Importing snapchat videos into Premiere, frames get removed upon playback

[CZbwoi]

So I'm making a video and imported 4 snaps into Premiere, edited everything, added things, audio, etc. Throughout the entire process I realized that the video would have missing frames upon playback when editing, but I thought nothing of it as I had a lot of programs open and whatnot, thought it was just everything going slow. Upon exporting and playing the video back though...same thing. So I figured it was something wrong with the original files, .mp4s, whatever, not complying with Premiere for whatever reason. Also thought it was because I'm rotating the video files to have it be the right way up and zooming into it, but that wasn't it either and would've made no sense. Tried to join them together in Vegas and import them...same result. VideoPad, same result. Half the frames are like dropped once you play the file inside of Premiere.

I just joined the 4 files together via My MP4Box Gui and imported it into Premiere. When clicking the file and playing it in Premiere's "source" tab, it plays fine and smooth, but once I drag the file onto the sequence/timeline and play it over there - like half the frames are gone and it's playing in potato quality. I don't get it. I tried to mess around with sequence settings to the best of my ability to see if that would fix anything, but I have no idea what I'm doing in there.

I would show you guys what I'm talking about but OBS isn't displaying what's inside of the 2 video playback boxes in Premiere upon capturing, they're simply blank.

Please help me out if you have any idea, thanks.

[poisondeathray]

Might be because of VFR (variable frame rate) .

What does mediainfo view=>text show on one of the videos ?

Can you upload a native sample that demonstrates this ?

[CZbwoi]

I think this is what you want -

For one of the snapchat videos:

General
Complete name                            : K:\car\New folder\Snapchat-1554483522.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42
File size                                : 4.89 MiB
Duration                                 : 9s 998ms
Overall bit rate                         : 4 101 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19
com.android.version                      : 7.0

Video
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : Baseline@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, ReFrames                : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP                     : M=1, N=30
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 9s 992ms
Bit rate                                 : 3 964 Kbps
Width                                    : 1 088 pixels
Height                                   : 566 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 1.922
Rotation                                 : 90°
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 30.000 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 21.053 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 65.407 fps
Standard                                 : NTSC
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.215
Stream size                              : 4.73 MiB (97%)
Title                                    : VideoHandle
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.601
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601

Audio
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 9s 998ms
Duration_FirstFrame                      : 13ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 132 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Channel positions                        : Front: C
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 160 KiB (3%)
Title                                    : SoundHandle
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:19

For the file of the joined 4 videos using My MP4Box GUI:

General
Complete name                            : K:\car\New folder\new.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom
File size                                : 17.9 MiB
Duration                                 : 36s 606ms
Overall bit rate                         : 4 103 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-12-02 07:53:49
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-12-02 07:53:49
Writing application                      : My MP4Box GUI 0.6.0.6 <http://my-mp4box-gui.zymichost.com>

Video
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : Baseline@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, ReFrames                : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP                     : M=1, N=30
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 36s 606ms
Bit rate                                 : 3 965 Kbps
Width                                    : 1 088 pixels
Height                                   : 566 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 1.922
Rotation                                 : 90°
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 30.000 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 19.080 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 67.925 fps
Standard                                 : NTSC
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.215
Stream size                              : 17.3 MiB (97%)
Title                                    : VideoHandle
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:03
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-12-02 07:53:49
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.601
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601

Audio
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 36s 598ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 132 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Channel positions                        : Front: C
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 585 KiB (3%)
Title                                    : SoundHandle
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-11-28 16:13:03
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-12-02 07:53:49

One of the snapchat videos:

[poisondeathray]

Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 21.053 fps
Maximum frame rate : 65.407 fps

VFR is likely why . When you place them into a video editor, the timeline is CFR . Usually the solution is to convert to CFR before editing . This topic comes up pretty frequently, there should be threads dealing with it . If you get stuck , ask for clarification

I'm not familiar with snapchat, but if there is an option to record CFR , do it. It will save you all this trouble

[CZbwoi]

Tried to do it with what Ann Bens posted over here and it didn't work: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2314125

Then I tried to do it myself in MeGUI, at least I think I did by selecting constant quality...and still the same result when importing it into the sequence and playing it back.

[poisondeathray]

Tried to do it with what Ann Bens posted over here and it didn't work: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2314125

Then I tried to do it myself in MeGUI, at least I think I did by selecting constant quality...and still the same result when importing it into the sequence and playing it back.

It's not "constant quality" , it's "constant framerate" . You have to convert the VFR timecodes to CFR . This usually means inserting "placeholder" frames in approximately the correct locations for low FPS VFR clips. Your clip is actually 30 FPS, it's not a good example




On your testclip that you uploaded, what do you see ?

For me, Vegas 13 has several duplicate frames, causing a jerky/pausing action, and it's missing a frame .

It's actually ok in premiere CC, newer versions handle VFR better than older versions (but that doesn't mean all clips will be ok, you can still get problems with VFR)

Not sure, but newer versions of vegas (magix) might handle VFR better.

For me, my preferred method is using avisynth with directshowsource with convertfps=true . There are other methods like FFMS2 with fpsnum/fpsden , but directshow for me is cleaner and usually has better frame placement with low fps sections .

