I NEED HELP! PLEASE!!!

I bought an AE project here on Pond5 and I changed the text a bit. Then the maker of the project sent me an audio file (mp3) that went with the project. I imported that file in .wav format, then dragged it to the bottom of the AE screen where my composition was open. I clicked play on the Preview panel, and after it rendered for a couple minutes, it played just fine - exactly the way I want it.

NOW - HERE'S THE PART THAT'S FRUSTRATING ME TO DEATH!!!

I want to make this into a Quicktime movie that I can share on Facebook and post on YouTube. I've read the AE Help instructions on how to do this AND I've Googled for directions, as well. Some instructions say go to Composition > Add to Render Queue, then click Render on the Render tab. I did this and when the movie's done, there's no audio. (This happened when I used an mp3 file, too, and I Googled to see why - it said mp3's don't work well in AE, so I converted to wav.)

The next thing I tried was to File > Export > Create Quicktime Movie. Guess what? I don't have a Create Quicktime Movie option under File > Export!

I'm about ready to throw this thing out the window. Can someone PLEASE help me figure out why my audio isn't showing up in the Quicktime movie, and/or why I don't have the Export option???

Please.....

Well not sure this will work, but Q/T dosen't like .wav files so I would try converting the mp.3 to a .mov flie or an .aif file.

A .mov file is Q/T of course but DOES NOT have to contain video.

I haven't used AE in years, but I think you can import .mov or .aif and hopefully that will solve your issue.

OR... Export it in ANY manner that is working, then use MPEG Streamclip to convert to Q/T

did you select the audio output in the 'output module: lossless', at the bottom of that page?

isign31...

File>Export is NOT what you want in your describe situation.... you were correct the first time... you want to "Make Movie" with the Comp timeline window active that you'd like to render out.

By default AE does not select the Audio Output Module....you must select it at the bottom of the Output Module window .... selected via the Render Queue.

I have not had any issues with native .wav files.... However, since your original audio file is an mp3 and you converted to wav.... I'm not sure how AE will handle it or how it might sound given the compression on the initial mp3.

hope that helps some....

Thanks to everyone who answered! I took all your recommendations, played with the project and FINALLY got it to work! The music is *slightly* off, but I'm the only one who notices. I showed it to several people and they swear they didn't notice until I pointed it out. Since I'm this close to perfection, I'll take what I can get. I've had nothing but a difficult time with this...but it WAS my first encounter with Pond5 and AE. Now that I know my way around a little better in AE, I'm thinking about buying another project and making another book trailer. :)

Thanks again!!
~Susan

Just on the outside chance you'd like to see what I was working on...I'll put a link here to the trailer. It was a project that I bought from Pond5, and I changed the text and added a little color.



"Not A Chance" Book Trailer

Susan,

determination helps us all get to the finish line... congrats !

all the best with your book sales !

The problem is not the software, but the project creator's lack of explaining how to use their project. AE is a very elaborate application. Most project creators assume that everyone is savvy at AE. More so, they don't document what they expect the user to do within the projects. AE is so powerful and capable, that there are literally 100's if not 1000's of ways to get to one end result. Yes, this software may appear to be pricey. However, if you get to know it and it's capabilities, you will quickly realize that it is actually very inexpensive considering its capabilities. As with anything, one must learn the fundamentals first, before making statements of ignorance. :)