Premiere Pro- video in source but not program monitor

[adepew07]

I did a fairly extensive search to this problem and was unable to find a solution. I unwisely had a DVD made of my 16 mm film. After looking at it I want to edit it (it's been several years and it doesn't hold up) tp be able to use it for an editing reel. So my problem may be two fold.

First, I have been trying to get the .vob files into .avi using this wonderful form. I have sucessfully done that. I was able to get it into divx but unable to get it uncompressed. I tried several times through several different methods. So part one is okay...so far.

Next, I imported the avi into Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5. It shows up in the source montior but not in the program monitor. The program monitor (the one on the right) shows just black. I can't get this to show any of the video that is on the timeline.

I feel it may be the fact that my computer has integrated graphics. My specs are as follows.
P4 2.67
Win XP SP1
512MB RAM
Intel Extreme (845GV) Integrated Graphics
250 GB External HD which houses the video clips.

Thanks for any help.

[edDV]

Slow down. What are you trying to do?

What is your target format (project format) in Premiere?

Is this going to DVD, or 4:2:2 or ??? as an end result?

Whatever you do, don't compress the VOB more with DivX.

Premiere has a project format.
You can import other formats into the bin.
You can sometimes preview the import without conversion from the bin. This saves hours of computation.

If you move a clip from the bin to the timeline, it won't be converted ("rendered") unless you invoke render the timeline ("work area"). Then be prepared for a wait while it converts.

[adepew07]

Slow down. What are you trying to do?

What is your target format (project format) in Premiere?

Is this going to DVD, or 4:2:2 or ??? as an end result?

Whatever you do, don't compress the VOB more with DivX.

Premiere has a project format.
You can import other formats into the bin.
You can sometimes preview the import without conversion from the bin. This saves hours of computation.

If you move a clip from the bin to the timeline, it won't be converted ("rendered") unless you invoke render the timeline ("work area"). Then be prepared for a wait while it converts.

Sorry. I 'll try and calm down.

Please forgive me if these questions are incorrectly phrased. I am new to premiere and seemed to be starting out on a bad foot with DVD as my source material.

I plan to end back on DVD at 4:3. I tried to import the DVD directly but was unable to or to find out how to. It is an uprotected DVD which was transferred from a film I directed and edited several years ago. I got the impression that going to divx was a bad idea. Plus the footage looked a lot softer.
When I started the project I selected DV-NTSC Standard-48 KHz. (Is that the problem?) I am at work right now and can't test another setting.

I have tried with several clips I have on my computer and some of them showed up in both monitors but many did not. I got a 68mb Xvid of a tv show to show up.
By the way thanks for the quick reply.

[edDV]

1st, you will get a much better result if you start over and get the film transferred properly. If you are on a budget talk to these people.
http://www.3516.com/
http://3516.com/16mm.html

Higher end more costly solutions are available.

To make the best of what you have, I assume this is a NTSC interlaced transfer to DVD?

Adobe project settings can be DV-NTSC Standard-48 KHz audio (interlaced) or you may want to inverse the 3:2 (ie IVTC back to progresive frames and author 23.976 progressive uncompressed). Try it the first way first. If there is audio, let us know.

Import the VOB. If it plays in the preview monitor that is good. If it doesn't play you may need to demultiplex the VOB to MPeg2 video and audio. Next place the VOB on the timeline.

If you don't need to edit, define the workspace with the yellow line at the top. Under "timeline" select "render work area" This will take time while it converts the VOB (aka "conforms") to the project settings. This will create a huge tmp file so you will need disk space. What is actually happening is the MPeg2 (VOB) is being converted to interlaced DV format.

Now the file will play in the right "project timeline' window.

If you like it, next step is the File - Export Timeline - Adobe MPeg2 Encoder with DVD settings (default is 7Mb/s VBR single pass). You may want to change this to 8 Mb/s CBR for better quality. Then encode the DVD MPeg2. The MPeg2 will then be authored to a DVD with your authoring program.

An alternative is the Quick DVD for DVD preview of just the MPeg2.

[aanaravs]

Converting to DVD was a bad idea, especially if you wanted to edit it. With that being said, follow these steps and you should be fine:

1. Rip the DVD or copy and paste the .VOB files onto your computer.
2. Rename the VOBs to MPEGs. If you cannot see the extensions, in the folder where your file is located go to Tools > Folder Options > View (tab) > (uncheck) hide extensions for unknown file types.
3. Download / Install MPEG2AVI
4. Convert the files to DV-AVI (not DivX or Xvid ! )
5. Open Premiere Pro
6. Import AVI files.

As a general rule, no major NLE is going to accept or like compressed files. Xvid, DivX, Mpeg files are no good for editing with the major NLEs

[edDV]

aanaravs' technique will extract the audio if there is audio.

[adepew07]

Yup. Going to DVD was just stupid. I didn't do the proper research and now I am paying for it. Before they transferred it to DVD they used DV-Cam which I also have. Sadly I don't have access to a camera that takes DV-Cam or a deck that can accept DV-Cam tapes.

Thanks for the responses. I'll give them a shot. I have tried renaming the files to mpeg but Premiere then thinks the movie is 19 seconds instead of 4:50. And the playback is very jerky. And it doesn't show up on the program monitor.
I ran the DVD through Gspot and there is a sound track but it is empty. The soundtrack to the film was separate.
Again thanks. I'll let you know how it turns out. I am just getting back into editing and have a lot to learn.

[edDV]

Try the "render workspace" step and it will probably play ok.

If you can borrow a MinDV cam, the tape import results will be far superior to the DVD. You will be working from DV format, not more highly compressed MPeg2.

[aanaravs]

edDV and adepwe07,
A lot of MiniDV cameras do not play DV-Cam decks. So, double check before renting a DV deck.

[edDV]

If it is DVCAM instead of MiniDV you will need to rent a Sony PD series prosumer camcorder but I doubt a film to DVD place would provide DVCAM format unless it was specifically requested. Most likely it is MiniDV.

[adepew07]

It is in fact DV-CAM. I wish it was MiniDV. I know several people who have MiniDv camcorders but none who have DV Cam.

I am in NYC. If anyone out there is in the vicinity of NYC and has the ability to transfer a 5 minute DV Cam tape into an editable mpeg or avi and would be gracious enough to help me out I would be eternally grateful. Or if anyone knows of a transfer place that won't charge an arm and a leg to do the transfer could you please let me know.
Thanks everyone. You have all been really helpful.

[edDV]

In NYC there is probably one within a half mile.

This place is typical. You could get a dub to a MiniDV tape or better yet a DV tranfer to a computer and then to a DVDR as a DV.avi file. 5 min DV is about 1.2 GB

Or if you have a notebook with a firewire port just transfer it to the Notebook hard drive.

http://www.hwc.tv/services.html

[adepew07]

Great! Thanks so much. I was able to get the DVD into an uncompressed avi using one of the above methods. Now it shows up in both monitors. After rendering the workspace it went smoothly. Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

[edDV]

Great! Thanks so much. I was able to get the DVD into an uncompressed avi using one of the above methods. Now it shows up in both monitors. After rendering the workspace it went smoothly. Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

The data on the DVCAM tape will be much better quality.

[adepew07]

Great! Thanks so much. I was able to get the DVD into an uncompressed avi using one of the above methods. Now it shows up in both monitors. After rendering the workspace it went smoothly. Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

The data on the DVCAM tape will be much better quality.

I am going to see about getting it transferred from the DVCAM tape. I definitely want it to look as close to the film footage as possible.
Thanks again.