How can I correct the Choppy Playback with Movie Edit Pro MX.

jmacdathird wrote on 8/11/2012, 10:09 PM

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium/Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Model ET1331G/System Type x64-based PC
Processor AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 250u Processor, 1600 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date AMI P01-A2, 12/10/2009/SMBIOS Version 2.6
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7601.17514"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB/Total Physical Memory 3.75 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.33 GB/Total Virtual Memory 7.50 GB
Available Virtual Memory 5.26 GB/Page File Space 3.75 GB

Comments

gandjcarr wrote on 8/12/2012, 3:43 AM

Is the playback choppy in the preview monitor within the application, or is it choppy when you export or burn the project?

terrypin wrote on 8/12/2012, 6:23 AM

Did you see the post at the top of the page? Did you follow the steps listed, in particular:
- Searching for previous threads on this topic (with keywords like 'jerky', 'choppy', etc)
- DETAILS of what you're doing and seeing; in this case, especially the file format(s) giving you the jerkiness. (If you can upload a small example I'll try it on my XP PC.)

Anyway, here's a summary of steps you can try to fix the issue, for you and others who end up here with a search:

1. PC spec
Fairly obviously, this will affect performance. And for HD files particularly, if that's what you're working with. (If you're using a new PC, and haven't read the manual, check that there's no 'Power' setting! I've read that some, particularly laptops, let you lower the CPU performance.)

2. Monitor resolution
Press the 'Y' key to display the Program Settings window. Under the Video/Audio tab, in the Movie display section, experiment with the options. I normally use Half as you see here.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MX-Settings-VideoAudio.jpg

(I don't usually embed images directly, as the magix.info site displays them at such poor resolution.)

3. Other Video/Audio settings
I make no claims for my settings being optimised but they work fairly well, so examine them for any that differ from yours and experiment methodically.

4. Cache
Press the 'Y' key to display the Program Settings window. Under the Playback tab, in the Video Playback section, experiment with the options. I find that different file types need different settings. Mostly I use No Cache:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MX-Settings-Playback.jpg

5. Audio buffer
Under that same settings tab, experiment with your entries, with mine as a starting point.

6. Fill the cache
Play the clip (or the whole timeline) once or twice to let the cache do its work.(Pretty obvious and usually done several times in frustration anyway!)

7. Codec issues
A subject in its own right, but one aspect is to experiment with MEP's Import Modules. Here's an illustration I made last year for an MEP16 user, but MEP17 and MX are identical or very similar. Experiment in particular with those I've underlined.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP16-importModules-1.jpg

8. Change project settings
I've not tried this tip from Alwyn, a valued long time contributor to our old forum.

The idea is to import HD material (if that's what you're using, you haven't said!) into an HD project with the 1280x720 movie settings. Then change the File > Settings > Movie settings to SD 16x9 720x576 (480 if NTSC). Quoting Alwyn: "Surprisingly the preview still shows in HD but the transitions show in SD thereby reducing the load on the processor. When you are happy with your movie edits, just change the movie settings back to the HD res. of the original footage and export."

BTW that forum was sadly dropped by Magix but still accessible for its archives via the Search box at http://support2.magix.net/boards/magix/index.php?showforum=113
alias http://tinyurl.com/5tswdg6

9. HD Acceleration
Press the 'Y' key to display the Program Settings window. Under the Display Options tab, in the Video Mode section, experiment with the 4 options. I normally have mine set to HW Accel as shown.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MX-Settings-DisplayOptions.jpg

(One exception is when I try to preview my movie in Burn mode. Then I have to switch back to the Default option and also find I need to switch Playback cache to Output and file cache. A second exception, when I again use Default, is more obscure, when I'm working with certain alpha effects.)

10. Create Frame Table
Experiment with right clicking a video object and using Create (new) frame table. But beware: this can screw up any editing you've already done on that clip.

11. System Settings
Press the 'Y' key to display the Program Settings window. Under the System tab, check your settings with mine as a starting point:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MX-Settings-System.jpg

12. Edit Trimmer
Try this suggestion from Peter (SceneStealer), quoted almost verbatim:
"Right click and select the 'Edit trimmer'. Click the transport control, in the trimmer window, to the far left (shaped like a floppy disc) and it will render the transition in RAM temporarily and give you smooth real time playback in the lefthand pane - albeit a little small."

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK