VS12 loads mpg files very slow from hard disk

[hanspeter]

Hi

I have VS 12 installed on Windows 7 computer. It worked so far fine, but yesterday evening I wanted to upload my mpg files from the hard disk to the library. And guess, the system is very slow, it took almost 20 minutes to upload about 10 mgp files, after each file nothing happened for almost 2-3 minutes. Each clip is about 10-20 sec long. The files are stored on an external hard disk (Buffalo 500G) which is connected via USB 2 interface.
It did not do that before, it was much quicker.

Anybody having any idea what could be the reason. Could it be the recent Windows updates?

Best regards

Hanspeter

[DVDDoug]

There could be something "funny" about one or more of those MPEGs. (You are more likely to have trouble with MPEG-4 than MPEG-2, but it can happen in either case.) And, you may run into some other weird problems if you edit or convert the files. Consider yourself lucky if slow-opening is the only problem with these particular files!

Try Re-saving the files in a similar format (with different names or in a different folder) and see if the new files open more quickly. Depending on what you're doing, you might want to save the files as DV/AVI before you start working on them. (But, don't convert to DV if you're making a Blu-Ray disc, because DV is not HD.)

If you do have other problems with these files and you can't save in a "better" format, please tell us the exact file properties and what your project goal is (DVD, Blu-Ray, YouTube, etc.)

[Ken Berry]

In addition to Doug's response, it is also indeed possible that recent Windows updates could have interfered with something. In any case, it is usually a good idea to update your DirectX when Microsoft releases updates to it. They do so every 3 or 4 months, and the updates are *not* part of the regular, automatic Windows updates. You have to do DirectX manually. There is a sticky thread towards the top of this forum which contains the latest link to the Microsoft site, and instructions on how to download and install...

[hanspeter]

Hi

thanks for your advices. Yes, I have updated my DirectX to the latest version existing. I do not think it has to do with the MPG files, they are normal MPEG2 files/clips coming from my Sony camera and imported into the harddisk with the Sony Picture Package program. They clips work normally with all possible viewers and also, once imported into VS12 they work well.

But what I noted (and I think there was an other thread on the same topic on importing images) is when you start to import lots of clips into the library the importing process and the whole VS12 slows down terrific.
I made a test on my old XP machine which is much slower than my Windows 7 machine: I normally do not use VS12 on this machine, but I just wanted to see how it works when you start from a "fresh" and empty libary: the importing process works well, and VS12 reacts immediately on each mouse click when the library is almost empty. But the more clips and/or images you import into the libarary the slower the importation process gets and also VS12 as a whole starts to react slower. When you for instance want to open a new library with the library manager the new library does not immediately appear, but you have to click several times on Close to get VS12 to react. Also the scrolling in the library is working so slow that you have to wait always several seconds until the scroll bar reacts.
I am not sure, but I think it got slower after the last Microsoft NET Frame upgrade packages. Anybody having any other hints what could be the reason, or has had similar experiences?

Best regards

Hanspeter

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Hanspeter

Do you get the same problem if you were to use the pc’s internal hard drives to store the video files.
If not then it may be a USB problem?

Post edited
The problem may well be a PC specification issue, size of ram etc…….
Can you update your pc details within your profile.

[Ken Berry]

I am afraid Trevor's faith in me -- expressed in your other, locked thread, is misplaced in this case. I have not experienced this problem on either of my computers on which I have VS installed. Both have updated DirectX and the latest Net Framework updates as well. One is an i3 and the other a Quad 6600, and both have Windows 7 32 bit. Importing a large number of clips seems to take no longer than importing a few. Currently, it seems to take no more than a couple of seconds for each clip, though this varies depending on the length of an individual clip. In my case, few of my individual clips are longer than 20 to 30 seconds (I usually capture video using split-by-scene, and with SD video use DV as my usual original video; and HDV with HD video). So I really don't have much I can suggest.

