Suggestions for importing? (AfterEffects)

[-Reda-]

I was thinking about editing a video to Advent Children entirely in AfterEffects. And yea I know thats going to be frowned upon or whatnot, since you've got an effect overloaded video coming to an overused video source, but whatever. I probably won't upload it if I finish it, I don't really want to be bashed. So its just for pure curiosity that I'm doing this and for a chance to experiment with effects.

That said, how would someone recommend that I set up my video source for that? Should I encode in loseless and won't the file be HUGE if I do that? I don't think AfterEffects can import AVS scripts so....any suggestions anyone?

[taifunbrowser]

Vfapi worked for me fine in after effects, so just do your avs' like you would in your editor... but ya, its a good idea to whore around with after effect's stuff, so that you're ready when you need it

[-Reda-]

Vfapi? I'm sorry I'm not really familiar with what that is...could you maybe explain it in laymens terms for me?

[Shazzy]

The default codec for After Effects is Animation, but that might not be appropriate. The rule of thumb is this. If you need to carry an Alpha Channel, or transparency information, back to FCP with the QT movie, then you need to use the Animation codec. The Animation codec is a lossless codec, so the file you generate using it will be enormous. In addition to this, once you get the file back into FCP, you will have to render it again on the timeline. Since your FCP sequence is set for the DV codec, you will be forced to render any Animation codec material that you put back there. This is a way to quickly run out of drive space if you are using AE a lot.

If you're just whoring effects and you're not going to publish the video anyway, then your video quality isn't important and it's fine if your video is lossy. The point is to learn how to use the program.

If you do plan to publish the video, it seems a lossless encode would be the best choice. If you don't have space for Animation, try a smaller lossless codec:

SheerVideo ($9 with an academic discount)

Microcosm ($100ish)

[Zarxrax]

I'd use Lagarith. After Effects is already slow to begin with and trying to force something into it through avisynth will just be even slower. It probably shouldn't take more than 20gb.

[-Reda-]

I'd use Lagarith. After Effects is already slow to begin with and trying to force something into it through avisynth will just be even slower. It probably shouldn't take more than 20gb.

Okay I'll go with that then. 20 gigs doesn't sound TERRIBLE. And I'm not doing this video to LEARN AfterEffects. I know it pretty decently. I just wanna do a video and have a lot of fun with it for once instead of having to worry about theme and all that other fantasic crap people came up with for judging AMVs.

And yes I know that "other crap" is important to a video...I just like the thought of making one visually entertaining.