Red preview hang in Vegas Pro 15

[Michael Hoogasian]

Ok so here’s what I’ve found:

If I start a new project with GPU acceleration enabled, import the problematic file, drag it onto the timeline, sleep, and resume: I get a red screen without a crash.

If I start a new project without GPU acceleration enabled, import the problematic file, drag it onto the timeline, sleep, and resume: It seems to be fine still.

So the question then becomes, why does GPU accel break things, and how much of a performance benefit am I loosing with it off?

[George Dean]

Hi Michael,

I don’t have a direct informative answer to your question, however this is how I understand it. Sony stopped developing GPU support with the last Nvidia being the 500 series (if I am correct, or it may have been the 600 series, but I think GPU acceleration was good for the 400 & 500 series). Then Magix bought Vegas Pro and they are developing around the later models of Nvidia and AMD GPU’s which would probably be something like the GTX 1000 series. Again, I don’t have specific information or knowledge on this, so your 650 may make a difference, it may not.

However, what we do know is Vegas Pro always has has and still today makes better use from CPU power that it does from GPU power. That does not mean there isn’t an advantage to a powerful GPU that fits the support of the current Vegas Pro 16 and somewhat with v15.

But what is more important to you is how GPU on/off effects your source media, your style of editing, the FX’s you commonly use, and the render times (if that is important to you). It’s going to be different for each user. I would suggest a simple test of a 3-5 minute sample project. Leave the problem source media file out of this test, but include some of the common FX’s and editing you normally will be using. Preview quality speed and render speed are the common complaints. I would switch on/off the GPU for previewing the project and see if you can get normal speed preview at the quality you like to use and compare the difference if there is any. Then do some test renders using the format you need with GPU on and then off and compare the render times.

If you are happy with the speeds with GPU off, you have your fix. If you cannot live with the preview and render speeds with the GPU off, then we need to continue for a better solution.

Keep in mind there are some FX’s that will benefit from GPU acceleration, most of which I think will be the OFX types.

Also, you may be able to get the GPU to cooperate by installed the latest driver, or going back several version of earlier drivers.

If I think of anything more I will follow up, otherwise wait for your reply and thoughts.

Best Regards……George

[Michael Hoogasian]

My apologies for forgetting to get back to you – I turned off GPU acceleration and the problem went away. Things are a little bit slower but I can live with it 🙂

[George Dean]

Thank You Michael for posting your solution, this may help others reading your thread.

Best Regards……George