Multiple Video Clips

[19 frets]

This is my first project with video files in Pro Tools 11. My band played a party this past weekend and it was recorded on a Go Pro III in HD. The result was four 2GB MP4 files. I am using PT 11.1.2 native. I think I have read here that PT native has some video processing limitations but I am not sure exactly what they are.

What I would like to do is to combine the four MP4s into a single full length video of the performance and perform some simple edits like smooth joins of the clips as well as simple editing out of some sections between songs, etc.

Is PT 11 native able to do this? I imported the first MP4 with no issues and it looks and sounds great. However, when I tried to import the second MP4 file, I got a warning that importing a new video file would erase the existing one. I would like for it to append it to the first file and not erase or replace it.

I don't have a good feeling about this? Am I barking up the wrong tree with PT 11 native? TIA

[Craig F]

your barking up the wrong tree
Pro Tools is not the right tool
you could get the free 30 day demo of Media Composer or there are probably some other free video editor option out there

[19 frets]

OK. What a shame, it looks and sounds so good. :) I'll check around for some other tools to do the job.

So what is the Video Engine in PT 11 native for? Why have it if it isn't any good for editing video material?

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

In ProTools HD there is capability for multiple movies and video tracks. Simple editing can be done but not transitions like fades or wipes. In the standard ProTools only one movie and video track is allowed. This sucks because prior to PT 9 LE allowed for multiple movies.
The reason for the video engine is better integration with Media Composer across a local network for multiple users on one large project.

[19 frets]

Thanks for the feedback CygnusX. Makes a little more sense now. I have found a free video editor call Avidemux that works for what I need for right now.

[mesaone]

Avidemux and VirtualDub would be my two picks from the pile for free stitching, demuxing, and remuxing. Beyond that, MPEGstreamclip or Handbrake for re-encoding.

You'll likely not want to use h.264 video in Pro Tools. I would recommend using Motion JPEG (or DNxHD if you don't mind the large file size) instead.