How Avid does it...

I have voted for this and would like to add to the other comments that actually, the feature is pretty useful, it just needs to be optional. The thing that maybe hasn't been understood given the 'needs more info tag' from the adobe admin, is that when you're trying to patch from a source sequence or clip with more tracks than the sequence, the ONLY way currently to see ALL the possible source tracks you might pick from is to add that many tracks to the timeline. That's extremely unhelpful as your frequently picking and choosing source tracks, disregarding those you don't want. The little '+' sign at the moment for when you actually DO want to add enough tracks to match the source is fine, it works as expected and is in a logical place, it just shouldn't be the case that the source tracks are initially LIMITED to how many timeline tracks there are. If you're timeline has 4 tracks and the source has 8, I want to see 8 source tracks in the patching area of the interface, and a little plus button there for if I want to auto add tracks to fit, otherwise I'll just click to enable/disable and re-route source tracks however I see fit. This then wouldn't even require a warning or any new behaviour to make it optional because it already IS, (I don't know about back in 2018, but right now it doesn't auto-add them just from loading a source), we just need the ability to actually practically use the source patching without using the feature. It's not automatic right now, but it is mandatory which amounts to the same thing because if you want track 5 of source and only have 4 program tracks then you have to add 4 more tracks you didn't want to get 8 so you can physically see track 5 to patch it where you needed and to disable all the other source tracks.

The + thingy is warning enough. A pop-up asking me what to do is a waste of time. Please make automatically creating timeline tracks to match the number of source tracks an OPTION. The only time in 10 years I've wanted to automatically add tracks is when creating a new sequence, and even then, I usually setup timeline tracks exactly the way I want them at the start of a project and I don't want Pr overriding my choices.

@george Avid does this - it is often useful - but, crucially, it's an *option*. (Plus avid allows you to patch from any source track to any timeline track, plus has 'autopatch')

I cant imagine why this was considered a popular feature. No other NLE does this and its this "Click heavy environment" which made me move to Davicni resolve for faster work flows. In my workflow I will get a piece with maybe 8-10 channels but only need the stereo mix on A1 A2. I've already set up my sequence for 4 audio channels. I don't need PPro to bring in all the audio tracks. After dragging my source media to my timeline I now have to highlight, delete the tracks and then right clock to delete unused tracks to clean up my timeline. Its one of many workflows that demonstrate that PPro is not built for speed or efficiency. I don't want a warning or adding another "click" to work. Just stop this from happening. If i want a sequence with 10 tracks i will create a sequence with 10 audio tracks.....again no other NLE does this.

I hate this behavior, especially since once PP auto adds the tracks it doesn't "auto" show them on the timeline, so many times you don't even realize it's added the tracks unless you see the tiny "+" sign on your timeline. We record on BM Hyperdecks which have 16 tracks of audio, 14 of which are usually empty, so if you forget to modify the audio in the bin you end up messing up your entire timeline organization when this happens and then have to clean all that up.

The short answer to this, like many of the outstanding feature requests, is to copy how Avid does it.

They have an option to auto create source tracks.

They show all source tracks, regardless of number of timeline tracks.

They allow those source tracks to be patched to timeline tracks.

They have an option to 'autopatch' selected source tracks to selected timeline tracks (rather than having to do it manually).

Their track shortcuts (A1-A99) are the same for source + timeline, affecting what has focus.

Be like Avid™️

Copying over my suggested new approach from the Facebook group
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A couple of ideas I have. A preference in the wrench menu - "Automatically add extra tracks on insert"

Or just don't add the new tracks unless the user clicks the + button [already mentioned here on User Voice]

Best way, IMO. If you have media in the source monitor with more tracks than the sequence can hold: Along with the + button, display the extra source targets *disabled*. This way tells me there are additional tracks, I can leave them off, turn them all on, turn on selectively, reorder, or dig into the media to investigate what's on those tracks.

And if the dialog box to remove empty A/V tracks could be accompanied by a single press shortcut key that would be fantastic 😀

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Showing disabled targets method - Lets say the working sequence has 8 tracks and my source has 32. I want to insert track 21 from the source. I would highlight only source target 21 and drag it up to track 6 and this would not insert a new track. However if I don't move the source target and leave it in position 21, a new track 9 would be created to accommodate the track. It should NOT create empty tracks 9-20 just so target 21 ends up on 21.

