Importing AVI files into PE 7

Question

Newbie poster here, hope I'm doing this right.
I am using Premiere Elements 7 on a Vista computer. I imported some files from a DVD (which had files I had copied from VHS), then trimmed to the part I wanted to keep. I exported, which is what I thought I needed to do to make the output readable on a DVD player, as opposed to saving as a PE project. The only option for format was AVI, so I picked that. I then tried to read back into PE, but it says that file format isn't supported and needed the codec. I searched the Adobe Help files (which I admit I had trouble finding my way around in), and found information about compatible video formats with PE7. AVI is listed, but the help document also said that when connected to the internet, the appropriate format files will automatically be downloaded. So, I'm not sure what I need to do to be able to read my AVI files.
I hope there is a simple answer to this; I'm trying to convert old home movies from VHS and have a bunch to do, but I don't want to only be able to export to Microsoft AVI format.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Some confusion there, Dan.
1) The ideal format to bring into Premiere Elements is a DV-AVI. That's an AVI that uses the DV codec. There are hundreds of codecs out there, so not every AVI is a DV-AVI, and most will cause nothing but problems in Premiere Elements. That sounds like what's happening when you say "The only option for format was AVI, so I picked that. I then tried to read back into PE, but it says that file format isn't supported and needed the codec."
2) You don't say how you're getting your original files from VHS to DVD but, if you're planning to edit your files in Premiere Elements, this isn't the best way to get them into the program by any means. Since Premiere Elements uses a DV-AVI workflow, everything you put into it (included DVD footage) must be converted by the program to DV-AVI before the program can work with it -- and that can take a lot of resources, can cause quality problems because of the extra conversion and simply isn't a very efficient way to work. Particularly because you will be going from a DVD to an AVI and then back out to a DVD, which means yet another conversion is taking place!
Maybe if I knew more about the hardware/software set-up you're using to capture your VHS I could make a better recommendation. Remember that most under-$100 capture devices are designed pretty much to work with the software that comes with it and aren't compatible with programs like Premiere Elements.
On the other hand, DV bridges (which start at $100-150) can take any input and can capture it as DV-AVIs, perfectly compatible with Premiere Elements. We make some recommendations in the FAQs at the top of this forum.
http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3bb95e46