How to import multiple DNG files into Premiere

[softananda]

I want to import multiple raw DNG files from a 2.5K blackmagic camera. Each clip is recorded in a separate folder:

I can import each clip separately by selecting its folder and clicking on a DNG file, but -for obvious practical reasons- I would like to import ALL clips at once. However, when I try to do so, Premiere does not import the clips. Instead, it imports each folder, and within them there is not one single clip, but as many clips as DNG files compounded that particular clip. In other words, if the clip had ONE HUNDRED DNG files, Premiere imports that clip ONE HUNDRED times, not just once:

In this image, each file contains the ENTIRE clip, not just a DNG file. Is there a workaround for this? Otherwise, DNG files must be imported one by one, which of course makes the workflow much more difficult.

[petergaraway]

Use the Media Browser to import DNG files.

Peter Garaway

Adobe

Premiere Pro

[softananda]

Media Browser won't do it, because it only allows to open one DNG clip at a time. My problem is not that DNG files cannot be put into the project, but rather that I cannot open/import all of them at once, as I can do for instance with RED files. When it comes to blackmagic DNG files, I have to go folder by folder...

[Mark Mapes]

How exactly are you importing the clips? Are you dragging from the OS file browser, using Premiere's File>Import command, or using Premiere's Media Browser?

Media Browser is the best way to go with file-based content. That said, I have little experience with DNG, so I can't say for sure whether it will work any better in this particular case.

[softananda]

As I said to pertergaraway, I experience the same issue whether using the media browser or the import command.

[Jim_Simon]

Post a screen shot of the Media Browser with the Directory Viewer options opened.  (Left of Search bar.)

[softananda]

Here goes a screenshot of the media browser. I would like to be able to select all folders and open/import all their DNG files together, rather than folder by folder (clip by clip)

[Jim_Simon]

Almost there.  I need to see what the Directory View is set to.  That little eyeball to the left of the search box.

Also, look up one level, at the luna2 folder.

[softananda]

Hi Jim. The Directory View is set to File Directory (A), except when I click on the folder containing the DNG file, which then gives me two options: Cinema DNG and File Directory (B and C). All other options are greyed out.

A)

B)

C)

Both B (Cinema DNG) and C (File Directory) open the raw files as a sequence (one clip). I don't see yet an option to select all folders and open all files at once.

[Jim_Simon]

OK.

Was the full SSD copied over from the camera?  Every folder, every file?  Nothing was renamed or deleted?

[softananda]

I just recorded a couple of DNG clips and tried to open them directly from the SSD card, with no renaming in between. The result is the same.

[Jim_Simon]

Got it.

Can you post a screen shot of the contents of that SSD?  I'd like to see the folder structure in use.

[Kisholay]

Adobe seems to have stopped accepting DNG files both in Premiere Pro and AE. In PP it shows the error "the file appears to have no media data". In AE the ACR accpets only one image at a time and repeats for every image sequence. What am I supposed to do here....I've tried everything but DaVinci. I might have to say goodbye to Adobe this way.

                    

[Kisholay]

And the plot thickens....I somehow manage to open the DNG in AE and export it as a PP file. After that when I import the same in PP this is the result...it doesn't even recognize.

[softananda]

Kisholay, my problem is not that I cannot import DNG files, but rather that I cannot import all of them at once. As far as I know, DNG files can only be opened/imported if you have Creative Cloud (CC), not if you have CS6 or another creative suite. Even if you are running CC, you must have all the updates installed (for a while, I couldn't work with DNG files, and it was an update issue). So, if you have CC, try first to install all updates.

That being said, and by no means trying to be rude, please start a new thread with your question. As I said, mine was not that I cannot work with DNG files, but that I cannot open a group of them at once. It would be best to maintain this thread focused on this issue.

Jim, I do not have my camera with me now. On Monday I will post the image you asked for.

[rejdmast1]

Does anyone know if this problem is fixed in the upcoming version of PP?

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Kisholay,

Only certain DNG flies are supported in Premiere Pro. Are you working files from the BlackMagic Cinema Camera?

Thanks,

Kevin

[softananda]

Jim, as requested, here go the contents of the SSD card:

[Jim_Simon]

Thanks.

And when you select a tricolor folder in Media Browser, it only gives the option for File Directory?

[softananda]

No, it gives both the Cinema DNG and File Directory options (see my post of April 16, 4:20pm)

[rejdmast1]

It seems this is part of a bigger problem.  Within the media browser, it appears that you can not import multiple folders of any image sequences.  I tested dpx, tga, tif and png.  All of them can be imported one sequence at at time from the project file panel but trying to import multiple folders of sequences from the media browser results in the images coming in as seperate files.

Importing a folder of .tga's from the media browser will import tga1, tga2, tga3, etc. instead of one file with all the .tga's looking like one file.  It looks like there should be a checkbox for image sequence when importing folders of consecutively numbered stills.

It is very easy to duplicate if anyone wants to try.  Just make two folders with multiple still images in each folder and try to import them at the same time.

[Kevin-Monahan]

rejdmast1 wrote:

It seems this is part of a bigger problem.  Within the media browser, it appears that you can not import multiple folders of any image sequences.

Hi rejdmast1,

You are correct. Sorry about that.

Kevin

[Jim_Simon]

Sorry, I meant when you select the Blackmagic2, it gives only the File Directory option?

I wouldn't necessarilly expect the image sequence problem to be related.  I can see how that would need to be one folder's worth at a time, but with CinemaDNG, the point is that the software should see each sequence as a single clip from the top level of the folder structure.  (It is disappointing that BM chose the 'image sequence' option instead of the single file MXF option when they implemented CinemaDNG in their cameras.)

Maybe this is something Adobe just hasn't added for the format yet, like the Source Settings (access to which is the whole point of shooting RAW, in my view, and imlpementing any kind of 'compatibility' without full access to Source Setings at every stage of the post production process is just poor design).

[rejdmast1]

(It is disappointing that BM chose the 'image sequence' option instead of the single file MXF option when they implemented CinemaDNG in their cameras.)

This is the current situation with the upcoming cDNG files from Convergent Design also.

[Jim_Simon]

This is the current situation with the upcoming cDNG files from Convergent Design also.