PProCS3 + Media Encoder = DISASTER

[Blast1]

I would surface check the disk with the OS and Apps, and do a comprehensive memory check, to eliminate any hardware problems, you didn’t mention if you did a total system reinstall? or what other stuff you are running on the computer

[Jordan Orberg]

I’m pretty sure I did a complete system install — I had to re-enter my serial number and everything.

Also, I checked my hard disks for errors and came up with nothing. I also ran memtest and another utility and everything came up fine. Here are my system specs just in case this will help:

Windows XP – SP2
Intel Core Quad – Q6600
eVga 680i MB
4 x 1024 DDR2-800
2 x Seagate Barracuda 500gig HD
1 x WD Raptor 160gig HD
Thermaltake Toughpower 750Watt PSU

I don’t have any third party plugins installed, because I just did a fresh install.

Any suggestions? 🙂

[Jordan Orberg]

Okay — now Adobe Media Encoder works, but it won’t render out my imbedded After Effects Composition. If I go to File/Export/Movie and just export an .AVI, the After Effects comp shows fine. However, when I use the media encoder, it simply shows the color bars where my After Effects Composition was.

(For some weird reason, to get Adobe Media Encoder working, I created a blank project and added some black video. I then clicked File/Export/Adobe Media Encoder, and my computer thought about it for a good 2 minutes — then it loaded up. I closed the blank project and opened my project and the media encoder works fine now)

[Tim Kolb]

This is the release version?

When Blast said a “system” reinstall…I’m sure he meant Windows itself…if he didn’t mean that, I’ll suggest it.

This isn’t something I’ve heard anywhere else…not that CS3 is perfection, but I’ve seen no issues specifically getting Media Encoder to run.

The Dynamic Linked AE comp is an interesting issue. I don’t see a reason in your system why it would be an issue, but I’m not sure how the display card affects this. I don’t think I’ve had occasion to use a DL comp through the encoder yet, I’ll try to repro it today.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

Creative Cow Host,
Author/Trainer
http://www.focalpress.com
http://www.classondemand.net

[Mike Velte]

Try updating to Windows Media Player 11 and the latest QT player.

[Eric Addison]

Are you using Dynamic Link, and that is where the color bars are coming up?

—Eric

[Blast1]

[Tim Kolb] “When Blast said a “system” reinstall…I’m sure he meant Windows itself…”

Thatsa exactly what I meant, if a reinstall of the app didn’t work out too good then a clean install, also prior to install check for BIOS updates, firmware updates, driver updates, etc.

[Jordan Orberg]

I think that I’m using Dynamic Link – forgive me but I am relatively new to the features in CS3. While in Premiere CS3, I created a new After Effects Composition and it launched after effects, and automatically put the comp into my timeline in Premiere. However, when rendering the video with the Adobe Media Encoder, the composition does not show up. It simply shows the color bars except in black & white.

I’ve tried exporting all different kinds of ways in the Media Encoder, FLV, Mov, and Mpeg. None of them render out the composition. I’ve upgraded to the latest quicktime and the latest windows media player and still nothing.

To get the movie to render, I went into After Effects and rendered out the comp that was created and placed that into my PProCS3 timeline instead of the After Effects Composition. This is just a workaround though. Premiere Pro CS3 should render my composition and I shouldn’t have to render out the composition first right?

I’m really wondering what’s going on. I was kind of looking forward to being able to import comps into PPro and not worry about rendering out secondary videos for my timeline in Premiere. Does anyone have a solution?
Thanks for everybody’s help so far!

[Eric Addison]

It’s done that to me, but only when the I’ve moved files that are used in the AE project.

When Premiere goes to render out your movie file, it builds the movie from all the clips and elements in the timeline, and when it reaches the dynamic link clip, it looks to where all the files are used in that AE comp to build that clip. If one, or more, of those files are unable to be located, you get the color bars.

Are you using an external drive that contains parts, or all, of your AE comp? Try putting your AE project file, and all the files used in it, on the same drive as your Premiere project file. That should fix the problem.

—Eric