Export Issue: Premiere Pro creates M4V and AAC instead of MP4

[svens82]

Hi,

I’ve been encountering an issue in Premiere Pro where, from time to time, exporting my project doesn’t result in a proper MP4 file. Instead, I end up with separate M4V and AAC files, along with a small MP4 file that contains audio only. This happens randomly and seems inconsistent—sometimes it takes three or four export attempts before it finally works as intended.

This is not only frustrating but also quite time-consuming, especially when working on tight deadlines. I’ve double-checked my export settings, and everything seems to be set up correctly. I primarily export using the H.264 preset and haven’t made any unusual customizations.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Are there any reliable workarounds or solutions I might not have considered? I’d appreciate any tips or insights from the community!

Premiere Pro 2025 (25.0.0)

My render settings are "Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration (CUDA)."

RAM available for Premiere Pro: 52 GB
I'm using Windows 11 64-bit.

About my hardware:

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core
• 64 GB RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

Thanks in advance!

Sven

[jamieclarke]

Hi @svens82 -  Thanks for submitting your bug report. We need a few more details to try to help with the issue.   Please see, How do I write a bug report?

Can you post a screenshot of your export settings?

Are you exporting Video/Audio at the same time or separately?

Have you checked the "Multiplexer" tab and make sure it is set to MP4

[svens82]

Hi @jamieclarke 

sorry, you're right. I added the information to the main topic.
Regarding your questions:
I think I'm exporting Video and Audio at the same time. I start the render and wait for the result. 🙂

I use the basic settings for export:

Preset: Match Source - Adaptive High Bitrate
Format: H.264
Output details are in thescreenshot:

[jamieclarke]

Hi @svens82 - We need to see all of your export settings not just the summary.  If you can screenshot all of your video and audio settings that would help a lot.  

Did you check the multiplexer?

[svens82]

Hi @jamieclarke 

Yes, the Multimixer is MP4.
All these screenshots are from my current video, but this appears in 4 out of 5 clips.

[dave_beaty]

Hi I am having this same problem. I have not had it in the past for hour long programs, but this is a 90 minute program. I'm using Window 10 with the latest PP 2024 with all updates for 12/24 applied. I rendered .mp4 using YouTube preset. Creates two files and an mp4 with audio only.  The m4v has the video but will not play. 

I deleted Media Cache,

changed location to another drive for Media Cache,

changed output path, no change same two files. 

I tried export from PPro same issue as with ME

Output a .Mov Qucktime works fine.  So only the H264 presets are not working on this long program. 

This is using H264 presets so multiplexer is on.  Lots of RAM so it's not that.  I am about to try re-encoding the MOV that did work to a H264

[dave_beaty]

Happy to report that that Quicktime movie that did export (other the same sequence) converted to H264 preset just fine. 

[dave_beaty]

Based on this bug, a few things I've noticed, one I've never had this problem before in 15 years.  But this program is over 90 minutes. So it has to do with either content within the program, or length IMO. 

I'm working on other projects today and all export as expected.  Multiplexing the M2V into mp4.  

I'm open to trying other approaches to troubleshoot the issue, past the 5-6 hour long exports I tried yesterday. I am now resigned to exporting Quicktime Movies in Pro Res and then re-exporting those to mp4 for client reviews. Not ideal but works. At least final delivery is mov.  So I'm not stressing about that.  Once I have a moment I will submit a bug report. 

[jamieclarke]

Hi @dave_beaty - Can you try and do 5 minute chunks and see if that makes a difference.  Thanks for your help troubleshooting.

[dave_beaty]

Sure will, it's 90 mins so I don't know if I have the patience for that task but let me start and see how far I get.

[dave_beaty · Accepted solution]

@jamieclarke I followed you advice but used 10 minute chunks and sure enough I eventually found one segment that would not Mux.  Then I subdivided that until I have a 30 sec part and started turning things off. Eventually when I turned off a Saphire third party plug in, the Mp4 exported correctly. One clip, one plug in caused the entire program to fail to mux in H264 codec. But at least I figured it out. 

[svens82]

@dave_beaty which plug-in did you use? I figured out, that the problem appears, when I use a third party plug in 

[dave_beaty]

Sapphire Prism_Lens

[svens82]

@dave_beaty I also use a Boris plugin. CrumblePop, it's more powerful than the Premiere Pro Voice enhancement, but this problem could appear...

[jamieclarke]

Hi @dave_beaty - It would be best to contact Boris and let them know of this issue, or make sure you are on the most up to date version of their software.

Thank you for your help troubleshooting and finding a solution!

[svens82]

@jamieclarke @dave_beaty I have already contacted Boris Support, but they couldn't find any issues. So I guess I have to live with the problem... nobody can help...

[jamieclarke]

@svens82 - If you are only using their plugin for audio then I would export a wav file with the effect built in and then bring it back into your sequence to export as mp4.