This file has no audio or video streams

[Rovingfilmer]

Hi,

I have been out filming all day with my Canon XA20 at 28mbps, 50fps and in MP4 mode.

When I try and import my MP4 video files into Premier Pro CS6 (which is fully upto date) I get this error message -

This file has no audio or video streams.

Now this only happens with MP4 file types. I normally record in AVCHD but this camera has a feature that allows you to switch between MP4 and AVCHD, so today I shot in MP4.

I have no idea why this is happening, everything is upto date and the camcorder works just fine. When I try and import any other file type other the MP4 premier pro opens it fine, but with MP4 I always have this problem.

[excited_Genie16B8]

Or upgrade to CC.  There are a LOT of nice improvements.

[Rovingfilmer]

Could you post me a link please?

[excited_Genie16B8]

Click the big red A in the top left of every page.  You'll find it.

[Rovingfilmer]

Thank you.

Well lets hope upgrading solves the problem!

[Rovingfilmer]

Until they bring out a stand alone upgrade ie nothing part of a monthly fee based cloud service - I will just get the converter.

[Rovingfilmer]

Ok I will try. Is that the best MP4 to AVCHD converter? I will only be using it once. I did more filming today, from now on I am sticking with AVCHD.

[Rovingfilmer]

It will not work. I think it is because the file is 50fps, but that doesnt really make sense.

I press import, select my file and nothing happens!

[Ann Bens]

You are correct I cannot convert either. sorry I did not test upfront. I assumed it would work.

[Trent Happel]

(downloaded your sample file. Thank you for proving that) It looks like CS6 does not have proper support for this file type. Normally, it would be imported by the MPEG importer, which provides excellent playback support. In the case of your file, the MPEG importer fails the file and it gets passed to the QuickTime importer, which although it supports the file, playback is not so good. If you do not have QuickTime installed, then Premiere fails to open the file at all, since the MPEG importer does not appear to support it.

With CC, we have included a number of improvements and added support to the MPEG importer, and this file imports and plays at full frame rate (since it is being imported by the MPEG importer).

Please feel free to submit a bug for CS6:

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

[Rovingfilmer]

Hi Trent thank you for providing the answer I was looking for - I have found a bug.

The problem is you see I would rather just upgrade to CC and load up CC like I load up premier pro cs6. What I mean is I would like the new editing software but I find the fact you have to pay a monthly fee a bit daft. Can I get CC without paying a monthly fee?

I bought the production premium package you see, which is quite expensive, if I was to upgrade to CC I would at least like to know I own it, rather than rent it monthly as part of a bigger service.

Also do you know of an MP4 converter that will retain the 50fps and convert to AVCHD? 

[Trent Happel]

CC is a month to month or annual membership.

For work in CS6, your .mp4 files stil have all the frames, it's just the playback that is not full frame rate. One possible workaround to the playback is to place your files in a TImeline Sequence, add an Adjustment layer in trck above and then add a Brightness & Contrast effect to the Adjustment layer, with both values set to zero (basically, file is unaffected but requires rendring). Render Effects in Work Area and now you should have full frame rate playback.

If you want to convert the files, you could try exporting them to H.264 within Premiere or AME. There will be some generational loss, so you could try a sample export to see if the quality is acceptable to you. You could try Format: H.264, 1920x1080, Frame Rate: 50, Profile: High, Level:4.2, Bitrate Encoding: VBR 1 pass, Target Bitrate [Mbps]: 35, enable 'Use Maximum Render Quaility'. These settings closely match the attributes of your supplied file.

And I think you already realize this, but if you continue to stay with CS6, then I would recommend that you record AVCHD.

I hope this helps.

[Rovingfilmer]

Hi thanks for the advice Trent. This is the best solution so far! I have been AFK for a while doing work but I am back now. I will give this a go tonight and let you know how I go.

From now on its AVCHD all the way. MP4 seems to be anti social.