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emilyy9561681
emilyy9561681
Participant
December 12, 2018
Answered

Premiere Pro Import: File contains a complex edit list

  • December 12, 2018
  • 15 replies
  • 32454 views

I just got my first Mac and am using Premiere Pro. I'm trying to import some screen recordings from my desktop, and only one will upload. The rest receive an error message that says "File contains a complex edit list", then a window pops up with those three clips' file names and says "We were unable to open the file on disk."

I moved them from the desktop into a folder and have the same problem. Any suggestions? Using Premiere CC 2018.

      Correct answer Trent Happel

      Premiere Pro does not currently have full support for clips with complex edit lists. The error message is letting you know the reason why the clip could not be imported.

      Until full support is added, a possible workaround it to encode the clips in another application. This should then allow Premiere to import the encoded clip.

      I also encourage you to add your request to User Voice (to support clips with complex edit lists). Premiere Pro: Hot (3536 ideas) – Adobe video & audio apps

      Hope this helps.

      15 replies

      Show previous replies
      SquidTeeth
      SquidTeeth
      Participating Frequently
      February 26, 2019

      I too am in the same boat.  Simple OS X 10.14 screen capture utility, but the video contains a complex edit list.  I have tried "Save As..." in quicktime, but still the same.  other than 60fps, i see nothing odd. I can re-encode with VLC, but more curious why.

      Any thoughts ?

      Media Info to follow

      General

      Complete name                            : /Users/zesty/Desktop/FB Notifications 1.mov

      Format                                   : MPEG-4

      Format profile                           : QuickTime

      Codec ID                                 : qt   0000.00 (qt  )

      File size                                : 16.6 MiB

      Duration                                 : 1mn 26s

      Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable

      Overall bit rate                         : 1 609 Kbps

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:53

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:55

      Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime

      com.apple.quicktime.make                 : Apple

      com.apple.quicktime.model                : MacBookPro11,2

      com.apple.quicktime.software             : Mac OS X 10.14.3 (18D109)

      com.apple.quicktime.creationdate         : 2019-02-25T16:21:09-0800

      Video

      ID                                       : 1

      Format                                   : AVC

      Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec

      Format profile                           : Main@L4

      Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames

      Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes

      Format settings, ReFrames                : 2 frames

      Format settings, GOP                     : M=2, N=60

      Codec ID                                 : avc1

      Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding

      Duration                                 : 1mn 26s

      Source duration                          : 1mn 26s

      Bit rate mode                            : Variable

      Bit rate                                 : 1 603 Kbps

      Maximum bit rate                         : 768 Kbps

      Width                                    : 1 081 pixels

      Original width                           : 1 080 pixels

      Height                                   : 837 pixels

      Original height                          : 836 pixels

      Display aspect ratio                     : 1.292

      Frame rate mode                          : Variable

      Frame rate                               : 60.000 fps

      Minimum frame rate                       : 30.000 fps

      Maximum frame rate                       : 60.000 fps

      Color space                              : YUV

      Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0

      Bit depth                                : 8 bits

      Scan type                                : Progressive

      Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.030

      Stream size                              : 16.5 MiB (100%)

      Source stream size                       : 16.5 MiB (100%)

      Title                                    : Core Media Video

      Encoded date                             : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:53

      Tagged date                              : UTC 2019-02-26 00:25:55

      Color range                              : Limited

      Color primaries                          : BT.709

      Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709

      Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

      Codec configuration box                  : avcC

      A
      alexv79269683
      Participant
      March 4, 2019

      SquidTeeth  wrote

      I too am in the same boat.  Simple OS X 10.14 screen capture utility, but the video contains a complex edit list.  I have tried "Save As..." in quicktime, but still the same.  other than 60fps, i see nothing odd. I can re-encode with VLC, but more curious why.

      Any thoughts ?

      What worked for me, is opening the file in QuickTime and choosing the 'Export' feature.

      This seems to have removed the 'complex edit list' and Premier is now happy to consume those files.

        C
        crystlike1
        Participant
        July 23, 2019

        I had the complex edit issue and this quicktime resolution worked!! Thank you. Whew!

        M
        Marcus.Jonsson
        Participant
        January 9, 2019

        Hey Emilyy9561681,

        I got the same problem today. Weird that it's still not fixed in Adobe since it's the built in screen recorder for Mac. I found that the Stream / Convert function (Shift + Cmd + S) in the VLC player did the trick. I converted my files to "Video H.264 + MP3" No errors when importing to Premiere (Pro CC 2019).

          E
          excited_Genie16B8
          Legend
          December 12, 2018

          Step 2B below will solve this.

          Unofficial Premiere Pro Troubleshooting Guide

          T
          Community Manager
          Trent HappelCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
          Community Manager
          December 12, 2018

          Premiere Pro does not currently have full support for clips with complex edit lists. The error message is letting you know the reason why the clip could not be imported.

          Until full support is added, a possible workaround it to encode the clips in another application. This should then allow Premiere to import the encoded clip.

          I also encourage you to add your request to User Voice (to support clips with complex edit lists). Premiere Pro: Hot (3536 ideas) – Adobe video & audio apps

          Hope this helps.

          ericbnpusa
          ericbnpusa
          Inspiring
          March 25, 2019

          Why would you do this?  It's been supporting this all along?  WHY  WOULD YOU CHANGE THIS ?  It doesn't make sense? 

          [Profanity removed by moderator]

            K
            Kulpreet
            Participating Frequently
            December 12, 2018

            Did you use any particular screen recording application? Post a screenshot of the MediaInfo (tree view) of your files.

            -K

              emilyy9561681
              emilyy9561681Author
              Participant
              December 12, 2018

              I used the built-in screen recording capability on Mac.

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