Source Clip effects

In addition to applying effects to track items or clips in a sequence, Premiere Pro lets you apply effects to source clips (previously known as master clips).

A source clip can be described as a parent clip, and all the sequence clips created from the source clip as child clips.  

To explain further, source clips are objects in the Project panel other than sequences, multi-camera source sequences, and bins. Examples of source clips include merged clips, subclips, and synthetic clips (such as, adjustment layers and color mattes).

If a project contains multiple items linked to the same file on disc, each of those project items is an independent source clip. That is, a parent-child relationship cannot exist within items in the Project panel. The parent-child relationship is limited to source clips in the project and sequence clips in the Timeline.

When you apply an effect to a source clip, the effect automatically ripples down to all sequence clips (child clips) created from that source clip.

Using Source Clip effects in Premiere Pro

A clip that has a Source Clip effect applied displays a red line under the FX badge. In addition, the Effects Control panel displays a new tab called Source that shows the applied effects.

Important notes

• The Effect Controls Panel is focus-sensitive. That is, if a source clip is loaded in the Source Monitor, and the Source Monitor is in focus, then the Effect Controls Panel loads the source clip.
  
• If a single sequence clip is selected in the Timeline and the Timeline is in focus, then the Effect Controls Panel loads the selected track item.
• To view or adjust the source clip effect from a sequence clip, use the Match Frame feature. The source clip for that sequence clip is loaded into the Source monitor. Double-clicking a sequence clip loads just that segment, and not the source clip. The Effect Controls Panel then shows the track item's effects and not the source clip's effects.

Enable or disable Source Clip effects in thumbnails

You can apply Source Clip Effects to a clip to see a more accurate rendition of the clip's visual appearance. You can set the effects to a clip on a thumbnail in the Project panel.

You can use the transform effect instead of motion/opacity for a source clip.

You can apply most of the video effects available in Premiere Pro except the following:

• Intrinsics effects: Motion, Opacity, Speed
• Warp Stabilizer effect
• Rolling Shutter Repair effect

You cannot pre-render Source Clip effects. Avoid using processor-intensive effects because they can sometimes affect playback performance in the Source Monitor.

You cannot apply any Audio effects to source clips.

To display a thumbnail with Source Clip Effects,

Adjust Source Settings using the Effect Controls panel

For RED, ARRI, CinemaDNG, DPX, and Sony F65 media files, you can adjust Source Settings by using the Source tab in the Effect Controls panel.

Load a source clip in the Source monitor, and adjust Source Setting parameters, like while balance, saturation, and exposure. You can save the adjusted Source Settings as an Effect Preset to easily apply the same settings to other clips.

You can also copy Source Settings from one clip to another, or to multiple clips. For example, you can adjust Source Settings on one clip, and apply the same settings by copy-pasting the settings to a multiple selection of other project items.

FAQ

What is the difference between a source clip and a clip on disk?

When you import a media file on disk into the Project panel in Premiere Pro, a source clip is created. Each instance of a media file imported into Premiere Pro is an independent source clip.

That is, a Premiere Pro project can contain multiple, distinct source clips pointing to the same media file on disk.

How do you identify if a source clip or a track item is loaded in the Effect Controls panel?

Here are a few tips to help you identify which type of item is loaded:

• Clip name: For a track item, the sequence name precedes the clip name. For a source clip, only the clip name appears in the Effect Controls Panel.
  
• Headers: For a track item, the Effect Controls Panel shows headers for the Video Effects and Audio Effects sections. For a source clip, no such headers are shown.
• Intrinsic effects: For a track item with video, the Video Effects section shows Motion, Opacity, and Time Remapping effects. For source clips, these intrinsic effects are not shown.

Can Source Clip effects be applied to sequences?

No, you cannot directly apply a Source Clip effect to a sequence or a multi-camera sequence.

What are the types of effects that can be applied on source clips?

You can apply most of the video effects available in Premiere Pro except for the following:

• Intrinsics effects: Motion, Opacity, Speed
  
• Warp Stabilizer effect
  
• Rolling Shutter Repair effect
  
• Source Clip effects cannot be pre-rendered. So, avoid using processor-intensive effects because they can sometimes affect playback performance in the Source Monitor.

You cannot apply any Audio effects to source clips.

Can you apply effect presets to a source clip?

Yes, you can apply effect presets to a source clip. If a preset includes effects that aren't supported for source clips, the unsupported effects are ignored and only the supported effects are applied.

Will a duplicate source clip inherit effects applied to the original source clip?

When you duplicate a source clip, or create a subclip from a source clip, the new instance inherits any effects already applied to the original source clip. However, no active link exists between the two source clips thereafter. Later, if you want to apply the same changes to both source clips, copy the effects from one source clip and paste into the other. 

How does After Effects handle Source Clip effects?

Currently, After Effects does not support Source Clip effects applied to clips in an imported Premiere Pro sequence.

Video tutorial