VideoStudio Stutters Horribly on 4K Video

[TexasNightOwl]

I have VideoStudio Ultimate 2018, 2019, and trial version of 2020. In each version, most of my 4K videos have to be Smart Proxied before they play on the timeline or as clip preview without Very, Very, Very severe stuttering. With HEVC on, it is less severe than with it off. But still severe either way. Don't really notice a difference between 30 & 60 frames per second because they both unusable. Even after proxy generated, if I use Single-Clip Trim or Multi-Trim Video it stutters so severely that I can't even edit the videos. The program sort of a waste when I can't even trim clips.

Since I am now starting to shoot mainly in 4K on my Samsung S9+, unless I can figure out why this doesn't work with multiple computers I am being forced to abandon Corel and go with Adobe or Resolve.

I had the problem on my $2,000 laptop and now I also have it on my new PC with AMD 3900X 12-core processor, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe 4th Gen PCIe SSD, Gigabyte Aurous RTX-2060 Super graphics card, LG 4K monitor. I have never been able to get VideoStudio to work with 4K videos. The laptop Windows 10, PC Windows 10 Pro.
Thanks for any help.

[tletter]

most of my 4K videos have to be Smart Rendered before they play on the timeline or as clip preview without Very, Very, Very severe stuttering.

I routinely edit and render 4K video from both Sony and Panasonic cameras and don't experience the problem that you report. You ought to enable Smart Proxy and check that all proxy files have been created. Smart Render has nothing to do with editing.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[TexasNightOwl]

Yes, I meant Smart Proxy instead of Smart Render. And yes proxy files are generated for all the videos. I was looking thru some of my old notes, and Corel told me in the 2018 and 2019 versions that the proxy files are not used in Single-Clip Trim or Multi-Trim Video. STUPID!!! I just tried the 4K files in Adobe Premiere Elements ($$$ wise equivalent of VideoStudio) and they don't stutter, even without proxy files.

[tletter]

Corel told me in the 2018 and 2019 versions that the proxy files are not used in Single-Clip Trim or Multi-Trim Video. STUPID!!!

I use the Split Clip (scissors) tool to cut a clip into multiple clips and VS creates proxy files if Smart Proxy is enabled. Again I've not seen the stuttering that you're reporting if the proxy files have been created (check the Proxy File Manager to see that proxy files exist).

I just tried the 4K files in Adobe Premiere Elements ($$$ wise equivalent of VideoStudio) and they don't stutter, even without proxy files.

Well if this other NLE is problem-free, easy to use, and does what you want then go for it, but again VS can definitely edit 4K videos without the severe stuttering that you're reporting.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[TexasNightOwl]

I use the Split Clip (scissors) tool to cut a clip into multiple clips and VS creates proxy files if Smart Proxy is enabled. Again I've not seen the stuttering that you're reporting if the proxy files have been created (check the Proxy File Manager to see that proxy files exist).

That might explain why you don't see the problem. Proxy files are used when you use Split Clip in the main window. My workflow though is to watch the video and hit [ at the beginning of a desired sub-clip then ] at the end then have the video keep playing until the next sub-clip I want, at which point I do the [ and ] repeatedly thru the clip until I have extracted all the sub-clips I want. Much more efficient.

Even you said that you don't see stuttering "if the proxy files have been created." Which means without the proxy files that your Split Clip would not go so well? With a $500 CPU chip, $350 motherboard, $300 SSD, $500 graphics card, $300 DDR memory, there is NO REASON that even Smart Proxy needs to be on. And, yes, I even look at the proxy files in the proxy directory.

Well if this other NLE is problem-free, easy to use, and does what you want then go for it, but again VS can definitely edit 4K videos without the severe stuttering that you're reporting.

They don't have all the bells and whistles as VideoStudio. It seems stupid that I would have to trim my videos in another program, export, probably with some compression loss, then work with them in VideoStudio before exporting again with more compression loss.

