Import media files memory limitations

Simona wrote on 3/7/2012, 5:14 AM
After importing about 100 video files (roughly 1 Gbyte) VMS11 hangs up and I have to terminate via Windows Task Manager: I noticed that while files are imported the memory usage increases and at about 700 Mbytes the program hangs up.

I am running VMS11 on a Pentium 4 dual core PC, with 3 GByte RAM, Windows XP Service Pack 3.

I can't imagine that with such a powerful software it is not possible to get in the tracks more a few minutes of media: I previously have used Pinnacle Studio12 and never experience similar limitations.

Thank you all for any hint. Regards, Simona

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 3/7/2012, 7:08 AM
What model of camcorder is your video coming from and what format and resolution is it?

What are your Project Properties?

You'll get the best performance when your source video matches your Project Properties precisely. The more non-conforming video you add, the more the program must "soft render" -- unless you manually render the timeline yourself.

You can add many many gigabytes of miniDV footage to a project set up for DV and it will barely work up a sweat.
Simona wrote on 3/8/2012, 2:25 AM
To be more precise about my issue:
1. create a new project choosing "Match media settings" and browse until reaching the folder with files of type .mpg that I want to import;
2. click "import media ..." button
3. select multiple files (say 20) then click "open"
4. after a while the file appear in the list: with Task Manager open under the "Processes" tab I see that VegasMovieStudioPE110.exe is now using about 200MB
5.repeat steps 2. through 4. until VMS hangs up at around 1.5 GB of memory usage.


So it seems that VMS need to, let say, "copy" in memory the media imported for the project: obviously this imposes a drastic limitation to movie length one can manage within a single project (40 min. for my 32 bit PC with 3GB of RAM), unless you convert media to a much less quality format .
I bought the program some two months ago and only now I am experimenting with it: if a solution to the issue can't be found I will consider to have wasted money (and time and patience as well!) and stay with Pinnacle Studio.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 3/8/2012, 7:02 AM
Again, it depends on what format is and what type of camcorder the video is coming from (as well as your computer's configuration).

MiniDV and HDV tape-based footage works by far most efficiently in the program. I've loaded over 100 gigs of video into a project and it's not even worked up a sweat.

AVCHD also works very well, when the project is set up for it and your computer is powerful enough to handle it.

Other formats, such as MP4s from smart phones or pocket camcorders or FRAPS video, are going to choke the program a lot faster.
Markk655 wrote on 3/8/2012, 7:48 AM
Simona,

There shouldn't be any need to revert to the other editing software. Some of the folks that you'll see in the forum have actually moved away from the same one you are moving away from.

What are you importing from? Why do you need to import the files, what are you trying to do? You can just drag files from Windows explorer or from the VMS explorer window to the timeline.
Simona wrote on 3/8/2012, 7:57 AM
Ok Steve, seems like you don't want to read carefully what I wrote and give an answer to it, if you have one: are mpeg-2 files really unsuitable for the program as far as a PC with characteristics as given in my previous post is used?

To further specify the file source I can add that they were taken by a JVC Everio camcorder as .MOD files and converted to mpeg-2 by means of Emicsoft Mod Converter. Thank you for helping!
USNRetired wrote on 3/8/2012, 10:14 AM
Not to change the subject, are you the same that posted BMW 1600? I was just looking at the bike and notice the post.

Posted on 02.15.2011 16:15 by Simona
Simona wrote on 3/8/2012, 11:28 AM
What???