PE12: Exporting a 720p50 or 720p60 file with 5.1 Channel Audio

INTRODUCTION

In Premiere Elements 11, project presets with 5.1 channel in their descriptions were created to enable the export of the few opportunities that did exist for exporting a file with 5.1 channel audio, not with Dolby Digital, but either AAC or Windows Media Audio 10 Professional. See earlier blog posts

PE11: Exporting a 1080p50 or 1080p60 file with 5.1 Channel Audio

and

PE11: Exporting a 1080p25 or 1080p30 file with 5.1 Channel Audio

Today a question was raised about the How To for a 720p50 5.1 channel project preset for Premiere Elements 12. The user had tried to use the principles of the Premiere Elements 11 blog posts cited above and could not get the 720p50 5.1 channel project preset created to show up in the Premiere Elements 12 new project dialog.

The 720p50 5.1 channel or 720p60 5.1 channel project preset were never looked at in Premiere Elements 11 or 12. So, this seemed a good time to check this out. 

The 720p50 5.1 channel and 720p60 5.1 channel project presets were created, and there were no problems getting them into the Premiere Elements 12 project preset choices in the new project dialog. Subsequently these presets were used to enable the export 720p50 5.1 channel or 720p60 5.1 channel as

• AVCHD.mp4 (720p50, AAC 5.1 channel or 720p60, AAC 5.1 channel)

          or

• Windows Media Video 9.wmv (720p50, Windows Media Audio 10 Professional 5.1 channel or (720p60, Windows Media Audio 10 Professional 5.1 channel)

 ISSUE

At this time it is uncertain why

The user had tried to use the principles of the Premiere Elements 11 blog posts cited above and could not get the 720p50 5.1 channel project preset created to show up in the Premiere Elements 12 new project dialog.

We did not find any problems in creating the new 5.1 channel project presets, getting them to appear in the new project dialog, or using them to enable the export of 720p50 or 720p60 with 5.1 channel audio as described below.

SOLUTION

It was decided to write up the details of what was done to achieve the goal, that is,"Exporting a 720p50 or 720p60 file with 5.1 Channel Audio" from Premiere Elements project with the user created 720p50 or 720p60 5.1 channel project settings which are based on the Adobe 720p50 or 720p60 project presets with Stereo.


HOW TO

Starting Files and Their Locations

PAL/AVCHD/AVCHD LITE 720p50 as seen in New Project Dialog
AVCHD LITE 720p50.Sqpreset
(Local Disc C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\Settings\Sequence Presets\PAL\AVCHD\AVCHD LITE 720p50.sqpreset)

NTSC/AVCHD/AVCHD LITE 720p60 as seen in New Project Dialog
AVCHD LITE 720p60.Sqpreset
(Local Disc C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\Settings\Sequence Presets\NTSC\AVCHD\AVCHD LITE 720p60.sqpreset)

Make a copy of each of the starting files cited above which came with the program and which are found in the above path. Paste to computer Desktop and proceed for each file as follows.
 

AVCHD LITE 720p50 5.1 Channel.sqpreset Creation From Starting Files

1. First right click the AVCHD LITE 720p50.sqpreset file copy that was pasted to the computer Desktop, select Open With, and then select Notepad.

2. In the Notepad document of the AVCHD LITE 720p50.sqpreset file, where it says

<InitialNumberOfFiveOneTracks>3</InitialNumberOfFiveOneTracks>

<InitialNumberOfStereoTracks>3</InitialNumberOfStereoTracks>

Change to:

<InitialNumberOfFiveOneTracks>3</InitialNumberOfFiveOneTracks>

<InitialNumberOfStereoTracks>0</InitialNumberOfStereoTracks>

And where it says

<AudioChannelType>1</AudioChannelType>

Change to:

<AudioChannelType>2</AudioChannelType>

3. Before saving and closing out of this Notepad document, Save As, changing the name of the document to AVCHD LITE 720p50 5.1 channel. Place the newly created .sqpreset file in the Program Files according to:
(Local Disc C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\Settings\Sequence Presets\PAL\AVCHD\AVCHD LITE 720p50 5.1 channel.sqpreset).

AVCHD LITE 720p60 5.1 Channel.sqpreset Creation From Starting Files

Repeat the How to in order to create the AVCHD LITE 720p60 5.1 channel for placement in the Program Files according to:
 (Local Disc C\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 12\Settings\Sequence Presets\NTSC\AVCHD\AVCHD LITE 720p60 5.1 Channel)

POSSIBLE EXPORT CHOICES FOR 720p50 5.1 CHANNEL OR 720p60 5.1 CHANNEL

720p50 5.1 Channel

AVCHD.mp4
Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD/ with Presets = MP4 - H.264 720p50
Under Advanced Button/Audio Tab/ Audio Codec = AAC, Output Channels = 5.1 Channels.

