Linked Comp bug

Report · May 24, 2023

It seems like every time I'm opening a project with an AE Linked Comp, dynamic link server is failing and keeping the file offline. The only way I have occassionally been able to right the issue is, restart the system, open the AE project first, then open the Premiere project and sometimes the link works.

I love the fact that the marriage of AE and PR was working well, but it seems like they're on a separation period.

Report · May 25, 2023

@BevanBell Sorry to hear that Pr and Ae are not living so happily-ever-after right now. 🙂 Let's see if we can fix that for you.

To start off with:
(1) What version and build numbers of Pr and Ae are you running when you see the problem?
(2) What OS platform and Version are you using?
(3) Does this happen with any Ae comp inside an Ae project or is it possible Project/Comp specific?

Thanks,
-James Strawn
Adobe Digital Video

Report · May 26, 2023

. make sure you have the latest updates for both apps

. try to reset the preferences for both AE and PP

. clean media cache in premiere pro and purge cache in after effects

. delete render files in premiere pro (video previews)

. sign out/in from creative cloud app

. try to get used to mogrts workflows instead of dynamic link

Report · May 26, 2023

@Carlos Ziade Re: "try to get used to mogrts workflows instead of dynamic link"

I'm from the mogrts team at Adobe, so I'm all for getting used to mogrt workflows. 🙂 But the original post here doesn't even say what was in the Ae comp. It could contain 3rd party effects or other things that wouldn't even work inside an AeLib mogrt*. Using Cinema 4D as the renderer would also force a mogrt to need Dynamic Link.

*Aelib mogrt means it's the type of Ae mogrt that will play and be editable inside of Pr without having to have Ae installed.

Report · May 27, 2023

"make sure you have the latest updates for both apps"

This is misguided advice, and definitely not the first step in troubleshooting. There are many reasons not to upgrade, particularly if you are in the middle of a large project.

Adobe's official guidance on this states:

"As with any software, we do not recommend updating when you are in the middle of a large project. The best time to update is when you’re between projects or working on smaller pieces."

R.

Report · May 30, 2023

@Remote Index you can always have older working versions installed,

and get the new updated versions from CC app. now for what you stated as "misguided advice",

we are user to user forum here trying to help each other, so you better respect others and work

more on your communication skills.

Report · May 30, 2023

I found great advices from Jarl Leirpoll concerning Dynamic Link here as well:

https://blog.frame.io/2022/06/13/troubleshooting-dynamic-link-problems-in-premiere-pro-and-after-eff...

go to: tips for a smoother dynamic link experience

Report · May 30, 2023

@jstrawn this was just a suggestion trying to help.. yeah it is not clear

what's all the project's assets, i was just adding some other suggestions

Report · May 30, 2023

@Carlos Ziade That's fine, your help is very much appreciated. For now, the most important things to know are what versions of Pr and Ae they are using and on which OS. Also, it will be good to know if the problem happens for all their DynaLink comps or just one. Until we hear back from the original poster about any of these things, there is not much action we can take.

@Remote Index Re: "make sure you have the latest updates for both apps"
I think what Carlos meant is that it's important to have compatible versions of Pr and Ae installed for Dyna Link to work correctly. The easiest way to do that is usually just to make sure you have the most recent versions of Pr and Ae installed. They can also be concurrent versions of older releases though, like Pr 23.3 and Ae 23.3.

Report · May 30, 2023

@jstrawn

“it's important to have compatible versions of Pr and Ae installed for Dyna Link to work correctly.”

Adobe could help its users with an easily accessible list documenting exactly this. Do you know of one?

@all
The same Jarl Leirpoll has a measured discussion of things to consider and steps to take before updating / upgrading Premiere Pro

https://blog.frame.io/2022/10/24/premiere-pro-update-best-practices/

R.

Report · May 30, 2023

@Remote Index This frame io blog post by Jarle states it most clearly:
https://blog.frame.io/2022/06/13/troubleshooting-dynamic-link-problems-in-premiere-pro-and-after-eff...

See the "Make sure the software versions match" section.

It should probably also be added to this article:
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/dynamic-link.html

I have submitted and internal request to make that happen.

Report · May 30, 2023

@jstrawn

"Make sure the software versions match"

In that case, Jarle should revisit his "update best practices" article - since this adds a consideration. If you're going to update Premiere Pro, you should also update After Effects, and consider all the implications of updating After Effects before doing so.

R.

Report · May 30, 2023

both AE and PR are up to date.
OSX is Ventura 13.4
The issue happens (usually) when opening a project that is using a linked AE Comp in a Premiere Edit. It might stay offline, try to re-link. Dynamic Link hangs.

The open AE first, then Premiere sometimes fixes it, but other times, I've had to create a "new" Linked Comp then copy and paste the content from the original comp into the new one in order to get the media to show up in PR.

As far as Mogrt workflows go, that's fine for some, but I'm usually doing heavy comp work, masks, detailed keyframing in AE that is easier and cleaner to implement than trying to do it in PR.
This particular comp I was having issue with is Vector graphic logos, stroke reveals, tied nulls, camera pushes, etc.

Report · May 30, 2023

@BevanBell Thanks for that info, especially the part where you explained more about how it is failing for you. It will be helpful to know your exact versions and builds though. Can you go to the About Box for each app and tell us what it says there?

On mac, "About Premiere Pro" and "About After Effects" are under the main app menu.

Report · Jun 02, 2023

I keep traveling between work and home systems. It looks as though both PR and AE are 23.4.0 Build 56.
The offline and dynamic link hang is usually when I'm trying to relink an AE linked comp that is offline in Premiere. Even when the AE project that the linked comp is in, is open.

I'll have to check if the Comp is being referenced from a separate AE project (that was then imported to the current project).

Report · Jun 02, 2023

@BevanBell Thank you for that additional information. I sent you a direct message to follow up directly.