Premiere 6

[DiGNAN17]

This one goes out to, obviously, any users of Adobe Premiere 6.

Say I've edited a file. I want to save it as a video file. In 6 there are several options, and usually I just choose Windows Media because I like it and I can create good quality files at small sizes. However, I'm trying to make a VCD. This means I'm going to have to choose another format if I'm not going to want to sit around all day while the WMF is converted to MPEG. The problem is I can't find a way to save the timeline to a good quality MEPG. There are options in Export Timline>Movie tosave to the MPEG format, but they all look like crap! My solution was in that same place, I saved as Microsoft DV which produces an AVI file. That's easier to convert, but they're HUGE, especially if working with a 37 minute long file as I am.

Does anyone know the settings to export a normal, lossless MPEG from the Premiere timeline?

[EricB]

Premiere's mpeg encoder is useless. You can buy plug-ins from Panasonic, Ligos, or CinemaCraft. Or go the free route and use avisynth to frameserve to TMPGenc. Tutorials are on this site.

[DiGNAN17]

Thanks for the help. I got all the way to running the frameserver, but when I got to the step of opening the thing up in TMPGenc, I got an error:
"Unable to connect to IPC
Frame server down??"

What's the deal? I tried opening the thing in WMP and got the same error. I'm opening the part0.avs file in c: but it's not working! argh!

[mamapajama]

I have had great success with exporting a BMP sequence first from Premiere. Choose no compression and a frame size of 352x235 (or whatever ratio best matches your project) You could export with a larger frame size but this method keeps each file down to a reasonable size...it's going to have to scale it to 352x240 anyway right? Don't forget to also export the sound track as a .wav file. After all has renedered, import the BMP sequence and the .wav file into TMPGenc and create your VCD compliant MPEG-1 from there. This method only requires Premiere 6 and TMPGenc...no additional plug ins or programs needed. Good Luck!

[marhart71]

HI,
Make sure in premiere you´re capture preview is set to screen. Also uncheck the Directshow multimedia file reader.
(It´s under option....env. setting.....vfapi tab)
I hope it works then

[DiGNAN17]

Thanks for the help fellas. Unfortunately, the bitmap method would be entirely to large and take a whole lot of time. I've only got a 550Mhz machine, after all, and the video I'm making is ~38 minutes long. And as for the settings changes, I made both of them and got the same error message.

Anyway, I tried a different codec and used one of the MPEG4 settings. I get bizzare artifacts on still images, but the video is pretty good, the file is relatively small, and TMPGenc can convert it. I made the original file last night, and while I'm at work TMPGenc is working at converting it. Hopefully I'll have my finished product tonight.

Thanks everyone!

[PhArAoH]

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On 2001-12-20 16:31:53, DiGNAN17 wrote:
Thanks for the help. I got all the way to running the frameserver, but when I got to the step of opening the thing up in TMPGenc, I got an error:
"Unable to connect to IPC
Frame server down??"

What's the deal? I tried opening the thing in WMP and got the same error. I'm opening the part0.avs file in c: but it's not working! argh!


</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>


When frameserving to TMPGenc, make sure to enable random access option in the plugin dialog box. This is a must in Premiere 6.

[EricB]

DiGNAN17:
Try turning off Direct Show Filters in TMPGenc: Option > Environmental Setting > VFAPI Plug-In > uncheck Direct Show

[DiGNAN17]

Thanks guys. I had random access checked and made sure of it.

I had already done the Direct Show thing and it still didn't work (it was mentioned by someone earlier).

But thanks anyways guys. Eventually I think I'll buy a decent codec. How much do they cost and where in the world would I get them?

[DiGNAN17]

Holy crap! I looked up those codecs (Ligos and Cinemawhatever, I couldn't find Panasonic's), and how do they expect us to pay for that stuff? $175 to $250 for a simple little codec??? I just want to make a damn MPEG file!! Argh. Are there any GOOD free MPEG codecs?

[JHebert]

You can try bbMPEG which is freeware and is available as both a standalone encoder and also a plugin that works with Premiere.
You can find it in the '"Tools" section here or at
http://members.home.net/beyeler/bbmpeg.html
I understand it works with Premiere 5 however I'm not sure about Premiere 6. Check the FAQ on the bbMPEG page for installation tips.
I have used bbMPEG with Flask and while it is not as good quality as TMPGEnc it is not bad and its free.