I don't understand why they would advertise 4K Display and 4K support, but not fully support it (e.g. Multi-trim).

[tletter]

Much more efficient.

I don't find using the Multi-trim Video feature in my workflow to be more efficient but if you do fine. Any workflow is a personal preference and not a guarantee of efficiency.

I don't understand why they would advertise 4K Display and 4K support, but not fully support it (e.g. Multi-trim).

Using the Multi-trim Video feature on 4K seems to work fine unless you Zoom-in to the max. In any event, if a proxy file exists before you use the Multi-trim Video feature, then the trimmed clips still use proxy on the timeline. If the proxy didn't exist before you use the Multi-trim Video feature, then create proxy files afterwards.

With a $500 CPU chip, $350 motherboard, $300 SSD, $500 graphics card, $300 DDR memory, there is NO REASON that even Smart Proxy needs to be on.

The price you paid doesn't tell us what type of CPU you're using. In any event, NLEs such as Adobe Premiere Pro and daVinci Resolve support the use of proxy files so they must have some merit. However, if your other NLE doesn't need them to satisfactorily edit 4K video then good.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[TexasNightOwl]

Much more efficient.

I don't find using the Multi-trim Video feature in my workflow to be more efficient

It is more efficient because the clip keeps playing, so you just have to hit [ key to start another sub-clip and ] to end it, repeating until done with that clip. Your way, I believe, you have to stop after the second split, select the part you don't want between the 2 splits, then delete it.

In any event, if a proxy file exists before you use the Multi-trim Video feature, then the trimmed clips still use proxy on the timeline.

Here is email from Corel saying the idiots didn't apply proxy to multi-trim:
Vommina Mounika (Corel)
Sep 17, 13:07 EDT
Hello Bill,
Thank you for your patience.
Sorry for the delayed response. I checked with our higher level.
I am sorry to inform you that, smart proxy regretfully cannot be applied to multi or single trim elements.
Regards,
Vommina
Corel Customer Support Services

The price you paid doesn't tell us what type of CPU you're using.

That is in the original post. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12-Core/24-Thread 3.8GHz/4.6GHz. Aorus RTX 2060 Super graphics card. GIGABYTE AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD 2TB M.2 2280 PCI-Express 4.0 x4 3D TLC. On a 4th Gen PCIe motherboard (i.e. PCIe is double the bandwidth as the old 3rd Gen PCIe used on Intel motherboards). 32 GB DDR.
I tried both NVIDIA CUDA and Intel hardware acceleration.

[tletter]

Here is email from Corel saying the idiots didn't apply proxy to multi-trim:

On my installation of VS2018 as previously described, proxies are still used on trimmed clips on the timeline after use of the Multi-trim Video feature.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12-Core/24-Thread 3.8GHz/4.6GHz. Aorus RTX 2060 Super graphics card. GIGABYTE AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD 2TB M.2 2280 PCI-Express 4.0 x4 3D TLC.

Perhaps you could update your profile listing "processor: I7-8550U" which isn't a particularly high performance CPU.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[TexasNightOwl]

proxies are still used on trimmed clips on the timeline after use of the Multi-trim Video feature.

Yeah, AFTER. It needs to be DURING so Multi-trim can be used on 4K video.

Perhaps you could update your profile listing "processor: I7-8550U" which isn't a particularly high performance CPU.

Good point. That is my laptop CPU...and it was Ok when I got it couple years ago.

What I am wondering though, is why does the video need to be proxied at all on such a fast GPU and 24 thread CPU? Even my slow laptop can play 4K video in Windows Media Player without stuttering. Multi-trim, clip player (no effects even possible), and project player can't be doing much more than playback if no effects have been applied. What stupid crap is Corel doing to make playback stutter?

Do you get stutter if you haven't created proxies (e.g. you play 4K from the media tab instead of from the timeline)?

