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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Select the clips you want to merge
Click the first clip on your timeline, then hold Shift while you click the other clips. All the selected clips are highlighted. You can also drag a selection box around them in an empty area of the timeline. The clips should sit next to each other if you want them to stay in the same order.
Step 2: Right click and choose Nest
Right click one of the selected clips and choose Nest... from the menu. It sits close to Make Subsequence, so take care to pick the right one.
Step 3: Name the nested sequence
A small Nested Sequence Name window opens. Type a name that tells you what is inside, like the scene or the shot, or keep the default, and click OK.
Step 4: Work with the merged clip
Your selected clips are replaced by one green clip called Nested Sequence. It now behaves like a single clip. You can drag it, trim its ends, scale it or add transitions to the whole thing. The original clips are still safe inside it, and the nested sequence also appears in your Project panel.
Step 5: Apply an effect to all the clips at once
The big benefit of nesting is that an effect applied to the nested sequence affects everything inside it. Search for an effect in the Effects panel, like Camera Blur in the video, and drag it onto the nested clip. In Effect Controls you can then change its settings once, and every clip inside the nest changes together.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Camera Blur and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 6: Edit inside the nest if you need to
To change what is inside the nested sequence, double click it on the timeline. It opens in its own timeline tab, where you can trim, move or replace the individual clips. Switch back to your main sequence tab when you are done, and the changes show up in the nested clip.
Tips
- Nest before you effect. Effects, speed changes and zooms are much easier to keep consistent when they sit on one nested clip.
- Name your nests. A clear name saves time in long projects with many nested sequences.
- Watch the green color. The green clip color on the timeline is how Premiere Pro marks a sequence, so you can quickly tell nested clips apart.
FAQ
How do I combine clips into one in Premiere Pro?
Select the clips with Shift, right click and choose Nest. They become one nested sequence clip.
What is the difference between Nest and Make Subsequence?
Nest replaces the selected clips with a nested sequence on your timeline. Make Subsequence creates a new sequence from the selection but leaves the original clips where they are.
Can I still edit the clips after nesting?
Yes. Double click the nested sequence on the timeline to open it and edit the clips inside.
Need an adjustment layer to apply effects over your merged clips? Get the free Mako panel for Premiere Pro.
