Editing sequences and clips

Start a mobile device sequence

You can edit video for delivery to mobile phones, portable media players, and other portable devices. Selecting a project preset that matches the requirements of the target device is the easiest way to get started. When you are done editing your movie, use Adobe Media Encoder to encode it with the audio and video characteristics correct for the target devices.

1 Do one of the following:

•From the Welcome screen, click New Project.

•Select File > New > Project.

More Help topics

“Change sequence settings” on page 148

Using multiple sequences

A single project can contain multiple sequences. Different sequences within the same project can have different settings. You select settings for each sequence when you create it, but you can change some of these settings after a sequence is created.

•To switch sequences, in the Program Monitor or in the Timeline panel, click the tab of the sequence you want to use. The sequence becomes the frontmost tab in both panels.

•To view a sequence in a separate Timeline panel, drag the Sequence tab away from the panel to an empty area. Ctrldrag (Windows), or Command-drag (Mac OS) to prevent the panel from docking.

•To open a sequence in the Source Monitor, press Ctrl/Command and double-click the sequence in the Project panel. In the Timeline panel, press Ctrl/Command and double-click a nested sequence.

Nest sequences

You can nest sequences within sequences—to any depth—to create complex groupings and hierarchies. You can nest a sequence into another having a different timebase, frame size, and pixel aspect ratio settings. A nested sequence appears as a single, linked video/audio clip, even though its source sequence can contain numerous video and audio tracks.

You can select, move, trim, and apply effects to nested sequences as you would to any other clip. Any changes you make to the source sequence are reflected in any nested instances created from it.

Last updated 1/16/2012

Editing sequences and clips

The ability to nest sequences enables you to employ a number of time-saving techniques and to create effects that otherwise would be difficult or impossible:

•Reuse sequences. When you want to repeat a sequence—particularly a complex one—you can create it once, and then simply nest it in another sequence as many times as you want.

•Apply different settings to copies of a sequence. For example, if you want a sequence to play back repeatedly but with a different effect each time, just apply a different effect to each instance of the nested sequence.

•Streamline your editing space. Create complex, multilayered sequences separately; then add them to your main sequence as a single clip. This not only saves you from maintaining numerous tracks in the main sequence, but also potentially reduces the chances of inadvertently moving clips during editing (and possibly losing sync).

•Create complex groupings and nested effects. For example, although you can apply only one transition to an edit point, you can nest sequences and apply a new transition to each nested clip—creating transitions within transitions. Or you can create picture-in-picture effects, in which each picture is a nested sequence, containing its own series of clips, transitions, and effects.

When nesting sequences, keep in mind the following:

•You cannot nest a sequence within itself.

•You cannot nest a sequence containing a 16-channel audio track.

•Actions involving a nested sequence may require additional processing time, because nested sequences can contain references to many clips, and Premiere Pro applies the actions to all of its component clips.

•A nested sequence always represents the current state of its source. Changing the content of the source sequence is reflected in the content of nested instances. Duration is not directly affected.

•A nested sequence clip’s initial duration is determined by its source. This includes empty space at the beginning of the source sequence, but not empty space at the end.

•You can set a nested sequence’s In and Out points as you would other clips. Trimming a nested sequence does not affect the length of the source sequence. Also, subsequently changing the source sequence’s duration does not affect the duration of existing nested instances. To lengthen the nested instances and reveal material added to the source sequence, use standard trimming methods. Conversely, a shortened source sequence causes the nested instance to contain black video and silent audio (which you may need to trim off the nested sequence).

See this video tutorial on the Creative COW website for “Understanding Nesting: A key to Efficient Editing” by Andrew Devis.

Maxim Jago explains nested sequences in this video from “Getting Started with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5” on the Video2Brain website.

Maxim Jago explains and demonstrates nesting sequences in this video from “Adobe Premiere Pro CS5: Learn by Video,” from Video2Brain.

Nest a sequence in another sequence

Drag a sequence from the Project panel or Source Monitor into the appropriate track or tracks of the active sequence, or use any of the editing methods for adding a clip.

Note: You will not have to render audio before editing a nested sequence.

Create a nested sequence from a selection of clips

1 In a sequence, select one or more clips that you want to send to a nested sequence.

Last updated 1/16/2012