How to import multiple DNG files into Premiere

[softananda]

I want to import multiple raw DNG files from a 2.5K blackmagic camera. Each clip is recorded in a separate folder:

I can import each clip separately by selecting its folder and clicking on a DNG file, but -for obvious practical reasons- I would like to import ALL clips at once. However, when I try to do so, Premiere does not import the clips. Instead, it imports each folder, and within them there is not one single clip, but as many clips as DNG files compounded that particular clip. In other words, if the clip had ONE HUNDRED DNG files, Premiere imports that clip ONE HUNDRED times, not just once:

In this image, each file contains the ENTIRE clip, not just a DNG file. Is there a workaround for this? Otherwise, DNG files must be imported one by one, which of course makes the workflow much more difficult.

[softananda]

Jim, when selecting the blackmagic2 level, the only available option is File Directory:

This doesn't happen with RED files, where you can choose between File Directory and RED from the first level. Unlike blackmagic's DNG clips, RED files can be imported all at once, so maybe that's the whole problem:

And yes, Source Settings are available for RED files, whereas they are not for DNG (only basic information, not raw manipulation):

RED Source Settings:

DNG Source Settings:

[Kevin-Monahan]

softananda wrote:

I want to import multiple raw DNG files from a 2.5K blackmagic camera. Each clip is recorded in a separate folder: I can import each clip separately by selecting its folder and clicking on a DNG file, but -for obvious practical reasons- I would like to import ALL clips at once.

Hi Softananda,

You will need to make a feature request for this. Sorry you can't do this by default now. Here's the link: http://adobe.ly/feature_request

Thanks.

Kevin

[softananda]

Kevin, I just made the request. Any chances Adobe will treat image sequences in the future as it currently treats RED files, which are also contained in folders?

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Softananda,

It's possible, and I sure hope so. However, I just checked in the upcoming version and it works the same way. Thanks for making the request, I'll make sure the team knows about it.

BTW, source settings will be available, just not as advanced as Red's. It looks similar to the current ARRIRAW Source Settings.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Genetic · Accepted solution]

Hi @Softananda, I have the same problem as you do, but I managed to find a temporary lowtech solution that's maybe useful for you or for other users.

You can go to the folder where all your rushes are and just search for all the files in that subfolders ending by 00000.dng

This way you will have all the first dng files of every sequence and you can move them directly to your media pool in Premiere, where they will appear as unique sequences of all your dng files.

For me it works like a charm.

I hope this is useful for someone.

Bye!

[ThomasJavier]

The "search" 000000.dng technique was successful for me. I was having the same trouble as the person who started the thread. Trying to import multiple clips from the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera on the new cc2014 update was not working so well. This is a nice, simple work-around.

[softananda]

Thanks @genetic, it is a nice workaround. Still, it would be nice if Adobe improved its way of dealing with DNG files. @Kevin Monahan, do you know if Adobe plans to make changes in his regard?

[dummergold]

You can go to the folder where all your rushes are and just search for all the files in that subfolders ending by 00000.dng

This way you will have all the first dng files of every sequence and you can move them directly to your media pool in Premiere, where they will appear as unique sequences of all your dng files.

Can I please get some guidance with this? I post screen shot of my Media browser on folder containing dng sequences. When I am in the search field with 000000.dng I do not get any results unless I am inside individual dng sequence. Am I on the right path?

There are so many images in this thread, my browser is out dated, my internet is too slow, I cannot get into thread unless I fight, reload, reload,,,,

[dummergold]

Got it - thanks RoninEdits, thanks Genetic.

Use Windows search of folder containing dng folders with 000000.dng, select all and drag into Premiere's Project panel. Beats Premiere's Media Browser. I like it!

[larryc53227652]

so perfect for any footage that is chaptered (I use this for RED footage).  Thank you!

Would be nice to have something more straightforward within Premiere.

[michaelcorvin]

I had used Davinci Resolve to do a rough edit of my DNG files and then I exported an XML to bring into Premiere expecting that I would be able to refine my edit there but Premiere failed to re-link any of my DNG media.  I didn't want to import all my media using the "search 000000.dng" technique because I'd already chosen only the clips I want in Resolve.  I also did not want to have to go into each individual folder of DNG files and select the 000000.dng file to get them into Premiere.  My goal was to stick with my RAW files throughout the process and not create extra proxy files.

