Supported video files

[Shrimpfarmer]

I have just downloaded the After Effects trial version and I am using the training videos on Lynda.com I just tried to import one of my videos into the program and I keep getting an error message that the video format may not be supported. The video was produced in Premier Elements 7 and saved as HD720p 25. The only video clip from PE7 that I have managed to import into AE is a clip I saved as DVI from PE7. All of the movie clips I am trying to use are appearing in the AE file selection window so AE seems to think they are supported?

Any ideas whats up?


WMV files work it rejects any .mpg file though. These files were produced by PE7 using the Pal HD720p export setting.

Cheers
Shrimpy

[Shrimpfarmer]

Its a steep learning curve regarding video formats, one I remember from getting to grips with PE7.

I am surprised that AE does not seem to like any MPEG file that PE7 produces. I need to settle on a file format to render my movie to for import into AE upon which to add effects. WMV files do seem to work, however, they take longer to render and they all seem to miss the first few seconds of audio. I can render to DV PAL widescreen which is nice and fast and the audio is good, however when I bring it into AE its squished and I don't know if it can be unsquished so it looks right in AE?

I am working my way through the training at Lynda.com so I guess things will become clearer.

If anyone who has both AE and PE7 and who has the time, please could you try a few seconds of video rendered to MPEG PAL DVD Widescreen and see if it will load into AE.

Cheers
Shrimpy

[Shrimpfarmer]

Further to above, this is what media info reports about the problem file.

General
Complete name : E:\Output files\MPEG PAL DVD Widescreen.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 7.71 MiB
Duration : 11s 280ms
Overall bit rate : 5 733 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Duration : 11s 280ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 5 313 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 8 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.512
Stream size : 7.14 MiB (93%)

Audio
ID : 128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 11s 232ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -80ms
Stream size : 263 KiB (3%)

[Chuck Engels]

Here is a list of formats supported by After Effects CS4
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/406/kb406350.html

You will notice that some are export only, like MPEG-1.

Here is what it says about MPEG-2

Some MPEG data formats are stored in container formats with filename extensions that are not recognized by After Effects; examples include .vob and .mod. In some cases, you can import these files into After Effects after changing the filename extension to one of the recognized filename extensions. Because of variations in implementation in these container formats, compatibility is not guaranteed.

What makes me wonder is the format in your report says "MPEG-PS", like Play Station?

Are you using a preset in Premiere Elements 7 for export or are you making changes under the Advanced settings?
If you could give us the settings some of us with After Effects could try it out, I have CS3.

[Chuck Engels]

Another thing I noticed Shrimpy, your file is not 720p.
It has a field order, with is set to 'Bottom field first' that is interlaced not progressive.
It is also 720 x 576, that is standard PAL widescreen. No wonder After Effects is confused.
720p is 1280 x 720 and there are no PAL or NTSC versions involved, all 720p files are the same.
If it is supposed to be a 720p file something is definitely wrong here

[Shrimpfarmer]

Yep something is certainly wrong and its going to be me I will check some facts my end and try and explain exactly what I am doing

Shrimpy

[Shrimpfarmer]

OK lets take this as my workflow for an animation project just using static images as backdrops.

I create a new project in PE7 using the PAL-DV-Widescreen preset.
I drop a background image onto track 1
I drop a character image on track 2 (again just a photo with a transparent background)
I animate that character moving left
I had some smartsound, the whole movie is just 5 seconds long.
I then share that, click share, mpeg, PAL DVD Widescreen and render it.

This gives me a video file with the specs below. I try and import that into AE and I get an error message saying it might be an unsupported format.


General
Complete name : E:\Output files\PAL DVD Widescreen 2.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 3.07 MiB
Duration : 5s 0ms
Overall bit rate : 5 154 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Duration : 5s 0ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 758 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 8 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.459
Stream size : 2.84 MiB (92%)

Audio
ID : 128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 4s 992ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -80ms
Stream size : 117 KiB (4%)

[Chuck Engels]

I try and import that into AE and I get an error message saying it might be an unsupported format.

But are you not able to import the file? It only says, "might be unsupported" and that is because MPEG-1 would have the same extension and be an unsupported format. Are you not able to import the file at all or do you just get the error message and then the file imports?

[Shrimpfarmer]

No the error message just clears and no file is imported into AE.

[Chuck Engels]

I will try a mpg export from Premiere Elements later and see what happens in AE.

One thing though, mpg is a much more compressed format than you really want to edit in AE anyway. You would be much better off with DV-AVI or even uncompressed AVI.

[Bob]

OK, I followed your proceedure and exported an mpeg dvd pal clip from PE 7 and imported it into After Effects CS3. No problems or messages at all. Everything worked well.

There has to be something going on. I'm wondering if it's because of the trial version. The trial version doesn't include the licensed components such as Mocha and Keylight. I'm wondering if the trial doesn't include the MPEG-2 codec because of licensing. I don't know.

Chuck, "PS" stands for Program Stream which is normal. The output file is MPEG-2 PS.

[Shrimpfarmer]

Thanks for giving it a try Bob, much appreciated, at least we know it works. I had my suspicions that it may be linked to it being a trial version but then again I didnt think the trials were limited in anyway.

Cheers

Shrimpy

[Chuck Engels]

Should be fully functional, maybe a watermark on the output files is all.

Thanks for explaining the 'PS' Bob, another thing I've learned here.
I have so much knowledge that my head should explode any day now.
But it could be that I am forgetting as much as I learn so it is an even trade

[Shrimpfarmer]

You were right Bob. I asked on the After Effects forum at Adobe and got this reply.

"The free trial version of Adobe After Effects software does not include some features that depend upon software licensed from parties other than Adobe. For example, mocha for After Effects, some effect plug-ins, and some codecs for encoding MPEG formats are available only with the full version of Adobe After Effects software." (from "Installation, activation, and registration")

[Jayell]

I have so much knowledge that my head should explode any day now.
But it could be that I am forgetting as much as I learn so it is an even trade

Well, the way it works, Chuck, is that once your head is full of stuff .. in order to put something new, something has to be tossed out to make room.