What do I need to make multiclips run smoother on my Mac Pro?

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Simon Dybeck] “Is it by using raid or is it something else? “

Unequivocally…Yes. You need fast hard drives to playback 16 streams of video.

Jeremy

[Michael Gossen]

What resolution/codec are you using? How about a different codec. Maybe an offline/online workflow would be better if you don’t want to get more equipment. You could use media manager to recompress your footage to a more CPU/RAM friendly codec. When you are done, you can reconnect to the “online” media…Look around for exact steps, they are littered around.

Michael Gossen
Helium Digital Media

[Zane Barker]

[Michael Gossen] “You could use media manager to recompress your footage to a more CPU/RAM friendly codec.”

It is not a matter of using a different codec that more CPU friendly. Simon already said his CPU is only at about 20%

Think of each camera angle as a stream of water. Because a multi clip plays all 16 clips at the same time its is like combining all 16 streams together into one BIG river. How your hard drive is kinda like the tunnel that must deliver all that water. A signal hard drive is like a small tunnel, and a raid is like a GIANT tunnel. Se essentially Simon is trying to force a BIG river into a tunnel that can only handle a couple of small streams of water at one time.

So the sewage gets backed up and causes big problems.

There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Michael Gossen]

No, really. I get it.

But since many people don’t have the ability to go buy a “BIG TUNNEL”, I am suggesting that instead of getting a bigger tunnel, he decreases the flow of media by re-compressing (thus making it flow better), to continue your analogy. I like to try to offer solutions that don’t just include “go buy something else” because that just isn’t always practical.

Michael Gossen
Helium Digital Media

[Michael Gossen]

No, really. I get it.

But since many people don’t have the ability to go buy a “BIG TUNNEL”, I am suggesting that instead of getting a bigger tunnel, he decreases the flow of media by re-compressing (thus making it flow better), to continue your analogy. I like to try to offer solutions that don’t just include “go buy something else” because that just isn’t always practical.

Michael Gossen
Helium Digital Media

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Michael Gossen] ” I am suggesting that instead of getting a bigger tunnel, he decreases the flow of media by re-compressing (thus making it flow better)”

I hear that, but a 16 camera switch isn’t exactly normal and will tax any system, especially one with a single 7200RPM drive.

Specialized workflows call for special gear.

[Michael Gossen]

I think he would be much happier with the experience in OfflineRT. He should have plenty of bandwidth. No special equipment needed.

Michael Gossen
Helium Digital Media

[Simon Dybeck]

I am editing in HDV material. What’s the maximum bitrate to keep the harddrive playing clips at the same time in good quality and framerate?

[David Bogie]

My suggestion is to organize for post more efficiently.
But I’m not watching the project nor do I have any idea what the expectations of the client are.
Having 16 cameras in sync and on a single screen is fun (and clever marketing form Apple) but kinda mind-numbing. I do not believe having 16 cameras up at one time facilitates a decent editing job any more than competent previz and careful review of the footage against the script.

I’ll bet at least eight of those cameras have footage that is only incidentally useful. They can easily be added later.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[Zane Barker]

[Michael Gossen] “No, really. I get it. “

No offense but you sure didn’t seem like it.

I know of no codec exists that will let you play 16 streams of video from one hard drive.

There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!