Other editors who work with multichannel source media may prefer that Premiere does create those extra empty tracks and we should have to be deliberate about instructing where the new clip goes. So feel free to comment on that.

Regarding the popular feature request to auto add tracks - It's useful, sometimes. More often it's annoying. One click on the + button when I actually need it is no big deal. But deleting extra tracks multiple times (with the delete empty tracks requiring a tickbox each time), multiple times a day, IS a big deal.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Absolutely for making this an option. My workaround is to disable all but the first 2 tracks on 8 track source files - not ideal either, but better than this irritating unwanted behaviour.

I am quite surprised by the comments from Adobe employees here. It's like they have not heard the massive criticism from users that's been going on for years. I think Scott and Ben explain the problem clearly, and it should not be difficult for anyone to understand.

As for the question from Bruce: No, we don't want a warning. We want an option.

No need to remove the oh-so-often-requested feature. Just give us a way to turn it off, and still be able to grab audio from source channel 16 if you only have 8 tracks in the edit sequence.

This is not rocket science. It should be very easy to understand what people want, and why.

I vote with the others who have suggested give us an off on option for this feature

Nobody who is a serious editor would EVER want this on by default. A warning would make it worse from a workflow perspective. Make it an option that’s off by default.

Please make it user choice. I never want PP to auto create tracks

I don't mind auto-add being the default, but we should be able to turn it off.

The fact that you can't patch from A16 on the source side *unless* you have 16 timeline tracks is ridiculous.

(Autopatch too please!)

I do sometimes enable the 'add tracks to match source' and 'auto enable source tracks' in Avid - mainly if I'm making string outs + need to see what's on all 16 tracks.

But 98% of the time I want both turned off.

@Ben you know that's a GREAT idea with the ask “do you want to add more tracks to this timeline” with a standard UI checkbox. I was thinking more of just an Avid like preference. Which I guess it would still be a preference that you can toggle back on after the first ask.

There is precedent for this with the Fit to Fill fit clip dialog box that can open.

We solved it!!

@Scott It’s indicative of the dilemma Adobe now finds itself in to grow the product I’m guessing. Much as they hate the idea they are ‘dumbing down’ to attract new users (and I personally think the new export window is an example of a feature that isn’t really dumbing down but has attracted that kind of comment from people who just don’t like change), they seem to quite often be unable to trust users will get past the “problem” with this, to see it’s better not to have it happen.

Most editors quickly get beyond wanting this auto-add tracks to happen, but they have no way to disable it.

It’s actually really simple - the first time you try to add something with more tracks than the timeline Premiere just needs to ask “do you want to add more tracks to this timeline” with a standard UI checkbox for “don’t ask me this again” and the problem is solved for both beginners and pros.

@Ben ... I think it more points to a lack of understanding of the nuance of what this feature is all about. On the surface it seems to make sense .... 'your source material has more tracks that can't make it into the timeline WITHOUT adding new tracks so let's make them!'

But that ignores that editor's role in telling the NLE whether they want them or not and in most cases editing from the Source Monitor you do not want them. I love that the + is there TELLING me there are more tracks that I have so that's okay.

Couple this with someone who is DRAGGING media/sequences from a bin right into the timeline and that is a wholly different workflow. You get the + but since you're dragging there's no way to click it or turn if off or anything so it's just a different way to work and not something editors working with Source Timelines or multi-channel audio does all that much.

I'm not convinced that the Adobe engineers understand the difference.

This response from
Bruce sadly sums up the failed experiment that is User Voice. As someone who trained many editors both new and ex-Avid etc I cannot recall a single person who either understood or wanted this feature. It throws the entire research Adobe does into doubt for me. Presumably all the respondents were people with little enough work or clients that they were free for focus groups.

What @bruce? We're not talking about clips we are talking about adding tracks. I have never met an editor who wants this functionality (and I've talked to many of them) so I'm shocked this was a "popular feature request."

A warning would be okay as long as we can choose NOT to add auto-add the tracks.

How about a preference like Avid does it so the editor has CONTROL.