VS10 Newbie: Going great at first but app slowed to a crawl

[johnnyivan]

Hi All,
I'm new here. Sorry if this has been covered before - I can't find the info.

I'm using VS 10 for the first time this morning and it was going great. It was nice and and fast scrubbing back and forth along clips and playing segments of the timeline. But then at around about 6 or 7 minutes into the assembly (that's all it is so far, no transitions) it just slowed to a stop. I click on the timeline and it takes a minute to start playing.

I'm editing AVI from a MiniDV camera. What settings do I need to use in 'Preferences' and 'Project Properties' to speed things up again? I presume I'm viewing low quality versions of the final product for speed? I can't tell. I really don't mind poor quality previews while editing if that's what it takes.

I need the resulting movie to look good on PAL Televisions. Not even thinking about widescreen, just the old fashioned ratio.

Thanks very much!
John

[Black Lab]

What settings do I need to use in 'Preferences' and 'Project Properties'

How about if you first tell us what your clip and project properties are? For a clip, right click on one and post the properties. For the project go to File > Project Properties and post here.

Since you are new you may also benefit by reading the Suggested Workflow.

[johnnyivan]

Hello there Jeff,
Thanks for replying. Here we go (probably more info than you need):

(Clip) Properties:

FILE
File Format
Microsoft AVI Files -- OpenDML
File Size
75,844kb
Frame Rate:
25 frames/Sec
Duration:
21.560 Secs
Data Rate:
3515.63 kbps

VIDEO
Compression:
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
Attributes:
24 bits, 720 x576, 4:3
Total Frames:
539 frames

AUDIO
Compression:
DV Audio -- PAL
Attributes:
32.000 kHz, 12 Bit, Stereo
Total Frames:
689,920 samples

[johnnyivan]

Project Properties

Project File information

File Size:
76.5kb
Version 10.00
Duration:
00:08:00:06

Project Template Properties
Edit File Format:
Microsoft AVI files

PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3, 25 fps
Lower Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- PAL, 32.000 kHz, 12 Bit, Stereo

----------

Thanks so much Jeff! I'll also read the Suggested Workflow - seeing as people went to the trouble of writing it.
John

[Black Lab]

Your clip and project properties look fine. Make sure your preferences are set for Instant Playback (File > Preferences > General Tab > Playback Method). Having it set to High Quality Playback will cause it to render to a temp file before previewing.

You say you have not use any transitions. Can we assume you haven't applied any filters or anything either?

It's possible that you have a corrupt clip. Try removing clips one by one to see if VS responds better.

[johnnyivan]

Hi Jeff.

No there are no effects, filters or cross fades.

I set that to 'Instant Playback'. Should the 'Instant Playback target' be set to 'Dual Head Device' rather than Preview Window?

Under 'Preferences > Edit' there is 'Resampling Quality: good'. Does that apply only to the preview or the final product? I lowered it to 'good'.

Under 'Project Properties > General' there is 'Frame Type: Lower Field First'.

Under 'Project Properties > AVI' there is 'DV Encoder Type -- 1'.

Corrupt Clip? A problem I am having is the 'Relink' error dialogue box. "Original file [C:\Documents and Settings\john & gabrielle\My Documents\Ulead VideoStudio\10.0\UVS070731-001-36.AVI] doesn't exist."

Plus 2 more. I think it's probably from my splitting clips and deleting the originals. Could that be a prob? I'm fairly certain they aren't included in the edit. I respond by clicking 'skip' and it says "some clips have not been re-linked successfully". you said try removing clips one by one - you mean from the timeline?

I started a new project and pulled 3 short clips into it and it's still sluggish. Takes about 45 secs to cue and play when I click a spot on the timeline. My PC just isn't coping as well as it was this morning! - what the heck's gone wrong with it!

Sorry for the long reply,
John

[Black Lab]

Hi Jeff.

No there are no effects, filters or cross fades.

I set that to 'Instant Playback'. Should the 'Instant Playback target' be set to 'Dual Head Device' rather than Preview Window?
If you are using one monitor for playback than set it to Preview Window.

Under 'Preferences > Edit' there is 'Resampling Quality: good'. Does that apply only to the preview or the final product? I lowered it to 'good'.
I have mine set to Best.

