Allow media encoder to add custom prefix/suffix to output file
Specifically allow media encoder to add either custom text or source file name as a prefix/suffix to the output file. In my work my After Effects project are given job numbers and the output file also must be named with the same job number to keep track of files.
We have also created templates to ease with production, currently our output comps simply start with "XXXXX" and we do a batch rename after rendering is complete. But with custom prefixes/suffixes we wouldn't have a need for that step.
This could be added as an option to encoding presets or to Media Encoder preferences. I think as an encoding preset it would allow for more flexibility.


Hi all,
I'm product manager for Media Encoder (a role I started in earlier this year) and I've been reviewing feature requests here.
At this time, I'm marking this request as declined. The reason is that I think this feature is actually quite complex to do well, and doing it well is not something we are going to get to within the next 12 months due to other priorities - many of which are coming from this forum.
I think there are already utilities that do this very well - A Better Finder Rename on macOS, for example - and I would recommend using one of those instead.
However, let me ask this: is there a simple version of this feature that people here would find useful? My personal experience is that I want something with a decent amount of control but if a simplified version would be useful, perhaps we could do that. I'm also open to jumping on a quick video call to discuss with a few of you what you'd want.
Regards,
Fergus
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Martin Klöckener commented
We use a suffix for versioning. Either "_v1, _v2, ..." or the timestamp like "2022-06-24" at the end of the filename. These two options alone would help us a lot. When exporting 30 or more videos at once, it's tedious to add the suffix by hand.
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Fred Raimondi commented
This feature is quite complex to do.
Really? That's your explanation?
You mean to tell me you can't pick off the input file name and then add something to it for the the output file name?
You're telling us to use Better Finder Rename? REALLY? SERIOUSLY?
We're paying you guys EVERY SINGLE MONTH for a usable product.
You really have to do better, especially when this functionality exists in After Effects.Take a look at the output section of After Effects. It does EXACTLY what we're asking for.
(although I know you won't because there isn't one command that works the same across your different pieces of software except for cut and paste - and don't get me started on auto save from Photoshop.)
THIS PRODUCT'S WHOLE JOB IS MEDIA ENCODING.....which I might add includes RENAMING FILES to keep formats straight!
It should be something as simple as
[input_file_name] (the input file name as a variable)
which would carry the naming to the output, and the append whatever you want on the output.
Jeez. In After Effects you can get really complex with it.It's really ridiculous that a piece of software whose sole job is to take an input file and create a modified output file can't modify the file name based on changes that the user wants to do or even based on the output format. YOU CAN DO IT IN AN OVERLAY. Why not the filename.
Your company has one job. Make software that the users want. And that works for them. You have a 170 Billion Dollar Market capitalization. How about spending some of it on the software that built your company. instead of advertising analytics.
If I sound ****** off, it's because I am.
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Timothée de Bouville commented
How on earth can this be difficult to do ? Lightroom has been doing this for years.
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Riaan van der Merwe commented
Not going to lie, Prefix/Suffix and job encoding report, so I can attach to each card I wrangle....basic info TC/audio CH/Time taken/Duration of clip/Reel ID.....all of it if possible or have the choice at least.
Love AME, really solid so far on my old GTX780, just wish it could use more of it....I want to see smoke come out of it, not really but **** she is barely purring....Mercury everything solid AF, just using other software seem to crank her harder, and she likes it I like it, we all go home happy campers.
Keep up the work thanks for this platform to voice thoughts.
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Riaan van der Merwe commented
Let us at least add Proxy or Offline or something but also keep REEL_ID
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Jeremy W. commented
@Antoine Autokroma! Ah ha, PlumePack! I've actually been trying to get a copy of this to test at the office. Because... Premiere's Project Manager. But hey, at least we have that redesigned Import and Export UI that 'everyone' asked for :)
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Antoine Autokroma.com (Independent Developer of AfterCodecs, BRAW Studio, PlumePack, Influx) commented
Jeremy W please tell us more about your needs ! https://www.autokroma.com/contact
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Antoine Autokroma.com (Independent Developer of AfterCodecs, BRAW Studio, PlumePack, Influx) commented
The idea of adding the preset name as suffix is great
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uri sobi commented
Sample version be ok. Like in Faststone viewer.
- add custom text (video|+by me|.mp4)
- add variable ? # (|curent date, name of folder|+video.mp4
- counting by mask (|date|video|+1 same name video number|.mp4 -
Jeremy W. commented
Yes, 100%. And, great question. There is already a semi-useful feature somewhat in line with this built into AME in the preferences. This would be the "Append Preset name to filename" option, under Output, in the General tab of preferences. This is useful, especially when doing multiple Outputs from a single Source. The limitation of this, is that it is a global option. Once turned on, AME will apply this function to all work. I would love to see this functionality added to a Presets settings, to be determined by the Preset, with an option to append custom text. That said, this is not a batch renaming system, but useful, never the less.
I for one would find this massively useful, and would start using a feature like this right away. I work for a large organization that deals in volumes of deliverables, each requiring multiple outputs. Often times, I find assistants or producers manually re-rendering or renaming the same item manually. A feature like this, built into a preset, could mitigate this and save a lot of time.
Even a custom string or 'token' (as C4D/Maxon would call it) system would be great for the power user.
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the dudes commented
Yes please. Otherwise, proxy generation gets very messy, or choreful.
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Mats4D commented
YES please, when exporting to IG, FB and YT , so that we dont have to rename all manually to know which one is which
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Gabriel Pinoux commented
It looks like using the ingest method doesn't get the "append preset name to file name" option despite it being checked in my preferences. And there isn't a field for it in the ingest method (only Custom text/Date/Time/File Name). Is there a way to get the preset name added to that list? Or am I missing something?
Also, Is there a way to get a relative path option for the destination (like ../export/) instead of an absolute path?
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Tyler Hanson commented
Oh, man. I've dreamt of this kind of customization in both Premiere and Encoder. The fact that After Effects allows you to duplicate compositions, but is smart enough to increase any digit by one is a godsend. Imagine it for render files!!!
One tip to help those who manually input new versions. Always go with numerical (v1, v2, v3-1, etc.). If you're putting FINAL anywhere in the file name, you're tempting fate. Just don't do it.
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Ben Kamprath commented
This would be super useful, specifically for my case, if I could specify a suffix per preset.
I'm often outputting a variety of sizes for final delivery and it's a real time suck to manually go through files and append details to each and every file name before I deliver to client.