How to Save an MP4 in After Effects

Hey there, it's Caleb from School of Motion, and in this After Effects tutorial, we'll go over how to export MP4 files. While you can't directly export MP4s from After Effects, you can use Adobe Media Encoder to do so. MP4 is a delivery format, whereas After Effects is more of an intermediate software for editing before sending videos to clients or other editing software. Let's dive into the steps needed to save your compositions as MP4 files.

To start, select your composition in After Effects and then go to Composition > Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue. This will launch Adobe Media Encoder on your machine. If you don't have Media Encoder installed, you may need to download it, which is simple if you have a Creative Cloud subscription.

In the Media Encoder, you'll see the option to select the h.264 format, which is a video codec used for coding and decoding video. However, when you choose h.264 and set the file extension as MP4, your video will be exported in MP4 format. Ensure the bitrate is set to your preference and click Export to save the file in the desired location.

For a more detailed guide on this process, visit schoolofmotion.com and download our free step-by-step PDF. Now you can easily export your After Effects compositions as MP4 files for various uses.

Keywords

After Effects, MP4, export, Adobe Media Encoder, h.264, video codec, bitrate, video container

FAQ

Can After Effects directly export files as MP4?

No, After Effects requires the use of Adobe Media Encoder to save compositions as MP4 files.

What is the difference between h.264 and MP4?

h.264 is a video codec used for coding and decoding videos, while MP4 is a video container format that encapsulates the video codec, audio, and metadata into one file.

How can I ensure a small file size when exporting as an MP4 in After Effects?

Adjusting the bitrate settings in the export settings of Adobe Media Encoder can help in reducing the file size while maintaining video quality.