Does Media Encoder support JavaScript scripts in an After Effects composition?

[Concept3D]

I created a speedometer animation using After Effects, utilizing a script to animate the needle based on data from a CSV file. The animation works perfectly in After Effects.

However, when I export the project with Media Encoder, the needle animation is not applied, and the needle does not move. I am wondering if Media Encoder supports animation scripts from After Effects.

I would prefer not to export directly from After Effects, as it takes much longer compared to Media Encoder. Do you have any solutions or suggestions to ensure Media Encoder applies the needle animation?

Thank

[David Arbor · Accepted solution]

Yup, expressions are totally supported when rendering from AE to AME. The issue here is the CSV, but there's an easy fix. When you queue a comp to render in AME, a separate version of your .aep is temporarily saved out for AME to render (this is how you can render in the background and continue to work in AE without issues). However, only assets that are used in your comp are saved and referenced in this temp .aep, but your CSV, which I'm guessing is being directly referenced from your project panel, is not saved.

So, the simple solution (and this is good practice anytime you're dealing with data-driven animation) is to drag the CSV to your comp, just like any other piece of footage, and to update your expressions to reference this layer instead of the file in your Project panel.