They're here! More Muvipix.com Guides by Steve Grisetti!
The Muvipix.com Guides to Premiere & Photoshop Elements 2024
As well as The Muvipix.com Guide to CyberLink PowerDirector 21
Because there are stories to tell
muvipix.com

Import problem

Specific to Premiere Elements version 15

Import problem

Postby abgtc » Wed May 20, 2020 10:25 pm

I've been converting mkv files to mp4 for years now with AVC Video Converter. Then, just in the last few days, I've converted mkv to mp4 as usual but it fails to import into Elements, getting the error message "The importer reported a generic error." But it was converted using the same settings as always, and the mp4 files I previously converted continue to import with no problem. I use have the up-to-date Quicktime, 7.79.80.95.

Was there a recent Elements update? Or is there some other explanation anyone can think of?
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Wed May 20, 2020 11:22 pm

Okay, I now know something changed -- I realized that I'd successfully imported an mp4 file earlier today. So I tried to import the same file again and it failed, with the same error message. Maybe I should reinstall?
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Wed May 20, 2020 11:40 pm

And I just confirmed that I get the same error message trying to import an mp4 made by Elements!
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu May 21, 2020 6:49 am

I don't know anything about the AVC Video Converter. But I do know that if you use the wrong converter or the wrong settings, your end resultant video can be less editable than what you started with.

Try doing your conversion with the much more reliable Handbrake from https://handbrake.fr/

And use the settings I recommend in my tutorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlvxgVREX-Y&t

If THAT doesn't work, we'll help you dig a little deeper.

Though why are you converting your video and what are you converting it from? It may not even be necessary.
HP Envy with 2.9/4.4 ghz i7-10700 and 16 gig of RAM running Windows 11 Pro
User avatar
Steve Grisetti
Super Moderator
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 14439
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:11 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 8:10 am

Well, the good news is that Handbrake works –- it made an mp4 (actually, an m4v) that successfully imports. But I'd like to continue using AVC and there's no reason to believe AVC suddenly developed a bug. All signs point to the problem being in Elements.

I use AVC to download files from the net, which I can't find a way to do with Handbrake using Windows and Chrome. AVC downloads the files as either mkv or mp4: if the former, I use AVC a second time to convert the file to mp4 then import it into Elements; if the latter, I import it directly into Elements. And in two years of using AVC almost daily, I've never had a problem till now... and I downloaded an mkv using AVC, converted to mp4, and imported to Elements an hour earlier!

Since there's no reason to think AVC changed the way it generates mp4s in that one hour, I have to believe the sudden change is due to something in Elements.

I'd like to try reinstalling Elements; since I have my serial number, is that fairly straightforward? Uninstall, re-download, enter number?
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu May 21, 2020 8:58 am

I'm afraid I can't offer you much help if you're going to continue to use AVC. Sorry. It's outside my area of expertise.
HP Envy with 2.9/4.4 ghz i7-10700 and 16 gig of RAM running Windows 11 Pro
User avatar
Steve Grisetti
Super Moderator
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 14439
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:11 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 9:01 am

Is there a way for Handbrake to download from the net using Windows and Chrome? If not, I guess I'll download with AVC then convert with Handbrake.
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu May 21, 2020 9:04 am

Not that i know of.
HP Envy with 2.9/4.4 ghz i7-10700 and 16 gig of RAM running Windows 11 Pro
User avatar
Steve Grisetti
Super Moderator
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 14439
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:11 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 9:05 am

Okay, thanks, just one more thing; I mentioned reinstalling -- is that just uninstall, re-download, enter serial number?
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 9:47 am

I used MediaInfo on the mp4s in question. The results weren't straightforward -- no mention of a Codex, which is what I was looking for -- but there was a reference to the files in question as avi's. So I tried changing the suffixes from mp4 to avi... and they imported into Elements!

I still don't know why the mp4s which were generated by AVC and imported into Elements with no problem are suddenly "really" avi's, but I won't look a gift horse. Thanks for your time, I appreciate it.
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby Steve Grisetti » Thu May 21, 2020 6:34 pm

Yes, MP4/AVIs can be a problem. They're sort of an obsolete file format.

Glad you figured out that solution!
HP Envy with 2.9/4.4 ghz i7-10700 and 16 gig of RAM running Windows 11 Pro
User avatar
Steve Grisetti
Super Moderator
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 14439
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:11 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 7:18 pm

I didn't know that! What's the new hip happening format or formats?
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Thu May 21, 2020 9:39 pm

I thought you'd like to know that I've been working with tech support for the converter I mentioned, and we just determined that's where the problem lies. Meanwhile, if you can, let me know about the best current formats.
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Import problem

Postby Steve Grisetti » Fri May 22, 2020 6:49 am

It depends on if you're editing standard definition, high-def or UHD 4K. But you can't go wrong with standard 1920x1080 30 fps constant frame rate MP4s.
HP Envy with 2.9/4.4 ghz i7-10700 and 16 gig of RAM running Windows 11 Pro
User avatar
Steve Grisetti
Super Moderator
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 14439
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:11 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Re: Import problem

Postby abgtc » Fri May 22, 2020 7:19 am

Ah, so at least it's still mp4's, albeit a high form of them. Anyway, thanks again.
abgtc
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:42 pm


Return to PRE Version 15 


Similar topics


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests