[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!

[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.

[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!

[Robert Hallion]

Thanks for the reply again Dave.

Maybe I didn’t explain myself well enough. The footage is just uncompressed AVIs and images, mainconcept is the codec that is used when making the mpeg4 file. I even did a test and made 2 boxes that were on screen for 10 seconds and still the mp4 had a white box at the end of it. This proves that it is not the footage that is causing the problem.

Can anyone repeat the steps I’m doing to see if the same problem occurs for them?

Make a new comp with anything on it. Add it to the Render Queue, change the settings so that the comp is rendered using the H.264 settings supplied by AE. And then see what comes out. AE relies on mainconcept for the mpeg compression, this option can not be changed and maybe that is what is causing the problem.

[Robert Hallion]

Yes, I understand Sorenson offers mp4, with the Sorenson AVC Pro Codec and the Sorenson MPEG4 codec. I use it all the time. The problem with both of those is they don’t playback in all machines when using flash.

My issue is with exporting mp4 directly out of after effects using the standard mp4 settings. Has anyone encountered this white issue when using AE?

[Robert Hallion]

Goto Edit – Preferences – Scratch Disks … also in there go to Media and you can change the media cache database.

[Robert Hallion]

Go to the spot you want to export on the timeline. Then go to file -> export -> frame and then change it to .bmp

[Robert Hallion]

Thanks everyone for the comments, and Harm for yours here and on adobe.com.

It looks like just upgrading the actual system would be the way to go. I really don’t want a turnkey system from anyone, but maybe a newer HP would work out great.

Thanks again.

[Robert Hallion]

Thanks for the input Paul. I use a MyBook at home just for backups and I was wondering how well it would hold up. We basically just use them for local storage while we are working on several projects. The network is so slow it just makes life a lot easier.

Thanks again.

[Robert Hallion]

Thanks Blast1 that might be a good idea, just to buy and internal drive and place it in an enclosure.

We had one drive actually catch fire; it was the wiring in the enclosure. The other aren