Classically a .mod widescreen 16:9 file has imported into the Premiere Elements (version earlier than 13) project as if it were .mod standard 4:3. It has been debatable whether Premiere Elements does not recognize the 16:9 flag for that type of file or whether the 16:9 flag is not there. Whatever the case and under the circumstances, the Premiere Elements user who wants to edit .mod widescreen 16:9 files in Premiere Elements has found a solution in changing the Pixel Aspect Ratio of the file in Interpret Footage. This is done by
- Importing the file into the project set with the DV Widescreen project preset
- Right clicking the file thumbnail in project media, selecting Interpret Footage from the pop up menu, and going to the Pixel Aspect Ratio section of the Interpret Footage dialog and changing Conform To: to
For NTSC set up - D1/DV Widescreen 16:9 (1.2121)
For PAL set up - D1/DV Widescreen 16:9 (1.4587)
When this is done, the file now appears in the project to fill the Edit area monitor's DV Widescreen space established by the DV Widescreen project preset. All is well to continue.
ISSUE
In Premiere Elements 13 (current version), there appears to be serious issue with Premiere Elements 13, Interpret Footage, and .mod widescreen file. The Premiere Elements 13's Properties and Interpret Footage values for the file are not consistent with those from the same file in the earlier versions. At this point, there is no evidence to suggest that these Premiere Elements 13 readings are "right" for this type of file and every reason to believe there is a serious problem with Premiere Elements 13 Interpret Footage and Properties reads. Without further information, the integrity of Interpret Footage and Properties is to be questioned for .mod widescreen and possibly other formats.
SOLUTION
At this point, there is no solution.The intent of this blog is to point out the observations that sent up flares as to a major problem with Interpret Footage, Properties, .mod widescreen, and possibly other formats.
Two examples of the problem are to follow using Premiere Elements 12/12.1 and Premiere Elements 13 on Windows 7 64 bit and the same two .mod widescreen files (one PAL based, one NTSC based).
RESULTS
Case 1. Same .MOD Widescreen PAL File* In Premiere Elements 12 and 13.
Premiere Elements 12
Properties
Premiere Elements 13
Properties
Premiere Elements 12
Interpret Footage
Premiere Elements 13
Interpret Footage
Case 2. Same .MOD Widescreen NTSC File In Premiere Elements 12 and 13.
Premiere Elements 12
Properties
Premiere Elements 13
Properties
Premiere Elements 12
Interpret Footage
Premiere Elements 13
Interpret Footage
COMMENTARY
A blanket statement to adjust the Interpret Footage Pixel Aspect Ratio in Premiere Elements to D1/DV Widescreen to correct for the .mod widescreen issue seems to be no longer valid in Premiere Elements 13.
Note that in the .mod widescreen PAL example, the Premiere Elements 13 Interpret Footage Pixel aspect ratio is D1/DV Widescreen prior to any adjusts and still displays incorrectly with regard to aspect ratio.
Also, the Case 1 and Case 2 results were the same whether or not the .mod widescreen file extension was renamed from .mod to .mpeg.
Also, the Case 1 and Case 2 results were the same whether or not the .mod widescreen file extension was renamed from .mod to .mpeg.
The differences in this regard between Premiere Elements 13 and the prior versions remains unexplainable. It is hoped that this mini study will attract the attention of Adobe who can explain this or correct in.
More information on this as it becomes available.
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* MediaInfo Video Readout for .mod widescreen PAL
**MediaInfo Video Readout for .mod widescreen NTSC
- Set the project preset manually to NTSC DV Widescreen or PAL DV Widescreen
- Go to Expert workspace Edit Menu/Preferences/General and remove the check mark next to the preference "Default Scale to Frame Size".
- Import the .mod widescreen into the project with the project's Add Media/Files and Folders/Project Assets, and drag the .mod widescreen from Project Assets to the Timeline Video Track 1/Audio Track 1.
- Click on the Edit area monitor to bring up the image's bounding box with handles. Click and drag on one of the image's bounding box handles to scale the image to the point where it just fits the space provided in the Edit area monitor by the project preset choice.
