Can't export Quicktime H.264 from AE CS4

[R_John...@adobeforums.com]

Whenever I try to set the export module to Quicktime H.264 I immediately get the error/message, "For reliable output with H.264 compression, please choose it directly from the Output Module Format menu instead of via Quicktime."

If you try ro render, you only get an error and there is no render.

What could be going wrong? Is a plugin not working? The only thing I can think of is I updated to Quicktime 7.6 a few days ago. Anyone else experienced this problem?

[Ko_Ma...@adobeforums.com]

Choose H264 as the output format rather than trying to choose the codec in the QuickTime options.

After Effects has a unique dialogue for handling H264 compression.

[R_John...@adobeforums.com]

The problem is that then is uses that crappy MainConcept video encoder. And you have to select "Apple iPod Video Large" just to get close to the correct frame size and bit rate you want.

[Myle...@adobeforums.com]

I agree, it's silly on some level, both from Apple's and Adobe's side. What resolution are you encoding and what profile level do you use? Also, did you attempt to render from Adobe Media encoder instead of AE directly? Regardless of this, your problem can also be resolved by using tools such as SUPER©. You could always use the Adobe Encoder, then run the output though to tool to wrap it into a MOV container...

Mylenium

[R_John...@adobeforums.com]

I'm encoding at 640x360. I usually use profile level 4.1, but this is only going to be directed towards software not hardware. There are work arounds to this, lots of them. Like encoding using Quicktime Animation codec and then re-encoding to Quicktime H.264 out of PP CS4, Sorenson Squeeze, or even Quicktime itself. All will work well. But the thing is that a person shouldn't have to go through a two-step work around like this. You want to maintain quality but Animation files are relatively huge. (By the way, its funny how PP CS4 has no problem exporting QT H.264).

How would I use Adobe Media encoder directly? Just drop the project from AE into the queue?

[Myle...@adobeforums.com]

You can add compositions by opening AE projects from the file menu in AME. It's a sort of DynamicLink setup using AE, but may work better than vanilla AE due to buffering the frames. It still is no valid excuse for the same procedures not working from within AE, though, so your frustrations are understandable.

Mylenium

[R_John...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for the info. May not be a perfect solution but certainly an infinitely preferable solution to exporting everything to QT Animation just to re-encode everything again. Much thanks.