.mov files not supported after upgrade?

Report · Aug 12, 2018

I just upgraded my Premiere Pro CC 2018 to v12.1.2 (Build 69) and now when I attempt to open a file that I was previously working on just prior to the upgrade, Premiere Pro tells me that my .MOV files are no longer supported. Exact error message is, "File format not supported."

Report · Aug 12, 2018

I can still open .MOV files on my laptop which is the same OS (Windows 10) but the version of Premiere is v12.1.2 (Build 10). At this point I don't dare update it.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

The extension of your file ( mov, avi, etc. ) are thought of as "wrappers'. Like you buy food and it is in a thing that you can put in microwave or oven or something, and that is the "wrapper". What is actually IN the wrapper is a matter of what the contents are, which in this case is called CODEC. The Codec ( "Compression / DE-compression ) is similar to what you actually HAVE within the wrapper.

These codecs are sometimes being favored by some companies or dropped by others. In the current situation you are in, Adobe is discontinuing support for certain codecs that they deem is really old and no longer used by most users of the program.

That means that the CODEC ( rather than the WRAPPER) is no longer being supported by the newest versions of PPro. It takes a lot of programming stuff to differentiate those codecs and support them ( some are 8 bit old stuff and no longer used by most people ).

You can google this situation and do searches on internet about what codecs are going to be unsupported by Adobe.

I'm assuming that is your issue, but am just guessing due to your not knowing ( and saying ) what your codec is inside the MOV wrapper.

This information should help you get started on solving the problem ! Good Luck !

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Thanks for the lesson on codecs. Unfortunately that doesn't solve my problem. I need a workaround. I can tell you the codec is H.264 and I've just read that it's discontinued. So I'd rather know what codecs still work with .MOV. Maybe I can convert these files to something that still works without losing the quality of the image?

Report · Aug 12, 2018

That would be a older version of the Aple company QuickTime code which Apple decided not only would not be "supported" by them anymore but they have asked other software companies to discontinue accepting this version of Qt mov fles.

Adobe is complying with Apple's request.

This is a standard problem for data, whether images or text, in digital formats. And requires the users figuring out how to convert to a newer format without lost od quality, formatting, all that sort of thing.

I think Handbrake can still handle this version and convert to a modern version. Make sure the settings you use are rather high, quality of 4.1 or above and compression clear placebo".

Neil

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Thank you Neil, that's getting me in the right direction. Ideally, it would be great if I could translate to a lossless version of a .MOV file and I don't see that as an available option in Handbrake. If I'm missing something or if you have a recommended setting I'd be grateful to know what it is. My objective would be to create another .MOV file of the same name that Adobe Premiere will support so I can hopefully use it in my current project without losing the edits I've already created.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

The Handbrake conversions to H.264, I think actually are mp4, which many consider a better codec anyway. If you stay above 4.2 or above in the quality, maybe going to 5, and keep the compression settings to "near placebo" so the resultant file size is at least as big as the original media, if not a bit bigger ... it does a very good job of the transcode. Fairly close to 'visually lossless'.

Sometimes one can simply rename the extensions on mov and mp4 files before import, and PrPro is just as happy. Try a couple files through Handbrake, and if as I recall it's in mp4 extension, try changing the extension to mov and see if PrPro accepts it. I know, if one does an offline/relink process, one can direct it to ignore the extensions, only 'read' the file name prior to the extension.

Neil

Report · Aug 12, 2018

I'm trying this now Neil, thank you. I don't wish any ill will on Adobe or Apple... But I do this some people need to be slapped. Perhaps very hard.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Oh, I agree with you on that!

Yea, Apple want's to shaft a ton of people, no big surprise there ... bunch of jealous kindergartners that they are ... and while I can see why Adobe wants to stay at least somewhat comfortable with that bunch, still ... I wish they'd told them no. I've noted some other apps are for now still holding taking the earlier Qt mov's.

I've been told by someone that for a couple of them, they'll be 'along' on this move later this year/early next.

You know how many word-processing files I've got that no current program can read, among other things? Not too pleased with that part of the digital experience.

Neil

Report · Aug 12, 2018

I don't get it. Neil, are you saying that the canon and Nikon cameras, bought several years ago, that record mov h264 to SD cards natively, is no longer supported as a wrapper and codec in PPro ?

