Sequence settings basic questions

[aynsb]

I come from an FCP background where you had to assign a codec to every sequence, in addition to the other parameters such as resolution, frame rate, etc.  So that is not the case with Premiere, correct?  To rephrase one of the comments above, it's my understanding that Premiere sequences don't have a particular codec assigned to them at all?

If indeed Premiere does not assign codecs to its sequences, it can be confusing to use the codec-based language in the "Editing Mode" dropdown to describe a set of sequence parameters that are independent of sequence codec.  It would make more sense to me if Adobe did away with the "Editing Mode" parameter altogether and instead just included the full list of available preview file formats under the "Preview File Format" dropdown.  As it stands right now the "Editing Mode" dropdown seems pretty redundant to me, and the current functionality of the "Preview File Format" dropdown overly restrictive.

[Moderator note: branched from old thread as this is a different subject]

[R Neil Haugen]

"Editing mode" refers to the basic sequence settings, and the "preview" section only applies to previews. Quite normally, people have a very different preview preset chosen than the basic settings of the sequence itself.

Sequence settings are most commonly "derived" from the nature of the first clip dropped in the timeline area or on a "new item" icon at the bottom of the Project panel. This matches the frame-rate/size, PAR, all of that to the media being used.

In your suggested setup, one would be required to use the same say DI codec that one would need to use to do a full export, rather than be able to set previews to a much "lighter" format/codec.

I wouldn't agree with that at all. Now, as to renaming that "editing mode" nomenclature, that I'd go with. What's an "editing mode" anyway? It confuses more people than it illuminates.

Neil

[aynsb]

Thanks for the response, Neil.  I'm not sure I understand the connections you're drawing, and perhaps I haven't explained myself well.  Let's just say at the end of the day, the "Editing Mode" parameter and its connection to "Preview File Format" are very non-intuitive and clunky to me. 

[excited_Genie16B8]

The "Editing Mode" doesn't really matter a whole lot.  So long as the specs you need are available in that mode, you can use it with any media.  They're really just some common presets.

[R Neil Haugen]

"Editing mode" is the sequence settings. Frame-rate, size, audio, that defines the project.

The preview section is for previews ... which as I said above, are often at a much lower quality settings than the main sequence. Previews are the media that PrPro creates when a section isn't playing back, and you render it ... PrPro then makes previews including any effects on that clip ... and uses those for playback.

Not at all the same thing.

If my sequence settings for many projects were reduced to my preview settings, I'd have less than ideal output. Which is a "charming understatement".

Neil

[aynsb]

To clarify, I didn't say that "Editing Mode" and "Preview File Format" were the same thing.  I said that they had a relationship which didn't seem all that useful to me.

Also, I would like to clarify that "Editing Mode" does not at all appear to be synonymous with "Sequence Preset" or "Sequence Settings".  See for yourself by following this example:

• Create a new sequence in Premiere

• In the "Sequence Presets" tab, Under the ARRI/1080p group of presets, select "ARRI 1080p 23.976".  I think we can all agree that this is a sequence preset.

• Now go to the settings tab.  "Editing Mode" reads "ARRI Cinema."  This is clearly not the same as the "ARRI 1080p 23.976" preset.

• Now change any of the other settings within this settings window.  For example, change the frame rate from 23.976 to 30, the video frame size to 1280 x 720.   You have now changed the sequence settings, and they are no longer reflecting the "ARRI 1080p 23.976" preset.  Yet the "Editing Mode" remains the same, "ARRI Cinema". 

My point being that "Editing Mode" is clearly not the same as the "Sequence Preset", and does not define the entirety of your sequence settings.

From what I can tell, with this particular "Editing Mode", you can pretty much change the sequence video and audio settings to whatever you like.  The only thing that is restricted is the Video Previews settings.  You can adjust the frame size of the video previews, but the "Preview File Format" is stuck at I-Frame Only MPEG, and the "Codec" at MPEG I-Frame.  If I change the setting under the "Editing Mode" dropdown, depending on which I choose I get a different sets of Preview File Formats and Codecs available under Video Previews.  This is what I mean by there being an inherent relationship within Premiere between the Editing Mode and the Preview File Format (and preview Codec).  Adobe has chosen certain sets of allowable Preview File Formats and Codecs to go with each Editing Mode.  In the case of some Editing Modes, it appears that other sequence settings are restricted as well.

What "Editing Modes" appear to actually be are sets of restrictions placed on your sequence settings.  Perhaps it would be more informative for them to be called Camera Modes.

Alternatively, I think having a Sequence Preset dropdown in the Settings tab instead of the Editing Mode dropdown might be the most useful and intuitive- it seems that most people already confuse the two anyway. 

Lastly, though it totally makes sense that Premiere would have a certain Preview File format and Codec chosen for any one of its stock presets, I think it might be nice to allow users the freedom to change the Preview File Format to whatever they like as opposed to a predetermined set of options that Adobe has chosen to be available for a given group of presets. 

For example, I am working on a project that uses many different formats.  We’ve transcoded some into proxies in ProRes 422 (Proxy).

Much of our other footage was shot on the Sony FS7.  If I drop this footage into a timeline and let Premiere choose the Editing Mode, it chooses ARRI Cinema.  I would like to set the Preview File Format for this footage to match the proxies of our other media.  But, because “Editing Mode” defaults to ARRI Cinema, I don’t have the option of to select Quicktime/ProRes 422 (Proxy).  The only option available to me is I-Frame Only MPEG/MPEG I-Frame.  If I want to unlock other Quicktime options, I have to create a new sequence preset and choose “Custom” as the “Editing Mode.”  Which is fine, but renders useless Premiere’s functionality of matching sequence settings to a clip’s settings in this case, as it doesn't allow me to choose the preview format that I want.

Ultimately, my conclusion is that this system has some kinks, is unnecessarily prescriptive, and has some confusing language.