My workaround was to edit the XML contents so instead of all the file names being

Clip_1_2014-07-11_0023_C0005_[000000-001129].dng

and the file paths being

/Clip_1_2014-07-11_0023_C0005_%5B000000-001129%5D.dng

they would both be

Clip_1_2014-07-11_0023_C0005_000000.dng

and therefore immediately recognized by Premiere.

I used TextWrangler search and replace with regular expressions (which I had never done and had to muddle through with this Using regular expressions – Part 1: Understanding the basic building blocks | Adobe Developer Connec... which fortunately had the solution on the first page.

In TextWrangler go to Search>Find and check on both "Grep" and "Wrap around". 

First find \[\d\d\d\d\d\d-\d\d\d\d\d\d\] and replace it with 000000 and click "Replace All"

Then find %5B\d\d\d\d\d\d-\d\d\d\d\d\d%5D and replace with 000000 and click "Replace All". 

Save and import into Premiere.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for posting your workaround for relinking DNG media. I will pass this along, but please file a bug report so that your findings are captured into our bug system: http://adobe.ly/ReportBug

Best,

Kevin

[michaelcorvin]

Hi Kevin,

I submitted a bug report, which was mostly just info from this posting, which has been around since April.  It looks like posters in this thread may have already submitted a feature request/bug report on the issue.  I just updated Premiere CC 2014 to the latest version and the issue persists.  With the growing popularity of the Blackmagic cameras, do you think this may be resolved soon?  Or perhaps Adobe will post an official workaround?  I understand that using proxies is a common workflow, but with RED footage you can stay in RAW throughout the process if your computer can handle it. 

Thank you.

-michael

[NeilAndrew]

I tried to search for 000000 but the search posted no results, and there were definitely multiple files within the folder being searched that had 000000 in the filename.

Adobe needs to get on this.

Resolve handles DNG clips so super smooth, and imports DNG sequences and DNG folders just as easily as premiere handles h264.

[NeilAndrew]

I used the program SEARCH EVERYTHING to find 000000.dng then I selected all and dragged and dropped into the project and everything came up as full clips.

Why cant Premiere do this? Seems pretty basic!

[rlr29711]

Has this issue still not been addressed? This was filed almost a year ago. Is Adobe working to address this in the next update?

[excited_Genie16B8]

I don't recall reading anything about this in the latest version notes.

[Creaktor]

Common Adobe team. This is a real pain in the ass. Just make it possible to show content in subfolders. Then the parent folder shows all of the sequence dng files.

[softananda]

rlr29711, I am afraid so far things remain alike and we have to rely on the trick marked as best answer in the beginning of the post.

[MediaSpecialist8416]

As of today (almost a year after your post) this is still the first thread that comes up - so it's not looking likely.  What a shame. 

[excited_Genie16B8]

I have to admit, I have no hope of Adobe implementing proper CinemaDNG support any time soon.

Resolve it is.

[rlr29711]

It's not just CinemaDNG.

We just had a project that was shot with arriraw and you can't do functions like replace as Premiere doesn't recognize the footage as an image sequence.

[Creaktor]

yes, takes way to long otherwise. Such a simple feature making us change programs.

[Highlad]

Yep, this thread is over 3 years old now, and this problem is still sticking around...

[excited_Genie16B8]

Thankfully, BMD is hard at work making Resolve and Fusion a very competent (and free) replacement for the Adobe editing suite of programs, not only taking over the functions of Premiere Pro, After Effects, SpeedGrade and Audition, but actually stepping up what's possible and making many things even easier.

Adobe has some real competition there, and if Al Mooney wants to focus on continually adding non-essential FCPness instead of real functionality, then I think more and more folks will continue to move to Resolve.

Here's just one tidbit.  Resolve now has the following feature which I consider so absolutely essential that Al should walk into the very next staff meeting and say to every single programmer in there, "Stop whatever you're doing, this one is all hands on until it's done, pushed out to the customers, and fully bug free."

FR: Instant AutoSave