Overview of Source Monitor and Program Monitor

Last updated on Jun 24, 2025

Learn about source and program monitors, which allow you to view and edit video clips and sequences with customizable controls and display modes.

Source Monitor

The Source Monitor plays back individual clips. In the Source Monitor, you prepare clips that you want to add to a sequence. You set In points and Out points, and specify the clip’s source tracks (audio or video). You can also insert clip markers and add clips to a sequence in a Timeline panel.

An overview of the Source Monitor in Premiere Pro highlights its various labeled features.
An overview of Source Monitor in Premiere Pro.

A. Timecode B. Playhead C. Scaling options D. Zoom scroll bar E. Drag video F. Drag audio G. Settings button H. In/Out Duration

Program Monitor

The Program Monitor plays back the sequence of clips that you are assembling. It’s your view of the active sequence in a Timeline panel. You can set sequence markers and specify sequence In points and Out points. Sequence In points and Out points define where frames are added or removed from the sequence.

An overview of the Program Monitor in Premiere Pro highlights its various labeled features.
An overview of Program Monitor in Premiere Pro.

A. Playhead B. Timecode C. Scaling options D. Resolution E. Settings button F. Button editor

Each monitor contains both a time ruler and controls to play back and cue the current frame of a source clip or sequence. Set In and Out points, go to In and Out points, and set markers. Insert and Overwrite buttons are available in the Source Monitor, and Lift and Extract buttons are available in the Program Monitor, by default. Each monitor also contains an Export Frame button for creating a still from a single frame of video.