Trimming a video clip ?

[like2edit]

I'm new to AP 6.5 and I'm not sure how to perform the basic task of trimming a clip and saving the trimmed clip as a new AVI file.

The first problem is when I open the clip I want to trim in a moniter screen, AP keeps inserting it into my timeline, but I don't want it in my timeline- how do you trim clips independantly of your timeline?

Second, it's easy enough to figure out 'mark in' and 'mark out', but how to you save the trimmed file after you set the marks?

Also, can you trim an audio clip using the same method as for a video clip?

 

[vickero007]

There is no way to export a new trimmed AVI without putting it on the timeline and doing File>>Export>>Movie after making the trim. The Mark In/Out is just a precursor to putting it on the timeline and doesn't actually cut the video until it is exported from the timeline.

-Volkoff007

 

[like2edit]

I still can't figure out how to actually make the trim. What exactly should I do after setting a mark in and mark out?

 

[LRSmith]

To trim the clip you can use the razor icon. It will split the clip and you can delete what you don't want.

Another way is to position your mouse pointer over the end of the clip until it changes to a bracket. Then you can click and drag it to your marker. This also works to expand a clip that was trimmed too much.

After trimming, you can export your new AVI. Hope this helps.

 

[like2edit]

Irsmith- to trim a clip, where should I be doing the procudures you described- in the timeline, in the monitor, or in the "open clip" window?

 

[vickero007]

You do all of that in the timeline. I don't even use Mark in/out since I do all of the cutting on the timeline anyway.

-Volkoff007

 

[LRSmith]

I do all trimming in the timeline. I find it the easiest way to get precision cuts within clips. I suggested using the markers as locations where to trim because that is your current method, but probably over time you'll find you won't need to use the markers. You can expand/contract the timeline in various increments (8 frames, 1 sec, 4 sec, 10 sec, etc) to allow for precise trimming. Good luck!

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

like2edit, if you're working with your clip in the monitor window and have set your in- and out-points, you should see a little button appear at the top of the monitor window, labelled "Accept". Click on that and it will trim your clip precisely as you specified.

You'll still have to put it on the timeline to export it (I think), but you won't have to noodle with it once it's there.

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[like2edit]

I don't see an "Accept" or "Apply" button in the monitor window- I only see an "Apply" button in the open clip window.

How do you export the clip you trimmed without exporting your entire timeline? If there's a way, I can't figure it out. If I try to do export-clip-movie (instead of timeline) it appears to export only the video, not the audio.

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

Okay, then it's called "Apply". Sometimes I can do this from memory, sometimes I smoke an entire roll of wheat bread before replying.

From what you're writing, you have the sub-clip on your timeline, but you also have other things on your timeline and you only want to export the subclip?

I went back to your original note because I have a short attention span:

I'm new to AP 6.5 and I'm not sure how to perform the basic task of trimming a clip and saving the trimmed clip as a new AVI file.

There are two basic ways, but maybe more. One, you place it on the timeline and use the razor tool to cut where you want. Two, you double-click it to place it in the open clips window, adjust your marker where you want your clip and press the appropriate in- and out-point buttons. Click "Apply" to apply those points to the clip. Then you can place it on the timeline, but now it's already clipped.

From the timeline, you can then save either "current workspace" or "entire project" as a movie.

There is no way of exporting your clips (changes) back out to the original file. Premiere doesn't diddle the original files.

You can deliberately do so, by, say, saving your trimmed video as blahblahblah_trimmed.mov, then deleting the old file, then renaming the new file to the old file's name, but from within Premiere, and in general, this would probably not be a very good idea. Here's why: the next time you open this project in Premiere, it will look up the files to make its clips. It will hit the changed file. This might be good, but most of the time, it's not.

The first problem is when I open the clip I want to trim in a moniter screen, AP keeps inserting it into my timeline, but I don't want it in my timeline- how do you trim clips independantly of your timeline?

See the second solution above. It doesn't mean you can save your clip as a video file, but it'll trim the clip before you put it on the timeline.

Second, it's easy enough to figure out 'mark in' and 'mark out', but how to you save the trimmed file after you set the marks?

The file isn't trimmed. You have simply told Premiere to set points. If you press "Apply", then the points are set whenever Premiere places the clip on the timeline.

To save any file to video, you must place clip(s) on the timeline and then export the timeline.

Also, can you trim an audio clip using the same method as for a video clip?

Yes.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[like2edit]

EMIII: thanks for the reply.

I must be missing something. first off, I'm not trying to export changes back to my original clip- I'm simply trying to save a trimmed clip as a new AVI.

