Premier Pro VDUBMOD AVI Import Freeze!

[Rudyard]

Putting together my movie which contains a lot of sports clips.

Using premier pro 1.5 after I import the file I watch it on the monitor and trim the parts I want and it plays perfectly.

Then I insert it into the sequence and if I watch the sequence it is REALLY choppy and I dont understand why it can play it when I click on the asset but not when I watch the sequence.

It will happen even if it is the only clip in the sequence.

I am worried about spending many hours making my movie only to have it render like it plays in the sequence.

Can anyone help??

[edDV]

What are the file formats? What is the project format?

If differnet, you may need to render the area of interest to get the timeline to play.

[daamon]

Try defragging your hard drive (where the clips are stored). That might help...

[Rudyard]

Sorry, the project format is:

General
Editing mode: DV Playback
Timebase: 25.00 fps

Video Settings
Frame size: 720h 576v (1.067)
Frame rate: 25.00 frames/second
Pixel Aspect Ratio: D1/DV PAL (1.067)
Color depth: Millions of colors

For editing with IEEE1394 (FireWire/i.LINK) DV equipment.
Standard PAL video (4:3 interlaced).
48kHz (16 bit) audio.

The files are all from PAL DVD's where I took the parts I wanted with DVD shrink, then converted the VOBS with auto gordian knot using the XVID codec. When that finishes I am left with an avi (AVI codec info says xvid mpeg4 video and ac3 acm audio) which I then convert with DIKO which changes it to an MPG file which both my programs will open (premier pro and roxio easy media creator 7). The AVI codec detailed info for the DIKO file is: Video Mpeg2 (SVCD/DVD) Audio Mpeg audio layer 1.

(I do all this because it is the only way that seems to work in getting VOB files converted to a format that premier or roxio easy media creator will open. Roxio for e.g. will play and use these files without any problem what so ever but it is a very limited program and I would prefer the extra abilities of Adobe premier and Encore DVD)

Thanks for helping me it is much appreciated.

[Rudyard]

It was recently defragged daamon but I will do it again and see.

BTW my system is a Laptop:
P4 2.8ghz
1 gig ram

[daamon]

Hi Rudyard,

So, I glean you're looking to convert DVD VOBs to a format that you can edit? If so:

1. Download and install the Panasonic DV Codec.
2. Load the VOBs into VirtualDubMod.
3. In VirtualDubMod, set the Video Compression to the Panasonic DV Codec (other codecs don't work sometimes, and the Panasonic one is good).
4. Save out the VOBs as DV AVI.
5. DV AVI is native to Premiere and is the best format for it to work with. And DVD to DV AVI retains very good quality too (in my experience).

You method is using a lot of conversions, and the Xvid codec is high compression - quite possibly the cause of the problem.

Let us know how you get on...

[Rudyard]

Wow thanks daamon, im glad you seem to be following me around lately as your a wealth of knowledge!!!

Yeah I have had a heap of prob's converting VOB's but what I was doing at least seemed get them into premier but obviously i am having trouble!

btw I selected the Panasonic code in VDM and when I save it I dont get the option to save as DV AVI only AVI OGG or MKV. Does selecting the Panasonic codec automaticall mean it will be a DV AVI?

I did a quick test (im at work and my other clips are at home) but doing what you said worked, the test I did played perfectly with the VDM Avi and stuttered with the same clip converted how i was doing it.

The only problem is the VDM file doesnt seem to have sound in premier but if I open it through windows media player I only get sound and a blue background without video!

But as long as it works in premier (and later encore) is all that matters. Am i missing a setting for the sound or something??

If I hit Melb one day I owe you a beer for all the help you keep giving me, thanks a lot.

[edDV]

"The files are all from PAL DVD's where I took the parts I wanted with DVD shrink, then converted the VOBS with auto gordian knot using the XVID codec. When that finishes I am left with an avi (AVI codec info says xvid mpeg4 video and ac3 acm audio) which I then convert with DIKO which changes it to an MPG file which both my programs will open (premier pro and roxio easy media creator 7). The AVI codec detailed info for the DIKO file is: Video Mpeg2 (SVCD/DVD) Audio Mpeg audio layer 1. "

That's alot of format conversion. Unless you buy the Mainconcept MPeg2 editing plugin, Premiere will want you to convert VOB to DV for editing on the timeline and then export the result back to MPeg2 for a DVD.

If you go this route, it's better to convert during file import so the bins will all be in DV format for quick editing. If you just drag a MPeg2 to the timeline, you will have to wait for the format conversion to DV.