It would still be useful, though, if you could update your profile so we can have a more accurate idea of what capacity your computer has. For example, quite a few users with the the new i7 processors appear to be having a variety of problems with VS, and IIRC most of those also had Windows 7 64 bit as you do... though we don't know if you have an i7 processor... (The suggested solution for i7 problems, by the way, is to turn off hyperthreading in the system BIOS when you intend to use VS...)

[hanspeter]

Hi both

thanks for helping me solving this problem. And sorry for being desperate and putting a new thread in....

Well, I have updated my profile now. I just opened VS12 and it is terrible: when I click on one of the libraries the program does nothing, I click a second time and then the mouse turns to the blue circle and it takes about one minute until I can start to scroll through the libraries. When I want to open a second library it does the same thing.
When I want to delete a library it takes again two clicks and then a long wait (the libary organizer saying "Not Responding", about one minute or even more, until the library has been removed and I can do something with VS12. Again, all my other programs which I have open react normally without any problems (as said earlier I normally have all other programs closed when using VS12 to have the full capacity available). I am desperate..... I do not know what to do any more.
I checked and there are no viruses, no spyware, no trojans, nothing.

I have not yet tried to move all the clips to my internal hard disk and check this option. May be I deinstall the program and re-install again.

Hope still for your help

Best regards

Hanspeter

[Ron P.]

What version of VS 12? There were 3 versions/variations of VS 12 released, VS12 (Standard or what we refer to as the "vanilla" version), VS Pro, and VS Ultimate. Click on the ? in the upper right corner, select About Corel VideoStudio.

vsx2_about.png (157.92 KiB) Viewed 3940 times

I do not think it has to do with the MPG files, they are normal MPEG2 files/clips coming from my Sony camera and imported into the harddisk with the Sony Picture Package program

What are these normal clips' properties? These could be MPEG video files, however not Standard Definition. There is a High-Def video format that uses the MPEG container. Right-click on one (or more if different), of the video files in the Library or time-line, select Properties and post them here. What Model of Sony camera? We can look up your camera to see what compression format it uses.

Have a look at your Preferences Settings. You open it by going to File menu>Preferences, or using the keyboard shortcut of [F6].

vsx2_gentab.png (18.9 KiB) Viewed 3941 times

You may want to try unchecking the box beside Media Library Animation. This can add to a slow down with VS. Clip Display Mode if set to Thumbnail only will cause a big slow down as it will display a thumbnail image of every frame of your video clips.

vsx2_edittab.png (16.52 KiB) Viewed 3941 times

vsx2_prevtab.png (24.64 KiB) Viewed 3941 times

vsx2_smartprox.png (22.89 KiB) Viewed 3941 times

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I don’t know whats happening here, I ran a few tests loading video to the library.
I have to say I do not normally add this amount of clips, but add directly to the timeline.

The 240 files were Dv-Avi, it did take some time loading to the library, about 1 second per clip, a little under 4 minutes in all.
I would imagine that other types may take a different time.

What type of video file are you using and how many are you adding to the library?

Next………
I added directly to the timeline which caused some warning about the amount of clips, but continued to load after a short delay, These clips being dragged to a new library page again took quite a while to load.

I was able to scroll through the library without problems.
I closed VS X2 and re-opened without any delays
I was able to delete the library clips, although this took some 30 seconds to remove 250 clips. The program continued to work ok.

I added further clips up to 750 in all, once loaded I have no problems navigating the library, selecting clips is instant.

I then used the library manager to reset the library, I use this option quite often, the reset being quite short to complete, a few seconds.

I think you should do a Clean Install of Video Studio X2
Clean Install manually removes files left over after un-install, details on the Corel web site.

I noticed Ron has added some recommendations, follow them first before re-installing.

[hanspeter]

Hi all

really appreciate all your help and the time you invest into this problem (and I hope it will help also some collegues because I remember that there was a similar thread where somebody mentioned about the similar problems when loading many images into the library.

