Encoding Failed, H.264 Selector 9, Error Code 3 - BLANK COMPOSITION

[Rob217717683hsl]

Hi,

I have an animation I created on a 3840x64px composition.

For some reason, the animation kept failing over and over again. I haven't been able to successfully export it yet, despite the fact that the same animation at other sizes is exporting just fine.

So, as a test I created a completely blank composition with the dimensions of 3840x64px. THIS FAILS AS WELL!

Here are the details of the fail:

------------------------------------------------------------
- Encoding Time: 00:00:00
09/04/2023 02:24:38 PM : Encoding Failed
------------------------------------------------------------
Export Error
Error compiling movie.

Export Error

Error completing render.

Writing with exporter: H.264
Writing to file: /Users/rxe16/Desktop/AEProject/Comp 1.mp4
Writing file type: H264
Component: H.264 of type Exporter
Selector: 9
Error code: 3

------------------------------------------------------------

What's going on here? It's an empty composition.

Steps I've tried to resolve the issue:

- Checked for updates (AE 23.6.0 Build 62, Media Encoder 23.6 Build 62)

- Cleared memory and cache

- Restarted laptop (Apple M2 Pro, Ventura 13.5) 

- Tried changing Media Encoder to Software Only rendering

- Tried creating a completely new blank project, still won't export

- Tried uninstalling and reinstalling After Effects and Media Encoder

[Rick Gerard]

I just tried a comp of that size. That image is one rendered frame. 

I don't have any problem with the comp size, but there's not much room for any animation, and a media player is going to have a problem with the file if it is for the web.  It's just a little taller than a line of text on my browser. 

[Rob217717683hsl]

The animation is for a basketball sporting area boundary wall which is a video screen, so as you can imagine, when that gets stretched around the court the dimensions make sense (and are also the specs provided by the arena). We've done animations for them at that size before no worries, but now Media Encoder is refusing to export it. The internal After Effects render engine has worked though, as a workaround.

[nishu_kush]

Hi Rob,

I just gave it a try. I've had no problem exporting a 3840x64px comp Media Encoder. What's the version of After Effects and Media Encoder you're using? Also, what are your system specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM, OS version)? We'll try to replicate the issue at our end.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Nishu

[Rob217717683hsl]

Hi Nishu,

Details are as follows:

Media Encoder: Version 23.6 (Build 62)
After Effects: Version 23.6.0 (Build 62)

Computer Specs:

Apple M2 Pro, 32GB Ram, 1TB SSD
MacOS Ventura 13.5

[Rick Gerard]

You need to refer to the media player documentation that is going to play the video at the arena. Many of those kinds of devices require special video encoding settings. 

[Rob217717683hsl]

@Rick Gerard I don't think you understand, irrespective of the specs required by the arena, After Effects via Media Encoder refuses to export a blank video at that resolution and a framerate of 25fps. This has nothing to do with the requirements of the arena.

[Rick Gerard]

It could have everything to do with the Media Encoder settings. If you are trying to render an H. 264 video, the frame size and encoding settings could be causing the problem.  When I have odd-sized comps to render, I always use the Render Queue. If there are any problems with a ProRez file I render an image sequence and then turn that into the format needed for the client.

[Rob217717683hsl]

I've tried using a number of encoder presets.

I don't think resolution would or should affect the renderability of a video. I've certainly never had an issue rendering 'odd sized' videos. After all, 'standardised' resolutions are just arbitrary numbers that we've accepted as the norm.

[Rick Gerard]

H.264 has standards. Encoding is based on 16 X 16 pixel blocks. Color is compressed in blocks of 4 pixels. IBP compression also imposes limits. There could be a host of things that cause a render failure.

I just created a comp that was 3840 X 64, filled it with a shape layer, and added it to the Media Encoder using the default Match Source preset and got an instant failure:

- Encoding Time: 00:00:00
09/05/2023 07:26:53 PM : Encoding Failed
------------------------------------------------------------
Export Error
Error compiling movie.

Export Error

Error completing render.

Writing with exporter: H.264
Writing to file: /Users/rickgerard/Downloads/h264 test_AME/3840 X 64 test_2.mp4
Writing file type: H264
Component: H.264 of type Exporter
Selector: 9
Error code: 3

I changed the render settings to Constant Bit Rate and 6 Mbps, and the file was rendered successfully. Try giving that a try.