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
- Local Disc C
- External hard drive (drive G)
- DVD disc as data disc (drive D)
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.
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| 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
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| 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). |
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.
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| Figure 4. Command Prompt Writing To Obtain Seamless Merged Video Files When Source DCIM Was Saved To DVD Disc As Data Disc (Drive D). |
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.
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*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.
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