Choppy Playback? How Much Muscle?

[Jerry Hofmann]

Try setting the playback to unlimited.

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[Neil Patience]

Hi Jona

your machine should be fine, running the media from a SATA external drive should also be fine. What “flavour” ProRes are you trying to use ?
Certainly LT, 442 and even HQ should be OK as long as you are not trying to playback a 9 camera multicam sequence. ProRes 4444 might cause you some issues but unless your source is RED, Alexa etc etc or you need the embedded alpha channel you dont need 4444 anyway. Unlimited RT might help.
Have you tried disconnecting the 2nd monitor ? I have heard of instances where that slows things down on the older GPUs which might affect playback.
But otherwise your machine should handle things without too much complaint.

best wishes
Neil
http://www.patience.tv

[Jona Taylor]

Hi Neil! Thanks for the reply 🙂

The material is standard Prores 442.

Sadly, I think you are right about the problem being due to the external monitor which is a real drag because I bought this expensive monitor (Dell 2711) make editing easier and I was really looking forward to using it.

I should mention that the Macbook Pro plays the other material (XDCam 4:2:0) material back without any issues. Is this because it is a lower bit rate than the Prores 442 material and therefore has less drain on the GPU?

Does you (or anyone else) know of a way to overcome this ‘slow GPU’ without having to go out and buy another Mac?

Thanks again Neil,
Jona

[Jona Taylor]

Hi Jerry,

Than you for jumping in here.

I’ve tried both settings and it doesn’t sem to make a difference.

As Neil mentions, I’m thinking the problem is coming form the slower GPU and the external monitor. Hard to believe that the 2008 Macbook can’t power this external monitor and playback smoothly. Is that really asking for too much in 2008?

Best,
Jona

[Jerry Hofmann]

Try lowering the playback quality and leave it on unlimited.

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[David Eaks]

When you place a new clip onto the timeline, it does not need to be rendered, correct? If it does, your settings don’t actually match perfectly.

As well as setting unlimited RT, quality dynamic, and frame rate full, a nice trick is to open the quickview window. You can adjust effects during playback in realtime.

[Jona Taylor]

Hi Jerry, (and David)

I think you guys nailed it.
Now set to Unlimited RT, Playback Video Quality: Dynamic.
No choppy playback issues.

Big thanks to both of you! I really appreciate this forum 🙂
Jona