Under 'Project Properties > General' there is 'Frame Type: Lower Field First'.
That is generally correct if your files are from a DV camcorder.

Under 'Project Properties > AVI' there is 'DV Encoder Type -- 1'.
That is correct. Type 2 can sometimes cause problems.

Corrupt Clip? A problem I am having is the 'Relink' error dialogue box. "Original file [C:\Documents and Settings\john & gabrielle\My Documents\Ulead VideoStudio\10.0\UVS070731-001-36.AVI] doesn't exist."

Plus 2 more. I think it's probably from my splitting clips and deleting the originals. Could that be a prob? I'm fairly certain they aren't included in the edit. I respond by clicking 'skip' and it says "some clips have not been re-linked successfully". Are you deleting the thumbnails from the library, or actually deleting the file from your HD? Right clicking and choosing Delete simply removes the thumbnail. Delete + Shift key deletes the file.
you said try removing clips one by one - you mean from the timeline?
Yes, from the timeline. In other words try 1 clip, then 2 clips, etc.

I started a new project and pulled 3 short clips into it and it's still sluggish. Takes about 45 secs to cue and play when I click a spot on the timeline. My PC just isn't coping as well as it was this morning! - what the heck's gone wrong with it!
What happens if you use the sample clips provided by VS?

Do you have any processes running in the background such as Internet, anti-virus, etc.? Also, what are your pc specs? You don't have that filled in.

Sorry for the long reply,
John

You may benefit by reading the Suggested Workflow.

[johnnyivan]

Thanks again Jeff.
Yes, I'm actually deleting the thumbnails from the library and the HD.

I'll try deleting from the timeline 1 clip at a time.

Using the sample clip provided by VS is still sluggish. Can't scrub back and forth on the clip itself and takes ages to start to select a point and play the timeline.

Processes running in the background: Internet (broadband connection) YES. Turned anti-virus off.

PC specs:

Dell Dimension DIM4700

Pentium 4
CPU 3.20 GHz
512 MB RAM

It has only 1 hard drive
Paging size for all drives:
Initial size - 768 MB
Max size - 1536 MB

Capacity: 146 GB
Free space: 120 GB

Think this is viable? Seemed to be this morning before everything ground to a halt a few hours later.
Thanks
John

[Black Lab]

Why it worked fine this morning and now it doesn't...I don't know. Something obviously changed (with the Internet connected you could get automatic updates running in the background that you are unaware of). You could try doing a System Restore to see if it will bring it back to a time that it worked ok.

Also, your RAM is a little on the light side. Doubling it may help.

And, you may want to try this:
Creating a Video Editing Profile

[johnnyivan]

Hi Jeff.
It's speedy again!
I switched off stuff in the Startup menu and switched off the broadband, deleted all the .tmp files on the PC. I don't know what one thing mainly fixed the prob yet, need to do a test.

Everything's flying along.

One thing I did before that was delete all the thumbnails in the Library, as I couldn't understand why I was seeing my captured footage in a test project. Perhaps I need to organise the captured clips into folders? Haven't found out how to do this yet from any of the instructions I've read. The Library manager doesn't seem to do anything. I'm guessing that when a subfolder is created it shows in the manager. I suppose deleting the thumbnails made no difference anyway to the speed issue.

I still have the missing/unlinked clip thing happening and need to discover what the prob is there.

I read the workflow but found it a little confusing. I gather that you can avoid re-rendering a project by making a copy of the project file first, so that you can re-render from THAT pristine copy later instead, if you want to subsequently make changes. On doing a new render from a copy, none of the original footage is affected. Correct?

It seems odd that re-rendering from the samefile (which is only an EDL) could cause sync probs etc.

John

[Black Lab]

Hi Jeff.
It's speedy again!
I switched off stuff in the Startup menu and switched off the broadband, deleted all the .tmp files on the PC. I don't know what one thing mainly fixed the prob yet, need to do a test.

Everything's flying along.
Great news!