For high end volume work, consider buying the plug-in ($250). Otherwise consider a MPeg2 editor as described above.

For sound, Premiere will directly accept PCM but AC-3 format would need external conversion as far as I know.

[daamon]

Wow thanks daamon, im glad you seem to be following me around lately as your a wealth of knowledge!!!

No problem - It's purely coincidence. It just so happens you're learning about stuff I'm interested and involved in - and I was in your position and level of knowledge not too long ago, so I know your frustrations and am happy to help anyone if I can.

P.S. Nice top you're wearing, that's my favourite colour...

btw I selected the Panasonic code in VDM and when I save it I dont get the option to save as DV AVI only AVI OGG or MKV. Does selecting the Panasonic codec automaticall mean it will be a DV AVI?

Select AVI. The codec is a DV codec, so it'll be DV AVI.

The only problem is the VDM file doesnt seem to have sound in premier but if I open it through windows media player I only get sound and a blue background without video!

But as long as it works in premier (and later encore) is all that matters. Am i missing a setting for the sound or something??

You said earlier that the audio was AC3. When you're extracting your clips from the DVD(s), see if there's anyway you can extract WAV audio (if it exists) rather than the Dolby Digital or DTS. The WAV audio will work just fine in Premiere.

Failing that, use VirtualDubMod to save the AC3 to WAV and then use that in Premiere instead of the audio associated with the video clip. In VirtualDubMod: Streams -> Stream List -> Save WAV.

If I hit Melb one day I owe you a beer for all the help you keep giving me, thanks a lot.

Deal. But, being an Englishman, I can drink my beer so bring plenty of cash...!!!

[Rudyard]

Ok here is my update.

I appear to have found a problem that was confusing me a bit. Working at home none of the converted AVI's would open on my laptop in premier. It just said importing files and stayed there forever (which is why I ended up doing all that converting, because it would open).

But when trying the same files on the computer at work they import no problem so there is obviously something wrong with my laptop.

The sound thing was just as you said, and it works fine now.

So until I find out why my laptop wont open the files I will just use the work computer when I get the chance.

So thanks very much ed and daamon I have learnt a lot from this and my project is fun again rather than frustrating!

Deal. But, being an Englishman, I can drink my beer so bring plenty of cash...!!!

Being convicts and all, we learnt how to handle our beer, there was nothing else here when you English lads dropped us off!!!

[daamon]

The sound thing was just as you said, and it works fine now.

So until I find out why my laptop wont open the files I will just use the work computer when I get the chance.

So thanks very much ed and daamon I have learnt a lot from this and my project is fun again rather than frustrating!

Glad you're in a position to move forward, and that you're enjoying it again. Get used to the frustration though...

Deal. But, being an Englishman, I can drink my beer so bring plenty of cash...!!!

Being convicts and all, we learnt how to handle our beer, there was nothing else here when you English lads dropped us off!!!

Mind you, you girlie Aussies drink your beer from "pots" and "schooners". Pints man, that what you should be drinking from. Pints...

Where in Aus are you?

[Rudyard]

Yeah the one thing I have learnt that I know for sure is that the frustration is endless!

Im in the south of Sydney and just had a few to many beers over the Easter weekend!

Pints are the go you reckon, im heading to England in Sept, I will get laughed at if I ask for a schooner will I!

[mike909]

I'm having exact same problem as 'rudyard' on one computer I can convert with virtualdubmod and import the resulting avi into premier with no issues. The other computer premier just hangs on 'importing file' forever. Not sure why. With premier pro 1.5 I can import the vob directly if I rename it to *.mpg, but editing is real jerky and not good if I need to do any real detailed editing. Basically what I have been doing is importing the vob directly into premier and then exporting that clip from the timeline as 'movie' which is dv avi. Then I import that avi into the project and can edit that fine. I wish I could just use virtualdubmod as that is a much cleaner method. Hope one of us eventually figures out why this is happening.

[Rudyard]

Mike,

I assumed it was something with using a laptop but if you are getting the same problem (yours is a desktop right??) then there must be something else causing this.

Ill try and check some details on the 2 comp's im using and see if there are any differences in software versions or what and maybe if things are different we can compare and see if thats a problem?

[edDV]

I'm having exact same problem as 'rudyard' on one computer I can convert with virtualdubmod and import the resulting avi into premier with no issues. The other computer premier just hangs on 'importing file' forever. Not sure why. With premier pro 1.5 I can import the vob directly if I rename it to *.mpg, but editing is real jerky and not good if I need to do any real detailed editing. Basically what I have been doing is importing the vob directly into premier and then exporting that clip from the timeline as 'movie' which is dv avi. Then I import that avi into the project and can edit that fine. I wish I could just use virtualdubmod as that is a much cleaner method. Hope one of us eventually figures out why this is happening.

