reference material Tweaking Adobe After Effects
by Andrew Dour
April 2006
Introduction:

this tutorial will show you the basics of changing preferences in After Effects that are not normally changeable.

I'll illustrate the method through disabling the render complete sound

If you've worked with Adobe After Effects you know about the sound after a completed render.  The sound that steals your soul and jars you out of your seat.  This tutorial offers a solution to this that is good for the lab or at home.

 
Before you begin:
 
  • Make sure that After Effects is closed.
Step One: Enable the viewing of hidden files and folders
 

With a windows explorer window open:

Go to Tools>Folder options...

Click the View tab.

Then mark Show hidden files and folders.

Hit Apply and OK.
 

Step Two: Locating and editing the Adobe After Effects Preference file
 
Locating the file:

Go to the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\*USERNAME*\Application Data\Adobe\After Effects\Prefs

*username* indicates whatever your login name is.

Here you will see several files, you are looking for "adobe after effects XX Prefs.txt"  (xx is your version number)

Editing the file:

Open this text file with a text editor like notepad.

Use the Find function (usually Ctrl+F) to search for the word "finishes"

This should take you to a line that reads:

"Play sound when render finishes" = "1"

Simply change "1" to "0"

Save and Close the file.
 
End notes: Enjoy the silence
 
Open up After Effects and do a test render to hear (or rather not hear) the results.

You will no longer have to turn your speakers down every time you render.

Best of all, the changes you make (or in this case the sound you turn off) is specific to your login, and will maintain the original settings for others who use the computer.
 
How to further use this tweaking technique: Part 1
 
Though this may seem like a minor modification to a After Effects setting, this preferences file has MANY variables that can be modified (at your own risk)

If you know how to edit this document you can do things like:

-change the default font (and text settings)
-change default color and mask settings
-create additional Label colors for layer identification and grouping
-change brush and tool defaults
-create additional Composition Presets

All of these things may not be huge improvements or even things you've considered before, but in the end makes After Effects more tailored to your personal preferences.

Be smart and make a backup copy of this file before trying anything advanced.
 
How to further use this tweaking technique: Part 2
 
In the same directory listed above you can find another file called "adobe after effects XX shortcuts.txt"  (xx is your version number)

In this file you can change the keyboard shortcuts.

Maybe you don't like the default or are used to the shortcuts of another application.

You have pretty much full control on making the shortcuts whatever works best for you.

Again, be smart and make a backup copy of this file before trying anything advanced.

Happy Tweaking
 
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Last Modified Date: April 2006
Last Modified By: Andrew Dour