I'm occasionally finding my project folders contain strange 'perfbounce' files. Two types seen so far: HO like these:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP2013-Perfbounce-1.jpg
As you see, when opened in a hex editor they seem to contain what I'd call 'nothing'.
And the other type is MPG which when played just seem to be parts of projects. I have 5 of them, ranging from 20 MB to 440 MB.
Anyone have any idea what they are please?
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Terry, East Grinstead, UK
Hi Terry.
I've also seen these files and my belief is that they are the results of any pre-rendering you ask MEP/VPX to do. i.e. when a pre-rendered section is played back MEP actually uses these "Perfbounce" files rather than the "original" footage.
HTH
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Thanks, you're clearly right. I just did a pre-render and it created an .HO and an .MXV file. The latter can run in MEP or Photo Manager (its default). Odd that previously MPG files were created. Edit: From further tests the reason is that MX pre-rendering creates MPG and 2013 creates MXV.
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Maybe you can clarify a couple of points about pre-rendering for me please? As you see from the following, a test took well over 3 minutes to render an 8 second section! In practice. Edit: Just repeated with MX, which took only 1 minute - 3 times faster.
I'm not sure what resolution the MXV is (neither MediaInfo nor GSpot support that file type, and Photo Manager 8 tells me nothing) but even if it's 1920 x 1080, the project setting, it's still a bit slower than exporting to that quality MP4. And the big advantage of that alternative is that I can then re-import and work with just one clip on one track (or two if I display any audio). Whereas I'm stuck here with 5 or 6 tracks. That's not only untidy but if, for example, I want to move those 'pre-rendered' objects to my main project that requires great care to slot them into available tracks.
So why would you choose this instead of simply exporting it and re-importing?
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Terry, East Grinstead, UK
Yeah - funny name eh Terry - but yes that is where the Preview Rendering files are created. Please see my comments in your other post about H/W Accel.
As I mentioned in another post "MEP 2013 Review" I find this feature rather dubious for several reasons:
1.These files stay there until you delete them from the folder.
2. The section in the timeline is tied to the timecode and not to the object so, any slight change to the preview rendered section or any change in object length upstream of it means that it needs to be created again. It does not overwrite the previous large file either.
3. It would be almost as quick and sometimes better (as you point out) to export the section and bring it back to the timeline. I guess the factors against this is that if you want to tweak a complex effect you would have to build it again. Also, when the final project is renderd this section would be another generation down unless you were using Smart Render.
It is nice to know its there though.
Thanks Peter.
Until convinced otherwise, I'm going to ignore this feature. But I'd love to hear from anyone who is using it regularly to advantage.
BTW, those speed tests I did earlier proved hard to reproduce. Once again I suspect some settings interaction I hadn't accounted for. I'll try again after a brief break to do some creative work!
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Terry, East Grinstead, UK