Multicam playback takes 12-15 seconds to start after hitting play in Adobe Premiere V25.2 and higher

I have gone back to 25.1, and can work on my multicam project now. Thanks for the tip Danie.
For Adobe: 
It could potentionally have something to do with the floating windows.
When I UNDOCK the program monitor with the multi camera screens, it becomes laggy. Even in 25.1. I have that in one of my workspaces.
When I switch to my Editing workspace again, where the program monitor with the multi camera window is NOT floating but docked in the premiere pro interface, it is NOT laggy.
Hope this helps in error finding...

And maybe this will help other people to work with multi camera sequences smoothly.

(Working in 25.1 because 25.5 would not work with multicam)

Best regards, Chris

I feel your pain too @Christiaan1!  I am also super frustrated with two big multicam projects where I wasted so much time trying to pinpoint the issue.  I am still on 25.1 now as the multicam works ok here.  I really hope this gets fixed!  This worked last December 2024 as multicam.  Some update on Premiere Pro messed up multicam making Multicam useless in later versions!  (I have over 30 video layers and Premiere Pro used to have no issue even with 80 video layers!) I am for sure not updating to any later version than 25.1 to get the new promoted items/functionality (which are great) as multicam is too important for me.
Crossing my fingers for a fix very soon!

I'm looking forward to a fix for this too. 
Have to finish a multicam project this week... 
And it is too laggy to work with in the 25.5.
(I'm getting frustrated. I used to wait month and month for a MXF glitch... and now this... Makes me sad and frustrated.) 

This is great information, thank you for being thorough@DaniePretorius! Just to clarify, the Progress panel cleared and didn't have any other processes happening once Media Intelligence was disabled? Correct - all linking was finished and not other processes were running

The team is currently aware of a bug where proxies being attached could affect performance (see thread here). The workaround for this in the meantime has been to offline the full res media, keeping only the proxies attached and editing with them until right before export, when you would then reconnect back to your original media—if this is something you are able to or would like to test. Unfortunately it will not be feasible for me and the rest of the production team following this process as you indicated with the workaround and using proxies only.  Thanks for the thread as well!  

BUT I am willing to continue editing this project in Prem Pro Ver 25.1 and stay away from any later versions (incl 25.4).  This will be quicker and easier as the project flow demands switch to full res even during edit (for focus check, etc. etc and other non-editing members sitting in on the edit process now and then as well who will not understand the 'soft' pictures on the screen (proxy 🙂 ). 
As long as Adobe is aware of this issue and will be fixing it soon, I am happy and will continue using the old version of Premiere Pro version 25.1 (Dec 2024) for now.

Thanks again for reaching out and your assistance.  I'll watch out for the fix for this issue.

Regards
Danie


That being said, if that doesn't work and because this looks to be specific to Multicam View, we can investigate further and I'll send you a message regarding project share.

This is great information, thank you for being thorough @DaniePretorius! Just to clarify, the Progress panel cleared and didn't have any other processes happening once Media Intelligence was disabled?

The team is currently aware of a bug where proxies being attached could affect performance (see thread here). The workaround for this in the meantime has been to offline the full res media, keeping only the proxies attached and editing with them until right before export, when you would then reconnect back to your original media—if this is something you are able to or would like to test.

That being said, if that doesn't work and because this looks to be specific to Multicam View, we can investigate further and I'll send you a message regarding project share.

Thank you @Dani_V. for reaching out as well.  Much appreciated.

Your questions and my answers (long anwers and data from me (sorry!):
"...On your screen recording, it looked liked there was a process happening up in the top right corner in the Progress panel, do you know what this process was (Media Intelligence or something else?) and did you see the lag even once this was done?"

Yes the lag was there with or without the Media Intelligence building (I disabled it later to test again and the lag when one presses play, was still there).  I could sense that the multicam screen appeared a bit faster without the Media Intelligence building in the background.

"A few more questions so we can try to narrow this down:

• In 25.4.1, it sounds like turning off proxies gave more immediate playback (though brief), is this right?
  • Yes, that is 100% correct. Almost immediate playback although it smothered within a few seconds because no proxies 🙂
• What kind of source footage are you working with and have the proxies attached?
  • Yes, ALL proxies attached - I have checked. 
  • 80% of the footage (abt 27 of the 35 video layers) consists of mostly ProRes 422, Overall bit rate : 140 Mb/s
    Frame rate : 25.000 FPS.  Of the 16 audio channels (8 tracks) recorded, I only use two tracks for the recording from FOH as playback.  I deleted the other audio tracks from the source for the Multicam Sequence before creating the multicam sequence as I dont need it.  So only two tracks of audio.
    

