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powerbandz
Participant
November 2, 2019
Answered

Updated: Exporting from Premiere Pro or Media Encoder 2019 Freezes for Long Videos

  • November 2, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 1259 views

I need to get this timeline exported ASAP for a client so I need a solution as quickly as possible.

 

I am trying to export a 3.5 hour sequence into H.264. It goes smoothly for about 30-45 minutes, but then the progress stops without the Estimated Time Remaining -- or Time Elapsed in Media Enconder -- changing at all. Usually stops around 30%. The programs themselves do not freeze as I can still cancel/pause with no problem, but progress completely halts. Exporting videos under an hour is no problem.

 

I'm running the latest versions of the software as of today, but have had these issues since earlier this week when running an earlier version.

 

I can provide additional information if needed.

 

Update: I've now tried exporting this on 2 separate computers, trying various different codecs, to no avail. I've also made whole new project files and sequences with the same clips that give the same error. One thing I've noticed is that the exporting always freezes at exactly 30%.

Still could really use some further advice if anyone has any...

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Michael Grenadier

Mark an in at the beginning of your sequence and an out about 25% down and export in to out in a high quality format like prores 422.  then try exporting the next 1/4.   When and if you have the same experience, try narrowing down the area where the problem occurs.  You may find a specific source, effect, etc that might be causing the problem.  If you can export the entire sequence this way, bring your exports back in to premiere and assemble your full show and export...  

 

 

5 replies

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Michael Grenadier
Legend
November 3, 2019

glad this helped but here's my dirty little secret.  I figured this out back in Avid Media Composer maybe 20 years ago.  It's been a lifesaver in Avid, FCP from 1 - 7.  I've drunk the adobe kool-aid but that doesn't mean all the stuff I've learned over the years on other systems is worthless.  And thanks for posting back, hopefully helping other people with this sort of issue.  Do you have any sense at all what was wonky in the clip?

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Anonymous
November 3, 2019

You've cleared the Media Cache? https://community.adobe.com/t5/Premiere-Pro/FAQ-How-to-clean-delete-or-trash-media-cache-files/td-p/8324672

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Michael GrenadierCorrect answer
Legend
November 2, 2019

Mark an in at the beginning of your sequence and an out about 25% down and export in to out in a high quality format like prores 422.  then try exporting the next 1/4.   When and if you have the same experience, try narrowing down the area where the problem occurs.  You may find a specific source, effect, etc that might be causing the problem.  If you can export the entire sequence this way, bring your exports back in to premiere and assemble your full show and export...  

 

 

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    powerbandzAuthor
    Participant
    November 3, 2019

    This worked! I found a clip in the 2nd quarter that was causing the issue. Strangely, the clip had no effects or transitions applied, and only the last few seconds of the clip were being problematic. Thankfully those seconds aren't too important.

     

    You are a lifesaver! 🙂

    Kristian Gabriel
    Kristian Gabriel
    Participating Frequently
    November 2, 2019

    As has been stated, drive space should be check as well as the format of your delivery drive. Fat32 has a 4gig limit, Fat16 ha a 2gig limit and it's unlikely you would reach the limit for ExFat. The most solid formatting for files should be HFS+ on a Mac and NTFS on Windows. If all that checks, then are there any fx that are processing at the time it slows down? It could also be that at the time it slows down, the rendering of the effects is more intensive based on the footage/edits or other graphics that require more resouces. Here is a list of things to double-check:

     

    1. GPU Acceleration (is it on or off?) 
    2. How much RAM is on your system. (32gig is what I would recommend unless you have some of the newer high-speed versions)
    3. Do you have sufficient hard drive space for the output
    4. Is your drive formatting NTFS (Windows) or HFS+ (Mac)
    5. Is your drive a standard HDD or SSD? If you are using HDD drives, some are only 5400RPM and are not recommended for todays editing or outputing workflows unless you are working with standard definition or basic 720P/1080P (though 1080P might be pushing it.
    6. Is your video card updated?
    7. Ultimate TEST: Try outputting using a less compressed format first: Quicktime/Prores, Quicktime/Cineform, Quicktime/DNxHD. Then take that file and re-encode as an H.264. The processing might be way too much for your system. Many professional companies I work with use this method anyways. Going straight to H.264 combined with the processing of your sequence is a lot and many times reduces the quality of the file.

     

    Hope this helps!

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    powerbandzAuthor
    Participant
    November 2, 2019

    1. It is on. I have an NVIDIA graphics card that I just updated the drivers for a few days ago when I first experienced this issue. Didn't help.

    2. 32GB

    3. I have sufficient space on all the drives I've tried thus far.

    4. NTFS

    5. Have tried both HDD and SSD drives.

    6. Yes, updated recently.

    7. I am attempting that now to see what happens. Trying Apple ProRes 422 Proxy first, hoping for some better results!

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    Michael Grenadier
    Legend
    November 2, 2019

    Are you sure you have sufficient hard drive space on the target drive?  And what is the format of the target drive.  Fat32 has about a 4 gig file size limitation...

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      powerbandzAuthor
      Participant
      November 2, 2019

      I have tried exporting to my SSD that the OS is on, as well as an exFAT drive. Both have plenty of space available,

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