Windows Media Video 9.wmv
Publish+Share/Computer/Windows Media/ with Presets = 720 x 576 16x9 25
Under Advanced Button/Audio Tab/ Audio Codec = Windows Media Audio 10 Professional, choice of 5.1 channel in Audio Format choices.

720p60 5.1 Channel

AVCHD.mp4
Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD/ with Presets = MP4 - H.264 720p60
Under Advanced Button/Audio Tab/ Audio Codec = AAC, Output Channels, = 5.1 Channels.

Windows Media Video 9.wmv
Publish+Share/Computer/Windows Media/ with Presets  = 720 x 480 16x9 29.97
Under Advanced Button/Audio Tab/ Audio Codec = Windows Media Audio 10 Professional, choice of 5.1 channel in Audio Format choices.

Properties of all the exports are confirmed with MediaInfo video and audio properties readouts. Please refer to earlier blog posts cited for additional information on this overall topic.

REMINDER

It is highly recommended that you take control over setting up the Premiere Elements 12 project when you are using the sqpresets described. To do this, open to Premiere Elements 12 workspace, go to File Menu/New/Project and, in the new project dialog, select your new 720p50 5.1 channel or 720p60 5.1 channel project preset. Make sure you put a check mark next to "Force selected Project Setting on this Project" before you click OK. And, then move forward to Add Media and import of video with the 720p50 5.1 channel or 720p60 5.1 channel audio properties. In the opened project, you should see a little "5.1" to the right of the name Audio 1 for that track.



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ATR

PE12: Seamless File Merging Before Import

INTRODUCTION

The use of Command Prompt is described in a September 2013 blog post here for the ripping DVD-VIDEO VOBs into a single file for import into the Premiere Elements Timeline. The Command Prompt's seamless merging of VOBs into one file has helped many to resolve audio out of sync and other issues related to importing the DVD-VIDEO's VOBs as individual VOBs into the Premiere Elements Timeline via Add Media/"DVD camera or computer drive"/Video Importer.

An Adobe Forum ID recently asked about merging individual files from a camera to give a single file of seamlessly joined files that could be imported into Premiere Elements Timeline via Add Media/Files and Folders. That question triggered the study and results to follow.

ISSUE

How to write the Command Prompt to obtain this merging of individual files from a camera to give a single file that could be imported and used into Premiere Elements* Timeline.

SOLUTION

The issue cited above in ISSUES was investigated using the following protocol.

Three movies were recorded to a SD memory card with a Casio digital camera with a digital camera directory structure DCIM Folder/100Casio subfolder. The three movies present in the 100Casio subfolder. These movies were MP4.avi 640 x 480 @ 29.97 progressive frames per second and are named by the camera

• CIMG3284.AVI

• CIMG3285.AVI

• CIMG3286.AVI

The DCIM Folder was copied to the computer from the SD memory card using a Sony USB card reader. And, its three movie files were merged into a single file using Command Prompt when the DCIM Folder was copied/saved to either

• Local Disc C

• External hard drive (drive G)

• DVD disc as data disc (drive D)

For these examples, the single file (seamless merge of the three videos) produced by Command Prompt will be referred to as Casio.AVI.

Casio.AVI in all cases presented in Premiere Elements as a single file with the three videos merged seamlessly.

Important: To avoid access failures with Command Prompt, right click the Command Prompt (circled in red in Figure 1) each time used and select Run As Administrator.

Figure 1. Command Prompt. Run As Administrator Requirement.

The How To which follows details the writing of the Command Prompt to obtain the single file when the source DCIM Folder (with the three individual files) was at each of the three different save locations.


HOW TO

Local Disc C - DCIM

Overview
 

Figure 2. Command Prompt Writing To Obtain Seamless Merged Video Files When Source DCIM Was Saved To Local Disc C.

Steps

C:\Windows\system32>
Type (cd C:\)

C:\>
Type (cd DCIM)

C:\DCIM>
Type (cd 100Casio)

C:\DCIM\100CASIO>
Type (COPY /b CIMG3284.AVI+CIMG3285.AVI+CIMG3286.AVI C:\Casio.AVI)

Wait for the appearance of
CIMG3284.AVI
CIMG3285.AVI
CIMG3286.AVI
                   1 file(s) copied.


Note: As written the Casio.AVI is saved to the Local Disc C.


External Hard Drive (Drive G)** - DCIM

 Overview

Figure 3. Command Prompt Writing To Obtain Seamless Merged Video Files When Source DCIM Was Saved To External Hard Drive (Drive G).

Steps

C:\Windows\system32>
Type (G:)

C:\>
Type (cd DCIM/100Casio)

C:\DCIM\100CASIO)
Type (COPY /b CIMG3284.AVI+CIMG3285.AVI+CIMG3286.AVI C:\Casio.AVI)

Wait for the appearance of
CIMG3284.AVI
CIMG3285.AVI
CIMG3286.AVI
                   1 file(s) copied.