It happens because Premiere does not edit MPeg2 natively. It requires MPeg2 to be converted first to your project format. Conversion takes lots of number crunching and that is why it grinds to a halt until the conversion finishes. You will also suffer some quality loss due to double format conversions if a DVD is your goal.

Mainconcept offers a plugin that allows Premiere Pro to edit MPeg2 directly as a project format and allows most Premiere Pro effects and filters to be used. It is intended for serious users and is priced at $250 (recently discounted to $219). I demoed this at NAB last year and it worked just like you were editing DV format with similar speeds.

http://www.mainconcept.com/mpeg_pro.shtml#standard

If you don't need Premiere effects and filters, you will be able to find a less expensive Mpeg2 editor.

[Rudyard]

edDV,

The only reason he is using an mpeg2 file is because on one computer the DV AVI which premier pro should import (converted with vritualdubmod) just hangs on importing asset. On his second computer it imports the converted DV AVI no problem like it is supposed to.

I have the exact same problem.

He is importing DV AVI files but they never import, just sit there indefinately saying 'importing asset' which is why he has resorted to trying to use the mpeg directly.

We have to work out why some computers are having problems importing the DV AVI's and others work fine. So far Im stumped!

[edDV]

I can't think of any computer spec issue that would cause a DV file to open in Premiere on one machine and not in another other than install, memory or disk space issues.

[Rudyard]

I will reinstall again and see if that helps. I have 1gig of mem so unless something is chewing it up (which i dont think is happening, anyone know how to minimise all non essential processes??) it shouldnt be an issue as that is what the other comp. has.

Disk space, well I have about 10 gig free but ill see if I can free up some more, the desktop opens with less free space but that is a 120gig hardisk as opposed to the 60 gig on the laptop. Maybe there is something in that, I dont know.

[daamon]

...anyone know how to minimise all non essential processes??

Check out enditall2.

[dcsos]

The files are all from PAL DVD's where I took the parts I wanted with DVD shrink, then converted the VOBS with auto gordian knot using the XVID codec.

Have you tried putting the XVID encoded 'selects' from your DVD's
into PREMIERE directly? The only reason I could think they won't play is if GORDION KNOT encodes the audio at VARIABLE BIT RATE..changing this to CONSTANT makes a XVID with companion audio usable in premiere...

Ed DV is right when he says its best to work with other than MPGs in premiere, but if these files play on the timeline in premier there wouldn't be much lost with the single conversion...
and the choppy ness may be due to one of the following
1.FIELD ORDER experiment with this setting
2. 25 fps vs 29.97 keep your material at the pal rate
3. GOP structure. DVD files have a repeating STRUCTURE known as
Group Of Pictures (GOP) if their joining is not finnessed, problems can result in what needs to be smooth playback

[mike909]

Yes, as Rudyard explained, the only reason for importing the vob(which I rename to *.mpg) directly into premier is because the DV AVI from vdubmod won't import for some reason. I don't think it's machine specs because the one where it works fine (at work) is a much older slower machine, where the one that won't work is a new athlon64, 1gig ram, 300gig sata raid0, etc. I am familiar with memory tweaking and how to stop all non-essential processes, plus a gig of ram is plenty (compared to 256 which is what the machine that works has) so I don't think it's a memory issue. I do think it's something to do with codecs/software installed, because on my new machine that can't import the vdub dv avi's I don't have much of anything installed, but on my older machine I have all sorts of codecs and software packages installed for divx/xvid conversions. I also don't see much use for the mainconcept plugin, because I actually don't want to do much editing in mpeg2 format. The first thing I do with the imported mpg's in premier is save them out as avi's. These dvd clips are usually being mixed with DV and still's so I am required to encode the final entire project to mpeg2 anyways (for dvd).
Rudyard,
do you happen to have powerDVD 5 installed on your machine that can't import the vdub'd avi's?

[mike909]

Update:
Rudyard,
Yes both machines are desktops with xp pro. What I will try to do tonight is import the vdub'd avi's from my work computer into premier on my home machine. This way I can tell if it something with the export process that's different in vdubmod (though I am using uncompressed rgb allways). Another thing I will try is the vdub-mpeg2 version, allthough I think that vdubmod is the same thing with more plug-ins. Also found this thread on vdub's forums which shows someone having a similiar (though not exact same) problem...
http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=9205&hl=premier&s=307d50ad91d9546d...5cf03927912e05
I have personally tried disabling the audio track, so I know it's not an issue with premier not liking the .ac3 audio.
I am also wondering if this problem should be under a different forum thread heading?
"Premier Pro Video works in monitor, choppy in sequence??" doesn't really explain the issue.

