Help!?

[capwing]

When I start a New Composition, and import a video file, it only displays the audio not the actual video or images, the preview screen and the composition are displayed as a black screen? Any help? (P.S. the video I tried to import is in MP4 format but when I import it, it shows as a MPEG file)

[Rick Gerard]

MP4 is the container, MPEG can be any of a dozen or more compression formats. Some MPEG files are not compatible with After Effects. If you can load the file in the Adobe Media Encoder and it looks OK you should transcode it to a standard production format.  You do not want to introduce any more compression artifacts in your footage. Pick one of the formats in the Broadcast section that is not MPEG.

[imeilfx]

Short answer:
a) if all video files that you import (from several recording devices/copressions) give you only audio with black preview - issue with AE
b) if onlythat fiveo/videos from that exact recording device gives you black screen - issue with codecs.
if a) I would start from reseting AE to default Setting preferences in After Effects  if b) as Rick said - try transcoding to different (acceptable for AE) format/codec/specs.

[BartonGarrett256]

See if it will play in VLC, I’ve found Ae to be pretty fussy about what it will play with.  You can most likely transcode it into something else using Handbrake.

[Rick Gerard]

BartonGarrett256  wrote

See if it will play in VLC, I’ve found Ae to be pretty fussy about what it will play with.  You can most likely transcode it into something else using Handbrake.

I would not use Handbrake. Handbrake is an MPEG encoder and the last thing you want to do is use MPEG files as digital intermediates. The AME will give you lossless options.

[Rameez_Khan]

Hi capwing,

Check if this helps:

Go to File > Project Settings > Video Rendering and Effects > Use Mercury Software Only.

Let us know.

Rameez