Memory & editing question

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:14 pm

I've been making amvs for a while using Windows XP, and I assumed (stupid me) that with the new computer it would have plenty of memory for editing - and I've been suffering 'lock-ups' a lot lately, especially when I've been editing for a long stretch of time (usually after 5hrs). It'll reach the point where each movement on my part fills the computer's memory guage completely and takes up to 30 secs before I can do another step. I thought it was the program, but now I realize it's the computer. So, can anyone point me to the section in the guides (or forum threads - if there is one) that warns or explains about memory usage when editing a video? I either missed it or skipped it thinking my computer was 'high-grade' when I should have known better. Also, can anyone tell me the standard numbers needed for a computer to have sufficient memory and running capabilities for editing (so there's no need for extra equipment)?

If there's already a thread or guide on this, please just point me in the right direction.

NicholasDWolfwood · Post by **NicholasDWolfwood** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:25 pm

I got 512MB of RAM and 4GB of swap.

It goes through what's left of the memory after XP's processes (usually around 460MB) plus a gig or so when exporting from teh AVISynth files.

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:29 pm

When it gets slow for me, I just close premiere and start it up again. The minute that it takes to do this saves a lot of time overall. If you edit from mjpeg or huffyuv, memory shouldnt be much of an issue. If you are trying to edit from something like divx, then memory can become an issue... and if you are editing from avisynth scripts, then memory becomes a VERY SERIOUS issue. I have 512mb and it suits me ok... I really need to pick up another gig or so though, this would really help out on editing from avisynth...

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:41 pm

Well, when it gets bad I can usually restart the computer and it's fine for a while so long as I'm not running many other processes at the same time (I let my computer run nearly 24-7, so that's a problem right there). I have a 2600+ AMD Athlon XP processor (if that means anything), and compared to my old computer it's an unheard of improvement, so I didn't think it would be the computer's fault. But it's definitely running out of active memory. The clips I'm working with are avi files (large virtually uncompressed, not even divx, since I do things bass-ackwards) - if that is the problem I can fix it. But I really was hoping for some sort of guide I could read about computer memory in general. I know everyone hates questions like this, and I don't know anything about computer processors or memory usage. Hufyuy does *not* like my computer, and working with mpg files slows things even worse than the avi - any sort of compressed footage seems to snag when I use it. The memory problem I'm having isn't during the import or export - not an avisynth problem (I use a basic script consistently, and only enough to work with VirtualDub to get the clips) - but editing the actual clips and working with a timeline, as well as playback issues since the computer drags and halts continually once it's reached its limit.

sexieukyou · Post by **sexieukyou** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:43 pm

Hard drive space is a factor. Since I do a lot of computer work with rendering, and the occasional movie I like covering the two most important factors. Ram and Hard drive space.

I have 2 gigs of DDR ram, while also raid with 2 raptor drives from WD. The raptor drives run at 10,000 rpm and effectively in raid setup they are about 3.5 times faster then your standard harddrive.

Basically I don't get the slowdown as often, but it still occurs after all that usuage. I just restart Premier and it's okay afterwards.

kmv · Post by **kmv** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 1:37 am

Just out of interest...

How much RAM do you actually have?
What codec are your clips in?
What codec have you configured Premiere to edit with?

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 2:19 am

Now I'm in trouble...I'm just going to list some of what's written on my computer since I don't know where to look it up at.

Okay, I have:
512 mb DDR SDRAM memory
32 mb - shared video memory
and it says up to 64 mb shared video memory (not sure if this is different from the Integrated ProSavage DDR KM266 graphics shared memory or just the limit)

As for my harddrive, it says 60 gb Ultra DMA hard drive.

And for the clincher - I'm not using Premiere. I can't afford the official yet and don't want to use a temporary 'trial version' movie maker. I'm using Showbiz, and some of Windows Movie Maker 2.0. And the clips are virtually uncompressed - no codec/huge file avi format - saved directly from VirtualDub to avi. If it's a matter of compressing the clips I can do that (don't want to, but if that's the problem, then so be it). But if it's the computer not having enough memory then I'd rather upgrade that then change my way of ripping dvds (call me stubborn, stupid, whatever - I don't like the results I got when I used Hufyuy, and the other codecs didn't seem much better).

Dannywilson · Post by **Dannywilson** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:45 pm

What this sounds like is a memory leak. What happens is, a program uses memory for a process, an then never returns usage of it to the main memory pool(a simple explanation for a complicated problem). This then builds up to the point where the pool is out of memory to allocate for the process, and the computer locks up. The way to help this is not a permanent solution, but a temporary fix. Save often, and restart the program once an hour or so. When you do this, the allocated memory returns to the pool, freeing it for other processes.

Hope I was of some help.

kmv · Post by **kmv** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 2:30 pm

Arigatomyna wrote:And the clips are virtually uncompressed - no codec/huge file avi format - saved directly from VirtualDub to avi.

What does "virtually" uncompressed mean. [alarm bell sounds in head]

You say you're not using a codec (which implies uncompressed) and yet you also say that its not a huge file - which is odd because I would expect that the uncompressed file would be MUCH bigger than huffyuv.

Open the AVI in Windows Media Player, then do File -> Properties. What is the video codec?

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:12 pm

Sorry about that, I meant no codec *or* huge avi file. I did the Windows Media Player 'properties' and under codec it says ' - ' but if you do the same with Winamp, it lists the compression as 'LEAD MJPEG' - which is a compression that doesn't really do any compressing at all (the file size for one using this is the same as an 'uncompressed' avi file saved off VirtualDub - averaging 650mbs for a 10min clip, the only difference is WMM 2.0 & Showbiz like this 'codec' more than nothing, while clips using Hufyuy turn out blurry and slow). I mostly need to reinstall Hufyuy and experiment some more to find a better compression - that's been a problem for a while (finding one that works without messing with the movie makers since most guides are written for Premiere - which I *am* going to get as soon as I save enough money, not before).

I appreciate the information on 'memory leaks,' though, I do have a few adversive programs on my computer that don't close manually (meaning you have to end the process rather than just the program) and the computer only drags after an extensive amount of usage. I save after every few clips or steps, but I usually don't close the program unless it locks up - I'll see if restarting regularly and giving the computer more rest settles things any. Thanks.