Importing MOV Files

[Tero Ahlfors]

What codec are the movs originally and why are you transcoding them in the first place?

[Todd Perchert]

Yes. Definitely need the specs on your original mov file, especially codec. And also the files you are transcoding to. If you want to edit, mp4 or mkv may not be your best options. More edit friendly codecs are better, such as ProRes or Cineform.
TC

[Shane Ross]

MP4 and MKV files are HIGHLY compressed, and most often NOT suited to editing. Not sure where you are getting that information, but it’s wrong. MKV should never be used for editing, and MP4…can work sometimes, but really is a delivery format, and not suited for editing.

Now…quick lesson on terminology. MOV is a “container,” as has been mentioned. It can contain one of a couple dozen codecs. ProRes, DNxHD, Animation, Sorenson, H.264, MPEG-2…list goes on and on. Picture it like a can without a label. That can might contain carrots, or green beans, or peaches, or corn. So you don’t just say to someone, “I have a can of food,” you need to say “I have a can of peaches.” So with video, you say “I have an MOV file in the ProRes codec…”

So, as people have asked, what CODEC are these MOV files. Because just like MKV and MP4, many many codecs are not suited for editing. PRORES is…DNxHD is…DNxHR…Cineform. Those are editing codecs. H.264, Animation…not so much. Adobe might CLAIM that Premiere can edit those formats…and it is POSSIBLE, but to do so, you’ll need a beefy computer with lots of RAM, fast processors and killer GPU to decode that footage in real time for smooth playback. Really, it’s best to convert the footage to an editing codec like ProRes…or the others I listed above.

So, yes, convert…but convert to the proper codec.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Jan Cowalt]

Thank ýou Shane for that eyeopening and fantastic Wrap-Up.

I found another converter which I used to convert the files to PRORES. Now it works perfectly for me.
Thanks a lot guys

[Jon Doughtie]

In the future you can easily use Media Encode for conversion. No need to hunt down another fie converter.

VLC Media Player is pretty handy for quickly finding out what codecs are hidden inside the wrapper. Press CTRL+J while a clip is playing.

System:
Dell Precision T7600 (x2)
Win 7 64-bit
32GB RAM
Adobe CC 2017.1 (as of 8/2017)
256GB SSD system drive
4 internal media drives RAID 5
Typically cutting short form from UHD MP4, HD MP4, and HD P2 MXF.

[Graham Tees]

The (free) MediaInfo program is also very useful for finding out all the details of the file.

[David Rigg]

“Picture it like a can without a label.”

Speaking of Cans without labels…

My .Mov files (Prores codec) don’t seem to have thumbnails in Windows Explorer. Any way to force Windows to see a preview? The stock agencies are able to generate a thumbnail, but I have to rely on FILE Names in my internal navigating. (Not the end of the world, but a thumbnail would be nice.)

Am I doing something wrong at “Render”?

[Todd Perchert]

[Jon Doughtie] “No need to hunt down another fie converter.”

Unless you get all kinds of different files and formats. Then you’ll want to have VLC and Handbrake handy for those instances. Both have recovered files I needed that either Adobe didn’t recognize or file was damaged (according to AME/PPro).
TC

[Matthew Ross]

I don’t know of any native way, but I’ve installed Icaros and it seems to work fine (allows Windows Explorer to show thumbnails for MOV files, including those with ProRes within):

https://www.videohelp.com/software/Icaros

[Harry Akkers]

So whats the best for converting MP4/H264 files to edit-friendly format?
Something free would be handy.