    One Clip Example:
    Complete name : Q:\Krone2025_Footage\SettlersLacieFootage\PGM\Capture0000.mov
    Format : QuickTime
    Format/Info : Original Apple specifications
    File size : 116 GiB
    Duration : 1 h 57 min
    Overall bit rate mode : Variable
    Overall bit rate : 140 Mb/s
    Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
    Encoded date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Tagged date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Writing library : Apple QuickTime

    Video
    ID : 1
    Format : ProRes
    Format version : Version 0
    Format profile : 422
    Codec ID : apcn
    Duration : 1 h 57 min
    Bit rate mode : Variable
    Bit rate : 122 Mb/s
    Width : 1 920 pixels
    Clean aperture width : 1 888 pixels
    Height : 1 080 pixels
    Clean aperture height : 1 062 pixels
    Display aspect ratio : 16:9
    Clean aperture display aspect ratio : 16:9
    Frame rate mode : Constant
    Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
    Color space : YUV
    Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
    Scan type : Progressive
    Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 2.350
    Stream size : 100 GiB (87%)
    Writing library : bmd0
    Language : English
    Encoded date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Tagged date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Color primaries : BT.709
    Transfer characteristics : BT.709
    Matrix coefficients : BT.709

    Audio
    ID : 2
    Format : PCM
    Format settings : Little / Signed
    Codec ID : lpcm
    Duration : 1 h 57 min
    Bit rate mode : Constant
    Bit rate : 18.4 Mb/s
    Channel(s) : 16 channels
    Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
    Bit depth : 24 bits
    Stream size : 15.2 GiB (13%)
    Language : English
    Encoded date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Tagged date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC

    Other
    ID : 3
    Type : Time code
    Format : QuickTime TC
    Duration : 1 h 57 min
    Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
    Time code of first frame : 19:00:25:01
    Time code of last frame : 20:58:19:08
    Time code, stripped : Yes
    Language : English
    Encoded date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC
    Tagged date : 2000-01-01 09:29:39 UTC

  • There are some DJI drone footage (2 video layers for two drones)
  • And then one video layer for Sony A7Siii with footage:
    • 3840x2160

    • Oe clip example:
      Complete name : Q:\Krone2025_Footage\SettlersLacieFootage\Gimbal 2\C1129.MP4
      Format : XAVC
      Codec ID : XAVC (XAVC/mp42/iso2)
      File size : 96.1 MiB
      Duration : 12 s 960 ms
      Overall bit rate mode : Variable
      Overall bit rate : 62.2 Mb/s
      Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
      Encoded date : 2025-08-30 17:15:25 UTC
      Tagged date : 2025-08-30 17:15:25 UTC

      Video
      ID : 1
      Format : AVC
      Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
      Format profile : High@L5.1
      Format settings : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
      Format settings, CABAC : Yes
      Format settings, Reference frames : 2 frames
      Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=12
      Format settings, Slice count : 8 slices per frame
      Codec ID : avc1
      Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
      Duration : 12 s 960 ms
      Bit rate mode : Variable
      Bit rate : 56.1 Mb/s
      Maximum bit rate : 60.0 Mb/s
      Width : 3 840 pixels
      Height : 2 160 pixels
      Display aspect ratio : 16:9
      Frame rate mode : Constant
      Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
      Color space : YUV
      Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
      Bit depth : 8 bits
      Scan type : Progressive
      Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.270
      Stream size : 87.1 MiB (91%)
      Writing library : AVC Coding
      Encoded date : 2025-08-30 17:15:25 UTC
      Tagged date : 2025-08-30 17:15:25 UTC
      Color range : Limited
      Color primaries : BT.709
      Transfer characteristics : BT.709
      Matrix coefficients : BT.709
      Metas : 3
      Codec configuration box : avcC

  • Another Sony A7sii (one video layer)

  • One clip info:
    Complete name : Q:\Krone2025_Footage\SettlersLacieFootage\Gimbal 1\C0006.MP4
    Format : XAVC
    Codec ID : XAVC (XAVC/mp42/iso2)
    File size : 106 MiB
    Duration : 17 s 518 ms
    Overall bit rate mode : Variable
    Overall bit rate : 50.8 Mb/s
    Frame rate : 23.976 FPS
    Encoded date : 2025-08-30 17:41:19 UTC
    Tagged date : 2025-08-30 17:41:19 UTC

