AE Expression Controllers and Dynamic Links in Premiere Pro
2

I have created a pipeline for a project that involves using Dynamic Link to
avoid pre-rendering my After Effects compositions before dropping them into
Premiere Pro 2.

Each new scene is processed in a dedicated After Effects project before dropping
into PP2. I begin with the same default AE project for each new scene, and
simply reload footage. That master aep has multiple levels of precompositions
already set up, and all eventually feed the final comp of that project, which is
the composition layer I choose when importing into PP2.

In this default project I am modifying *many* attributes and have thus created a
sereis of control sliders in common compositions to accomplish these
modifications efficiently. Because I am modifying layers in multiple
compositions within the same project simultaneously, the expression controllers
I've wired up often reside in a completely different composition than that which
they are modifying.

This works flawlessly in AE. Love it.

However, when I drop the aep onto the Premiere Pro timeline, the 'wiring'
breaks. Essentially the only wiring that continues to work via Dynamic Link is
that which is able to be contained within the same composition it is controlling
(back in the aep).

The only work-around I've found is to have that same aep open in After Effects.
But obviously I can't have all my projects open in order to make this work. And
even if I could, only the aep that has focus renders correctly in PP2. The
others still break.

It sounds like your needs exceed that of the vast majority of users. Sometimes
being better at things leaves you ahead of the curve. And your obvious ability
to bend AE to your will, while admirable and impressive, may actually not be to
your benefit in this particular case.

Thanks Steven.