PE: What Version Of Premiere Elements To Buy

INTRODUCTION

If history repeats itself, Adobe Premiere Elements 15 as the latest version of Premiere Elements is expected to be released sometime between the end of September 2016 and the beginning of October 2016. Classically, the new features for a latest version are not made public by Adobe until the moment of release of the new version. We are not affiliated with Adobe in any way and have no insider information about the new features in the lastest version release.

ISSUE

With the release of a new version of Premiere Elements, the user who already has some version of Premiere Elements is faced with the "want" versus "need". Some may be drawn to new features of the new release. Some may opt to stay with the Premiere Elements version which is already in use. "Bargain Pricing" may be a lure for some users (old or new) to purchase the currently latest version (14/14.1) that costs less just prior to release of the new. If there are thoughts of the Premiere Elements user giving or selling his or her version to another, see HERE.

As the release time of a new version of Premiere Elements approaches, "Sale Pricing" for Premiere Elements 14/14.1 is expected from Adobe and online vendors. Also, Premiere Elements earlier than 14/14.1 with lower pricing might be found at some online sites. This blog post will focus on the dilemma of a "Great Bargain" versus a video editor with the features needed to get the job done for the user. It is hoped that the information provided will be the starting point for the user's homework on the matter.

OBSERVATIONS*

Suggested Reading Material

Premiere Elements 14 First Look
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/09/premiere-elements-14-first-look-details.html
Premiere Elements 14 Daily Discoveries
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/09/premiere-elements-14-daily-discoveries_21.html

Premiere Elements 13 First Look
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/09/premiere-elements-13-first-look-details.html 
Premiere Elements 13 Daily Discoveries
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/09/premiere-elements-13-daily-discoveries.html

Premiere Elements 12 First Look
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/09/premiere-elements-12-first-look-details.html 
Premiere Elements 12 Daily Discoveries
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2013/09/pe12-daily-discoveries.html

Sampling of Version Alerts

Premiere Elements  13/13.1 and 14/14.1.
There is no DV or HDV capture firewire into a Premiere Elements Capture Window.
Last version to have this feature is Premiere Elements 12/12.1. 
Workarounds have been described. See applicable reference above.

Premiere Elements 13/13.1
One issue is the lack of player recognition for AVCHD on DVD disc or Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc when the disc is created in ImgBurn using a Premiere Elements 13 ISO Image with a file size greater than about 1 GB.
No workaround, other than to keep the iso created to file size 1 GB or less. See appropriate references. This issue appeared to be resolved in Premiere Elements 14/14.1.

No Disc error.
Adobe solution is to delete the Old Film.AEX file. See applicable reference above.

Premiere Elements 11
Version 11 is the last to have the SmartSound soundtracks feature which allowed the user to alter the duration of the feature's soundtracks without changing the arrangement of the music.
See http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/10/pe-11-smartsound-error-windows-81-64-bit.html
Adobe Music Scores (same concept as SmartSound, but not SmartSound) are used in the versions later than version 11. The fate of the user established SmartSound library should be thought through if user is going to Premiere Elements 12/12.1, 13/13.1 from Premiere Elements 11 or earlier.

Premiere Elements 10
(Windows)...Display and other problems exist with Premiere Elements 10 that is installed on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 64 bit using a NVIDIA GeForce video/graphics card later than about May 2013.

Workaround has been to roll back card driver version to May 2013. Or, use alternative Premiere Elements 10 non NVIDIA GeForce card setup. See appropriate reference including
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/02/pe10-nvidia-video-card-roll-back.html

Premiere Elements 9.0/9.0.1
Replacement background for disc menus disappears when the end product disc is played back.
Workaround is to add audio to the main and/or scene menu level at the disc menu customization level. See appropriate reference including
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/02/pe9-disc-menu-lost-replacement.html 

Very frequent appearance of display card error.
Workarounds included update of the video card/graphics card driver version. And, the driver version is up to date, deletion of the BadDrivers.txt file. See appropriate reference including
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/02/pe-bad-driverstxt-file-locations.html 

Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1
Version at release was essentially unstable.
Adobe release of the 8.1 Updates essentially stabilized the version.

With versions 8.0/8.0.1 and earlier, there can be problem with MPEG2 Activation on new installs of the version.
Solution has involved deactivation, uninstall, ccleaner run through (regular and registry parts), reinstall with antivirus and firewall(s) disabled. Also factor in the Royalty Activation factor.
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2015/11/pe-14-premiere-elements-14-mac-only.html

Premiere Elements 7
Video clip with 5.1 channel audio would appear on an upper video track unless the project preset was one that included description for use with a clip with 5.1 channel audio.
Solution is, for video with 5.1 channel audio, use a project preset which includes for use with a video containing 5.1 channel audio.

COMMENTARY

This blog post does not claim to give a complete version profile which might be used in making a choice of Premiere Elements version opportunities and liabilities. More information can be added to this blog post in the coming weeks.

Work in progress**

ATR
_____________________________________________________________________________

 *Studies using Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.
**As of October 1, 2016 no Adobe announcement on the fate of Adobe Premiere Elements 15 and a release date have been found online. The online Adobe Buying Guide continues to show Premiere Elements 14 as the latest version.
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements/buying-guide.html?promoid=WT7FJ8NC&mv=other

PE: More About Applied Effects/Project Keying Options

INTRODUCTION

The topic of Premiere Elements transparency and superimposing can be found in Adobe documents such as Adobe Premiere Elements Help/Transparency and superimposing and Adobe Premiere Elements Help/Effects Reference which include insights into transparency terms such as alpha channel, Opacity, Mask, Matte, and Keying. And, the ATR Premiere Elements Troubleshooting blog series has looked at various techniques for creating transparency in the Premiere Elements Timeline content. For example, see
PE: Videomerge Produced Transparency Lost in 4K (3840 x 2160) Sized Export
PE: Non Red Key. What is it?
PE: Alpha Adjust. What is it?
PE 11: Image Transparency and Videomerge Pop Up
PE 11: Difference Matte As Substitute for Green or Blue Screen Key 

ISSUE

This blog post will share some "What is this?" information targeting a few of the keying effects found under Expert workspace Applied Effects/Keying in Premiere Elements 11 through 14/14.1 and Edit Menu/Effects/Video Effects/Keying in Premiere Elements 10 and earlier. The keying effects focused on here are

• Image Matte Key Effect

• Luma Key Effect

• Remove Matte Key Effect

RGB Difference Key Effect (Windows Only)

The examples will be generated using Premiere Elements 14/14.1 on Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit.

RESULTS

Image Matte Key Effect

Luma Key Effect

Remove Matte Key Effect

RGB Difference Key Effect (Windows Only)



WORK IN PROGRESS - Incomplete Blog Post As Of July 31, 2016.
The RESULTS section details, explanations, and graphics are being worked on and are expected to be posted in this blog post soon. Apologize for the posting delay, and thanks for your patience.

The intended content of the 2016 blog post has now been completed March 29, 2018. Please see HERE.

ATR