Batch capturing and recapturing

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You can specify which shots you want to use from source tapes by logging them as a set of offline clips for later capture. If you set device-control options in the Preferences dialog box to remotely control your camera or deck, you can create offline clips by using the clip-logging controls in the Capture panel and then use the Batch Capture command to capture the logged clips automatically.

If you have a list of In and Out points, you can log them manually without a device online; simply enter each shot’s In and Out points and click the Log Clip button. You can also log frame numbers using a separate logging or spreadsheet program and then import the spreadsheet into Premiere Pro as a list of offline clips.

You can also log clips interactively: you can set In points and Out points while the source tape is playing.

Log clips for batch capturing

In the Capture panel, make sure that your device is online, as indicated above the preview.
Insert a tape into your device. Premiere Pro prompts you to name the tape. Be sure not to give any two tapes you log the same name.
Use the controls in the Capture panel to move to the first frame in your first shot, and click the Set In button. Then move to the last frame in the shot and click the Set Out button.
In the Setup area of the Logging pane, choose your media type from the Capture menu.
If you want to capture some frames extending beyond the In and Out points of each clip, enter the number of frames for these handles in the Handles setting of the Capture section.
Click the Log Clip button in the Timecode area of the Logging pane to log the clip you identified. Name the clip when prompted. Premiere Pro logs the clip by placing an offline clip for it in the Project panel.
Repeat steps 2 through 6 to log each shot you want to batch capture.

Note:

When logging HDV and other Long GOP formats, be sure to add handles in the Handles setting of the Capture section. Because of the nature of Long GOP formats, inaccuracy in actual media content is possible. Adding handles assures that you have the proper frames needed for editing and, if need be, recapturing.

Log clips interactively

Make sure that your device is connected and in VTR or VCR (not Camera) mode, and then choose File > Capture.
In the Logging pane, enter the settings you want to use as the defaults for Setup and Clip Data.
Play the tape. Click Set In or Set Out at any time, even as the tape plays. Repeat as necessary.
When you are satisfied with the In and Out points, click Log Clip, verify the clip data, and click OK.

Note:

You can make slight timecode adjustments by using the plus sign (+) or minus sign (–). For example, to add five frames to the end of the Out point, select the entire Out point timecode, type +5, and press Enter/Return.

Tips for logging clips interactively

Set options on the Logging pane of the Capture panel. Premiere Pro uses the current data in the Setup and Clip Data sections as defaults for subsequent logged clips. If you want to log a series of clips into the same bin with similar logging data, save work by specifying clip data before you start logging the series. When you click the Log Clip button, a dialog box appears so that you can accept or change the clip data.
In the Clip Data section, specify a tape name. Premiere Pro asks for this name every time you begin batch capturing.
The Clip Name in the Clip Data section progresses in numerical increments automatically. For example, if you want to number a series of clips with clip names starting with Car Chase, enter “Car Chase 01,” making sure that the clip name ends with the number. Subsequent logged clips default to the next number, such as “Car Chase 02.”
You can change Capture panel settings at any time. For example, if you see the action changing as the tape plays back, you can get ready to capture the new upcoming action by selecting a different bin to log subsequent clips into or by typing a different name for Description or Scene. You don’t have to stop the tape as you change settings.
You can operate the device and log clips using the keyboard. See the tool tips for Capture panel controls, or choose Edit > Keyboard Customization to view or change the shortcuts.
You must click Log Clip to create a new offline clip. This pauses the tape as you confirm the clip data for the new offline clip.

About batch capturing

Premiere Pro supports batch capturing—automatic, unattended capture of multiple clips from a controllable device. You can define a batch by selecting a group of clips you have logged. These appear as offline (placeholder) clips in the Project panel or in a bin. You can capture any number of logged offline clips by selecting them and choosing File > Batch Capture. When you begin capture, Premiere Pro automatically re-sorts entries by tape name and timecode In points so that they’re captured as efficiently as possible.

To save time by reducing the number of clips you log manually, consider using Scene Detect. See Log clips with automatic scene detection.

When you want to batch capture a set of logged offline clips, select them in the Project panel and choose File > Batch Capture. If you organized offline clips into bins, you can batch capture an entire bin by selecting the bin.

Premiere Pro can capture video in the background so that you can perform other tasks during capture. When you start either a manual capture or batch capturing in Premiere Pro, you can minimize the Premiere Pro application or switch to another application without stopping capture. After you restore the Premiere Pro window, you can click anywhere inside it to halt capture. However, be aware that frames may drop out if you perform a system-intensive task while capturing. The chance of dropping frames is lower on a high-performance system, such as one with dual processors.

Note:

Batch capturing is not recommended for the first and last 30 seconds of your tape because of possible timecode and seeking issues. Capture these sections manually.

