Automatic Duck Pro Import AE 3.0

For When You've Got to Move It, Move It

By David Leathers

August 1, 2005    Source: Studio Monthly

After Effects import plug-ins were the first of the Automatic Duck plug-ins. The original was called Automatic Composition Import, which only did one thing—import sequences into After Effects. Later, it was expanded to also work within Boris Red. The products were later separated, with a standalone version for Red users and a recently released new product for Autodesk Combustion users, (see Studio/monthly, April). Now, Pro Import AE 3.0 adds the next generation of new features for everyone who’s using After Effects.

Here, the most significant new feature is support for Apple’s Motion. This lets users start a project in Motion (with its real-time functionality) and then import all those blended modes and nested clips (which become nested comps) into After Effects for heavy lifting and finishing. This is a very powerful workflow alternative, letting each program do what it does best without crashing your computer as you move between them.

While the features and functions vary somewhat depending on the source or the sequence ( Avid, FCP or Motion), there is generally expanded media format support that includes ABVB, DV50 and Meridien compressions from Avid (OMF Media) and support for all Final Cut Pro Media, including DVCPRO HD. An added plus: Many third-party AE filters, such as GenArts Sapphire and DigiEffects Fantazm, translate from Final Cut or Motion.

To make these translations, the sequence must first be exported from the host original application. For Avid users, OMF 2.0 is the preferred export format; for Final Cut Pro, it’s XML. Pro Import AE can open Motion files directly. For this review, I tested it with both Final Cut Pro and Motion.

Motion’s "behaviors," a very powerful feature, must be converted to keyframes before it can be read into After Effects. This is a simple one-step process. Similarly, Motion particle effects must be rendered. The user guide that comes with the plug-in is very accurate and will walk you through the critical steps.

Basically, this tool works great and is a must-have for any After Effects power user. There are Windows and Mac versions, so you can migrate sequences across both platforms. The creators of the program obviously know exactly what they’re doing. Pro Import AE 3.0 is a huge time and nerve saver.