Rendering Multiple Language Tracks without Re-Rendering Complex Video Timeline

[UM_Raquel]

I have a complex video timeline that is render intensive (lots of dynamic links, etc).   The video must be delivered in several languages, each of which are different audio tracks.  Currently, I'm simply rendering each one via Media Encoder, meaning that I'm re-rendering the complex video timeline for each language.  Destination is web delivery (I'm using the Vimeo 1080p setting for encoding).

Is there a way to obtain separate .mp4 files for each language option while only rendering the video timeline once?   For example:

1.  Render the video timeline once and then "stitch/marry" each particular audio track to it to create the separate files?

OR

2.  Render the video timeline once in such a way that I do not lose quality by re-rendering it for each language yet render times are dramatically reduced because the timeline was already rendered?

Any workflow suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Raquel

[Ann Bens]

Are you talking about rendering the timeline for preview or Exporting.

Post specs computer, OS, Premiere exact build, source used and screenshot timeline export settings.

[UM_Raquel]

Exporting for web delivery to client.   Assume I'm using something like the Vimeo 1080p preset in Media Encoder, although this would generically apply to any export settings.   Have projects in both Pro CC2014 and Pro CC2017.

Workstation and render time is not an issue.   It's just a matter of whether there is a workaround so that I don't have to render the timeline with tons of complex AE dyamic links each time I want the same video result simply paired with a different audio track.

So to summarize, think of a 30 minute timeline that takes 3 hours to render due to AE/Effects/etc.   Two audio tracks are muted because they are, say, Spanish and Portuguese.    After 3 hours, I have an mp4 ready for Vimeo in English.   I then go back, mute the English track, and then un-mute the Spanish track.   Then I'm in for another 3 hours of rendering to have a Spanish mp4.  

I'm hoping for a workaround to avoid my workstation taking 3 hours to render all the AE/Effects stuff again for simply a variation in the audio tracks.

Hope this helps!

Many thanks,

Raquel

[Ann Bens]

You dont need to render the timeline for exporting to a mp4.

Rendering timeline is only for preview files and exporting to a file with the same preview codec (which you are not).

[UM_Raquel]

I'm sorry, Ann.   I don't think I was using correct terminology.

"Render the timeline" should be "render the sequence."   Very sorry.

So I have a sequence that I need to "Export - Media" to Media Encoder.   This sequence has a number of complicated video tracks.  The resulting render will be the same video for all 3 languages.   I need three separate deliverable files (let's call them mp4 files using the "Vimeo" preset in Media Encoder).

Right now, I am exporting the sequence 3 times in Media Encoder.   Each time with a different language audio track un-muted and the other 2 muted.  This gives me the three deliverable files.  But by doing it this way, my workstation needs to render the video tracks 3 times....this seems cumbersome to me.  

So perhaps I could render only the video to PreRes422....make that file the video for a NEW sequence and then render that three times with the appropriate language tracks.   Maybe this would render faster, but would rendering out in this fashion create a degraded quality video versus rendering "fresh" from the original sequence?

Just looking for workflow ideas on this.

Thanks again!

Raquel

[Michael Grenadier]

I'd do a short test and see if you see any difference.  I suspect prores 422 would probable be adequate, but Prores4444 is lossless so that might be the way to go although it would create larger files and probably take longer to export. 

[Ann Bens]

Three different languages means 3x doing the export.

Dont thing exporting to prores will gain much time (as this equal to the first export)

Exporting now with prores for first file (second export)

Exporting now for second language (third export)....

[Michael Grenadier]

I think you're wrong on this but I could be wrong.  A large part of the export process is going to be rendering the complex video tracks.  Also, if the source material is an mpeg format, something like h264 or mp4, the material needs to be decoded as part of the export process.  Each frame of a prores file is discrete (an i frame) and should make for much faster export,  at least theoretically. 

Also, you never know when rendering can produce a bad frame for whatever reason.  Prebuilding everything but the text should make this less likely.

[andymees@aje · Accepted solution]

Hi Raquel

In Premiere, render files are called 'preview' files. Your simplest solution would probably be to choose a high quality 'preview' ( render ) format in your sequence settings, and then simply render your sequence in full before export. Then, when you export, in the export settings turn on the 'Use Previews' option. In this way, your export will encode to its target format using the already rendered preview video, instead of rendering from the sequence source.

This is effectively the same as you already suggested for yourself, but saves the step of exporting that first (Prores) master.

Regarding 'option 1' in your otiginal post, cineX plugins from Cinedeck are probably the only way to simply duplicate the first master and then insert / replace the audio for subsequent masters... but I'm pretty sure they only work for broadcast delivery codec files (like Prores, DNxHD/HR, XDCAM etc).

Cheers

Andy