Is Adobe Media Encoder scriptable with ExtendScript? - extendscript

Question

Is Adobe Media Encoder (AME) Scriptable? I've heard people mention it was "officially scriptable" but I can't find any reference to its scriptable object set.
Has anyone had any experience scripting AME?

Answer 1

Adobe media encoder is 'officially' not scriptable but we can use extend script API for scripting AME.
Below functions are available through extend script
1.Adding a file to batch
Encode progress
host = App.GetEncoderHost ();
enc = EHost.CreateEncoderForFormat ( "QuickTime");
flag = Enc.LoadPreset ( "HD 1080i 29.97, H.264, AAC 48 kHz");
an if (flag) {
f = enc.encodeEncodeProgress
= function (progress) {
$ .writeln (progress);
}
eHost. enc.encode ("/ Users / test / Desktop / 00000.MTS", "/Users/test/Desktop/0.mov");
} else {
alert ("The preset could not be loaded ");
}
encode end
ehost = App.GetEncoderHost ();
enc = EHost.CreateEncoderForFormat ( "QuickTime");
flag = Enc.LoadPreset ( "HD 1080i 29.97, H.264, AAC 48 kHz");
an if (flag) {
f = enc.onEncodeFinished
= function (success) {
if (success) {
alert ("Successfully encoding has ended ");
} Else {
Alert (" failed to encode ");
}
}
EHost.RunBatch ();
} Else {
Alert (" preset could not be read ");
}
2.Start batch
eHost = app.getEncoderHost ();
eHost.runBatch ();
3.Stop batch
eHost = app.getEncoderHost ();
eHost.stopBatch ();
4.Pause batch
eHost = app.getEncoderHost ();
eHost.pauseBatch ();
5.Getting preset formats
EHost = App.GetEncoderHost ();
List = EHost.GetFormatList ();
6.getting presets
eHost = app.getEncoderHost ();
enc = eHost.createEncoderForFormat ("QuickTime");
list = enc.getPresetList ();
and many more...
The closest bits of info I've found are:
http://www.openspc2.org/book/MediaEncoderCC/
The latter resource is actually good, if you can read japanese, or at least use the Chrome built-in translate function, then you can see it has resources such as this one:
http://www.openspc2.org/book/MediaEncoderCC/easy/encodeHost/009/index.html
We can perform almost all basic functionalities through script.

Answer 2

I had a similar question about Soundbooth.. I haven't tried scripting Adobe Media Encoder though, it doesn't show up in the list of applications I could potentially connect to and script with the ExtendScript Toolkit.
I did find this article that might come in handy if you're on a Windows. I guess using something similar written in AppleScript could do the job on a OSX. I haven't tried it, but this Sikuli thing looks nice, maybe it could help with the job.
Adobe Media Encoder doesn't seem to be scriptable. I was wondering, for batch converting, could you use ffmpeg ? There seem to be a few scripts out there for that, if you google for ffmpeg batch flv.
HTH,
George

Answer 3

Year 2021
Yes, AME is scriptable in ExtendScript. AME API doc can be found at
https://ame-scripting.docsforadobe.dev/index.html.
The API methods can be invoked locally inside AME or remotely through BridgeTalk.
addCompToBatch and other alternatives in the API doc seem to be safe to use. This is working:
app.getFrontend().addCompToBatch(project, preset, destination);
The method requires project to be structured so that 1 and only 1 comp is at the root of the project.
encoder.encode – references of which can be found in Web, supposed to support encode progress callbacks - is not available in AME 2020 and 2021. As a result, this is not working:
var encoder = app.getEncoderHost().createEncoderForFormat(encoderFormat);
var res = encoder.loadPreset(encoderPreset);
if(res){
encoder.encode(project, destination); // error: encode is not a function
}
The method seems to have been removed in AME 2017.1, according to the post reporting the issue https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-media-encoder-discussions/media-encoder-automation-system-with-using-extendscript/td-p/9344018

Answer 4

The official stance at the moment is "no", but if you open the Adobe Extend Script Toolkit, and set the target app to Media Encoder, you will see in the Data Browser that a few objects and methods are already exposed in the app object, like app.getFrontend(), app.getEncoderHost() etc. There is no official documentation though, and no support, so you are free to experiment with them at your own risk.
You can use the ExtendScript reflection interface like this:
a = app.getFrontend()
a.reflect.properties
a.reflect.methods
a.reflect.find("addItemToBatch").description
But as far as I can see, no meaningful information can be found this way beyond list of methods and properties.
More about the ExtendScript reflect interface can be found in the JavaScript Tools Guide CC document.

Answer 5

Doesn't seem to be. There're some reference to it being somewhat scriptable via using FCP XML yet it's not "scriptable" in its accepted form.

Answer 6

Edit, it looks like they finally got their finger out and made ME scriptable: https://stackoverflow.com/a/69203537/432987
I got here after it came second in the duckduckgo results for "extendscript adobe media encoder". First was a post on the Adobe forums where an adobe staffer wrote:
Scripting in Adobe Media Encoder is not a supported feature.
and, just to give the finger to anyone seeking to develop solutions for adobe users using adobe's platform:
Also, this is a user-to-user forum, not an official channel for support from Adobe personnel.
I think the answer is "Adobe says no"