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Recommendations for Intermediate File Format/Codec for Adobe (PC)
Hi Folks,
Since Apple killed Quicktime support on PC and Quicktime (.mov) H.264 is no longer an export option in Adobe CC (for PC), what are you all using as a decent intermediate Windows-friendly codec (specifically from After Effects)? Don’t even THINK of posting “Just get a Mac”. I will find you. ☺
I have been using .mov/MPEG-4 with just okay results. Most of my exports are simple, animated titles: Black text on white backgrounds. And using the aforementioned format/codec usually sort of washes/bleaches out the file. (The white seems to sort of creep into the font and any other raster graphics in the frame.) That said, it simply baffles me why Adobe doesn’t allow H.264 (.mp4) directly from After Effects. I have title sequences that require a simple logo swap out. So creating individual comps or projects for each is overkill…
Thanks in advance!
Ed -
11 Replies
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Thanks, Dave. I think this issue began with Windows 10. No exporting to H.264 in a Quicktime wrapper from Premiere Pro, AFX or Media Encoder on PC. Anyone else?
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For intermediates: CineForm and DNxHR are good cross-platform options that are directly supported by Ae.
If you want to render H.264 (not an intermediate!), maybe consider AfterCodecs:
https://aescripts.com/aftercodecs/Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
I still get h264 options inside quicktime using AME, windows 10 and CC17.
But still, you’re supposed to use the h264 encoder anyway, no?
As for intermediates, DNxHr is great, specially if you’re doing edits in premiere, It’s pretty fast to work with those (up to 4k.)
Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com -
Thanks, Walter. I will give the two you recommended a try. And thanks for the AE Scripts link too. Sounds like a good investment.
Ed -
Here is the answer, folks. Damn my overpowered workstation to hell!!! ????
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1680411 -
Figured it out as my home laptop with core-i7 renders fine…
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Related, here is the error code I get on my workstation in AME:
QuickTime Export Error
QuickTime for Windows cannot export H.264 on computers that have more than 16 CPU cores due to a problem in the Apple H.264 compressor component.
Export Error
Incompatible Video Codec found in the preset. Preset load failed. -
A second for DNxHR. If you’re on Windows 10 there’s no need for quicktime at all.
I Hate Television. I Hate It As Much As Peanuts. But I Can’t Stop Eating Peanuts.
– Orson Welles -
Thanks, Greg and to everyone else here. I tried it and it works fine, as does Quicktime using the DNxHR codec. Just curious: Is it normal for the file sizes to balloon by so large a factor by going from mp4 to one of these formats? The two test encodes I did made a 101MB file into a 752 (.mov) and 754MB (.mxf) file, respectively.
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Completely normal for DNxHR and ProRes to be large in file size. Both of these codec formats are mastering formats so the quality level is very high and that leads to large file sizes.
I Hate Television. I Hate It As Much As Peanuts. But I Can’t Stop Eating Peanuts.
– Orson Welles
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