<p>It depends a bit on your file format. But it is possible; if you create a title as a separate video you <em>can</em> concatenate (join) the title and the original video usng tools such as ffmpeg. Generally this will work best if they are the same codec with the same settings. For concatenation using ffmpeg see the <a href="http://ffmpeg.org/faq.html#How-can-I-concatenate-video-files" rel="nofollow">FAQ</a>. </p>

<p>Some formats, like MPEG2 program streams (like you get on DVDs) can actually be concatenated by simply adding the second file to the end of the first, eg. by using <code>cat file1.mpg file2.mpg &gt; newfile.mpg</code> on the command line.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T12:48:43.533Z
2015-01-27T12:48:43.533Z
stib
<p>Unfortunately, because of the fact that most modern video compression algorithms don't work on single pixels, but rather groups of pixels (often called blocks), it will not be possible to change the values of select pixels (such as by adding a title) without re-encoding the video or using a format that supports an overlay.</p>

<p>For simply re-encoding, if size is not an issue, you can re-encode at a much higher quality level (or even losslessly) to reduce or remove any additional generations of loss, but you will be stuck with a much larger file.</p>

<p>Alternately, you could possibly use a playback system that is capable of overlays and use that to apply the title to the video.  It might be possible through a format or play back engine with advanced sub-titling capability, just as an example, but that would also depend on the format that your video is currently in and if it could be moved to a container or player that supports overlays.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T17:03:14.327Z
2015-01-26T17:03:14.327Z
AJ Henderson
<p>I really don't see what the problem is?</p>

<p>In adobe premiere pro, I had done a rough cut of my niece having tea. I added the title screen after, so I just shifted the clips along the timeline to give some extra space at the beginning of the video. The source clips were all .mts file formats, no need to re-encode.</p>

<p>You can see the result here.
<div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVVrpyoaEZU?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-14T04:08:31.963Z
You do realise that when you export from Premiere you're re-encoding, don't you?
stib
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-30T04:05:35.603Z
2015-01-30T04:05:35.603Z
eLouai
<p>How can I add a video title, in the start of a video, without re-encoding the actual video and losing the quality? is it possible in iMovie or Adobe Premiere Pro ? or even any Windows software?
is it even possible theoretically?</p>

<p><strong>Update:</strong>
What I want is this. When I start the video file, first of all a title appears on the blank screen for 2 seconds, then the actual video starts.</p>

<p>What if I create an empty Title video, with the same codec, container and the resolution, comprising only the title. Then using 'ffmepg' join this newly created video at the start of the existing video ( for which I am creating this title).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T19:05:12.410Z
AJ responded as though you asked for a *superimposed* title, which I didn't get from your question. Is that what you meant? Or are you asking how to add a separate title section of video ahead of what's already there?
Jim Mack
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T11:35:51.187Z
What I want is this. When I start the video file, first of all a title appears on the blank screen for 2 seconds, then the actual video starts.
user1451111
<encoding>
how to add video title without re-encoding the video
user1451111
# how to add video title without re-encoding the video

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-25)

How can I add a video title, in the start of a video, without re-encoding the actual video and losing the quality? is it possible in iMovie or Adobe Premiere Pro ? or even any Windows software?
is it even possible theoretically?

**Update:**
What I want is this. When I start the video file, first of all a title appears on the blank screen for 2 seconds, then the actual video starts.

What if I create an empty Title video, with the same codec, container and the resolution, comprising only the title. Then using 'ffmepg' join this newly created video at the start of the existing video ( for which I am creating this title).

**Tags:** encoding

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: AJ responded as though you asked for a *superimposed* title, which I didn't get from your question. Is that what you meant? Or are you asking how to add a separate title section of video ahead of what's already there?  
> **username_0**: What I want is this. When I start the video file, first of all a title appears on the blank screen for 2 seconds, then the actual video starts.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-27. Score: 3

It depends a bit on your file format. But it is possible; if you create a title as a separate video you *can* concatenate (join) the title and the original video usng tools such as ffmpeg. Generally this will work best if they are the same codec with the same settings. For concatenation using ffmpeg see the [FAQ](http://ffmpeg.org/faq.html#How-can-I-concatenate-video-files).

Some formats, like MPEG2 program streams (like you get on DVDs) can actually be concatenated by simply adding the second file to the end of the first, eg. by using `cat file1.mpg file2.mpg > newfile.mpg` on the command line.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-26. Score: 2

Unfortunately, because of the fact that most modern video compression algorithms don't work on single pixels, but rather groups of pixels (often called blocks), it will not be possible to change the values of select pixels (such as by adding a title) without re-encoding the video or using a format that supports an overlay.

For simply re-encoding, if size is not an issue, you can re-encode at a much higher quality level (or even losslessly) to reduce or remove any additional generations of loss, but you will be stuck with a much larger file.

Alternately, you could possibly use a playback system that is capable of overlays and use that to apply the title to the video. It might be possible through a format or play back engine with advanced sub-titling capability, just as an example, but that would also depend on the format that your video is currently in and if it could be moved to a container or player that supports overlays.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-30. Score: 0

I really don't see what the problem is?

In adobe premiere pro, I had done a rough cut of my niece having tea. I added the title screen after, so I just shifted the clips along the timeline to give some extra space at the beginning of the video. The source clips were all .mts file formats, no need to re-encode.

You can see the result here.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: You do realise that when you export from Premiere you're re-encoding, don't you?  

---