Well, I first tried to delete some of the libraries, but VS12 got completely stuck at all and I had to shut it down with the task manager (while all other programs I tried to open worked completely normal, including Adobe Photoshop which everyone knows is a resource "eater").
I then did a complete uninstall and re-installed the program again with the SP1 update and the Windows 7 patch as well as of course the content pack. It worked completely normal again; I then uploaded about 100 clips to the library and it went with normal speed, a few seconds and each clip loading immediately after the other one, also the scrolling through the library works normal. But one could note that the last 10 clips already took longer in uploading. I have attached a screen shot of the clip properties.

VS12 has version 12.0.98.1 Pro.

I have now unchecked the Media Library Animation box (it was checked). Clip Display mode is (and was always) set to Thumbnail and filename. Playback method I have set to Instant Playback (not high quality; should it be really set to High quality; I thought that also would slow down). Resampling quality I have now set to Best (it was set to Better), and of course the colour filter is set to PAL (but that should not be a problem, I assume).
Limit Hard Disk usage is NOT set and it is set to 90531 Free. All other boxes are empty, except of course the first one which refers to the temp folder on the hard disk C:\

Smart Proxy has been enabled and I now unchecked it according your recommendation because I do not have HD videos.

With the above changes I have uploaded now an other 42 clips and one can note that the upload already gets slower (and, by the way, all other programs are of course closed, only Norton and Spysweeper is running in the background). It is also clearly to note that the scrolling through the open library is not any more smooth, but it stops for a while and I have to reclick with the mouse and start again. But the whole VS12 is still not yet completely stuck (but just wondering what will happen if I load more clips or images to the library...)

I have still not yet done the test with transfering all the clips to the computer internal hard disk. I will do that at a later stage and revert back. This is a variant I of course do not like, because I would need to transfer the clips any way later to the external hard disk because of disk capacity and then VS12 would not recognize the clips any more (then of course one can ask how often the clips are re-needed once the complete video is edited.

Just one question: Trevor, you wrote that you reset the library often. How are you doing this reset? And what does the reset really do?

May be in worst case I just have to use the program with the set of clips needed for one part of editing. At least with the now approx 150 clips in the library it is still possible to work. But I am still surprised, because with the VS10 on the old XP machine with a slower AMD processor and much lower memory I could have a hundreds of clips without any problems.

Really appreciate your help and waiting thankful for any further tips and suggestions what to do.

Best regards

Hanspeter

[hanspeter]

Hi again

coming back to my previous response: I deleted first all the imported libraries.
I then moved about 160 clips from my external hard disk to the internal hard disk. That transfer took about 30 sec only. I then opened a first library and inserted 108 clips. That went normal, no difference compared to loading from the external hard disk. The next 42 clips took considerably longer already, almost 4 minutes. So in fact no difference really if I load the clips from the internal hard disk to VS12 compared to the external hard disk. I think already the quick transfer confirms that the USB interface works properly and cannot be the problem.

Now, I do again not know what I could do as the next steps....except just using VS12 with a max of 120 clips, not too many libraries and deleting after each editing. That is not what I really want, but....

Best regards

Hanspeter

[Trevor Andrew]

Hanspeter

My program shows VS12 version 12.0.98.1 Pro.

Media Library Animation is checked.

Clip Display mode is set to Thumbnail only, I find this option better for editing as you can view all frames in the timeline.

Playback Method is set to Instant Playback. Using High Quality will render the project to temporary files saved to the Preview Folder, these files being used to play the project, additional editing will result in further rendering. I think this option is no longer available in X3....I suppose that Smart Proxy has replaced the need for this option.

Re-sampling quality is normally set to Best.

Smart Proxy is not really required with standard video, but should you have timeline playback problems can be used, but you would have to change the frame size option below the Pal size for proxy files to be created. Right click clips in the timeline to create proxy files.
-------------------------------------
Just one question: Trevor, you wrote that you reset the library often. How are you doing this reset? And what does the reset really do?

Well in order to help you and others I find I have to use the library with clips that I don’t really need.
Clearing the library used to be a pain, but X2 has provided a reset option from Tools-Library Manager. Here you can revert the library back to its default state.
You can also export the library to say your desktop, then Import at a later date.
Doing the later reverts my library back to my files.
I don’t normally use the sample images or video for my projects so I delete them emptying the library, then export the library as a blank library. Always available to import again.

