How To Export Adobe After Effects To Mp4 Without Media Encoder

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Adobe After Effects is a robust instrument utilized for generating visual effects and animated graphics. In many instances, you may desire to export your project to an MP4 format, which is widely accepted by most gadgets. Unfortunately, Adobe has removed the built-in option to export to MP4 from After Effects, leaving users to rely on Adobe Media Encoder instead. Nevertheless, if lacking access to Media Encoder, it may pose a challenge. This blog entry will demonstrate precisely how to overcome this obstacle.

Using a Third-Party Converter

One way to convert your After Effects file to MP4 is by using a third-party media converter. This method allows you to bypass the use of Adobe Media Encoder. There are many video converters out there, but a reliable and free one is Handbrake.

First off, you need to export your AE project as an AVI or QuickTime MOV file which can be done directly in After Effects.

Here is how you can do this:

File > Export > Add to Render Queue

In this Render Queue, you can choose the Output Module to set the format. You can select either AVI or QuickTime.

After you have done this, you can now convert the output file to MP4 using Handbrake:

1. Open Handbrake, click on "Source" and select the file you want to convert.
2. Under "Output Settings", select MP4.
3. Set your desired video and audio settings.
4. Choose your output destination and click on "Start" to begin the conversion process.

And there you have it. Your After Effects project is now in MP4 format without needing to use Adobe Media Encoder.

Using an After Effects Script

If you prefer not to use third-party software, there is another route you can take by using an After Effects script called AfterCodecs. AfterCodecs is a script that provides codecs for After Effects, and allows you to export in formats like MP4 directly.

Here is how you can use AfterCodecs to export your After Effects project to MP4:

1. Download and install the AfterCodecs plugin for After Effects.
2. Open your project in After Effects, then go to "File > Scripts > Run Script File" and select the AfterCodecs script.
3. In the opened panel, select MP4 in the format drop-down list and set your desired video settings.
4. Click on "Render" to start the export process.

While using AfterCodecs requires a purchase, it simplifies the MP4 exporting process significantly, without having to go through Adobe Media Encoder or a third-party converter.

So, there you have it, two ways in which you can export an After Effects project to MP4 without the use of Adobe Media Encoder. Depending on your specific needs and the resources you have on hand, you can choose the method that works best for you.