Cache Buffers & Print To Tape: Potential Solution?

Grazie wrote on 10/6/2002, 1:51 PM
Some further developments....

1: Does VF use cache buffer when it operates its Print To Tape?
2: How can I ensure VF is using this? Does VF use a "Temp" directory while it does its thing in PTT or Capture?
3: Do I need to have a path for this to happen?
4: Should/can I put this in the Preferencees under Disk Managment?

Well I'm asking these questions as I have had a chance to meet a computer engineer today and he was asking how the NLE s/w [VF] dealt with using caching of video files while they were sent through the firewire? He also proposed the idea that as the firewire would be needing some voltage to "pump" the avi file out of the laptop via the 1394 port, that any "demand" made by the pc [ie turing fan/s ON/OFF] could momentarily "spike/dip" the voltages/amps enough to interrupt the the flow. This lead him in the direction of proposing that if a capacitor could be placed "across" the fan potentials this could "smooth" the "spikes/dips". However making use of any accessible cache could potentially do the same - by placing the unprocessed file into cache, while the "spike/dip" flattened out. This has also been in the back of my mind as well. What do you think people?

I think we are on to something.

Grazie

Comments

Former user wrote on 10/6/2002, 5:15 PM
There would need to be a command sent to the fan to tell it when to turn on. The CPU would, I assume, send this command across the same path as the data stream. Is it possible that, rather than being a voltage spike, it is an interupt issue.

That is, a command is sent on the data path, and thus interrupts the data, the same as if you tried to access a CD, or use the modem.

Just a thought and I am not an engineer, so FWIW.

Dave T2
Grazie wrote on 10/6/2002, 5:35 PM
Dave - you got me there!

At this point in time I really am up for suggestions. In all other respects this machine is totally awesome.

"That is, a command is sent on the data path, and thus interrupts the data, the same as if you tried to access a CD, or use the modem." could be!?! However I do like the sound of the "send this command across the same path as the data stream" obsevation. Hmmmm.... c'mon Chienworks - I know you're reading this.....

Maybe a combo of the two, spikes and commands.

Thanks for your feedback - But get me an interview with Mr Michael Dell and I'll be eternally greatful! Or should that be Dellful.....Doah! Dave T2 do you know any email friendly engineers I can also bore with this one?

Best regards,

Grazie
Chienworks wrote on 10/6/2002, 10:55 PM
LOL! Yes, of course i'm reading this.

I'm not an engineer either (my degree says i'm a scientist, and that means i think towards no practical purpose, i suppose), but my gut feeling is that firewire is pretty well impervious to interference from spikes and such. I'm very much more leaning towards agreeing with Dave on this one. I think that when the fan turns on, the processor just gets too busy for a moment to keep the data streaming to tape properly.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 1:20 AM
Chienworks - cheers Pal!

Welllll.... what's it to be? If the CPU gets toooo busy how do I either calm it down and/or automatically send some of the unprocessed stuff into ram or elswhere - have you seen my original post on this thread? My questions there are about temp files and buffers. Is there any mileage on this?

In all other departments this machine is great.

Regards

Grazie
miketree wrote on 10/7/2002, 3:50 AM
Grazie, Do you have the same problems during capture?
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 4:56 AM
If you mean do I get dropped frames? Well yes, maybe 1 in a 20-30 min capture. But I don't get a "blank" Preview while Capture for 1 to 3 seconds. But this is a good question to ask.

Yes, Mike, I did think about this, but didn't come to any "sensible" conclusions. Have any ideas?

Hey Guys, thanks for putting up with me on this one! I reeealllly do appreciate your tolerance and patience.

Regards

Grazie
laz111 wrote on 10/7/2002, 5:12 AM
Grazie, I'm no expert, but it sounds as though by altering the way your cache is adjusted may improve things. Some people don't like cache managers because a; you can mess things up, b; it doesn't do much. But I've used one for a while and it seems to speed things up for me in certain pc activities. I use Cacheman - there's a free version at http://www.reg.net/authors.asp?AuthorID=3223. As I'm no whizzkid (more like a nearly-whizz-old-geezer) I use the default settings which lets the prog sort things out.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 6:00 AM
Laz - nice one!

I'm running WinME - I think everybody on this Forum knows tis by esp. Chienworks! - Have you found any "messed-up" issues eminating from such a crucial piece of s/w? Apart from the obvious, it manages cache/s - how does it do it? What tweaks should I be looking for? If it should mess things up will my WInME come back to the fore and restore stuff? Yeah, I know I'm being a wimp, but hey, this is Windows we are talking about.

Laz thanks again,

Grazie

Oh some good news... I've been invited for an intial chat to see if I could work on some community arts video activity. 2 cameras and Avid Express and chromakey activity. I'm really looking forward to this! Hey this is what all this vid stuff is about anyway - yeah?
IanG wrote on 10/7/2002, 7:31 AM
Grazie

I've used a few cache managers & none of them has given me any problems. You can always note your current settings before changing things if it make you feel more comfortable.

Cheers

Ian G.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 9:08 AM
Thanks Ian,

How has it improved your situation, over and above that which allows Windows to do its thing? How does VF make use of the cache buffer when PTT? Are there any settings in VF and/or do I need a temp or other directory setup to allow VF to make use of this?

Do I have to think that "others" have been using "better" cache managers than Windows? If so it has been a well hidden virtue and something I would have explored some time back.

Grazie
IanG wrote on 10/7/2002, 11:35 AM
Grazie

I don't know that it's made any difference to PTT! Rendering times, on the other hand, have definitely been improved! Sorry if I was giving you false hope, I just wanted to point out that cache managers are a reasonably safe thing to play with.

Cheers

Ian G.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 12:01 PM
Okey DOkey. I've downloaded it. If it works I'll report. If not and you get silence from me - you've guessed it, DellBoy will have suffered.... Oh is this a sneeky way to stop me posting these fan issues!!!! Ah I see your cunning plot!

"I just wanted to point out that cache managers are a reasonably safe thing to play with" .... Alrioght then...

Grazie
Former user wrote on 10/7/2002, 12:22 PM
I use cacheman on my Windows ME system. It does not do anything to the software that you coudln't do yourself if you knew where to look. And it provides the option to revert back to normal.

I recommend it for cache issues. I don't know if it will help the fan issue but let us know.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2002, 4:26 PM
Dave & Ian - Downloaded Cachemanager. It is a rather straightforward s/w package, even I could understand it.

It did not change my situation guys. I tried the Multimedia template - still no good - fan/s come on/off interrupts PTT and blue screen hell.

Hey Ho

Grazie
IanG wrote on 10/7/2002, 5:27 PM
Hey ho indeed! And whacko the diddle oh for good measure! It's looking like your only option is to go the BIOS upgrade route and get the FanGUI to manage the fans.

Cheers

Ian G.