Your clip actually isn't a good example of "VFR", but without a doubt it's the timecodes that are causing problems. In your clip, you can probably assume CFR with 30 and it work fine because it's close enough (you might even be able to remux it or patch the framerate). I'm talking about variable frame rates with large fluctuations in the FPS . That will cause all NLE's problems.

[CZbwoi]

Tried to do it with what Ann Bens posted over here and it didn't work: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2314125

Then I tried to do it myself in MeGUI, at least I think I did by selecting constant quality...and still the same result when importing it into the sequence and playing it back.

It's not "constant quality" , it's "constant framerate" . You have to convert the VFR timecodes to CFR . This usually means inserting "placeholder" frames in approximately the correct locations for low FPS VFR clips. Your clip is actually 30 FPS, it's not a good example




On your testclip that you uploaded, what do you see ?

For me, Vegas 13 has several duplicate frames, causing a jerky/pausing action, and it's missing a frame .

Probably exactly what you're describing here, the choppiness, missing frames when playing back inside of PP and exporting from there.

Can you give me step by step instructions on how to fix this then, convert the timecodes? It's been over a year since I used avisynth or anything like that, so I'm lost over there...if not that then something equally simple, I just want them fixed lossless so I can finally replace the videos inside of PP and export it.

Or if there's a way to make the sequence timeline VFR so that the problem wouldn't happen..? I don't know.

[poisondeathray]

It might be good enough just to use Premiere CC . That would probably be easiest . But if you have very variable clips, it can still have problems (as I said, your clip isn't a good example of very variable, but it's still enough to cause vegas 13 problems)

Directshow can be tricky, you have to ensure your system directshow filters are working correctly . But if your base clip frame rate was 30.0

But it's a simple script

DirectShowSource("video.mp4", fps=30, convertfps=true)

Or, you might just be able to overwrite the timecodes by muxing . That would save you having to re-encode or using avisynth. But that won't work if your other clips are more variable. That only works if your clips are essentially 30 FPS like this clip (not big changes in framerate)

[poisondeathray]

For example, using mp4fpsmod , I just forced CFR at 30 by overwritting the timecodes. Benefit is no avisynth, no re-encoding, keep the metadata (like rotation metadata), fast because just remuxing

This worked ok for vegas , 0 to 299 (=300) unique frames

"mp4fpsmod.exe" --fps 0:30 "Snapchat-1554483522.mp4" -o fix.mp4

But that only works if your clip is essentially CFR to begin with. If you had a very variable clip, forcing a CFR framerate will cause you to go out of sync and other problems. In that case, converting to CFR by one of the methods like directshow or ffms2 is the only functional solution

[CZbwoi]

It might be good enough just to use Premiere CC

How do I do that then? The properties of all 4 snaps says that they're all 30fps. Same thing for the file of them joined (muxed?) together using My MP4Box GUI.

I mean look how it's rendering out compared to that first video I uploaded so you can see what I'm talking about, this is what it does, I don't understand this:

[CZbwoi]

I just added your fix.mp4 to the sequence too and the same thing happens. I'm like 90% sure now there's something wrong with the sequence/PP settings here, something isn't compatible or clicking - and I can't flat out start over this project because all my effects, transitions, audio levels/editing were done in here, a couple hours worth, so something has to be changed inside of PP or the files I'm inserting inside (but if your fix.mp4 was supposed to work, then I guess it's not the latter).

[poisondeathray]

That's very bad. 59 out of 300 frames ?? 10fps ?

What version of PP are you using ? I would probably set the sequence and export settings to 30 manually . What do you have them set at ? The render is 10fps so your export is set to 10fps

I just added your fix.mp4 to the sequence too and the same thing happens. I'm like 90% sure now there's something wrong with the sequence/PP settings here, something isn't compatible or clicking - and I can't flat out start over this project because all my effects, transitions, audio levels/editing were done in here, a couple hours worth, so something has to be changed inside of PP or the files I'm inserting inside (but if your fix.mp4 was supposed to work, then I guess it's not the latter).

Yes it means your sequence settings are wrong. Probably set to 10. User error


If you check the "fix.mp4" with mediainfo, it's proper, and even vegas "reads" it correctly now. It should be proper in every software (at least for that video, forcing CFR timecodes won't work for very variable videos)

Not sure how you can salvage your work. I think sequences are locked, I don't think you can just change the framerate, but you can try. You might be able to nest sequences, but I think the 1st sequence is locked to whatever you set it at (10 I guess)

[poisondeathray]

Actually it worked ok. A 10fps sequence changed to 30fps revealed all the missing frames. At least in CC. Give it a try . Not sure about your timing of transitions etc... but a 4 clip edit shouldn't be difficult to redo . Or if some of your clips are very variable, then it would probably be better to do it all over with CFR and the right settings

[CZbwoi]

Sequence>Sequence Settings>Changed the timebase to 30 and the display to 30, didn't fix it at first but after restarting PP it did. I don't even know how and why that happened, why would it automatically set it to 10..?

Thanks though, problem solved.