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JohnnyRoy wrote on 6/28/2003, 9:59 AM
> Can someone please offer me another solution?

Did you create a fixed swap file? I would go to VideoGuys articles and in particular their “Tech Tips, Tricks & Tweaks” about half way down the page. Tweaking your system for video is mandatory.

The biggest things are:

1) Use a fixed swap file that 2 times you physical memory. Do not let Windows manage the swap file because it will decide to allocate more space right in the middle of a capture and start dropping frames. Allocating a dedicated swap file will prevent this from happening. I don’t think you’ve done this yet.

2) Capture to a separate partition but you’re already doing that.

3) Defrag your capture partition. Yes, you have 5.5GB free but is the free space contiguous? Judging from the fact that you can capture 2-3 minutes just fine and then start dropping frames suggests that Windows is taking too much time trying to find free sectors to store the data because the free space isn’t contiguous. (or its growing the swap file as suggested in #1.)

4) Stop all non-essential programs. I had a perfect working system and then one day I started dropping frames and I couldn’t figure out why. It turns out that some photo software I installed added a TSR that monitored my removable media and every time it ran (which was every few seconds) it would preempt other programs to check all my drives and this was causing the dropped frames. I removed the TSR and everything was fine again.

You really have to get your system down to bare bones. Using Alt-Crtl-Del does not show all the running programs. Get a utility like EndItAll from zdnet which will really clean house for you.

Don’t expect all of the 5.5GB to be usable to capture video. You need twice the space if you plan to edit and then re-render to a final video.

~jr
ana_geobel wrote on 6/28/2003, 3:34 PM
Thanks for all the help everyone. What is a swap file and how do I make one?

I think I have decided to get a new computer. Let's just hope I don't get fired before I pay it off. But, at least I'll be able to return the external DVD+-RW+-R+-+-+- = ___

So, what specs do I need. I pretty much figure I need abour 120 GB hard drive space, 512 RAM, firewire obviously, seperate RAM for the video card (but how much?) and whatever else I have learned today about the 21st century of computers. 22nd?

anyway, the computer I use now does actually have 1 drive, partitioned into 2. It had 550 Mhz, 256 RAM, and about 5 GB left of space. Maybe 6GB. I got it "new" in 2000, so it's old. A lot of programs run in the background.

So should I get a VAIO with the video editing software built in, or should I build my own (let my brother do it) and continue to use jam-up Video Factory?

Today is the first day in 2 weeks I have had peace of mind in knowing, somewhat, which direction I have to go. I actually got some filming done and had some FUN.

So build me a computer, people. The whole country runs on credit, why not me too?

ana
JohnnyRoy wrote on 6/28/2003, 6:51 PM
> What is a swap file and how do I make one?

Ana,

First you have to find someone who is willing to swap with you, then... (just kidding) ;-)

A swap file is an extension of your computer’s real memory and resides on your hard drive. If you need more memory than is physically present on your machine, Windows will swap some of the least recently used data from real memory to the swap file on your hard drive. If you let it allocate this file dynamically (which is the default) it will grow and shrink as its needed and every time it needs to grow, Windows has to look for more free hard disk space. While it’s looking, its forgetting all about those perky frames you want it to capture because the physical tape in your camera just keeps rolling in real-time.

By making your swap file permanent, it is always allocated and available for use. Sometimes this alone can mean the difference between dropped frames or not because of the large volume of data that video is pushing through your computer. The way you make it permanent is different for every operating system. Here is how to do it on WinMe (which is what I thought you said you had).

To adjust the virtual memory swap file on WinMe:

1. In Control Panel, double-click System, click the Performance tab, and then click Virtual Memory.

2. To specify a new size, click the Let me specify my own virtual memory settings option. Then type the values (in kilobytes) in the Minimum box of 512 and Maximum box 512. You said you have 256MB of memory so twice your memory is 512.

3. Then click OK (you may get a warning popup message. Just click Yes to continue)

You may have to reboot your machine but you will now have a permanent swap file that is twice your physical memory size. After you reboot, try to capture. It’s worth a try before you buy a whole new machine.

I started doing analog video captures (and editing) on my Pentium II 450Mhz 128MB Micron Millennia PC using Windows 98 (the original not even SE) and a Pinnacle DC10+ card and had no dropped frames. But I did perform all the tweaks suggested including the permanent swap file and a seperate capture drive. So your 550Mhz PC should be able to capture without dropped frames. Don’t forget to use a program like EndItAll2 to get rid of those background programs. It does it in one click so it’s worth a try as well. It will not kill critical processes that you need so its pretty safe to use.

Don’t get me wrong. You could certainly use a new computer (who couldn’t?) and the new Sony VAIO laptops are what Sundance Media Group uses to teach video editing on their VASST tour so they must be good.

~jr
ana_geobel wrote on 6/28/2003, 8:13 PM
Thank you , Johnny, that was a printer post. But that setting right now is set up on MB of free disk space, not RAM. It references my C drive and how much room is on it. If I change it, won't that mean I'm giving my computer permission to wrte all over everything? Like compter graffitti?

Anyway, Sundance uses Vaios? I once submitted a screenplay to Sundance... never seemed to get a reply... thant's ok, I'll make the movie on my own with the new computer I am buying soon. I'm doing it, I am. I'm scared.

Thanks Johnny:)
JohnnyRoy wrote on 6/28/2003, 11:14 PM
> If I change it, won't that mean I'm giving my computer permission to wrte all over everything?

No, its exactly the opposite! Right now your computer is writing all over the place, adding a deleting and reallocating and fragmenting you hard drive. By setting your swap file to a fixed amount yourself, you are telling your computer to stop writing all over the place and to allocate one file with enough space to hold your virtual memory.

You can always set it back to let Windows manage your virtual memory if it doesn’t work. You have nothing to loose but dropped frames. Set it to min/max 512MB and reboot. Then use EndItAll2 to stop the background processes and try and do a capture.

~jr