ram preview behaving oddly

[c.g._eads]

using AE CS3. For some reason RAM PREVIEW will only build a second or two of frames before it plays back the rendered video. is there a preference somewhere where I could change this? If not, anyone know why it's doing this?

[Robbie Comeau]

i hate that, it always does it to me...don't know why!

[Luis Caffesse]

You may want to try purging your AE Cache.
Go to EDIT>PURGE>ALL

The might help.

How complex is your comp?
It should fill up the RAM preview until it runs out of RAM.
Is it possible you're using up all the RAM with those 1 to 2 seconds?

[c.g._eads]

i don't think so. I have 3 gigs. Although AE only allows you to use 2 (?????). The comp is fairly small so I don't know what's going on. But I have to figure it out quick because if you can't preview your project.... what's the point???

[Luis Caffesse]

So I take it purging the cache did nothing for you?
I assume its not something really obvious, like having your work area in the comp set to only a few seconds?

(just grabbing at straws here)

[c.g._eads]

no Luis. although I'm not conceeding that it's something simple, at least I know it isn't that. dumped all cache too. it's like it has a mind of its own. a second or two at most of ram building and then it starts playing. any other ideas?

[Tom Marshall]

How much RAM do you have installed? What's the resolution of the content that you're working with?

[c.g._eads]

Tommy, I have 3 gigs of RAM installed. Running no other programs. The resolution I'm working with is 1440x1080 (I think - or whatever HD resolution is). I don't think it's the footage because on my little laptop with 2 gigs of RAM the ram preview works just fine with the same footage.

[Matt Grunau]

The resolution I'm working with is 1440x1080 (I think - or whatever HD resolution is).

That's probably the reason. With SD, I can preview almost 30 seconds.

Those huge frame sizes are most porbably a factor.

[Tom Marshall]

What OS are you running?