Mark in/out + add to Media Encoder?

[SWAX]

After working on scripts for AE, I'm trying to get things going in Premiere.

However, the documentation here lacks severely, and finding the right functions isn't a walk in the park either. So I wanted to check if these two things are possible before I try to delve deeper:

• Is it possible to set mark in and out (like when using shortcuts i + o) via extendscript?
• Can that mark in/out selection be added to the Media Encoder queue? This would be the equivalent of pressing ctrl + m, and choosing "queue")

Bruce Bullis -- could you please shed a light on my questions?

Thanks in advance!

[SWAX]

Ok, to answer my own question - and creating a new question:

Yes, it's possible - by iterating through the markers and setting the inPoint and outPoint.

However, I cannot seem to get the encoding of the "workarea" (set by the in/out range) working:

app.project.activeSequence.setInPoint(1);   

$.writeln("In:"+app.project.activeSequence.getInPoint());

app.project.activeSequence.setOutPoint(5);   

$.writeln("Out:"+app.project.activeSequence.getOutPoint());

app.encoder.encodeSequence(app.project.activeSequence,"output.mp4", "preset.epr", app.encoder.ENCODE_WORKAREA, 1);

The sequence is 11 seconds long, I select from 1 - 5 seconds, put it the renderqueue and render with ENCODE_WORKAREA -- it always renders 11 seconds for me.

Bruce Bullis​ -- is there a problem with this approach?

[SWAX]

And the last piece of the puzzle is now ready:

There are three different parameters when encoding:

• app.encoder.ENCODE_WORKAREA
• app.encoder.ENCODE_ENTIRE
• app.encoder.ENCODE_IN_TO_OUT

So this works fine, when iterating through the markers, setting the in/out points, and rendering out with the correct parameter:

app.project.activeSequence.setInPoint(1);  

$.writeln("In:"+app.project.activeSequence.getInPoint());

app.project.activeSequence.setOutPoint(5);  

$.writeln("Out:"+app.project.activeSequence.getOutPoint());

app.encoder.encodeSequence(app.project.activeSequence,"output.mp4", "preset.epr", app.encoder.ENCODE_IN_TO_OUT, 1);

[SWAX · Accepted solution]

After testing my script, there is a strange anomaly.

I have a sequence with split (extended) markers that show a range inside the sequence.

When I run this script:

var activeSequence = app.project.activeSequence;

if (activeSequence) {

var markers = activeSequence.markers;

if (markers) {

var numMarkers = markers.numMarkers;

if (numMarkers > 0) {

var marker_index = 1;

for(var current_marker = markers.getFirstMarker();

current_marker !== undefined;

current_marker = markers.getNextMarker(current_marker)){

                                var selectIn = current_marker.start.seconds;

                                app.project.activeSequence.setInPoint(selectIn);   

                                var getIn = app.project.activeSequence.getInPoint();

                                $.writeln("In: "+marker_index+" -> "+getIn);

                                var selectOut = current_marker.end.seconds;

                                app.project.activeSequence.setOutPoint(selectOut);   

                                var getOut = app.project.activeSequence.getOutPoint();

                                $.writeln("Out: "+marker_index+" -> "+getOut);

                                app.encoder.encodeSequence(app.project.activeSequence,"test-"+marker_index+".mp4",

                                "preset.epr", app.encoder.ENCODE_IN_TO_OUT, 1);

                                alert();

}

}

}

}

All is fine - the encoder fires up, adds the sequence to it, shows me an alert - and after I click it it goes through all the sequences - and exports the correct ranges perfectly.

When I comment the alert(); -- I runs through all the markers, and adds them to the queue all using the same in/out point.

It seems like when the alert fires, the window is brought to the front and the selection is done correctly - but when it's done in the background there is something going wrong.

Bruce Bullis​ -- is this a bug? Or is there another way to do this more efficiently?

[Bruce Bullis]

The "if I remove the alert" behavior sounds like an AME bug; I'm not sure you're going to get useful behavior out of your "current_marker =" line.

Specifically, it seems like you're relying on a JavaScript-y practice of declaring a function as the handler for the result of another (in this case, getNextMarker() hopefully returns a marker; no function handler will be invoked upon return. [I may be reading too much into it, but that second paren (search for "current_marker))") raises suspicions.

[Bruce Bullis]

To your first question(s): Yes, you can set in/outs, for items open in the source monitor, and yes, you can use encodeSequence() to render sequences in AME; you can use transcode() to render individual files, and yes, you can specify in/out points for those files.

[SWAX]

Yes, indeed that sounds like a bug. Where do I file bugs? Or is this being forwarded by you to the development team?

Using exportAsMediaDirect, it works perfectly. So I have a backup for this problem right now.

Thanks for the tips on the functions!

[maximus1105]

Hello SWAX,

Can you please post an example of using exportAsMediaDirect?

[Bruce Bullis]

Here's some exportAsMediaDirect() sample usage, in case you don't want editors to get back to work as fast as they can, if you render in AME.

Samples/Premiere.jsx at master · Adobe-CEP/Samples · GitHub

[maximus1105]

Thanks Bruce.

I have used the following functions for a simple Sequence IN/OUT sending to Encoder.

app.encoder.launchEncoder();

app.encoder.encodeSequence()

The Encoder launched properly,  but the jobs are not being adding to Encoder queue.

[maximus1105]

Looks like its a bug as SWAX pointed.

Without Alert, its writing the same IN/OUT points.

Some kind of CLEAR function is needed. Or does it exist?

[pctechtv]

I understand what you mean. I have seen other things happen too fast when alert() is not part of the script. This is my first attempt at getting Premiere to work with Media Encoder with a script. When I run your script with alerts firing I don't see anything happen to Media Encoder. The Exstend Script TooIkit give me back the long string saying the encoder commands were successful. I have tried having Media Encoder open and closed. Is there some of  steps that have to be done to Media Encoder to get this to work? Thanks