• Adobe After Effects

  Issues with h.264 rendering in AE CS5

  Posted by Robert Hallion on January 28, 2011 at 4:40 pm

  Hi All,

  We just started upgrading some machines to CS5 from CS4 and I ran some test that are causing some issues. We normally create final products using the h.264 codec, when I ran a test no matter what I changed the bitrate to it’s rendering out to around 200kbps for the video and the audio is correct at 128. Whenever I change the bitrate no matter what I change it to the final product is always roughly 200kbps. I’ve changed the level to High and changed the bitrate to 2mbps with no changes to the final product.

  Below are the settings I’m using that worked fine in CS4. We also varied out settings depending on file sizes and quality.

  Profile: Main
  Level: 3.1
  CBR .45 (450 kbps)
  Keyframe Distance set: 55 Frames
  Resolution: 940×528

  Audio
  ACC
  High Quality
  128 kbps
  Bitrate

  The issue is also happening to a co-workers machine who also just upgraded, we are both on Macs.
  Any help would me much appreciated.

  Robert Hallion replied 15 years, 3 months ago 2 Members · 5 Replies
• 5 Replies

• 

  Robert Hallion

  January 28, 2011 at 5:15 pm

  Hi Dave,

  I’ve seen you give that response before and I respect your thoughts. However, we have been using AE for at least 3 years now to created web content using the H.264 format. It has yielded us the best results as far as quality and speed goes. We create content in large volume after loads of testing this is the best route for us.

  That response really doesn’t help explain why AE CS5 doesn’t actually change to the bitrate that I set it to. Did something change in CS5 that I’m unaware off? If I tell something to render at 1mbps I expect to receive a 1mpbs file more or less which is how any program should work when rendering.

  Thanks Again!
• 

  Walter Soyka

  January 28, 2011 at 5:54 pm

  [Robert Hallion] “I’ve seen you give that response before and I respect your thoughts. However, we have been using AE for at least 3 years now to created web content using the H.264 format. It has yielded us the best results as far as quality and speed goes. We create content in large volume after loads of testing this is the best route for us.”

  Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question about AE not respecting your bit rate. I am also very surprised to hear the results of your tests.

  I do have another workflow option to suggest.

  I encode tons of H.264 content, so I bought a Matrox CompressHD accelerator card, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone working with large volumes of H.264. The quality is great and it can encode 1920×1080 HD in real time.

  I generally render to ProRes or an image sequence, and then encode with the CompressHD. This leaves me a mastering-quality render as well as my ready-to-use deliverable. When multiple sizes or bit rates are necessary for delivery, it really saves a lot of time.

  Walter Soyka
  Principal & Designer at Keen Live
  Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
  RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
  Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events
• 

  Robert Hallion

  January 28, 2011 at 9:27 pm

  Hi Walt,

  Thanks for the response. I gave prores a shot and then had the file converted in Media Encoder using the same settings. No dice, the same issue is happening in Media Encoder. Encoded the video at 450kbps and received a muddy .mp4 at 259kbps. It’s odd because I still have CS4 installed and ran another rest and everything turned out as it should. I sent a bug report to Adobe but I have a feeling I’m going to have to try and get a hold of a live person. Thanks for the help.
• 

  Walter Soyka

  January 28, 2011 at 9:32 pm

  What happens if you try to encode a standard sized video asset (instead of your custom size of 940×528)?

  Walter Soyka
  Principal & Designer at Keen Live
  Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
  RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
  Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events
• 

  Robert Hallion

  January 31, 2011 at 1:47 pm

  Hi Dave,

  Yes, I did the full update before doing anything. I’m on 10.0.1.19. The other machine we have didn’t do an update and the problem was occurring on that. What I find odd is that we have had issues before with codecs and usually QuickTime is the culprit. But since since CS4 is still running fine I can role that out. Thanks again for the help!

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