Media Encoder Fails When Exporting a Sequence with AE Linked Comps

[matthewp76963315]

Today I tried exporting 3 sequences, each 3-4 minutes long, each with a relatively large amount of linked AE comps - primarily TIF files sent from the PP sequence to AE via "Replace with After Effects Composition" then some moves added in AE. The first two exports Failed so I stopped the 3rd, and went and exported them one by one in PP, which took about 1-2 minutes each, no problem.

I am using PP 25.2.1 and ME 25.2. Sequences are all 1080p 23.976 fps. Exporting to H.264 40mbps, single pass.

Steps encountered:

-Select sequences and Cntrl-M

-Set Export settings and Send to Media Encoder

-In ME, press Run

-Exports fail relatively quickly

Expected results:

Exports successfully rendered out

Workaround:

Exporting one by one within PP

Here is the crash/fail log entry from ME:

- Encoding Time: 00:00:39
04/29/2025 12:35:00 PM : Encoding Failed
------------------------------------------------------------
Export Error
Error compiling movie.

Accelerated Renderer Error

Unable to produce frame.

Writing with exporter: H.264
Writing to file: C:\Users\mrpen\OneDrive\Desktop\PRODUCTION MEDIA\DAVID HANNA\POSTING\ROUND POND 042925-1.mp4
Writing file type: H264
Around timecode: 00:00:03:12 - 00:00:03:21
Rendering at offset: 3.503 seconds
Component: H.264 of type Exporter
Selector: 9
Error code: -1609629695

------------------------------------------------------------
- Encoding Time: 00:03:02
04/29/2025 12:38:03 PM : Encoding Failed
------------------------------------------------------------
Export Error
Error compiling movie.

Accelerated Renderer Error

Unable to produce frame.

Writing with exporter: H.264
Writing to file: C:\Users\mrpen\OneDrive\Desktop\PRODUCTION MEDIA\DAVID HANNA\POSTING\SCULPTURE 042925-1.mp4
Writing file type: H264
Around timecode: 00:00:02:08 - 00:00:02:17
Rendering effect: AE.ADBE Opacity
Rendering at offset: 3.545 seconds
Component: EffectFilter of type GPUVideoFilter
Selector: 9
Error code: -1609629695

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

- Source File: C:\Users\mrpen\AppData\Local\Temp\DAVID HANNA_SPRING 2025_cc2025pc_MP-1_2.prproj
- Output File: C:\Users\mrpen\OneDrive\Desktop\PRODUCTION MEDIA\DAVID HANNA\POSTING\SURREALISM 042925-1.mp4
- Preset Used: H264 - 40mbps
- Video: 1920x1080 (1.0), 23.976 fps, Progressive, Rec. 709, 203 (75% HLG, 58% PQ), Hardware Encoding, Nvidia Codec, 00:03:44:06
- Audio: AAC, 320 kbps, 48 kHz, Stereo
- Bitrate: VBR, 1 pass, Target 40.00 Mbps
- Encoding Time: 00:02:42
04/29/2025 12:40:46 PM : Encoding Failed
-------------------------------------
The Operation was interrupted by user
-------------------------------------

Here are my System Specs:

Windows 10 10.0.19045

AMD Ryzen 9 5950x

64gb RAM

GeForce RTX 3080

NVIDIA Studio Driver 572.83

[R Neil Haugen]

This is why I nearly always finish a comp, then export out a new clip from Ae to replace the comp in the sequence. Kind of a pain at times, but hey, it always works first time every time.

[matthewp76963315]

That's sort of admitting that a pretty standard and long-integrated feature of the suite just doesn't work, isn't it @R Neil Haugen ? 😕

[R Neil Haugen]

You could look at it any way you want to. We all vary, right?

To me, the Ae comp is typically a very complex and complicated bit of computer processing. As are things like Warp stabilizer and Neat video. Having them in the final output processing chain simply risks having issues.

I prefer to simplify and simply get it out. Now. I see no reason to fight the computer.

Your mileage will vary, of course, and if you love tilting at windmills, be my guest. I do that on some things myself, of course!  😉

[IanB_360]

Hi @matthewp76963315 
Have you tried to export out segments of the sequence to see where it fails? WHat about exporting out another flavor file like a Quicktime . Mov or a Dnx file instead of the H264? Lastly would you be up for sharing screen shots of the Sequence and the linked AE comps? Or better yet send the project file so we could take a look and trouble shoot. For now I would say Neils suggestion is a great workaround to having your AE comps in the sequence.
Thank you
Ian

[matthewp76963315]

I will try your suggestions, but as you can see from the log report, the ME exports fail quite early in the process, essentially when it hits that first AE linked comp. I will say this is not the first time this has happened, in fact since a couple of version of PP ago, this seems to be the case any time I try to export a sequence via ME that has linked AE comps in them. The workaround Neil suggests is not as good to me as simply exporting straight from PP, which works flawlessly. So this is really only an onerous issue when you have many versions you need to export at one time, ergo using ME to batch export. For sake of version control and making tweaks to the AE comp every round, I would rather avoid rendering out from AE every time I want to export a PP sequence. That sounds like a headache waiting to happen.

@IanB_360where would I be sending the project file if you want to take a look at it?