Is my computer powerful enough to run VS9?

xplosion · Post by **xplosion** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:25 pm

I'm using the trial version. I'm having trouble with video slowing down and/or semi-halting when I break it down into clips or try to add an overlay. It's the joined clips that slow down or start jerking, as does the overlay clip. The problem was worse before I added another 512 MB of RAM (up to 960 MB now). I called emachines and they believe I have enough Ghz to run the program (2.2) except that my video card may not be quite good enough. They suggested adding another video card to the APG slot, either an ATI videocard 9200 or higher, or an Nvidia GForce4 non integrated card.

If there are any support people lurking will this be enough to solve the problem? I've read that one ghz equals 1000 mhz, and emachines claims I have enough Mhz and that in the Athlon XP chip (3000+) I have the same power as a Pentium4. Also, if I don't have enough Ghz, is there a way to increase it?

If anyone can help with this thanks very much, because I'd prefer not to go out and spend a hundred bucks on the video card if it's not going to solve the problem.

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:49 am

I ran VideoStudio fine with an Athlon 1.3 and 500MB RAM. Creating a new file, and rendering an MPEG file, took ages. But routine editing did not make me feel I needed a new computer.

Keith

xplosion · Post by **xplosion** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:05 am

hmmm. don't know why I'm having these problems then. the ulead site does say the software works best with a Pentium4 CPU and 2.4 ghz

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:48 am

While I believe your machine is adequate, I know what you are describing - I have had similar things occasionally. I run a laptop, Pentium-M (Centrino) 1.8 Gh, 512 RAM, 128 Mb video card, and it's just fine.
My explanation for the stuttering - if it happens in preview mode: the computer is trying to quickly pull the data from a multitude of sources and show you roughly what it will look like when all put together. The more sources (eg filters, overlays etc) the more work required, and the more jerky it can be.
If you render the project to a finished video file, that is the acid test. My guess is that it will come out perfectly.

xplosion · Post by **xplosion** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:02 am

Since I added the RAM (which I definitely needed to do as it was down to 460 MB) I haven't burned a file to dvd yet, but I have made video files to make sure the preview window wasn't the problem. It does the same slow/down and stuttering in both windows and Power DVD playback, so I'm not real confident it will do any better on Dvd

a2barmby · Post by **a2barmby** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:50 am

Hi

Firstly, are you editing an avi file

Also, are you capturing using Mpeg2 "on the fly" and editing an Mpeg2 file directly

This would possibly make even the fastest CPU stutter/pause in it's playback.

Also, have you followed the first post in this forum TO THE LETTER

Please post what type of files your editing and how your capturing and we might be able to help you futher.
Hope this helps

See ya

Allan.

xplosion · Post by **xplosion** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:04 pm

thanks for your message, I am capturing and editing mpeg2 2 ways (see below) but ending up with the same results.

One way is using the VS9 to capture directly off the dvd and then create a clip from that of what I need and dispose of the rest. The other way is to use a program called VideoReDo which does the same but much faster, and then importing clips to VS9. VideoRedo works from the VOB file but outputs to mpeg2. I'm assuming VS9 also creates mpeg2 when lifting directly off the dvd (?)

I have an mpeg to avi converter so I could try that but there seems to be a loss of quality once it's an AVI. Is quality restored when VS9 ultimately converts it back to mpeg2/vob when burning to the dvd or creating a movie file?

I would have thought there wouldn't be this sort of problem with the files created by VS9 itself, unless it's just not lining up well with my particular computer.

thanks again

xplosion · Post by **xplosion** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:23 pm

p.s. if anybody runs to Video ReDo based on what I said, more information is needed. To use Video ReDo you first have to get the dvd contents onto your hard drive, it will not pull the video directly off the dvd. To get the dvd contents onto my hard drive I use dvd decryptor (google for a free download)

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:06 pm

Going from MPEG to AVI may result in a quality loss, but doesn't have to -- it depends on what codec and compression settings are used when the AVI is created.

However, once data and quality are lost, you cannot get them back by transcoding back to MPEG format.

If the programs you use let you choose a codec when the AVI file is created, use one that uses lossless compression, such as Huffyuv. You could also save as an uncompressed AVI, but the disk storage requirements would be enormous.

GeorgeK · Post by **GeorgeK** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:43 am

xplosion,

If you still have concerns, please provide us a little more information;

What OS type and version? For example I use Windows 2000.

What Version of UVS? You said a Trial version of UVS9, I have been using UVS since Version 6.

What CPU, speed (in Mhz), Hard Disk speed, Hard Disk Size, partition sizes and use.

Have you folloed the UVS8/9 manuall's instructions for setting DMA ?

What is the setting for you video file that is the video that your working on, and then the output video settings for the DVD you are creating?

What is the issue that you have? (It would appear from you comments, you have not actually burned a DVD to see what woudl happen, only tried the proview window? Or have you created a MPEG file and played this on your computer)

To give you an idea I what I have been doing, with great success.
I use;
Hardware:
CPU: P4 2.0GHz
Memory: 512MB 330 MHz DDR RAM
HD: two 7500 RPM, 2MB Cache
Partitions in 1st Hard Drive: 20 GB for OS and Programs, 25 GB forPersonal Data, 30 GB for Capture only.
Partitions in 2st Hard Drive: 2x 60 GB for Video Projects.
Video Capture card: WinFast XP TV 2000 TV Tuner Card.
DVD Burner: Pioneer DVR-107D Single Layer times 8 burner.

Video Format used:
PAL DVD or PAL MPEG2, 720x576, Constant or Variable Bit Rates of 6000 to 8000 BPS.
Frame Type: Lower Field First, sometimes Frame Based.
Video Quality setting: default of 70%
Audio setting: LPCM or whatever let me fit all the video in on one disk.

Software:
OS: Windows 2000
Partion Format type: NTFS
Ulead Video Studio versions: UVS6, UVS7, UVS8, UVS9 (only using UVS9, now).
Still image editor: Ulead PhotoImpact 10.

I believe the issue is that you have not yet burned a DVD and checked out the result. The preview window, and even using Windows Media player do not give true representation of what the video will look like on DVD on a Television screen. The preview window only shows an approximation of what the vdeo will be, and on my slower hardware, it is not great, but sure is faster than other Video Editors I have trialed. However the final output is great!. I have had much difficutly in understanding the Frame type, the use of the Speed-Quality slider and other video settings. The above are the setting I have found the best. Our video is Lower Field First and since I discoved this, by DVDs look much smother. I also had initial issues with analog capture as my hardware was too slow to capture at high quality without dropping frames, I highly reommend turning on Show Drop Frames in UVS9 and there is an uvs.ini file setting for UVS8.

I am also concerned about the quality of your original video, I had simular problems once.

I do hope that some of this helps, and if not, please let us know more detail about your hardware/software and the video types that your working with.

George.