    Video
    ID : 1
    Format : AVC
    Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
    Format profile : High@L4.1
    Format settings : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
    Format settings, CABAC : Yes
    Format settings, Reference frames : 2 frames
    Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=12
    Format settings, Slice count : 4 slices per frame
    Codec ID : avc1
    Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
    Duration : 17 s 518 ms
    Bit rate mode : Variable
    Bit rate : 49.1 Mb/s
    Maximum bit rate : 60.0 Mb/s
    Width : 1 920 pixels
    Height : 1 080 pixels
    Display aspect ratio : 16:9
    Frame rate mode : Constant
    Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
    Standard : NTSC
    Color space : YUV
    Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
    Bit depth : 8 bits
    Scan type : Progressive
    Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.987
    Stream size : 103 MiB (97%)
    Writing library : AVC Coding
    Encoded date : 2025-08-30 17:41:19 UTC
    Tagged date : 2025-08-30 17:41:19 UTC
    Color range : Limited
    Color primaries : BT.709
    Transfer characteristics : xvYCC
    Matrix coefficients : BT.709
    Metas : 3
    Codec configuration box : avcC

• "Are you seeing a lag while scrubbing through the multicam, cutting, or switching cameras as well, or is it just playback? "
  No lag while scrubbing through footage at all - only when I press play (provided proxies are enabled in playback with Multicam).  While scrubbing without Multicam View, no issues at all (regardless proxies enabled or not)
• Did you have a chance to try any of your previous projects in 25.4.1, and was the same behavior seen? (i.e. Is this project specific?)
  • Yes, I have loaded a project I edited last year December in 25.1 (a much bigger one than this - about 60 video layers with similar footage - same TV Production company - same gear).  I had no issues last year Dec 2024 editing this bigger project in version 25.1.  But the moment I loaded that old project now into Premiere Pro 25.4, I hit the same issue - so it is not project specific - same results with several projects (multicam does not play back immediately - takes about 12-16 seconds).  So no it is not project specific - all multicam projects of this size is affected.  I have not tried with smaller projects (less layers e.g. 10 layes or so).
• Any external devices connected or third-party plugins?
  • No external devices connected apart from dual monitors, Focusrite Sound Interface and external drive(s).  Main playback drive is Lacie 2Big drive (reading about 400MB/s).  Proxies on NVMe drives.  Exactly same setup as in Dec 2024 with 25.1  Only third party plugins I use are:
  • Premiere Composer (as transtions now and then but NONE in this project)
  • Film Impact F1 Dissolve (not used yet in this project but will use it as default cross disolve where needed

Would you be interested in sharing this project with the team so we can take a closer look? I can message you if so.
For sure!  If this can be helpful, I am more than willing to send/share the project.

Thanks so much again for all the help!

Regards

Danie

Hi @DaniePretorius, jumping in here!

Correct, that's how you disable Media Intelligence Analysis. On your screen recording, it looked liked there was a process happening up in the top right corner in the Progress panel, do you know what this process was (Media Intelligence or something else?) and did you see the lag even once this was done?

A few more questions so we can try to narrow this down:

• In 25.4.1, it sounds like turning off proxies gave more immediate playback (though brief), is this right?
• What kind of source footage are you working with and have the proxies attached?
• Are you seeing a lag while scrubbing through the multicam, cutting, or switching cameras as well, or is it just playback?
• Did you have a chance to try any of your previous projects in 25.4.1, and was the same behavior seen? (i.e. Is this project specific?)
• Any external devices connected or third-party plugins?

Would you be interested in sharing this project with the team so we can take a closer look? I can message you if so.

Sorry for the frustration,
Dani

Hi @Rach McIntire 
I have uninstalled Premiere Pro 25.1 now and re-installed Premiere Pro 24.1 (same machine and O/S as always).
Test results:

I did have Media Intelligence Features on (it is on by default in 24.1 as far as I know):

I switched it off (untick the box) under Preferences-->Media Analysis&Transcription.

Your query about if I turn proxies off, enable Multicam View and hit play:

With Proxies disabled and Multicam View enabled, the multicam screen opens in about 2 seconds and plays almost immediately when I hit play. It plays for a few seconds and begins to stutter (as expected as to play about 37 video layers in FHD (and one is in 4K) created a bottleneck on my drives.
When I enable proxies again, and then enable multicam view, it is the same as before: It opens the Multicam View and when I hit play, it takes about 12-15 seconds to play (I was hoping for a different result).  Also when it plays eventually, sometimes I can't stop it - regardless of hitting stop!  it stops only after a few seconds of continous trying to stop (hitting stop).

Does this help your way of thinking perhaps?

Is there another way of disabling Media Interlligence Features apart from disabling the analysis under Edit-->Preferences-->Media Analysis&Transcription?

Thanks for your help!

Thank you @Rach McIntire for the prompt response.
Much appreciated.
Let me uninstall Premiere Pro version 25.1 quickly and re-install Premiere Pro version 24.1 and check that for you.

I'll let you know.

Thanks!