Issues with h.264 rendering in AE CS5

[Robert Hallion]

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]

[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]

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]

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]

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!