Note: As written the Casio.AVI is saved to the Local Disc C.


DVD Disc As Data Disc (Drive D)** - DCIM

Overview

With DVD disc in the DVD burner tray - Drive D.

Figure 4. Command Prompt Writing To Obtain Seamless Merged Video Files When Source DCIM Was Saved To DVD Disc As Data Disc (Drive D).

Steps

C:\Windows\system32>
Type (D:)

D:\>
Type (cd DCIM/100Casio)

D:\DCIM\100CASIO>
Type (COPY /b CIMG3284.AVI+CIMG3285.AVI+CIMG3286.AVI C:\Casio.AVI)

Wait for the appearance of
CIMG3284.AVI
CIMG3285.AVI
CIMG3286.AVI
                   1 file(s) copied.


Note: As written the Casio.AVI is saved to the Local Disc C

COMMENTARY

An idea of how Command Prompt may be working to achieve the Casio.AVI seems to emerge from an examination of the MediaInfo video properties readouts for individual CIMG3284.AVI, CIMG3285.AVI, CIMG3286.AVI files and the Casio. AVI file which is the seamless merge of those three files.

Compare....

Casio.AVI

File Size = 34.8 MB (megabytes)

Duration = 31.935 seconds

Overall Bitrate = 9143 Kbps (kilobits per second)

CIMG3284.AVI
File Size = 15.1 MB (megabytes)
Duration = 31.935 seconds
Overall Bitrate = 3963 Kbps (kilobits per second)

CIMG3285.AVI
File Size = 12.1 MB (megabytes)
Duration = 25.502 seconds
Overall Bitrate = 3964 Kbps (kilobits per second)

CIMG3286.AVI
File Size =  7.67 MB (megabytes)
Duration = 16.153
Overall Bitrate = 3982 Kbps (kilobits per second)

In comparing that MediaInfo information, I am guessing that Command Prompt

totaled the file sizes of the three individual .AVI files
(15.1 MB + 12.1 MB + 7.67 MB = 34.87 MB)
Note the calculated 34.87 MB total here with the File Size for Casio.AVI 34.9 MB file size.

used the duration from the individual file with the longest duration for the Casio.AVI duration
(CIMG3284.AVI and its duration of 31.935 seconds)
Note the durations of the three files merged 31.935, 25.502, and 16.153 seconds.

and arrived at the 9143 Kbps bitrate
(34.87 MB/31.935 seconds = 1.0919 MB/second which would be equivalent to about 8945 Kbps)
Note - "Is this 8945 Kbps (calculated) vs 9143 Kbps (of Casio.AVI) close enough to make this idea viable?"*** This trend was repeatable using different source materials.


_____________________________________________________________________________

*The resulting Casio.AVI was tested in Premiere Elements versions 12 to 4 on Windows 7 64 bit and presented well as one file with the three video files seamlessly merged.

** The drive letters used in this study were those that existed in this particular computer environment. The drive letters specific to the user's circumstances are those to be used.

***As always, other variables need to be looked at closer at the Premiere Elements level to determine if any of this will be helpful in a Premiere Elements workflow and/or troubleshooting scheme.


.

PE12: Motion Tracking/What To Use To Track Object?

INTRODUCTION

A video clip is required for the Motion Tracking feature in which an object in the video can be tracked by a graphic, text, or video. One example might be a person moving in a video and a thought/speech bubble, smiley face, or an arrow (to name a few) following the movement of that person. The tracking is achieved by automatic keyframing of the Motion Position property for the object used to track the moving object in the video.

In either Expert or Quick workspace, the Motion Tracking workspace can be accessed from Tools Menu at top of workspace or Tools Tab at bottom of workspace. It is a simple process of Select Object followed by Track Object.

Motion Tracking in 12 is claimed by some to be an improvement over the feature seen in versions 8, 9, and 10. The feature was not included in version 11, the first Premiere Elements version to have the Expert and Quick workspaces which replaced the Timeline and Sceneline workspaces of the versions earlier than 11. So 12 becomes the first with the new Expert and Quick workspaces to have this feature. At first glance in Expert or Quick workspaces, it would appear that the selection of objects to track the video's moving object is restricted to what is found under the Graphics Tab at the bottom of the interface. And, whether in Expert or Quick workspace, Motion Tracking workspace instructions in Track Object stage include "Attach a graphic or text from the action bar below." See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 12. Motion Tracking Instructions For Obtaining Object To Track Moving Object In Video.

But, in the "action bar below", Graphics appears to be the only active Tab in the line up of Instant Movie, Tools, Transitions, Titles & Text, fx Effects, Audio, and Graphics. Therefore, when the instruction says "....graphic or text..." it is assumed that the text mentioned is that in the thought/ speech bubble choices which are included with graphics under the Graphics Tab.