[renebeau]

I have exactly the same experience. The GUI is extremely laggy and the export not fast. I downloaded Shotcut yesterday and it beats VideoStudio hands down regarding GUI speed and export, even on my system which is not the most powerful (i7 3770K @ 3.9 GHz, NVidia GTX 1660 Super, Asus mobo, NVNe SSD 3rd gen).
I will not buy the next version of VS.
CU

[tletter]

What I am wondering though, is why does the video need to be proxied at all on such a fast GPU and 24 thread CPU? Even my slow laptop can play 4K video in Windows Media Player without stuttering.

There is no comparison between a video player playing a single clip and a NLE that is accessing and playing multiple clips which may also include clips playing simultaneously if overlays are being used.

Do you get stutter if you haven't created proxies (e.g. you play 4K from the media tab instead of from the timeline)?

I assume that by "media tab", you're referring to the Preview Window in the Edit workspace. In the Preview Window, VS plays 4K videos that haven't been added to the Timeline just as a standalone video player does, i.e. no stuttering. In my experience, stuttering comes about when a large number of video clips are on the Timeline and proxies haven't been created. However, even if proxies have been created and everything is on a SSD, moving about the Timeline on a long and complex VSP can be slow and frustrating.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[tletter]

I downloaded Shotcut yesterday and it beats VideoStudio hands down regarding GUI speed and export

If that is your only criteria then that may be the case. However, most users also value ease of use, the GUI, and the feature set.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[TexasNightOwl]

In the Preview Window, VS plays 4K videos that haven't been added to the Timeline just as a standalone video player does, i.e. no stuttering.

Therein lies the problem. With 2 different computers, with VideoStudio 2018, 2019, and 2020 most of my 4K videos stutter there. That is why I said it can't even play a clip from the Media tab when there is no processing to do on the video. BTW, it is called Media tab because if you mouse over the tabs under the Edit tab, they are named Media, Sounds, Templates, Transitions, etc.

In my experience, stuttering comes about when a large number of video clips are on the Timeline

Not for me. No clip on the timeline...stutter when clip played in media tab until proxy created. Proxy created, right click and select Single Clip Trim...stuttering even though still nothing in the timeline. Drag a 30 second 4K clip on the timeline will stutter until proxy file generated...even though it only thing on timeline and still nothing being applied to it...no cuts, no filtering, no anything. Once proxy file generated it will play without stuttering. Right click on timeline and select Multi-trim Video...it stutters real bad even though proxy has been generated, no cuts, no filtering, no other clips on timeline, no anything.

BTW, you might want to give Multi-trim Video and Single Clip Trim a try, they are very efficient for non-4K videos.

[TexasNightOwl]

The GUI is extremely laggy and the export not fast.

I tried doing an export in the VS Ultimate 2020 version to check speed. I used a 3 minute UHD, 30 fps video dragged to the timeline, rotated 90 degrees and exported as 1080p 30 fps (since trial version won't allow 4K export).
I have a Gigabyte Aorus version of the NVIDIA RTX-2060 Super video card, so I tested CUDA compression compared to NO Hardware compresssion, then to Intel just for comparison sake.
In all cases, I had power plan set to High Performance,

the CPU utilization was 14 to 18%, and
the GPU utilization was 9 to 12% regardless of acceleration settings

With NO hardware acceleration, the export time was under 14 minutes 31 seconds. I say under because I missed the end and hit the stop button on my phone clock when I noticed it stopped.
With NVIDIA CUDA acceleration 14 minutes 3 seconds. Less than 28-second savings!!!!
With Intel Quick Sync Video acceleration 13 minutes 59 seconds. 4 seconds FASTER than the acceleration for my video card type!!!!

I thought I would like the Highlight Reel to be able to see videos easier by date and faces, but it crashes on import when it reaches a little over 4,000 files. So another feature that is worthless to me.

I like all the bells & whistles of Corel products. But I wish they would take a break from adding stuff most people never use, and some people only rarely use, and make their products work for more people!!!