I did mention that I normally load my clips to the timeline and not the library.
Don’t get me wrong, I do use the library but maybe in a strange way.
Having some 250 clips in the timeline, in some cases many may need deleting.
I drag them to the library, delete from the timeline and continue editing, eventually I end up with the library full of unwanted clips, they can be removed from the hard drive, the library gives me that option.
-----------------------------------------
Your Video Clips are standard Pal sizes, they use Upper Field First indicating an analogue source. Be aware that the standard X2 templates for DVD pal use Lower Field.
------------------------------------------
From File Preferences choose Show Messages when inserting First Clip.
When you insert the first clip to the timeline (new project) you will receive a message. You will select yes/ok to set your project properties.
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/guides/q ... e_mpeg.htm

[hanspeter]

Hi Trevor and Ron (and others who help)

After my reinstallation I have made a full reset of the library (I still keep the given templates coming with VS12 in the library). And I made all the recommended changes as proposed by you and Ron.

Now VS12 works with normal speed again and the first 50 clips I loaded into the library (from my external USB hard disk) also load with normal speed, each clip is loaded immediately after the next one.
With the next 90 clips from my whole story you already can see a clear decrease in speed when it loads the last approx 30 clips. And again one can note that the library cursor does not move smoothly any more, but it gets stuck for a moment, and when you re-click then it moves again. Once I have moved the cursor up and down for all libraries then I can start to normally work, transfer clips from the library to the timeline, insert colors, transitions, edit, insert titles, etc.

But it is evident that VS12 would signifcantly slow down when I would load more clips into the library (and I did not yet load any images to the library!). So I most likely have to work as I suggest in one of my previous threads: load only the clips needed for the particular story to edit and after edit and video creation reset the library again.
May be I also will try to do a test with inserting all the approx 140 clips directly into the timeline/story board to see how VS12 behaves in this situation (how for instance the timeline scrollbar works in this situation, smooth or jerky). But since my prefered working style is using the libraries and transfering the clips from the libraries to the timeline/storyboard to make my story I know I would not particularly like the situation.

For the moment best regards (and if you have any new tips thanks in advance)

Hanspeter

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Trevor and Ron (and others who help)
: load only the clips needed for the particular story to edit and after edit and video creation reset the library again.
Hanspeter

This is the way I normally worked, now I simply load to the timeline.
As mentioned you can export the library, doing this would save a copy of a library for a particular project.
Resetting the library would clear its contents for the next project.

But I cannot understand why you would want to retain a libraries content for a completed project/movie?
The library content are thumbnails, virtual clips representing the files on the hard drive, removing them does not delete the files on the hard drive, unless you hold the Shift whilst hitting Delete.

Loading Images may be a bit quicker as the file sizes are much smaller.

[hanspeter]

[
But I cannot understand why you would want to retain a libraries content for a completed project/movie?
The library content are thumbnails, virtual clips representing the files on the hard drive, removing them does not delete the files on the hard drive, unless you hold the Shift whilst hitting Delete.

Loading Images may be a bit quicker as the file sizes are much smaller.

Hi Trevor

you are right in the sense that it does not make sense to keep all clips in the library, but to delete them from the library after final editing. And I am actually doing that.
The example of 140 clips is just one part of our this year' summer holidays shooting. Of course I would like to have ALL the clips of the summer holidays in the library, so I can use them to edit until my final video is ready. It is not acceptable for me that VS12 gets so slow, and I believe that there must be a problem with VS12 because even on the slower XP machine with AMD processor and VS10 I did have lots more clips in the library than the 140 as now and the system worked with perfectly normal speed and not so that it starts to hang up so that even Windows start to react "...the program is not responding, do you want to wait...".

But as said, I will need to do the workaround with loading only parts and then edit part of the video to some "sub"stories and pull the whole story together when making the final DVD, unless we find out what really the problem is. And for sure I will want to do the test with inserting all these clips directly to the timeline or storyboard to test the behaviour.

Best regards

Hanspeter