Format
Last updated on
14 October 2024
- Adobe Media Encoder User Guide
- Beta releases
- Introduction
- Encoding quick start and basics
- Overview of Adobe Media Encoder
- Using the Preset Browser
- Source Settings
- File formats supported for import with Media Encoder
- Managing third-party audio plug-ins
- Export media from Team Projects using Media Encoder
- Working with log files
- Files supported for export with Media Encoder
- Default keyboard shortcuts
- About video and audio encoding and compression
- Compression tips
- Set preferences
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Encoding and exporting
- Create custom presets for Media Encoder
- Sync settings in Media Encoder
- Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
- Video Effects Manager in Media Encoder
- IRT compliance
- Export settings reference for Media Encoder
- Encode and export video and audio with Media Encoder
- Managing the media cache database
- Publish settings in Adobe Media Encoder
Learn about the file formats for video, animation, and images that can be imported into Adobe Media Encoder.
Some filename extensions such as MOV, AVI, MXF, and FLV denote container file formats rather than representing specific audio, video, or image data formats. Container files can contain data encoded using various compression and encoding schemes. Adobe Media Encoder can import these container files, but the ability to import the data that they contain depends on which codecs (specifically, decoders) are installed.
By installing more codecs, you can extend the ability of Adobe Media Encoder to import extra file types. Many codecs must be installed into the operating system and work as a component inside the QuickTime or Video for Windows formats. Contact the manufacturer of your hardware or software for more information about codecs that work with the files that your specific devices or applications create.
Video and animation formats
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| 3GP | 3GPP file format |
| AAF | Advanced Authoring Format |
| Animated GIF (GIF) | Supported on Windows only, QuickTime Animation files with Delta Frames |
| ARI | ARIRAW format |
| AVC-Intra, AVC-Intra LT, AVC Long GOP (Op1a), AVC Long GOP (Op1b), including AVC-Ultra | Panasonic codecs |
| Cinema DNG | High-resolution raw format |
| RMF | Canon RAW format, Canon XF-HEVC, Canon C4 |
| DV Stream | The native video format used for tape |
| DNxHD | Supported for MXF and QuickTime |
| DNxHR | Supported for MXF and QuickTime |
| FLV, F4V. | Flash video |
| MOV | GoPro CineForm format, QuickTime format |
| HEVC | High-Efficiency Video Coding. HEVC (also known as H.265) codec footage in a QuickTime (.MOV) container, produced by an iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or a DJI Phantom 4 drone. VFR support. HEVC Hardware Encode (Feature available on Mac OSX 10.13 and later and Windows 10 RS5). For information on HEVC video extensions supported on Windows, view HEVC Video Extensions. |
| IMX | Supported in MXF container |
| JPEG2000 MXF Op1a | Supported in MXF container |
| MXF | Media eXchange Format. Supports MXF-wrapped DV (DALET). Note: Adobe Media Encoder supports ARRIRAW files in an MXF container. |
MPEG, MPE, MPG, M2V, MPA, MP2, M2A, MPV, M2P, M2T, MTS, MP4, M4V, M4A, VOB, 3GP, AVC, h.264 |
MPEG-1 (Audio Layer II), MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 formats. Variable Frame Rate (VFR) support in h.264. Mac H.264 (Feature available on Mac OSX 10.13 and later). Win-Intel H.264 Hardware Encode. Hardware accelerated decode is supported for H.264, .mov, and .mp4 containers in both VFR and CFR on Mac 10.13, later versions, and Windows 10 with supported Intel HW.
|
| MXF OP1a | Supported in MXF container |
| Netshow ASF | Windows only |
| P2 Movie | Supported in MXF container |
| CINE | Phantom CINE format |
| MOV | QuickTime movie. HEVC (also known as H.265) codec footage in a QuickTime (.MOV) container. |
| R3D | RED Raw, RED Helium, RED WEAPON |
| SonyRAW | Supported in MXF container |
| Sony Venice V3, Sony Venice V4, Sony VENICE 2 Ver. 2 | Supported in MXF container |
| AVI, WAV, BWF | Video for Windows and macOS(requires QuickTime player), AVI Motion JPEG files on macOS |
| WMV, WMA, ASF | Windows Media |
| XAVC Intra, XAVC Long GOP | Sony codecs |
Note:
- FLV and F4V formats are container formats that are associated with a set of video and audio formats. F4V files generally contain video data that is encoded using an H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec. FLV files generally contain video data that is encoded using the On2 VP6 or Sorenson Spark codec and audio data encoded using an MP3 audio codec. Adobe Media Encoder, however, can import FLV files using the On2 VP6 video codec, not the Sorenson Spark codec. Also, Premiere Pro does not support FLV import.
- Media eXchange Format (MXF) is a container format. Adobe Media Encoder can only import some kinds of data contained within MXF files. It can import the Op-Atom variety used by Panasonic cameras using the DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO HD, and AVC-Intra codecs to record to Panasonic P2 media. Adobe Media Encoder can also import XDCAM HD files in MXF format.
- Several formats associated with specific modern cameras use MPEG-4 encoding. For example, the XDCAM EX format uses MP4 files, and the AVCHD format uses MTS files.
Audio formats
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| ASND, multi-track files imported as merged single track | Adobe Sound Document |
| Adobe Audition tracks | Audition track format |
| AAC, M4A | Advanced Audio Coding |
| AIF, AIFF | Audio Interchange File format |
| AVI, WAV | Video for Windows. Require QuickTime Player on Mac OS. |
| MP3, MPEG, MPG, MPA, MPE | MPEG Audio Layer 3 |
| MPEG 2 | MPEG 2 |
| MOV; on Windows, require QuickTime player | QuickTime format |
| WAV | Waveform format |
| WMA, Windows only | Windows Media Audio format |
Still-image formats
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| AI, EPS | Adobe Illustrator |
| ARI | ARRIRAW |
| BMP, DIB, RLE | Bitmap |
| CIN, DPX | Cineon/Digital Picture Exchange. Support for DPX asynchronous decode. |
| GIF | Graphics Interchange Format |
| HEIF | High Efficiency File Format supported on both Mac OS 10.13 or higher, and Windows 10 (version 1809 or higher). On Windows, both the HEIF image extension and the HEVC Video Extension needs to be installed. For information on HEIF image and HEVC Video extensions, see HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. |
| ICO; Windows only | Icon File |
| JPE, JPG, JPEG, JFIF | JPEG |
| OpenEXR | High dynamic range file format |
| PSD | Photoshop |
| PIC, PCT | PICT |
| PNG | Portable Network Graphics |
| TGA, ICB, VDA, VST | Targa |
| TIF, TIFF | Tagged Interchange File |
Note:
You can import files of any still-image format as a sequence. For more information, see Import items into the encoding queue.
Closed captioning formats
|
|
Description |
|---|---|
|
DFXP |
Distribution Format Exchange Profile |
|
MCC |
MacCaption VANC |
|
PTL, PRTL |
Adobe Premiere Title |
|
SCC |
Scenarist Closed Caption |
|
SRT |
Subrip Subtitle format |
|
STL |
EBU N19 Subtitle |
|
XML |
W3C/SMPTE/EBU Timed Text |
Project file formats
|
Format |
Description |
|---|---|
|
AEP, AEPX |
After Effects project |
|
CHPROJ |
Adobe Character animator project |
|
CMX3600 EDL |
Edit decision list (EDL) |
|
FCP XML |
Final Cut Pro XML |
|
PRPROJ |
Adobe Premiere Pro project |