ISSUE

What to use to track object in video with other than the Adobe choices found under Graphics Tab at bottom of Expert or Quick workspaces?

SOLUTION

Various tutorials and online comments have pointed to places other than Graphics Tab where objects can be selected and used to track the moving object in the video when the Motion Tracking workspace is opened in the Expert or Quick workspace.

Organizer Tab, Expert or Quick workspace to access Elements Organizer 12. Cascade Windows and drag a video or photo from Elements Organizer into the yellow track box of Motion Tracking workspace.

Project Assets, Expert workspace. Drag text, video, or photos from opened Project Assets into the yellow track box of Motion Tracking workspace.

Graphics Tab, Expert or Quick workspace. Create a png file (graphic) or prtl file (text) and place it in Clip Arts in the Program Files of the program to have a permanent resource. Then from Graphics Tab, drag the newly created graphic or text object into yellow track box of Motion Tracking workspace.

HOW TO*

Organizer Tab, Expert or Quick Workspace, Accessing Elements Organizer 12 For "Track Object" Choice To Track Moving Object In Video
 
This approach can be seen demo'd in the AdobeTV video tutorial "Motion Tracking" in which the process was demo'd using the Quick workspace.
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-premiere-elements-12/motion-tracking/


Cascade Elements Organizer 12 window and Motion Tracking workspace window, and drag a video or photo from Elements Organizer into the yellow track box of Motion Tracking workspace. Figure 2 represents Quick workspace/Motion Tracking at the Track Object stage when using this approach here.

Figure 2. Premiere Elements 12. Quick/Motion Tracking Window Cascaded With Elements Organizer 12 Window To Provide A DV AVI Video Object For Tracking Moving Object (In This Case A Red Dot) In Video.

This approach could also be used in the Expert/Motion Tracking.

Note: In Expert/Motion Tracking workspace, the alternative places to find an object to track the moving object in the video include Project Assets (which Quick does not have), Graphics Tab as well as Organizer Tab. Undo, Organizer, and Graphic Tabs appear to be the only non grayed out tabs in that bottom row of the interface once the Motion Tracking workspace opens.

Project Assets,  Only Expert, Accessing Project Assets For "Track Object" Choice To Track Moving Object In Video

In the Expert workspace, Motion Tracking appears to have three places to look for an object for tracking purposes, that is, Project Assets, Organizer Tab as well as Graphic Tab. Initially, this Project Assets choice was overlooked in its unopened state located on the top right side of the Expert interface, instead of left, when the Motion Tracking workspace is opened. This route offers choice of text .prtl file as well as a video or photo file. See Figure 3.

Figure 3. Premiere Elements 12. Expert/Motion Tracking With Project Assets To Provide A DV AVI Video Object For Tracking Moving Object (In This Case A Red Dot) In Video.

  
Graphics Tab,  Expert or Quick Workspace, Accessing User Created Graphics For "Track Object" Choice To Track Moving Object In Video

The DV AVI file, a JPG photo, and a text .prtl were placed in a folder named ATR Objects at the end of the following Windows 7 or 8 64 bit path

Local Disk C
Program Files
Adobe
Premiere Elements 12
Clip Arts
Common
and in the Common Folder was placed the ATR Objects Folder. The ATR Folder contained the DV AVI file, the JPG photo, and text prtl files which have been used in this blog post report.

Figure 4. Premiere Elements 12. Expert/Motion Tracking With Graphic Tab/User Created Objects To Provide A DV AVI Video Object For Tracking Moving Object (In This Case A Red Dot) In Video.

These three files showed up under the Graphics Tab after their placement in the Program Files. Great, but somewhat unexpected since the Adobe Graphics found are in the .png format at the hard drive save location used. See Figure 4.

MORE THAN ONE OBJECT AT A TIME TRACKING A SINGLE MOVING OBJECT IN A VIDEO

One video tutorial on Premiere Elements 12 Motion Tracking demo's the feature using a thought/speech bubble to track a person at a train station while another has used a thought/speech bubble or video of a highway to track a bicycle rider. In the quest for "different", the following was pursued. It will be for the reader/viewer to decide if the quest for "different" was too much of a stretch here.

STEP 1
A video clip with a moving object is required for Premiere Elements 12 Motion Tracking. A suitable one was not available, so one was created. A Premiere Elements title with a small white ellipse was created in the Titler. The Motion Position property of the ellipse was keyframed for the path that was envisioned for a Halloween effect. Since a video clip is required for Motion Tracking, that keyframed Timeline content was exported to a video file, AVCHD.mp4, using Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD with Presets = NTSC DV Widescreen.

STEP 2
The AVCHD.mp4 (NTSC DV Widescreen) from STEP 1 was imported into a Premiere Elements 12 NTSC DV Widescreen project and dragged to Video Track 1.

