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Nesting edits using virtual clips
A virtual clip is like a second video program that you create in the Timeline, separate from the main video program. Like the main program, a virtual clip can contain multiple clips, transitions, and effects, and can span multiple tracks. Once a virtual clip is defined, you can use it in the main program any number of times. Premiere treats and represents a virtual clip as a single clip, and you can edit and apply settings to a virtual clip as you can with a source video clip. By using virtual clips to organize and group sequences, you can save time editing complex video programs. Using virtual clips, you can do the following:
Reuse anything you build. For example, if you create a short sequence involving four superimposed video tracks and three mixed audio tracks, and you want to use the sequence ten times in a project, just build the sequence once, create a virtual clip from it, and add ten instances of the virtual clip to the Timeline.Apply different settings to copies of a sequence. For example, if you want a sequence to play back repeatedly but with a different effect each time, you can create a virtual clip and copy that for each instance where you want it to appear with a different effect.Update identical scattered sequences all at once. For example, if you create the virtual clip described in the first example and use the virtual clip in your video program ten times, you can simultaneously update all ten instances of the virtual clip just by editing the clips in the area of the Timeline that defines the virtual clip. And if different effects are applied to each instance of a virtual clip, the different effects are preserved for each instance. If you had copied and pasted the sequence instead of creating a virtual clip, you'd have to update one sequence and then copy and paste the update nine times, or edit each copy individually.Apply settings more than once to the same clip. For example, certain effects can be achieved only by combining transitions. However, you cannot apply more than one transition to the same point in time--unless you use a virtual clip. For example, you can apply a transition between two clips in the Timeline outside the main program, create two virtual clips using the clips on either side of that transition, and move the new virtual clips to the Timeline. The first transition you applied is now inside each virtual clip, so now you can apply a second transition between the two virtual clips.
Copying and pasting a sequence multiple times in the Timeline creates many objects in the Timeline.
Virtual clips achieve the same goal in a much simpler way.
When creating virtual clips, keep in mind the following:
A virtual clip always represents the current state of the original Timeline area on which it is based, so if you edit that original area in any way, you will affect the virtual clips based there.Because the clips in a virtual clip must be on the Timeline but outside of the main video program, it's a good idea to create virtual clips in an area you set aside before the main program starts in the Timeline. This reduces the possibility that edits to the main program (such as ripple edits) will accidentally alter Timeline areas containing virtual clips. You can protect the original clips further by building virtual clips on tracks other than the ones containing the main program or superimpositions and by locking the clips or their tracks (see Locking and unlocking tracks or Locking and unlocking clips).A virtual clip can contain one or more virtual clips. This technique, called nesting, can be useful when you are organizing a complex hierarchy of effects. You can nest up to 64 levels of virtual clips.Because virtual clips can contain references to many clips, actions involving a virtual clip may require additional processing time as Premiere applies the actions to all component clips.Because any changes you make to the source clips in a virtual clip alter the resulting virtual clip, you cannot place a virtual clip above, below, or before its source clips in the Timeline window. If you do, Premiere will be unable to create a preview file and the Program view will display either a black screen or yellow and black lines.
To create a virtual clip:
1 Drag the work area markers to mark the beginning and end of the main program (see Previewing a video program). Because you are about to create a second program within the Timeline, setting the work area to the main program helps ensure that when the program is finished, you export only the main program and not other areas of the Timeline.
2 In an area of the Timeline outside the main program work area, add and edit the clips you want in your virtual clip. Apply any effects and transitions if desired.
3 Select the block select tool ( ).
4 Drag to create a rectangle that defines the time boundaries of the clips you want to include in the virtual clip. You can include parts of clips; Premiere will use only the portions of clips inside the rectangle you drag.
5 Position the block select tool anywhere inside the rectangle. The pointer changes to the virtual clip tool ( ).
6 Drag the selected block to any other available location in the Timeline. You can also use only the audio or video portions of the source clips by holding down Shift as you drag either the audio or video portions of the clips you want to include in the virtual clip. As you drag, the virtual clip is represented by a black rectangle identical to the one you see when you drag a source clip.
Dragging to select an area to include in a virtual clip (left), and dragging the selection to create a virtual clip (right)
To locate the original frames that make up a virtual clip:
Do one of the following:
In the Timeline, double-click the virtual clip.In the Timeline, select the virtual clip and then choose Edit > Locate Clip.
The Timeline displays the selection rectangle around the source frames for the virtual clip.
 Change the area in the Timeline that is the source for a virtual clip by dragging the edge of the virtual clip. You can observe the difference if you double-click the virtual clip before and after you trim it.
Editing Video > Editing a video program > Nesting edits using virtual clips
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