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RickP33
Participating Frequently
June 16, 2009
Question

The best Codec for Premiere CS4

  • June 16, 2009
  • 14 replies
  • 100215 views

I am trying to learn more about codecs, but still having trouble understanding it fully. I have a new computer, so it makes sense that I need a certain codec to install in order to view my video as I edit on Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. My footage works on Windows Media Player, and the quality is somewhat Poor when I play it on Quicktime (but at least it works).

Now a few questions I have. First, does anyone know the best codec to use for Adobe Premiere Pro? I import DV files from my camcorder, and almost all of my video files are ".avi"

Also, I notice that the codecs are different for each media player that I apply this footage to. And I simply see instructions to download the correct codec. Well first I dont know which codec would be best for my setup, plus my second question: Once I do install the correct codec, will Premiere automatically know to use that codec? Or do I have to adjust a certain setting in Premiere to make the correct codec function? I could not see any setting that allowed me to change the codec...

Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Rick Phillips

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      14 replies

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      Powered_by_Design
      Powered_by_Design
      Inspiring
      June 18, 2009

      Rick

      upload the file so others can try opening it to see if it works for us.

      Is this a video you shoot and captured ?  and if so with what did you capture it with PP 1.5 ?

      you can upload a file here under 5MB

      try that if you can

      Glenn

      Harm_Millaard
      Harm_Millaard
      Inspiring
      June 16, 2009

      Bill already said it, but it is better to repeat it, because otherwise you run the severe risk that you need to reformat your hard disk, reinstall your OS and all programs:

      DO NOT INSTALL ANY CODEC PACKS!!!

      Premiere comes with all the codecs needed for VIDEO editing.

      Since you appear pretty new to all this, I suggest you get some schooling, study tutorials and read the manual/help file.

      Otherwise you would not have mentioned that your files are AVI, since that is absolutely irrelevant. AVI is just a wrapper and for video editing the contents are relevant, meaning the codec and AVI is NOT a codec.

      R
      Runamok_USA
      Known Participant
      June 17, 2009

      I have to say that I have yet to see a post from Harm that builds someone up? What is your capacity here? to tear down every post you read and offer up a superior attitude to show the common folk how much higher and mighter you are? Maybe I am off base here and alot of you guys here respect this guy but I just gotta say you sure do come off sounded like a grouchy old man in every dang post I read of yours...What gives?

      Flame away.....

      E
      excited_Genie16B8
      Legend
      June 17, 2009

      Harm actually is a grouchy old man.  But, as he really does know his stuff, his advice is often well heeded, even if one dislikes the delivery.

      Ignore the messanger, heed the message.

      Ann Bens
      Community Expert
      Ann BensCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 16, 2009

      When capturing dv files from your camcorder you do not need to install any codec. Premiere knows excatly which one to use.

      the_wine_snob
      the_wine_snob
      Inspiring
      June 16, 2009

      Rick,

      The full-paid version of PrPro ships with and installs the main CODEC's that it needs for most work.

      If you are doing the Capture from a miniDV tape-based camera over FireWire via PrPro, your SD (Standard Definition)  files will be DV-AVI Type II, which is the base for SD work in PrPro. You do not need anything else for this.

      Now, if your Exports look bad, it is likely a setting in AME (Adobe Media Encoder). Those setting can be very important, as will the setting for your Project. What are you using for both?

      At the Export stage, some considerations need to be made. This is where other CODEC's can come in. Where do you wish to play your files? Any particular player in mind? You choice(s) here will determine if you need any additional CODEC's. Most of the Windows CODEC's (WMV files) should already be on your computer, from when you installed the OS. Vista might need its CODEC "pack," from MS. Seems that some flavors ship without the WMV CODEC's. Tell us how you wish to distribute your finished files, and someone can help you with both your settings and with the choice of CODEC's.

      Good luck, and let us know about your Project and Export settings, plus your intended delivery.

      Hunt

      PS - with the exception of the Vista CODEC Pack, if needed, I strongly recommend against installing any CODEC "packs." I also suggest that if one is going to be working with a particular CODEC a lot, that they find the true source of that CODEC and buy it, rather than go with a free version. Often, these are hacked, or reverse-engineered copies, and might not work so well.

        R
        RickP33Author
        Participating Frequently
        June 16, 2009

        Thank you for the advice so far, as I saw in the tech support, I will not be installing any codec packs. I may seem inexperienced with this type of software, but that is only because I have never encountered any problems with premiere until now. I am actually very much experienced with premiere Pro and would love to use it again once I get this problem fixed

        I only brought up codecs because the problem I was describing had everyone pointing me to getting the correct codec. Maybe you can suggest something different if I describe the issue I am having:

        The video in my project is completely black. When I import or capture anything, it only plays sound. When I drag the red line along the timeline, it shows sort of a green screen, then when I hit play it goes back to black. Again, I can hear the sound perfectly. I have bought a brand new computer with all of the system requirements, and I had upgraded to CS4 from the 1.5 version (downloaded from adobe, not shipped). My old computer has the 1.5 version and it plays my video files perfectly, and I have compared all of the project settings; all identical. I have also tested my video files on several other media players, and the picture comes clearly through every media player I have tested, except for Premiere CS4...

        So based on this info, do you know what could be causing this problem, if not a codec issue?

        Thank you very much!

        -Rick

        Harm_Millaard
        Harm_Millaard
        Inspiring
        June 22, 2009

        I'm currently trying to get help from HP right now. But 1 thing, I notice that download specifies for a notebook, and I am not working with a notebook. This is an actual desktop computer. Is there a seperate download link specifically for that? Thanks


        Rick,

        You said:

        Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS HD


        The link I gave you on the nVidia website is the driver for that video card. Just to be sure this is the correct display adapter, right click on My Computer, Properties, Device Manager, Display Adapter. Does it indeed say 9300M? I thought, but may be mistaken here, that the M version is the mobile version used in notebooks.

        Go again to http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us and select the driver for your display adapter, as you have determined with the steps above.

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