STEP 3

• The AVCHD.mp4 video on Video 1 was selected followed by Tools Tab/Motion Tracking. In the Motion Tracking workspace that opened, the selections were first "Select Object", that object being the white ellipse on screen, followed by "Track Object" to obtain a yellow track box around the white ellipse object. The "Ghost" graphic was dragged from under the Graphics Tab to the yellow track box which turned blue on its arrival there. Sizing and positioning of the graphic were done, followed by clicking Done. Clicking on Done triggered "applying keyframes"and automatically closed the Motion Tracking workspace.

• Then, the AVCHD.mp4 video on Video 1 with the white ellipse was selected again, followed by Tools Tab/Motion Tracking. The Motion Tracking workspace that reopened presented with the yellow track box still intact. If blue, a blank space on the screen was left clicked once with the mouse cursor to go from blue to yellow track box. "SELECT OBJECT" WAS NOT HIT. The "Black Cat" graphic was dragged from under the Graphics Tab and placed on the shoulder of the "Ghost" in that yellow track box location. The "Black Cat" graphic was sized and positioned. Clicking on Done triggered "applying keyframes" and automatically closed the Motion Tracking workspace.

• Next, the AVCHD.mp4 video on Video 1 with the white ellipse was selected again, followed by Tools Tab/Motion Tracking. The Motion Tracking workspace that reopened presented with the yellow track box still intact. "SELECT OBJECT" WAS NOT HIT. The "Spider" graphic was dragged from under the Graphics Tab and placed in the right hand of the "Ghost" in the yellow track box location. The "Spider" graphic was sized and positioned. Clicking Done triggered "applying keyframes" and automatically closed the Motion Tracking workspace.

• Lastly, the Opacity of the AVCHD.mp4 video on Video 1 with the while ellipse was taken to 0% since it was not needed any longer, and it was showing through the "Ghost".

STEP 4
Embellishments followed, including the Pumpkin graphic from under the Graphics Tab used as static background, and Fade Outs shortcuts applied to "Pumpkin", "Ghost", "Black Cat", and "Spider" track contents.The Expert workspace immediately before export to AVCHD.mp4 (NTSC DV Widescreen) is represented in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Premiere Elements 12. Expert/Motion Tracking. One Than One Object Tracking A Single Moving Object In A Video.

In this example, the white ellipse is the singe moving object in a video, and the graphics of Ghost, Black Cat, and Spider are the objects doing the tracking.

Below is the 4 seconds AVCHD.mp4 (MP4 - NTSC DV Widescreen) export of the project represented in Figure 5.

COMMENTARY

This blog post attempted to define the basic question "Motion Tracking/What To Use To Track Object?" In the course of doing that, some exploring and experimenting with the feature got mixed in. For what was done, the Premiere Elements 12 Motion Tracking feature worked well. But, this was not a definitive study on the overall performance of the feature. That is for another time, either as an update in this blog post or as an entry into the September 2013 Premiere Elements 12 Daily Discoveries blog post.


Please see if any of this works for you.

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*Premiere Elements 12 on Windows Professional SP1 64 bit was used for these studies.


ATR
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PE12: Adobe Revel Add Media/Publish+Share

INTRODUCTION

Adobe Revel poses a questionable presence in Premiere Elements 12. The Adobe ID and Password are used to gain access to the processes involved. So far with 11 of the 50 uploads per month remaining under the free Adobe Revel account, there is no 100% how to for the two major components of this feature in Premiere Elements 12.

• Add Media/Adobe Revel

• Publish+Share/Private Web Album 

The major problems target the video offerings and are characterized by incomplete uploads and prolonged upload times. All this takes place long after the "Successfully Shared and Published to Revel" message appears with the invitation to email the link to the upload. (In spite of upload failures, these emails are getting sent, received, and the link to the upload in the email works. But, there is no upload to view.)

ISSUES AND WHAT WORKED MOST OF THE TIME

Add Media/Adobe Revel 

For Source Media Choices in Premiere Elements 12 Project....
How do you get those thumbnails as shown in Figure 1 to show up there?

Figure 1. Premiere Elements 12 Expert Workspace. Add Media/Adobe Revel/Mobile Albums/ As Source Media For Premiere Elements 12 Project.

In Figure 1, two of the three JPG photos and the ".mp4" video clip displayed were entered into the Adobe Revel Library/Mobile Album named "Adobe Revel Test" at the Adobe Revel web site. Tip seemed to be to differentiate between Library and Photos and Album. Library entries came first by selecting Photos in the header, then "Add Photos and Videos" in the subheader. Once the two JPG photos and one .mov video file were entered into the Library, then Album was selected in the header, and each of the two photos and one video were added to the Album one at a time.

Note: The video file uploaded to Adobe Revel in this test was  27 second 1280 x 720 @ 29.97 progressives frames per second AVCHD.mov, and Adobe Revel is displaying it as .mp4. Figure 1 represents the display before any of the media choices had been dragged to the Timeline for the first time.

