Media Encoder uses old (cached) scenes and messes up my render

[NitroDesign]

Im working on a video in After Effects made from multiple assets (including other videos). One of these assets needed to be replaced, so i replaced the original file with the new one. When i try to export the newest version of my video, it will include the old assets that i have already replaced long ago. I have tried all of these things to get Media Encoder to export the right version:

- Save the project before exporting

- Close and reopen AE before exporting

- Replace the asset again

- Import a second copy of the asset and rebuild it (same position etc.) as it should look and delete the other version.
- Clear and purge everything that can be cleared/purged in After Effects and Media Encoder

- Export without that asset enabled and later do another export with the asset enabled

- Many more things

It didnt matter what i did, the part of the video with the replaced accet ALWAYS showed up as the old version. 

The obvious thing that worked in the end was to go to the folder of the asset and change its file name, then import it into AE again and manipulate it in the way i wanted. This is absolutely unacceptable!

I almost send this to a client. This can destroy carrers because there is no info, no warning, no error, no notification... there is not even an option to turn off this forced use of cached data. And you cant even clear that chache? Who even greenlit this in the first place?

[NAVAs23064122zb2p]

This is true, this need to be fixed ASAP.

[eckiAMETeam]

Pinging our friends over at After Effects…

[JohnColombo]

Hi @NitroDesign,

Thank you for reporting this issue. I've just tested this workflow (using footage in an AE comp being sent to the AME, and then replacing the source footage using the Project panel after rendering it once) and the footage was updated in the resulting render out of AME. Would you be able to provide more detailed steps as to how you are sending the comp to AME and how you are replacing the footage? Also, what OS version are you using?

@NAVAs23064122zb2p Would you also be able to provide detailed steps and OS version? Perhaps we'll be able to see something you both share in common.

Thanks for any further information,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team

[NitroDesign]

No problem. Here is a simplified way of recreating this problem:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fv1h2afhylcdlh7mxp7l7/Screen-Recording.mp4?rlkey=4mcpx640kypbgqt2epf9...

This time i was able to resolve it by clearing caches in AE and ME and close/reopen ME.

[david seay productions]

I have the same issue exporting from Premiere.  I often need to create slightly different versions of spots for different client needs and media encoder is great for exporting these kind of batches...except for the fact that it often encodes older cached versions, NOT the version I sent fromt the timeline.  ME used to be rock solid and reliable.  Now, not so much.  My only reliable solution is to export individual versions one at a time from the timeline which works fine, but defeats the purpose of having ME.  Is this a bug that can be worked out?  Sure hope so.

[digtialtoast]

2025 and I'm still noticing this issue. I'm trying to produce a 20 part online course with numerous linked AE compositions, and now the end client is flagging amends that I've aparently 'missed' yet I know and can see that I've done them, Media Encoder even previews the latest version, but still renders the old version. Likewise I've cleared the cache and re-opened both programs, and can't seem to figure out a work around barring individually exporting 20 videos directly from Premiere. It's costing me money because I can't work on anything else while it does that, and making me look unprofessional to the account manager.