issues. I may have to use my XP machine running CS3 to work on these files.

Report · Dec 14, 2016

I should probably mention that this NewTek codec is specifically for the kind of AVI files that LiveText exports (not sure if your AVI file is from a NewTek product). I hope it works for you either way!