Figure 2 shows the Library after addition of the two photos and one video to the Library.

Figure 2. At Adobe Revel Web Site/At Library After Additions Of Three JPG Photos And One MOV Video File.

Figure 3 shows the view after Album header was selected and the album "Adobe Revel Test" was created.

Figure 3. At Adobe Revel Web Site/At Library. Creation of "Adobe Revel Test" Album For Three JPEG And One MOV Video File.

Not forgotten, "How did that third JPG get entered into the Library and subsequently get into the Mobile Album "Adobe Revel Test" as seen in Figure 1?" In an iPod Touch 4th Generation was installed the Adobe Revel App , and the App was used to gain access to the Mobile Album "Adobe Revel Test"  created. The third photo came from the iPod camera roll and was placed in the Mobile Album "Adobe Revel Test" via the Adobe Revel App.

When it comes time to use the Add Media/Adobe Revel feature to obtain source media for the project, apparently there is a one time downloading process involved to get the file to the Timeline. No problem with a JPG photo source being ready for use within seconds; however, the 27 second video source took over 10 minutes to appear on the Timeline to which it was dragged from the Adobe Revel area of Add Media. All this may be related to the fact that the original video is .mov, is displayed as .mp4 in Adobe Revel hands, and then is downloaded/placed by Adobe Revel on the Premiere Elements 12 Timeline as .mov. Thereafter, the thumbnail for the file in Add Media/Adobe Revel/Mobile Album "Adobe Revel Test" is.mov, no longer .mp4. (See Figure 4 and compare to Figure 1).

Figure 4. Premiere Elements 12 Expert Workspace.Add Media/Adobe Revel "Adobe Revel Test" Album After Download Of Video Choice Displayed As MP4 Before Download, Now MOV After Download.

There is another way to populate that "Adobe Revel Test" album with choices. And, it comes by way of the Elements Organizer which offers "Local Albums" and non album image inclusions in its workspace. In the Elements Organizer, a "Local Album" can be dragged into the Adobe Revel Mobile Albums/AT's Library in this case) to make it a Mobile Album and/or one of the images in the Elements Organizer workspace can be dragged into an existing Mobile Album "Adobe Revel Test" to add it to that Mobile Album. The add ons will be reflected in Premiere Elements 12 as well as in the Mobile Albums at the Adobe Revel web site and the iPod Adobe Revel App.

Figure 5. Elements Organizer 12 Workspace. Viewing Mobile Album There.

Figure 6. Elements Organizer 12 Workspace. Viewing Only Elements Organizer 12 Contents After Hitting Add Media Button Seen In Figure 5. Images Shown Are Not In Any Elements Organizer Local Album At This Point.

Publish+Share/Private Web Album  

Premiere Elements 12 Publish+Share/Private Web Album is described as an opportunity to upload the Timeline content to Adobe Revel and Mobile Album where the Timeline content in video format can be shared with friends and family. When the feature is used for the first time, a "downloading preset" pop up appears, but it is never shown just what the preset is. The Upload can be seen progressing through essentially 4 stages

• Rendering Media

• Uploading

• Transferring  to Adobe Revel

• Success Notification as seen in Figure 7

Figure 7. Premiere Elements 12. Publish+Share/Adobe Revel Notification of "Successfully Shared".

The Email link works well, and the email is sent and received by the recipient without issue. But, most of the time, all there is to share is an "Upload Incomplete" as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Premiere Elements 12. Publish+Share/Adobe Revel Upload Incomplete Failure For A Notified "Successfully Shared".

This particular failure represented a Premiere Elements 12 Windows 7 64 bit NTSC DV Standard 35 second project with three JPG photos (each 960 x 720 pixels) plus one 640 x 480 MP4.avi. In some instances the Incomplete Upload would complete many hours or a day later. In the few cases where the upload materialized into a video in the Mobile Album at Adobe Revel, the emailed file associated with the Mobile Album suggested that the preset might be:

1280 x 720 pixels @ 29.97 progressive frames per second
Video Compression = AVCHD, Audio Compression = AAC (Stereo),  File Extension = .mp4.

Further details of what Publish+Share/Adobe Revel is supposed to do can be found:
 Adobe Premiere Elements Help/Importing and Exporting movies using Adobe Revel


Commentary

The Adobe Revel Add Media and Publish+Share features will be re-evaluated in the future. But at this time, the performance of these Premiere Elements 12 features were found not to merit their inclusion in Premiere Elements for video purposes.


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May 13, 2014 Update Note
A re-evaluation of Adobe Revel Add Media and Publish+Share features is still planned...not yet  started. An Adobe Revel email today announced that, in a few weeks, it is changing "the way storage works for free Adobe Revel accounts". Its free 50 photos/videos per month will go to free 2 GB of Cloud coverage.