One thing I did before that was delete all the thumbnails in the Library, as I couldn't understand why I was seeing my captured footage in a test project. Perhaps I need to organise the captured clips into folders? Haven't found out how to do this yet from any of the instructions I've read. The Library manager doesn't seem to do anything. I'm guessing that when a subfolder is created it shows in the manager.
I use custom libraries all the time. Click on the Library Manager and create a new Library Folder. From the Gallery drop-down menu choose your new Video Library folder. Now when you capture all you clips will go into this library. When I'm done with a project I simply delete the library then everything is nice and tidy. FYI - you can do this for Audio, Images, etc.

I suppose deleting the thumbnails made no difference anyway to the speed issue.
It shouldn't have had anything to do with it. Probably something running in the background.

I still have the missing/unlinked clip thing happening and need to discover what the prob is there.
You mentioned earlier that you deleted the clip after you split it. The splits are only "virtual" splits, unless you used Save Trimmed Video, which actually makes a "new" clip. So by deleting the original clip you've removed it and VS can't find it. So you have to keep the original clip after making your splits/edits OR use Save Trimmed Video after making the splits/edits.

I read the workflow but found it a little confusing. I gather that you can avoid re-rendering a project by making a copy of the project file first, so that you can re-render from THAT pristine copy later instead, if you want to subsequently make changes. On doing a new render from a copy, none of the original footage is affected. Correct?
Essentially what it is saying is that you shouldn't go directly to the Burn module with your project in the timeline. Sometimes all the rendering/multiplexing/burning at the same time can cause trouble. What is recommended is that you capture to DV-AVI (if possible) and make your edits, add your music and titles, etc. When you are satisfied it is finished and ready for DVD you:
1. Save your project.
2. With your completed project in the timeline go to Share > Create Video File. Choose PAL DVD (that will give you the DVD compatible parameters). Doing this will create a MPEG-2 file.
3. Clear the timeline (by choosing File > New Project is the easiest way). Go to Share > Create Disc. This will open the burning window where you will use the Add Media command and add your MPEG-2 file you created.

It seems odd that re-rendering from the samefile (which is only an EDL) could cause sync probs etc.

John

[johnnyivan]

I'll try to create library folders. It's weird the way everything you have shows no matter what project you're working on. You delete the Library and the actual files inside it when you're finished?

I'll have a look at that splitting business - thought I "Saved Trimmed Video", perhaps not. I suppose it's not necessary to delete the original and save the new fragments as "...Trimmed clips" unless one wants to save disk space.

Thanks for the workflow explanation.

I think the editing part of all this is actually not as well covered (strangely!) as it should be in the manual. It should be made clearer about wether you're actually affecting original clips or not. I suppose you create a folder for storing original library clips to differentiate them from their trimmed fragments? It can be confusing looking through lots of similar thumbnails!

[Black Lab]

I'll try to create library folders. It's weird the way everything you have shows no matter what project you're working on. You delete the Library and the actual files inside it when you're finished?
Yes, if I'm completely finished with the project I delete the custom library from VS and the clips from my HD.

I'll have a look at that splitting business - thought I "Saved Trimmed Video", perhaps not. I suppose it's not necessary to delete the original and save the new fragments as "...Trimmed clips" unless one wants to save disk space.
I don't use Save Trimmed Video. Since the edits I make are "virtual" and don't effect the original clip I just let it be.

Thanks for the workflow explanation.

I think the editing part of all this is actually not as well covered (strangely!) as it should be in the manual. It should be made clearer about wether you're actually affecting original clips or not. I suppose you create a folder for storing original library clips to differentiate them from their trimmed fragments? It can be confusing looking through lots of similar thumbnails!
I suppose you could do that to keep things sorted. As I said, I don't use Save Trimmed Video.

[johnnyivan]

Thanks Jeff. Really, you've been a fantastic help.
John

[johnnyivan]

hi Jeff,
I had a look at the Library Manager and creating folders etc. It's not intuitive at all. I didn't manage to create a folder either in Windows explorer or in he Library Manager that I could actually put things into. Actually I created one in Windows Expl. and pulled all the clips into it but of couse VS then couldn't find them.

Fair enough.

But I don't see how the Library Manager can organise stuff at all. I need to look into this more. It would be useful to divide up a project clips into folders, ie; Before Wedding - Ceremony - outside the church - reception, etc.

Perhaps the trial version I have can't do this.
John