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Doesn't matter the camera, it's whether there is an early QuickTime version used in the encode process. It's something like QuickTime 7 or close to that. Whichever number it is, that earlier version Apple wants to "denigrate". So it would be an mov format in that earlier QuickTime codec.

Which can at times be fun to figure out. Lovely, eh?

Neil

Report · Aug 12, 2018

In these last days I have read, Premiere does not support AVI, Premiere does not support nvenc h264, and now that does not support MOV h264, I am thinking that I started to participate in Adobe forums only to suffer a heart attack.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

PrPro does support all those formats. It's specific codecs available within those formats that are the issue.

But of course if your media is in one of those, that's a hammer upside the head pain.

The Qt-7 thing especially. I don't understand why Apple feels the need to request other companies stop supporting that era media. I've seen no explanation of the reason at all.

Neil

Report · Aug 13, 2018

So how about that MediaReactor Lite for Adobe? Is that the fix I'm looking for?

MediaReactor Lite Adobe

Report · Aug 13, 2018

Maybe, although I've not heard of the company. Check around on them. For instance, there's been several groups/firms that have announced providing full ProRes support in PrPro/Windows for write as well as read. None have lasted six months due to Apple's vengeance application team, er ... laywers.

Neil

Report · Aug 13, 2018

Lol! "vengeance application team" Well stated. I've got an email dialogue going with the people who sell MediaReactor. Seems promising and they're willing to check over a sample file. I'll see what transpires.

Report · Aug 13, 2018

Keep us informed ...

Neil

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Dear Adobe -

If you can't offer any stability in software codecs or even offer reasonable workarounds, your software is essentially worthless.

Thank you

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Aside from the transcoding potential, if your camera ( like my Nikon DSLR and some canon cameras) have an HDMI port you can record to a better 10 bit space via atomos or something, to pro res or DNxHD etc. The SD card stuff with h264 mov was kinda junky anyway for editing. Although many people claimed new fast cpu's and stuff could deal with it nicely.

There isn't apple support for windows based quicktime for years ( qucktime 7) so that's nothing new really.

Good luck and don't be upset to the point where you give up on doing cool stuff with your imagination.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

My problem is that I don't have time to deal with these kinds of issues, as I'm sure many others can attest. If I license software from a company there's a certain amount of expectation that it will work as advertised. No excuses. If not, I would be totally happy with some kind of workaround that would allow the software to work as it had previous to the upgrade that removed that functionality. I got nothing. Adobe doesn't really offer any thoughtful support options either. Just this forum really. And as much as I appreciate anyone's help here, this problem seems beyond the scope of what any peer can resolve. But thank you for trying though.

At this point I'll hang on for a couple of days to see if anything promising develops. Beyond that I'll need to look into other solutions. Perhaps an old analog Beta tape editor. At least that worked for over a decade.

Report · Aug 12, 2018

Ok... It worked for a whole hour. I wish I could tell you why but I have no idea. I even tested it with several other projects and it was working, until I cleared the plug-in cache (a lot of my 3rd party plug-ins stopped working after the update). Now it's not working again.

What other software editing solutions has anyone had good luck with?

Report · Aug 30, 2018

Hi,

This will fix your problem.

This easily converts .mov files to a codec that can be imported in to the current Premier Pro. I just tried it and it works. It's for Camtasia but works the same for Premier Pro https://www.learncamtasia.com/cool-resources/convert-alpha-movs-to-work-in-camtasia-9/

Just follow the 5 min video and download the files below it.

I can now import all my older .mov alpha channel videos and they work as they should do.

Report · Oct 24, 2018

It doesn't fix every scenario, but thank you for the workaround.

My case:

I updated After Effects during the last days.

1. I'm working on an urgent AE project... The project has 30 .mov files (from a DJI Phantom Pro 4). Out of nowhere, an error message appears: "this .mov file is damaged or no longer supported" while i'm editing a totally different .mov file.

2. I save the project (thank god, it did save without crashing....)

3. When i try to re-open the project, After Effects refuses to launch the project and crashes after reminding me "this .mov file is damaged or no longer supported"

ADOBE!!!!!!!!!!

Report · Oct 24, 2018

This post would be more suited for the AfterEffects forum ...

After Effects

Neil

Report · Sep 23, 2018

Do install the latest QuickTime version....then re install premier pro .. this worked for me...

Just give it a try