ATR

PE 7, 8, 9,10: Content Download

INTRODUCTION

Frequently questions are popping up on how to download and install the Content Download for the older programs, Premiere Elements 7, 8, 9, or 10. In an attempt to put some of these questions to rest, the following blog post addresses the matter. 


Premiere Elements 7, 8, 9, and 10 Content is available

• as a free download, using the browser to go directly to http://www.adobe.com/special/premiereel/downloads/

• as a free download, clicking on the "Reduced Content" message in the opened Premiere Elements project to get to the above link

• using the Content installation disc that came with the boxed purchase of the version involved

There is no opportunity to download Content from within the program as there is in versions 11 and 12. See May 2013 blog post.

The focus of this blog post on the free Content download from the Adobe link. Depending on the Internet connection, the "AllContent" download time from that link can be several hours. But, blocks of Content rather than the whole can be selected for download from the Adobe link. According to the download site, the "AllContent" size is
Premiere Elements 10
Windows 2.95 GB, Mac 3.17 GB

Premiere Elements 9

Windows 4.18 GB, Mac 3.66 GB

Premiere Elements 8
Windows 3.68 GB

Premiere Elements 7
Windows 2.88 GB

The Akamai NetSession Download Manager which appears to be required for these downloads can be problematic, especially with regard to firewalls.

ISSUE

How to navigate successfully the details of the Content download from the Adobe site
http://www.adobe.com/special/premiereel/downloads/

SOLUTION

The solution to the stated issue was sought by actually going through the Content download for Premiere Elements 10 Windows and noting each phase of the operation leading to a successful install of AllContent.

HOW TO

General Notes

The essential considerations for downloading and installing the Premiere Elements 10 Content without the Content installation disc include:

• Work with the firewalls off or give permission for the Akamai NetSession Manager. The computer used gave a message about its blocking of components of this Akamai NetSession Manager.  This Manager can create problems, but it is required for the process relating to "Reduced Content..."
  

• The same download site results whether typing the cited URL in the browser or responding to the Reduced Content message within the opened project. But, use the URL typed into browser route to the download site. If problems, go to another browser. The browser used in this demo is Mozilla Firefox version 24. The computer in use is Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

Step by Step 
(Starting with the Premiere Elements 10 Content downloaded with the firewalls off.)

STEP 1
Premiere Elements 10 Content downloaded with directive to "Open after Download".

STEP 2
Open

STEP 3
Extraction

STEP 4
Launch Adobe Premiere Elements Content - Clicked Finished.

STEP5
Permission "Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer? Adobe Systems Incorporated " -  Clicked Yes.

STEP 6
Language dialog - Clicked OK.

STEP 7
Installation Wizard dialog. Clicked Next.

STEP 8
Software License Agreement dialog. Clicked Accept.

STEP 9
Dialog showed each of the Content groups

Content 1
Content 2
Content 3
HD content 1
HD content 2
HD content 3

A check mark was left next to each since the goal was AllContent. - Clicked Next. 

STEP 10
Viewed Setup C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 10\ - Clicked Next.

STEP 11
Ready to Install Message. - Clicked Install.

STEP 12
Viewed Installing Adobe Premiere Elements Content dialog via progress status install bar.

STEP 13
InstallShield Wizard Complete message. - Clicked Finished.

The installation automatically placed all the Content folders and files in the correct default hard drive locations. And, the Control Panel installed programs area now listed "Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Content - 1.23 GB."

Because the download can be so time consuming, a backup of the Premiere Elements Content download should be considered, either using the folders and files as downloaded or copies of the installed folders and files on the hard drive. If the installed folders and files, make sure to identify and copy all for the Instant Movie Themes, DVD Templates, Title Templates. Remember that the Title Templates have text .prtl and graphic components which are not stored on the hard drive in the same place. More on the latter another time.

Depending on computer resources and download time, it may be advisable to download one or two of the Content groups at one time rather than AllContent (6).

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ATR

PE: Saving Project/Program Assets Before Uninstall

INTRODUCTION

Often user custom presets and the like are lost with a Premiere Elements uninstall. The following will detail how to restore the following types of user creations to the reinstalled Premiere Elements 11 or 12 on Windows 7 or 8 64 bit without having to recreate them.

• User Custom Project Presets located in the new project dialog (like the 1080p50 5.1 channel and 1080p60 5.1 project presets whose creations were described in an April 2013 blog post).

• User Saved Effects Presets located under fx Effects/My Presets

• User Custom Export Presets created under the Advanced Button of the preset selected in the Publish+Share/Computer/ area.

• Styles created in the Titler (See July 2013 blog post for more details on the creation of these Styles.)

• DVD Template created by the user from scratch in Photoshop CS or higher or derived from customization of the existing Adobe DVD Template via the template's .psd files. (Also, see May 2013 blog post on Content.)

ISSUE

How to prevent and protect user custom items from loss with a program uninstall?

SOLUTION

User custom items can be copied, saved to the computer hard drive for temporary storage, the program uninstalled, and then, after program re-installation, restored to their places in the program.

