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Move multiple clips at once

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
June 19, 2014
19 replies
81110 views

I often have to move multiple layers of clips or still images and keep their position relative to each other. In AE and in PS I can select multiple layers and drag their position around freely, but in Premiere Pro, I can only drag one layer at a time. Bouncing to AE is not a solution for me because everything I work with needs to be timed with multiple layers of audio at all times. Nesting is not a solution for me because I need to be able to adjust each layer independently as well. This is a feature I would use (and did use in FCP) dozens of times every day! I really need this. Any chance it's coming in a future update?

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Ant Fau

Known Participant

2022 and this basic editing feature is still a huge PIA for anyone editing using any kind of lyering of text or images...

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LuKBM

Participating Frequently

I just went through this entire thread and realized it's more than 7 years old... I find it very curious that such a basic feature is still not available today.

Kevin-Monahan

Community Manager

LuKBM,

Sorry. All things are possible with software. That said, not all things have priority - especially when After Effects can accomplish this and there are not that many feature requests built up from users over the years.

My suggestion is to upvote an existing bug, one that has the most traction. Here's one: https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911233-premiere-pro/suggestions/38069215-allow-us-to-move-multiple-clips-position-at-once

I'd be happy to advocate for the request. The devs cannot read minds, they need feedback. If everyone reading this could upvote the above request, it could help.

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community & Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio

MZTVPD

Participant

Going to revive this thread as another frustrated FCP user moving over to Premiere. It was such a basic "feature" I took for granted in FCP that I just couldn't believe this has not been addressed in so many years.

Nesting has its uses but I general avoid it, for reasons others have expressed. I'm being told that an Adjustment Layer allows Transform effects, but it doesn't seem to take so I'm not sure what's going on (CC 2018).

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rikkd

Participant

We are less than 2 weeks from 2020. I have CC2020 installed and still this can not be done inside PP.

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seryu5

Participant

Found a soultion for this on Premiere Pro CC.

You have to select all of the objects on the timeline, then right click ---- create secondary sequence. Then you add the sequence to the timeline. By clicking on it in the video, you can drag it around the screen, and move it's position, and size.

Hope this helps.

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Anonymous

Ctrl + Track select forward tool + click in the upper left corner of the timeline (or anywhere else, probably), and that's it.

marievb_

Participant

He's not asking to change it in the timeline, but in the frame. The position. In the frame. Change it. Multiple things. A bundle. He (We) wants to.

Kevin-Monahan

Community Manager

Hi Squidbillies,

This is a feature I would use (and did use in FCP) dozens of times every day! I really need this. Any chance it's coming in a future update?

We really don't announce any features we are planning for the future. Your ask falls in the category of a feature request. Please make that here: https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911233-premiere-pro/suggestions/38069215-allow-us-to-move-multiple-clips-position-at-once (note: updated link to User Voice request with the most traction)

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community & Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio

yash-lucid

Inspiring

It's nearly a decade... is this possible by now?

Warren Heaton

Community Expert

It would be great to see this in Premiere Pro, but it only has three votes.

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Chris_UK

Participating Frequently

This is probably my biggest frustration about Premiere Pro after being able to easily select then move/resize multiple clips in the frame in FCP7. As soon as you select two or more clips in Premiere Pro, the motion and opacity controls disappear and get replaced with the unhelpful "multiple clips selected" message.

I still keep hoping I'm missing something obvious that will let me do this simple task!

Ann Bens

Community Expert

Do one clip, copy, select all others, rightclick Paste Attributes.

Kevin-Monahan

Community Manager

Hi Kevin, I resurrected this old thread today so I'm not sure if the original poster is still around but thanks for the replies.

The After Effects work around is quite long winded for what seems like a very simple task, but I do appreciate your point about how FCP was designed differently from the beginning. I'm sure it's not the case of just changing a couple of lines of code in Premiere, unfortunately! Hopefully the "multiple clip parameter editing" and "horizontal/vertical lock" features can be implemented in the future.

If anyone else would like these please submit feature requests! http://www.adobe.com/go/wish

Hi Chris,

Hi Kevin, I resurrected this old thread today so I'm not sure if the original poster is still around but thanks for the replies.

Sure, no problem.

The After Effects work around is quite long winded for what seems like a very simple task, but I do appreciate your point about how FCP was designed differently from the beginning.

Indeed, it really seems that way from the outset, but AE launches really fast these days. You can set up these kinds of comps very quickly and be back in Premiere Pro in no time. Remember how Motion and FCP used to work together? I think of it in the same way.

Sure it would be better if Premiere Pro had all the goodies FCP had (like this feature), but it's a totally different application and so you may have to adjust your expectations.

I'm sure it's not the case of just changing a couple of lines of code in Premiere, unfortunately! Hopefully the "multiple clip parameter editing" and "horizontal/vertical lock" features can be implemented in the future.

That's often the case, but the question is then "when would we have the time to write and test that code when there are 800 priorities ahead of it?" The key is feature requests. The more we get for any one feature, the faster it rises to the top of the list of priorities.

If anyone else would like these please submit feature requests! http://www.adobe.com/go/wish

You have the right idea. Thanks!

Kevin

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community & Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio

shooternz

Legend

Here is a way of achieving that.

Create a sequence (as if its a AEFX Comp) and Nest it in the edit sequence.

SquidbilliesAuthor

Participating Frequently

Nesting is sometimes useful, but most if the time for me it's just not practical. Blocking and scale becomes locked and any changes you wish to make to any of the layers has to be made from inside the new comp. When you are making a lot of changes and every has to be timed with multiple layers of audio that are also not locked, it just doesn't work at all. I have tried every tool I can find in Premiere and there really is no sufficient substitute.

shooternz

Legend

Blocking and scale becomes locked and any changes you wish to make to any of the layers has to be made from inside the new comp.

You can "open up" the nested sequence in the edit sequence by clicking on the Nest Icon in the timeline.

The nest just serves as the method to mass manipulate motions,cale etc as you requested. Basically the same as AEFX where one selects all the layers in the comp to do the same.

Seems that if neither will be practical for you ...you need a new "technology". Try Smoke maybe.

Ann Bens

Community Expert

Try the Track Selection Tool

In CC7 it selects multiple layers at once. For one layer hold down shift.

CC14 its a two way street.

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excited_Genie16B8

Legend

You can select as many clips on as many tracks as you want, and they will move as one.

SquidbilliesAuthor

Participating Frequently

I don't mean move the tracks in the timeline, I mean move the position of the images in the Program window. When you select Position in the Effects Controls panel, you are given a wireframe around the image/footage of that item in the Program window. From there you can drag that image around to the position you want it. I need to be able to select multiple layers (for me, often multiple image files or photoshop files with alpha channels) and reposition them in the Program window simultaneously.