[Mark Hamilton]

Depending on which way you want to go with this (how much you’re willing to spend), you *may* be able to get away with something as simple as a DVI to RCA/Composite cable converter (example: https://www.amazon.com/DVI-I-component-Adapter-Switch-Plated/dp/B000Q6T0OK/ref=pd_cp_e_1). This also assumes you are purchasing a Mac Pro with a DVI equipped video card.

The other route would be going with a video card that supports Minidisplayport output, which would allow you to use the Apple Minidisplayport to DVI adapter, which you could then plug into any type of video converter and go from there (example: Viewsonic Nextvision, etc). Apple currently does not have a Minidisplayport to RCA/Composite/S-Video adapter…so it’s going to be a little complicated unless you have a monitor that is equipped with DVI.

[Mark Hamilton]

Did you happen to create your AE7 files using Windows? And are now using a Mac w/CS3?

Also, what are your preview settings? (you’ll find them in the viewer/preview window > icon that looks like a monitor with a lightning bolt down the center).

Mike

[Mark Hamilton]

I believe this falls under the category of “pain in the a&&”.

You might want to try using the plugin Soundkeys – made by Trapcode:

https://www.trapcode.com/products_soundkeys.html

At the very least it will allow you to generate keyframes based solely on the waveform or frequency of the music, which will make animating to the music a bajillion times easier.

Also, there are some helpful animating tips in this thread:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/2/938410

[Mark Hamilton]

I’ve used WinMorph with some success. Plus it’s free.

https://www.debugmode.com/winmorph/

[Mark Hamilton]

I think what I would do is line them all up as well as you can, and then parent them together (so if one moves, the others do also). Create a new camera and parent it to a null object in 2d (so you don’t have to deal with the Z axis) and use the null to pan.

I guess I might not be completely clear on what you want to do (or what the end result would look like exactly), but it sounds like this might work.

Good luck, let us know what happens.

[Mark Hamilton]

Video Copilot has a tutorial dealing (partially) with this problem:

https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials.html?id=16

Hopefully this helps!

[Mark Hamilton]

I would check playback quality (full, half, etc). Sometimes I overlook this while I’m working quickly.

The other thing I would do (more out of personal preference) is export the AI to a high resolution PSD file since you are working in a raster based program anyway (AE). Just make sure to export it at a very high resolution.

[Mark Hamilton]

I would try rendering it again using the Quicktime codec and just render it either progressive or uncompressed.

If it works that way, you can start compressing it little by little until you get what you want at a manageable filesize and look.

[Mark Hamilton]

I’ve used both Final Cut and Vegas pretty extensively and I also have to say that I prefer Vegas – in layout and functions – particularly audio mixing to video.

It’s just all right there, and it’s powerful…

[Mark Hamilton]

Yeah, it sounds like a (handy) feature, but something that would be found in Movie Maker or the like.

I might be wrong, but isn’t there a way to set markers while you capture, so that your file can be split into separate segments (such as the “M” button while capturing in Final Cut)?