Upgrading PC for Video Editing

[Paul33]

I would really like to improve my PC (spec over to the right >>>>>) to enable it to handle basic video editing tasks.

Most of my work involves shooting, editing, producing HD1080 videos. Having the ability to handle 4K would be a bonus but not a priority at the moment.

My biggest issues at the moment are video rendering AND video editing.

The rendering may just be slow because rendering always is but I'd be interested in anything that can be done to speed the process up.

The editing is a pain and the biggest issue at the moment. The editing window is very laggy and jumpy and makes editing very, very difficult. I have smart proxy enabled and everything I know of to improve performance flagged too but it remains a painful process.

What I'd like to know is can I make improvements to what I have by upgrading any elements or is it better to purchase a new machine. If its the latter, what would be the key components and minimum specs to look out for.

Needless to say, I don't want to spend anything more than I have to so budget solutions are good !

Any advice/help appreciated.

[asik1]

You should start by setting the budget and from that build the best hardware that will fit.
One thing for sure, your GTX1060 is good to keep and so does your Benq.

[Paul33]

Thanks ..... I did wonder if the GTX1060 was a keeper so at least that helps !!!

[Davidk]

From the specs, we are talking about a desktop tower???
Broadly speaking, if upgrading then find the best gaming machine you can afford; computer store sales people know nothing about video editing but usually are right up with it about gaming, and machines to do either one well are generally similar.
That said, maybe you don't need to replace much: the motherboard mainly.
Find one that has a fast cpu and lots of RAM: Corel and VS haven't recognised that multi-thread/multi-core helps this in years, and there's no indication that the company ever will. In the main, faster execution of the VS program means a faster processor: find one that's in the range 3.4-4.2ghz clock speed. This would be a 33% or more improvement on your current PC, just by itself. Lots of RAM helps, and the C drive on a large capacity (500Gb+) SSD would really make it sing.

[Paul33]

Thanks David

[pvreditor]

Although it may be a good idea to upgrade your computer, I just want to be sure that you are using VideoStudio's SmartProxy feature when you edit. If you have laggy editing, generating proxy files (using the SmartProxy feature) will make editing MUCH smoother. I use a couple of the big editing software packages, and Corel's SmartProxy is the easiest of all of them to create smooth-editing proxy files. Before you spend $1,000 or more to update your computer, try using SmartProxy (if you don't already).

[Paul33]

As I mentioned in the original post, I am using Smart Proxy but it hasn't saved the day !!!

[pvreditor]

As I mentioned in the original post, I am using Smart Proxy but it hasn't saved the day !!!

You can have SmartProxy enabled, but still not be generating proxy files. My experience is that I still have the tell VideoStudio to create the proxy files.

Once you import the video files you want into the library, highlight all the files and do a right mouse click. Select "Create SmartProxy file...", then click on "Okay". Depending on the size and number of files, the computer will take a while to generate the SmartProxy files, but you can start working right away. As the proxy files are created, the editing process gets smoother.

Of course, you may do all this already. I'm just checking to be sure you are.

[Paul33]

Will try that ..... thank you !

[Davidk]

Smart proxy only does auto generate WHEN the clip is first imported to the timeline.
Some practical use observations re proxy files:
1. Once the proxy is available, the vsp has some sort of marker that says a proxy is available for this clip, and where it is stored. Similarly, the proxy file has the parent clip/vsp/location in it.
2. If you have the vsp file stored on an external device - usb or sd card - and the proxy file(s) are on an internal store, make sure the external device is plugged in before you start VS. One of the things VS does on start is check that the vsp's for all the proxy files are available, and if not, then the proxy file is deleted (no vsp, so you don't need the proxy, right? saves on storage). Remembering after VS starts is too late.
3. If the vsp is on an external device, and it uses a proxy, you will need to check the vsp clip thumbnails to ensure that the proxy icon is there. One indication of this problem is that playing the vsp is sluggish and jerky, when you 'know' you ran a proxy file for the clips in it. Check the proxy file list to make sure that they still exist in your proxy store. Use the settings/smart proxy manager/smart proxy file manager and see if the clip is in the list. Probably, not in this case.
4. If the clip is not in the proxy list, you will have to manually create it: select the clip, rt-click, choose create proxy file from the list.
5. manually creating a proxy file can be tedious. And take a while - longer for a longer clip. And sometimes, you will have to select another clip (the next one?) in the timeline before the manually created proxy file inserts the proxy icon in the related thumbnail.
6. Creating the a proxy file for a clip should enable that proxy file to be used anywhere (a different project) that clip might be used? NO. the proxy files are tied to the vsp that created them. Which means that if you use the same clip in several vsp's you will need (auto or manually) several different proxy versions of that clip.
7. Proxy files don't smart package, which means if you are exporting the project using that feature, the exported version has proxy flags in the vsp but there are no proxy files available - playing the vsp has sluggish and jerky clips. You will have to manually re-create the proxy files for the smart package on whatever PC you use the package on. Change requested to enable smart package to include proxy files, but it hasn't happened.
8. copying the proxy file to another PC and nominally used with the same clip - doesn't work either - see remarks about the proxy knowing it's parent clip/location etc.
I'm sure there are others that haven't come to mind whilst writing this. But basically, if you are using proxy files in a project expect to have re-create them regularly if any external devices or smart packages are used.

[Paul33]

Thanks David .... this was really useful !

Turned out that I was using Smart Proxy correctly but was going straight into editing clips BEFORE the proxy file had been created. Now that I know to wait until the clip shows with the proxy symbol, editing has become much easier and much better !

[SoNic67]

..
One thing for sure, your GTX1060 is good to keep...

Why is that? Does Corel support now GPU accelerated decoding, editing and encoding?

..and the C drive on a large capacity (500Gb+) SSD would really make it sing.

Why is that? What is the actual read/write speed achieved that would require an SSD? One can use Windows's Task Manager/Performance to see the actual drive usage.
Using an SSD as the editing drive (scrubbing) will accelerate it's wear due to numerous write cycles.

[Paul33]

Why is that? Does Corel support now GPU accelerated decoding, editing and encoding?

Apologies but if that's a thinly veiled disagreement, can you explain what you are trying to say as I'm seriously keen to learn here !

[pepegota]

I would recommend that you look here for a computer https://www.avadirect.com/
I have been buying from them for years. They have excellent service and a tremendous selection. You can customize to your hearts content. If you have a problem help is a phone call away.

[SoNic67]

It was meant as "Don't spend your money on stuff that won't help you".
If you are a gamer too, then go for the GTX card. But speaking strictly for video editing I am tired of seeing those statements that a gaming card or an SSD will "make it fly". When Corel can't say what is actually "accelerated" by GPU in their product.

I eventually upgraded and spent my money on a different video editor that can properly use the GPU hardware decoding/encoding and use lots of cores in the same time. I won't say the brand here because I am not paid advertiser. If anyone that has bought the 2020 can show me a screen print with GPU utilization during encoding process... I'll stand corrected. On my X10 it just didn't work.

PS: No, it's not Adobe, they don't know how to use properly the GPU encoding either.
PPS: Laptops for video editing are a big waste of money too, but that's another discussion.