HOW TO

User Custom Project Presets Located In The New Project Dialog

Locate User Custom Project Preset on hard drive

Local Disc C
Program Files
Adobe
Adobe Premiere Elements 11 or 12
Settings
Sequence Presets
in the Sequence Presets Folder included are the NTSC and PAL Folders with various folders for different formats. In this example, the AVCHD Folder in the NTSC Folder is the target for the file AVCHD 1080p60 5.1 channel.sqpreset saved there and the PAL Folder is the target for the file AVCHDp50 5.1 channel.sqpreset saved there.

Prior to program uninstall, the AVCHDp60 5.1 channel file and the AVCHDp50 5.1 channel file are copied and saved to a folder on the computer desktop for safe keeping and later put back into place in the reinstalled program.

User Saved Effects Presets

Locate User Saved Effects Presets

Local Disc C

Users

Owner

AppData

Roaming

Adobe

Premiere Elements

11.0 or 12.0

and in the 11.0 or 12.0 Folder is the Effects Presets and Custom Items.prfpset which is a set of the fx Effects that were saved via Applied Effects/Applied Effect Palette/panel for effect (s) expanded, Save Preset procedure there.

Prior to program uninstall, the Effects Presets and Custom Items.prfpset file is copied and saved to a folder on the computer desktop for safe keeping, the program reinstalled, the Effects Presets and Custom Items.prfpset that installed with the reinstalled program is removed, and then the saved Effects Presets and Custom Items.prfpset file is put back into place in that reinstalled program. 

User Custom Export Presets Created Under The Advanced Button Of The Preset Selected In The Publish+Share/Computer/ Area

Locate the User Custom Export Preset

Local Disc C

Users

Owner

AppData

Roaming

Adobe

Premiere Elements

11.0 or 12.0

SC

Presets

PC

AVCHD

MP4 

and in the MP4 Folder would be the User Custom Export Preset created and named "Copy MP4 - H.264 1920 x 1080p60.epr". This User Custom Preset was created in Publish+Share/Computer/AVCHD under the Advanced Button of the preset MP4 - H.264 1920 x 1080p30.

Prior to program uninstall, the "Copy MP4 - H.264 1920 x 1080p60.epr" file is copied and saved to a folder on the computer desktop for safe keeping, the program reinstalled, and then the saved .epr file restored to its place on the hard drive for the reinstalled program.

Styles Created In The Titler

This one needs more work, but this is the tentative plan. Proceed with caution. However, this has been road tested and worked every time.

Locate the workingset.prsl file

Libraries

Documents

Adobe

Premiere Elements

11.0 or 12.0

Styles

and in the Styles Folder should be a file name workingset.prsl. The user custom styles should be a set in this one .prsl file rather than each created Style having a file of its own. Rename this workingset.prsl to workingset.OLD. Save this .OLD file to the computer desktop for safe keeping.

Then reinstall the program, but do not open it yet. Go to the Styles Folder in the path given, remove any workingset.prsl file found there after the reinstall, place the workingset.OLD in its place, rename the workingset.OLD to workingset.prsl. Open Premiere Elements. The user created Styles should be available again in the Styles section of the Titler.

DVD Template Created By The User From Scratch In Photoshop CS Or Higher Or Derived From Customization Of The Existing DVD Template Via Its .Psd Files

The following excerpt from the May 2013 blog post on Content addressed the placement of user custom DVD template for version 11 (written for 11, but applies also to version 12). 

The only exception to this DVD Template situation is in the Disc Menu category Slideshows for its theme Pan and Zoom. That comes ready to go in another location. No downloading required. Adobe location for this is:

Local Disk C
Program Files
Adobe
Adobe Premiere Elements 11
DVD Templates
Common
and in the Common Folder is the Slideshow category folder which contains the Pan and Zoom theme Folder which contains the assets for the Pan and Zoom theme

As an aside for user customizing an existing DVD Template or creating new one from scratch for Premiere Elements 11, the Common Folder in the above Program Files path would be the folder in which to place a new category folder/new theme folder/ with new theme folder containing the new theme's required files.

Any protection of a user creation here might involve saving the new category folder and its contents referenced in the italic section of the excerpt and then replacing in its hard drive location after the reinstall. No sure if this is over protection, but.

Project Archiver

Not sure if this is out of place, but always a good reminder. Do not move the source media after the project has been saved/closed. The consequences include a bad missing media situation with lots of "Where is file....?". Check out the Premiere Elements Project Archiver feature which allows the user to save the project with its assets either via its Archive (Trimmed) or Copy option. See

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/premiereelements/using/WS09e4b3c48f3a79fc19b622510385d4355c-7dcb.html

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The following is from a Premiere Elements 11 or 12 Windows 7 or 8 64 bit perspective.

The content of this blog post will be updated from time to time.

ATR