What I still can't figure out- how can I export/save a trimmed clip from the timeline without exporting the entire timeline? (i.e. there are times I want to make new clip by trimming a larger clip, but I may not necessarily want to place it in my timeline until some point later, or maybe I just want to save it for the time being). Right now these are the steps I perform just to save a trimmed clip:

1. make sure I'm starting with an empty timeline (to avoid having to export everything on the timeline after I trim the clip).
2. place the orignal clip in the timeline.
3. open the clip in a clip window.
4. set the in and out marks.
5. hit the 'apply' button
6. go into the timeline and delete both the video and audio empty space caused by my trim, leaving just the trimmed portion.
7. drag the trimmed portion to the beginning of the timeline (otherwise the 'export' will include a blank portion.

At this point if I do Export Clip->Movie, the audio portion is not saved. When I try to select both the video and audio portion in the timeline (by holding down the Ctrl button, the Export Clip option is grayed out. So, in order to include the audio, I have to use Export Timeline->Movie (I see no option for "current workspace" or "entire project&quot.

So, this gets back to the aforementioned problem of seemingly not being able to save a new trimmed clip without saving everything in the timeline along with it. It seems odd AP won't let you export/save a specific clip even if there are other clips in your timeline. It seems like there must be an easier way to save a new trimmed clip if you don't want to include it in your timeline. Any suggestions?



-

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

I'm not trying to export changes back to my original clip

Okay. Good. That would be a mess.

What I still can't figure out- how can I export/save a trimmed clip from the timeline without exporting the entire timeline? (i.e. there are times I want to make new clip by trimming a larger clip, but I may not necessarily want to place it in my timeline until some point later, or maybe I just want to save it for the time being).

Ah, you're talking about two different things.

(also, I think you have a later version of Premiere than I do, so I might have a couple of menu options off slightly)

First, consider the word "entire" in your first sentence. You have two basic options when exporting a movie: either the entire project/Timeline, or just your workspace. You might be working on a 2-hour movie, but just want to export a 3-minute piece. For the former, you would export the entire Timeline. For the latter, you select that three-minute block as your workspace, then you export only your workspace. This choice is offered as a drop-down selection under "Settings..." when you export a movie (CTRL-M)

As for your example, that is something different. There is no way to export a movie from any place other than the Timeline (as far as I know). You cannot export a movie from the clips bin, from the clip monitor window, from the ashtray to your right, or from an old leopard cage marked "Princess". The only place from which you may export a movie is the Timeline. In fact, the only time you can even select "Export Movie" is when the Timeline window is active (I think, anyway, it's been a while).

So, if you want to export a movie in any way, become friends with the Timeline.

Right now these are the steps I perform just to save a trimmed clip:

Here's how I do this:
[ol]
[li]Start with an empty timeline (if you are just doing a clip 'n' save operation, then don't put anything else in the timeline).[/li]
[li]Drag your clip from the Clips Bin to the Clip Monitor window (the left-hand window), or just double-click it to put it in the window (I think that'll work, too)[/li]
[li]Use the controls at the bottom of the Clip Monitor window to adjust your in- and out-points.[/li]
[li]Click the "apply" button to apply these changes to the clip[/li]
[li]Drag the clip from the Clips Bin to the Timeline. It should be already trimmed up according to the earlier step.[/li]
[li]In the Timeline, drag the project handles such that they surround only your trimmed clip (this is only in case you have other stuff in the timeline, but you won't). They'll do a little snap-to action on either end of your clip.[/li]
[li]Select File >> Export Timeline >> Movie... (or something like that, I can't remember, exactly)[/li]
[li]Note the Settings... button. In the Range area (I think), be sure to choose "Workspace only" as you're exporting (I don't remember the exact phrase, but that's pretty close). Also, check to make sure that your are, in fact, exporting audio as well as video via this route.[/li]
[li]Enjoy your new clip![/li]
[/ol]

So, no noodling with the clip once you have it on the Timeline. The Timeline is simply a staging area.

At this point if I do Export Clip->Movie, the audio portion is not saved.

This should not be a problem if you trim the clip before placing it on the Timeline and then don't screw with it once it's on the Timeline. Drop the clip on the Timeline and export.

When exporting (forgive me if this is obvious) be sure that "Export Video" and "Export Audio" is selected (probably in the Settings... section).

So, this gets back to the aforementioned problem of seemingly not being able to save a new trimmed clip without saving everything in the timeline along with it.

Well, it's not a problem anymore, now that you know how to export only a portion of the Timeline!

Cheers,

Edward

Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door