Long wait time when toggling from other software to MC 8.3

[Ricky Barrow]

We have 6 systems on Win 7 – they are identical as far as I can determine but we have one system doing exactly the same thing. We are on MC version 8.2 We have searched for answers to no avail. We regularly run CCleaner and Malwarebytes and when doing any updates we do it to all. We have checked BIOS versions and settings, we have tried indexing on/off for local SSD and have tried same MC user settings used in other working rooms. Nothing we do changes this situation.

We are also in need of any possible solutions.

Ricky

[Pat Horridge]

There have been lots of issues with the BM drivers and toggling in and out of Avid.
It’s like Avid has to claw back focus from the driver.

Be interesting to see if toggling to software mode (gear icons on timeline) first and then leave Avid and come back and see if that helps. If so it’s the 3rd party I?O and or driver.
Also in the BM driver control panel try changing the option for what it does when it leaves an application (I think it’s a black frame or hold last frame choice)

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
Free online Tutorials at VET digital media academy online https://vimeo.com/channels/752951
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[John Mcmullin]

Hi Pat,

Thanks. Unfortunately that didn’t seem to help.

The strange thing is that the behaviour is inconsistent. For example, this morning, having left the computer on overnight, without shutting down, the problem isn’t occurring yet. But from experience I know that it’ll come back and I won’t be able to do anything about it when it does. Restarting the machine does not help.

It makes me wonder if it’s something to do with background processes, but I’ve no idea which ones they might be. We do have Norton on this machine.

Thanks,

John

[Pat Horridge]

We found the move to NC V8.3.1 was a big help. Breaks AS-11 export but performance improved.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
Free online Tutorials at VET digital media academy online https://vimeo.com/channels/752951
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Matt Lyon]

I had a similar issue in MC 7.0.4 w/ NITRIS DX. Since our AVID version and system setup is very different, it is very possible my solution does not apply, so take it with a grain of salt:

I worked with AVID tech support directly on this one: First step is to look in your console window to see what kind of error message you are getting. Every time I would switch between AVID and the desktop, or any other program, I would get “MSMRescan() took: 30s” errors, where the rescan time was anywhere between 30-60 seconds.

The solution was to throw away the AMA management database:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\AMA Management

Once I deleted the contents of this folder, the rescan errors went away. According to AVID tech support, the program will rebuild these databases as needed. So far, I have seen no negative effects from throwing away these files.

HTH,

Matt Lyon
Editor
Toronto

[Pat Horridge]

It could be AMA database scanning and it’s possible that was one of the improvements in V8.3.1

On standalone systems (non shared storage) the AMA management doesn’t bring anything at all and in fact causes issues for some users.
There is a console command to disable it (but I don’t think it’s persistent)so the best option is to manually delete the AMA databases
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\AMA Management

And do that periodically.

It’s not that Avid will rebuild them as needed. They are created every time you AMA link. They are not recreated unless you ama link something again.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
Free online Tutorials at VET digital media academy online https://vimeo.com/channels/752951
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[John Mcmullin]

Thanks for your help Pat.

I finally got 8.3.1 installed and it has definitely helped a lot. Occasionally the Avid still goes in to a spin but it’s now far far better. I noticed that it still comes up with some errors in console but now it seems to quit out of whatever loop it was in earlier.

Best wishes,

John