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How do I resolve “File Not Importing into Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro” errors?

This article addresses the common issue where files exported from Sonix fail to import into Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

Taylor Jennings avatar
Written by Taylor Jennings
Updated this week

Important Notes

  • The root cause of many import failures: one or more subtitle segments (timestamps) are less than 1 second in duration.

  • The issue typically affects SRT caption files or subtitle exports that are then brought into video-editing software.

  • Ensuring each caption block has a duration of at least 1 second is crucial for compatibility with Premiere Pro/FCP.
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Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open your file in Sonix.

  2. Open Preferences and toggle ‘Invalid Timestamps’ on, and click ‘Save Preferences.’

  3. In the transcript, look for the timestamps highlighted in red; those are the invalid ones.

  4. Adjust those timestamps so that each block is at least 1 second long.

  5. Save and re-export your SRT file.

  6. Try importing the revised file again into Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

I corrected the timestamps, but the file still won’t import—what else could be wrong?

When working with subtitles, ensure there are no floating lines and verify that all caption blocks follow proper sequencing. For SRT format, every caption block must have a number, timestamp, and text.

Why isn’t my file recognized as a subtitle file?

Make sure the file is saved as plain text (.srt), not as rich text or formatted text. If the file name includes characters such as #, ?, /, or emojis, rename it to something simple like captions.srt. Also, avoid using spaces in the file name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why must each caption segment be at least 1 second long?

Many video-editing tools (like Premiere Pro or Final Cut) expect caption blocks to have minimal durations. Blocks shorter than 1 second can be rejected or cause import errors.

Can I edit the caption file directly in Premiere or FCP?

Yes, but it’s best to fix errors in Sonix first. Editing inside the video app can cause timing issues if the file was already invalid.

Where can I watch a video tutorial on this?

You can watch this Youtube video: Sonix: How to correct timestamps when they do not import

For further assistance, please contact Sonix support at [email protected] or through the chatbox located in the bottom right corner of our website.

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