What am I missing here???

Norm_Li

Norm_Li

Well-known member
I totally revamped my computer components and did a fresh format and install of my system drive and WinXP OS but still can't edit native M2T clips without them being choppy at both Good and Best (auto) quality. Sometimes at Preview quality too. It averaged 6-10fps out of the 23.98 or 29.97fps footage.

My computer specs:

Pentium 4 Intel DualCore D 3.0Ghz (Overclocked to 4.0Ghz)
4GB DDR2 RAM
Asus P5LD2-Deluxe Mobo
Matrox Parhelia APVe PCI-e video card w/ 3 LCD (2 DVI / 1 VGA) monitor set-up
Scythe Ninja PLUS CPU Cooler (HUGE)
2TB of internal and external harddrive space (SATAII or USB 2.0)

What else can I do to improve playback of these freaking HDV M2T files from the XLH1??!! I felt sorry for my client who had to sit here and watch choppy preview footage. Perhaps forming a RAID0 disk array of two 250GB 7200rpm internal SATAII harddrives?

I tried Gearshift which is good but takes so long to render everything and it keeps crashing on one large M2T file I have.

Is the Matrox card designed for mainly multiple monitor use AND HDV editing or should I be getting a separate PCI-e video card (QuadroFX or FireGL?) to use in there as well for the 2nd slot? Matrox advertised this card as an HDV solution. I did my homework and there was lots of good reviews on the card so I rushed out to buy it and disappointed that my footage is still choppy.

Also, before I bought all the new components and performed the format, I could play the M2T files very smoothly in any media player (particularly Windows Media) without any hiccups. Now when I play the same file in Windows Media, it's SUPER choppy and I can't bear to watch it. What am I missing here? I installed the K-Lite codec FULL package so I assume I have the proper codec for it but maybe not? Help please!

Any suggestions or help would be great!
 
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What hard drive is the file playing from (size,type,interface)
What version of Vegas? Vegas 6 plays m2t files, maybe your K-lite codec is the problem.

Hunter
 
The project file and raw m2t files are on the external 250GB USB 2.0 harddrive.

I have Vegas 6.0d. I can play them but they are just kind of lagged. Should I be able to play them at Full (Best or Auto) quality and have complete smooth playback if no other Windows programs are running besides Vegas?

Norm
 
Ah, move your file to your SATA drive and try again. I could be wrong but I'm quite sure the USB is your problem.

Hunter
 
Not to hijack the thread or anything, but I've experienced a similar problem recently. I used to be able to playback 24pA and 30p footage smoothly in the preview window. Lately it has been cutting down to about 18fps, sometimes lower. My drives are defragged and running smooth. I've got plenty of RAM (2 GB). The drives are all SATA (7200 rpm) and I'm running an X2 3800. Any ideas? Like I said, it used to work great. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
I highly doubt it has anything to do with the hard drive. HDV's bandwidth is the same as DV, so if you can stream DV you can stream HDV, but HDV does require more processing power. Most likely it sounds like a codec issue. I too have been having some codec issues, although mine have to do with Quicktime in it's newest incarnation. One thing you can always try is to uninstall vegas and whatver codec you are using, and install a slightly older version and see if that works.
 
Ok so far my little 2.8 dual core can play m2t files fine, tested two files - XL-H1 1440x1080 23.976 fps and a HD dvr box 1920x1080 29.97fps

Project settings:
HDV 1080-60i (1440x1080, 23.976 fps)
Video Preview:
Preview (Auto)
File: Canon XL-H1 1440x1080 23.976

results - runs fine at preview res, but slows to 11 fps at good and 5 fps when set to best. A 3GHz dual core should run 23.976 at good res.

Clip of "My name is Earl" from HD DVR cable box captured via firewire and CapDVHS.
Project Settings:
HD 1080-60i (1920x1080, 29.970 fps)
Video Preview:
Preview (Auto)
File:
DVR 1920x1080 29.97
Result, fps ramps up to 29.97 after 75 to 130 frames then runs fine.
fps drops to 3 when I change video preview to good and forget about bests
So a 3GHz dual might play this file at good res to a 20 fps maybe better.
Both files coming from a EIDE 200 gig seagate attached to a Asus WD2 MB.

Also, I will sometimes start V6 then close and re-open so that is pushes the memory out and I DO NOT USE MEDIA MANAGER.

USB 2 says it will go 480mbs but it still has to go through the USB chip set. You can get 480 but only in small file sizes i.e. burst speed, like dumping one bucket of water into another. Do some google searches on USB 2.0 speeds.

Hope this helped
Hunter
 
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