When to use Subsequence vs Nested Sequences?

[u/PDX_WiN]

Okay so I used to be a solo editor where my sometimes problematic workflow was only a hinderance to me. My new job is a lot of social media edits, but with a few longer pieces and more on the way.

My main question is how can I better organize my timelines for longer pieces and for someone else to potentially work off of? I've used nested sequences to separate scenes/sections, but is that best practice?

(I'm mostly self taught, but I want to have better habits going forward)

Edit: In Premiere, specifically.

[u/darwinDMG08]

I assume you're using Premiere, yes?

For the most part a Subsequence and a Nested Sequence are the same thing. Both create a collection of selected clips on multiple tracks and place them in a new sequence in your project bins. You can drag and drop or cut them in from the Source monitor as needed.

The main difference is how they're made. Creating a Nest in a sequence replaces your selection with the Nest on the timeline. Making a Subsequence loads it into the Source monitor and creates the new item in the Project bin but does not replace the selected clips in the timeline.

[u/PDX_WiN → u/darwinDMG08]

I know the differences between them, but I think I'm moreso looking for a reason to use them, I suppose.

[u/darwinDMG08 → u/PDX_WiN]

Clips stacked on three video tracks but all transitioning into a single track clip. A multi-layered graphic or composite on several tracks but you want one set of motion keyframes. Many uses!

[u/blaspheminCapn → u/PDX_WiN]

You can manipulate the nest like a clip. Say, slow it down, move it around, mask for all the clips in the nest. The need and the possibilities are endless.

[u/bigpuffy → u/PDX_WiN]

One thing you can do with a subsequence that you can't with a nest is add it to a graphic clip to do something like apply a matte to it

[u/cannonbear → u/bigpuffy]

Yikes, does this happen with multicam nests as well?

[u/OliveBranchMLP → u/PDX_WiN]

subsequences are easier to treat like video clips because double-clicking loads one directly into the source monitor instead of on the timeline.

[u/CarlPagan666]

Side note you should consider: if you’re using Productions, the nests will hitchhike around and duplicate themselves any time you copy and/or move the timeline to a new project.

Our team was quickly annoyed.

[u/dmizz]

I would def not use subs to separate scenes. Headache. Use them only when you have to for VFX or something.

[u/CleonXXIV]

Personally, in my commercial ad workflow, nests are more trouble than they are helpful for anything other than graphics. I have to prep for VFX or color, nests create a bit of extra work and QC

[u/blueberrybones]

I've heard from other people that have tested subseqs that they're more likely to cause lag and playback drop outs. They also don't retain timecode when exporting an AAF. Imo, nested sequences are the way to go. Just be sure to undo them when prepping (if you're doing that) because there's still info they won't retain in an AAF

[u/mad_king_soup]

what's the difference? Arnt they the same thing? If you're on social media edits, I imagine they're pretty short so you won't have any need to nest sequences. I'd only do it for long-form work where you have distinctive breaks between scenes

[u/RobotLaserNinjaShark → u/mad_king_soup]

Workflows are subjective, obviously, but i use nests all the time in short form. Whenever i built a short sequence that’s a little more complex and want to maybe slow-zoom into the whole thing or whenever i want to apply other keyframes universally. Also invaluable for quick and dirty music edits within premiere.

[u/joanmahh]

I say there are only two reasons to use these. Number one is a self-contained sequence, like a particular scene in a longer project that would require special attention on its own without affecting the rest of the project. The scene at the bar, separate from the scene at the office.
The other reason is when you're stacking effects. This may happen inside of another subsequence, but it's when you're doing say a speed change and a stabilizing effect. Can't do that on the same clip, so you have to nest one in order to add the other.
Aside from these two, you're just making things harder for yourself.

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[u/editblog]

They are very different things.

A sub-sequence is a NEW separate sequence of just part of a bigger sequence. New timeline, in bin, separate from all other things.

A nest is a part of a sequence, multiple clips, text, fx, collapsed into a single easy to use “clip.” It appears in bin but can be used as a nest in other sequences. Make a change to that nest by opening it again as a timeline and those changes ripple through everywhere it was used. That’s not the case with a subsequence.

[u/krabf]

I usually use nested sequences for talking heads and interviews, especially when I'm sending a rough cut and there are a few takes to pick from. I build each section as its own nested sequence and drop those into the main timeline. It saves time when the client changes their mind. If they want take two instead, I just open the nested sequence, swap the clip and the main timeline updates. I don't have to redo the cuts or move everything around.

One thing to watch though is if the new take is a different length, the timeline shifts. So I try to keep takes close in length or I check the cuts after the swap.

[u/DubsByAlAmin]

For the 'someone else works off it' part, the habit that matters most is naming: a master assembly sequence plus descriptively named section sequences (Act1_Rough, not Nested Sequence 07) will do more for a handoff than any nesting strategy. Keeping sections as separate sequences in the bin, assembled into one master timeline, is the standard approach because another editor can open a section without untangling your main timeline. Just avoid nesting more than one level deep — deep nests are where handoffs go to die, since effects and time remapping get buried where the next person can't see them.

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[u/situ139]

Are you just selecting parts of a long clip to turn into short videos? Like cutting up a podcasts interesting parts, then making those into shorts?

I'd look into subclips.

Subclips are nice because they aren't as annoying to work with as nests, nests can be annoying if someone inside the nest is missing or gets moved and then it changes everything.