<p>I have a project with a temporary audio file. I use <a href="http://www.redgiant.com/products/trapcode-sound-keys/" rel="nofollow">Soundkeys from Trapcode</a> to create a visualizer. I need to render the project automatically and change the audio file to some other file every time, changing the visualisation. I already googled and came to Dataclay's Templater 2, but this software is expensive and I an still a student. </p>

<p>So my question is: Is there a way to change media in an after effect project and send it to media encoder to render it from the command line?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-09T03:13:39.550Z
So, did you just try what happens if you replace the audio track?
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-09T17:36:49.310Z
@HansMeiser I did try to change the audio file but my video didn't change. I use soundkeys from trapcode for the visualizer.
Marnix Bouhuis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-09T17:58:33.677Z
Well, maybe it caches to waveform data from the audio...  Did you also try "replace footage" function on the file or just replace the audio without re-reading it explicitly within AE?
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-09T17:59:44.680Z
And... Are you on Mac or Pc? Because I guess on Mac you could try to automate this via applescript / automator...
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-10T08:23:22.313Z
@HansMeiser I have set up after effects on windows server 2012R2
Marnix Bouhuis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-10T09:11:02.200Z
Ok, I guess you can replace footage using expressions in AE, take a look here: https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/227/20765
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-10T09:13:59.953Z
Or, even better, here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/27396499/after-effects-script-for-replacing-footage
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-10T09:14:42.443Z
Probably your question is a duplicate to the last one I posted?
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-11T05:53:32.693Z
@HansMeiser Is it possible to replace footage from the command line?
Marnix Bouhuis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-11T08:38:26.343Z
If you are not familiar with the concept of expressions, here is an introduction: http://www.schoolofmotion.com/after-effects-expressions-101/
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-11T08:40:09.120Z
And here about the concept of startup / shutdown scripts: https://www.editingcorp.com/after-effects-scripts-startup-shutdown/
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-11T08:42:40.057Z
Here is a snippet on how to replace footage by a script: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/873561?tstart=0
Hans Meiser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-13T03:19:07.900Z
@HansMeiser After Effects scripts ≠ expressions. Expressions can't replace footage items, change the project or be run from the command line, but Extendscript can.
stib
<after-effects><automation>
Automated rendering in after effects
Marnix Bouhuis
# Automated rendering in after effects

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-08)

I have a project with a temporary audio file. I use [Soundkeys from Trapcode](http://www.redgiant.com/products/trapcode-sound-keys/) to create a visualizer. I need to render the project automatically and change the audio file to some other file every time, changing the visualisation. I already googled and came to Dataclay's Templater 2, but this software is expensive and I an still a student.

So my question is: Is there a way to change media in an after effect project and send it to media encoder to render it from the command line?

**Tags:** after-effects, automation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: So, did you just try what happens if you replace the audio track?  
> **username_0**: @HansMeiser I did try to change the audio file but my video didn't change. I use soundkeys from trapcode for the visualizer.  
> **username_1**: Well, maybe it caches to waveform data from the audio...  Did you also try "replace footage" function on the file or just replace the audio without re-reading it explicitly within AE?  
> **username_1**: And... Are you on Mac or Pc? Because I guess on Mac you could try to automate this via applescript / automator...  
> **username_0**: @HansMeiser I have set up after effects on windows server 2012R2  
> **username_1**: Ok, I guess you can replace footage using expressions in AE, take a look here: https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/227/20765  
> **username_1**: Or, even better, here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/27396499/after-effects-script-for-replacing-footage  
> **username_1**: Probably your question is a duplicate to the last one I posted?  
> **username_0**: @HansMeiser Is it possible to replace footage from the command line?  
> **username_1**: If you are not familiar with the concept of expressions, here is an introduction: http://www.schoolofmotion.com/after-effects-expressions-101/  
> **username_1**: And here about the concept of startup / shutdown scripts: https://www.editingcorp.com/after-effects-scripts-startup-shutdown/  
> **username_1**: Here is a snippet on how to replace footage by a script: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/873561?tstart=0  
> **username_2**: @HansMeiser After Effects scripts ≠ expressions. Expressions can't replace footage items, change the project or be run from the command line, but Extendscript can.  

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## 0 answers