[Rudyard]

Mike909,

No I dont have powerDVD5 but I do have Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 on both machines. It can open them on the work machine, will have to double check but I am sure it also opens them at home.

I can change the forum heading as originally it this was not the issue but this is where it ended up. What would you like it called??

[Rudyard]

Well something interesting. I just tried disabling the sound stream from VDubmod and with just the video it imported straight away. So it must have not been liking the AC3 sound.

I further tested this by converting some mpegs I captured from VCR to DV AVI in vdubmod with the same panasonic DV codec and they import with sound no problems (as the sound was not ac3).

BUT then the video was choppy again, even in the monitor this time. With sound or without sound. And to also add more problems Premier would not open the wav file I created to replace the AC3 stream in vdubmod which the other computer does. However saving a wav from my captured mpegs opens perfectly so it is something about the ac3 that the laptop does not seem to like. Maybe I need some sort of AC3 codec?? I remember mucking around with BSWEET at one point on the work computer could that have put some AC3 codec that works on the computer that I need??

ALL FILES that had problems on the laptop work fine on the work computer, even the saved wav files which premier tells me on the laptop are 'damaged or unsupported' open and play on the work computer. All the video plays smoothly.

And now for the final weird thing, I copied a file to the laptop that I created on the desktop. I had saved the DV AVI in Vdubmod and saved a wav file, opened them on the desktop put them together and then exported it as a DV AVI in premier. This file openes straight away on the laptop and plays in the monitor but when put it in a timeline and play it in the sequence it plays back but again it is a little choppy!!

So I wonder if my problem after all this is a combination of something missing (codec, software, i dont know) that makes premier stall whenever AC3 audio is around AND maybe the hardware of the laptop has trouble running AVI in premier.

And dcsos and Daamon, thanks I will try your ideas!

[mike909]

Rudyard,
If I were you, I'd chane the topic to somethign like "premier avi import freeze" or "can't import vdubmod avi's in premier", just to maybe attract some other people who have had this issue (cross fingers). Anyways, I am now going to try and import the avi's that I made with the work machine(with vdubmpg2&vdubmod). We'l see what happens.
Oh and reading your last post....that sounds like the problem that guy was having in the vdub forums. I could swear ive tried the same thing (disabling hte audio track, but I will go ahead and try that again) anyways, still doesn't explain that the files work fine on one comp and not on the other...will let you know where I get.

[mike909]

UPDATE:
Ok, well what I was doing in vdubmod was clicking streams-->streams list, then simply clicking the little speaker thingy so it's greyed out. I guess that was not actually disabling the audio track, because when I hit the 'disable button' then exported the avi, it imported into premier just fine (just like the issue the guy was having on the vdub forums). Sooo....I can't export the .wav from the stream list either ( i never have been able to), but what I do is demux out the .ac3 file and then use beLight (which is a gui front end for besweet). After converting the audio from .ac3 to .wav it them imports into premier fine and I can throw it on the timeline. I have not yet done this with a long clip yet, so I don't know if audio sync will become an issue. I guess the remaining questions are: "is there a plugin to enable premeir to handle ac3 audio?" and/or "why can't I play the .wav file from vdubmod in anything (inlcuding media player, powerdvd, premier etc)?"

[Rudyard]

So it seems we both have got past the 'import freeze' stage as that was caused by AC3 sound it seems. I still dont understand why though one computer will open it and the other wont. It must be some sort of CODEC or software that is allowing one computer to open it and the other to struggle.

With the sudio sych, I have found (and my clips are all short - under a minute) that the audio ends slightly before the video on most clips.

[mike909]

Yes, I am now able to import the avi if I disable the audio stream in vdubmod on the bad machine. But as you said, doesn't explain why premier can import the avi fine on the other machine (with ac3 audio in the avi)...so here is a screen of the 'file info' according to premier on the machine that works fine....Notice the part that sais "compatable compressor"...I need to compare this with a file-info on the machine that doesn't import it.

[mike909]

Rudyard,
On a side note, if your interested, I opened up a new thread in the audio forum which is kind of related to this....it's about how to import 5.1 channel audio files (from a dvd source) into premeir and have it recognize them as 5.1 channels.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=264612

[Rudyard]

Thanks mike ill check it out.