Premier Pro MOV Issues

Report · Aug 18, 2020

I have P.C. not a Mac. I have been using Filmora to edit, but I'm trying to transition to PP because it's more comprehensive. When I export an MOV from Filmora it plays on my P.C. just fine. It also plays for my clients with P.C.'s without any problems when I send them the files. However when I export an MOV from Premier Pro I get an error code saying the file isn't supported. I know I can just download a a codec pack for myself but I don't want to ask my clients to download software just to watch the video's I send them. Can anyone please explain why this happens with Premier Pro and not Filmora and is there an easy fix in Pro to allow anyone with a P.C. to view the MOV without downloading new codecs?

Report · Aug 18, 2020

Do NOT install any codec pack, its known to mess with the excisting codecs.

Post screenshot export settings.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Thank you for the warning. I have not and did not want to download any codecs, but now I def won't. Screen shot included. Thanks again.

Report · Aug 18, 2020

.MOV is a file extension. It is not a video codec. The video link might be worth watching.

https://youtu.be/nUnzq94iuJg

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Thanks for the response. However I am aware that MOV is a file extension. I was saying that a codec would allow me to watch an MOV file on a p.c. that does not support MOV extensions. I watched the video you sent however it did not address my issue. Thanks none-the-less.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

You are using Prores. Not all players will accept Prores.

Just for watching on a PC use H.264.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

I would love to use H.264, unfortunately the same clients who don't understand why the mov isn't working on their P.C. also say they will only accept an MOV so I'm stuck in a vicious cycle. Again no problems when I use my other editing software to export an MOV only when I use premier pro. And I would like to start using premier pro exclusively but first I need to figure out this problem.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Follow up question. Are you saying there is a way to export as H.264 with a MOV file extension? Or are those inherently different?

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Rowan,

As I stated MOV is the file extension. The codec could be Quick Time animation Pro Res etc. You need to use a codec that workson Mac and PC. That is why I posted my video. H.264 with the MOV extension might work. I can play certain .MOV files on my PC.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

The best way to playback files is in a player such as PotPlayer or VLC or just sending them H.264 files if it is just for previewing an ongoing project. If you send files for someone to just watch and comment there is no need using Apple ProRes unless they are going to edit the files.

H.264 files can be read without having to do anything on the computers they use.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Thanks for the response @Averdahl. The problem I have is that sending an H.264 file isn't always possible. Some of my clients are working on P.C.s but still only want me to send them an MOV file, so I don't have the option of sending them an MP4 (which is a bit more universal.) If it doesn't arrive in an MOV format they email me and tell me to resend it in the "correct" format. I've tried explaining that an MP4 is pretty much the same but they still only want an MOV. However I then run into the problem I described above, which is that the MOV is not supported by their video player. So it's a vicious circle. Again I don't have a problem if I export an MOV from Filmora. It only happens when I export an MOV from Premier Pro.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Filmfora probalby does not use Prores.

You can 'cheat' a bit: export to mp4 and then change the extension to mov befor sending it of to clients.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Oh I didn't think I could change the extension without corrupting the file. When i've done that in the past the computer gives me a warning that the file may not play. Is that just a warning because that would be an easy cheat.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Rowan,

You wrote the following below.
Oh I didn't think I could change the extension without corrupting the file. When i've done that in the past the computer gives me a warning that the file may not play. Is that just a warning because that would be an easy cheat.

I posted a video that demonstrates how to change the files exenstion without corrupting the video file.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Are they stubborn as that they will refuse to install any other software player as well...

As have been described earlier MOV is just a wrapper and they seems to not understand that or they may be working with systems that only accepts MOV files, even if they can play them back or not. What you can try is to export as H.264 and when done manually change the wrapper from .mp4 to .mov. Then they got their mov after all and they will most likely be able to playback the file.

Why are they demanding .mov?

What are they doing with the files?

Have you been giving them any solution, such as asking them to install a third party softwareplayer such as PotPlayer or VLC?

Report · Aug 20, 2020

I edit for film and tv and I don't always have direct contact with the final recipient. So I can't always tell them directly what I need to in order to make the job easier. There's usually three to four people or company's (steps) between myself and the final client. And IDK why they demand an MOV except to say that Apple/Quicktime does really good marketing, maybe. lol

Report · Aug 20, 2020

You should be able to export a .mov with the h264 codec. will check on my windows system and report back if there are any issues...

Report · Aug 20, 2020

guess I'm wrong on windows. positive you can do it on the mac...

Report · Aug 20, 2020

Thanks for checking... 😕

Report · Aug 20, 2020

ah, client control! a difficult if not impossible task. If the clients are just reviewing the video, maybe posting on vimeo would solve the problem...? If this is a valuable client, buy a cheap mac... or try and have a conversation with them asking them why they're yanking your chain.... Clients have been known to enjoy what limited power they have over you. One way to handle this is the put the ball in their court. Ask them for specific delivery format, codec, frame rate, pixel dimensions. Quicktime comes in very many flavors...

You might also try something like davinci resolve to see if it can export a usable .move

There's a free version

and you might tell us what version of premiere and windows you're using.

Will try and do a .mov export now and see if I have any issues.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

not sure what your problem is. I was able to export a prores . mov from premiere. although if I double clicked on it from the desktop, it would not play, it imports fine back in to premiere. So what's wrong with sending your clients that file... If their "video player" will NOT play the quicktime you sent them, first ask them what player they're using and then ask them to send you a quicktime file that DOES play on their system. Then see if that file will play on your system.

Report · Aug 20, 2020

and send us the properties of their .mov file. If it imports into premiere, you can control click on the clip in the bin or timeline and report that or you can use mediainfo to get the ifnohttps://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download

Report · Aug 20, 2020

One of the listed QuickTime (QT) codecs for export available in Filmora Pro for PC is Cineform (not sure about Filmora9) ... perhaps that is the QT codec you used? And it's available as a QT export option from Premiere Pro ... but can't you look at your copy of Filmora and check to see what codec it is/was encoding to?