Can I create many short rough cuts from one large vob or mts file?

Question

If so, how?  I am new to editing and using CS6 Premier Pro and Prelude.

Answer 1

As JStrawn points out, Importing the full Clip into the Project, but only using what you need from it, where you need it, has no drawbacks. The actual AV file is NOT physically input to the program, in any way. What happens with an Import, in very simple terms, is that PrPro links to that file, where it resides on your system, when you do the Import. There is only a link to that AV file, and that is written into the PRPROJ (the Project file) file in XML language. The file stays where it was, and only a line, or two of code is written. That is why a PRPROJ file is so small, compared to a media file - it's only lines of code, and contains zero media. Even Titles, which ARE included in the PRPROJ file, are but instructions, until one Exports.
The three methods mentioned above are really quite similar, but just reflect a slightly different workflow. I like the Source Monitor and setting the In & Out Points, then just dragging (I guess I mouse more than use keyboard shortcuts) an Instance of that file, now Trimmed, onto my Timeline. There are a few times, when I do use the Razor, but not that often. I seldom use the Trim Monitor w/ it's keyboard shortcuts, but many could not live without that - personal choices.
What one sees on the Timeline are representations of the various segments of that original longer Clip. But they are basically for display - to give the editor a visual to work with. Those Clip Instances do not yet really exist, and are only XML instructions. When one goes to Export the Timeline, PrPro reads those instructions, follows the link to that original file, and extracts the data that it is instructed to use, and essentially copies just THAT data to the new file, that PrPro is outputting. It is at that point, that something new exists, created from the chosen data in that original file, processed through the instructions written to the PRPROJ file.
Now, there ARE some times, where one would want to create Sub-Clips, or even Export the Trimmed Clips as separate, discrete files, but from what I gather, you do not have a need for that, so you can save yourself a couple of steps.
One possible use would be if one is hardpressed for HDD space, and they wished to actually cut up the long file, Export to individual files, and then Delete that original file. However, and even there, one could use the above techniques to edit the long file, and Export that edited version as a separate file, then Deleting that original longer file. Caveat - if one does that, then that Project is basically "done," as the Imported media file, the original long one, would no longer exist, as it has been Deleted.
Good luck, and hope this helps,
Hunt