Choosing batch-capture settings

A batch list of logged clips appears as a list of offline clips in the Project panel. If you plan to capture many clips, you may want to create bins in the Project panel in advance so that you can log each set of offline clips directly into its own bin. When you batch capture, the offline clips are replaced by captured clips, maintaining the bin organization you set up in advance.

By default, the settings that Premiere Pro uses to batch capture offline clips are the capture settings of the project. If an offline clip has its own capture settings, Premiere Pro uses the clip settings when capturing it; the resulting clip maintains its capture settings so that it can easily be recaptured using the same settings. For example, if an offline clip has HDV as its format and the format specified in the project capture settings is DV, Premiere Pro captures the clip in HDV unless you change the clip capture settings. You can override clip capture settings by choosing the Override Capture Settings option in the Batch Capture dialog box.

Determine whether an offline clip has capture settings

You can determine whether an offline clip already has its own capture settings.

In the Project panel, scroll right to the Capture Settings column. Choose Metadata Display from the Project panel menu if the column is hidden. Then select the triangle next to Premiere Project Metadata to expose column names. Select Capture Settings. Select OK.

If an offline clip has its own capture settings, its box in this column has a check mark.

Change capture settings for an offline clip

You can change capture settings for an offline clip. For example, you can capture the clip at a resolution higher than it had when it first was captured or logged.

Select the clip in the Project panel,
Choose Clip > Capture Settings > Set Capture Settings.

The Capture Settings dialog box opens.
See Specify capture settings.

Remove capture settings from an offline clip

In the Project panel, select the clip.
Choose Clip > Capture Settings > Clear Capture Settings.

By default, Premiere Pro captures this clip with the project capture settings.

Batch capture clips

Select the offline clips you want to capture, and then choose File > Batch Capture.
In the Batch Capture dialog box, do any of the following:
- Choose Capture With Handles and enter the number of frames for the handles if you want to capture frames beyond the In and Out points identified for each clip in the batch.
Note:

The number of frames you enter here will be added to the number you set for handles in the Capture panel.
- Choose Override Capture Settings if you want to replace the capture settings of individual clips in the batch with the project’s default settings.
Verify that the deck and source videotape are set up properly for capture, and then click OK.
In the Insert Tape dialog box, insert the requested tape and select OK. If you're capturing from multiple tapes, be ready to insert them when prompted.
If you want to stop batch capturing, click the Stop button in the Capture panel, or press the Esc key.

Troubleshooting batch capturing

You can perform trouble-free batch capturing if device control and the project’s capture settings are set up properly and if the offline clips you logged are consistent and free of conflicting data. If you encounter problems with batch capturing, make sure that all clips you want to batch capture are set up with the proper settings:

The Status of each clip must be Offline. Verify the status in the Project panel List view. If a clip is not offline, select it in the Project panel and choose Project > Unlink Media. If you select multiple clips and some are online, Premiere Pro captures the offline clips only.
Tape Name, Media Start, and Media End must be specified in the Edit Offline File dialog box for each offline clip. As long as one selected offline clip contains these settings, the Batch Capture command is available, but only clips with all three settings are captured. If necessary, verify this in the Project panel List view or double-click each offline clip to edit settings.
Recording video, audio, or both must be supported by the selected capture device. For example, audio isn’t captured if the capture device doesn’t capture audio. If settings exist that can’t be captured, batch capturing stops and the Capture Settings Error dialog box appears.
The filename of each clip (as specified in the Capture Settings dialog box) must not duplicate the filename of an existing clip. If necessary, double-click each offline clip to verify that its name is unique. If you select an offline clip with a duplicate name for batch capturing, Premiere Pro slightly alters the name of that clip when it captures it. In this way, it avoids overwriting the other file with the same name.

To manage capture errors when the Capture Settings Error dialog box appears, do one of the following:

To fix the capture settings for any clips in the list, select one or more files in the list and click Edit Settings.
To omit the clips with invalid capture settings and proceed with the rest of the batch capture, click Skip. Clips you skip are removed from the list and are not captured.
To stop batch capturing, click Cancel. No clips are captured.

Recapture clips

You can recapture clips in an existing project using batch capturing. Clips can be recaptured only if they have been unlinked from their source files, becoming offline clips; if they have names in their Tape Name fields; and if their source medium contains timecode.

If you want to override the capture settings for any clip that you intend to recapture, set the clip’s Capture settings.
In the Project panel, select all the clips you want to recapture. If you want to select clips in different bins, use List view, which lets you view multiple bins.
Choose Project > Make Offline. The selected clips are dissociated from their current source files.
In the Make Offline dialog box, specify whether the source media files are to remain on disk or be deleted.
With the offline clips still selected, choose File > Batch Capture. Adjust the settings as necessary.
Verify that the deck and source videotape are set up correctly for capture, and then select OK.
After recapturing is complete, save the project.

You can recapture offline merged clips. The merged clip will not become an online clip until all the component clips are captured.