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Participant
November 2, 2018
Question

Why is AE all of a sudden running so slow?

  • November 2, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 3985 views

I built a video in AE that needs edits. However, it is running at a RIDICULOUSLY slow pace now even though I had no issues previously. I bought this laptop specifically for AE work and told them.

It's a brand new Mac;

Processor: 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory: 16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3

Graphics: Radeon Pro 555 2048 MB

Intel HD Graphics 630 1536 MB

I'm new to After Effects and working with videos; are these settings not ideal? Can I buy something to improve how it runs?

Thank you

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4 replies

Mo Moolla
Legend
November 3, 2018

Emma can u share the settings you have set up for your workflow i.e.: Are you running a separate drive as a scratch drive and if so what sort of drive? 2. Any external monitors? 3. How much RAM is allocated to AE in the preferences.  4. What is the video codec and resolution you are using on the timeline. All these make differences to overall speed?

I would like to understand what you mean when you say "I built a video" in AE. Could you kindly elaborate a little more.

Mo Moolla
Legend
November 3, 2018

Hi Emma form what I have read, the only change in the last 17 days since you opened up the project is your change to Mojave. This is what I would strongly recommend. Uninstall AE with the Adobe Cleaner Tool (which will get rid of all remnant files associated with AE).

You can get it here: AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.dmg

Once thats done set up your AE again and open the project and let me know how it went. In my opinion the change to Mojave mid project might have messed with a few preferences. I trust this will solve the problem

Andrew Yoole
Inspiring
November 2, 2018

The first question is, what do you mean by "edits"?  After Effects is an animation and compositing tool, not an editor.  Can you achieve what you want in Premiere Pro?  It's a purpose-built editing tool.

The specs of your hardware are absolutely fine for After Effects, so no upgrading is necessary.

Please explain your project more specifically.  What is your source footage/graphics - tell us where the footage comes from and what codec it uses.  What resolution and frame rate are you working at?  Describe exactly what you are doing when the machine acts "slow", and what your expectations are.  Are you using any effects or plugins?  Are you working in 2D or 3D?

Participant
November 3, 2018

By edits I mean I need to make changes to my project; so I've built it with no problem, did not open the file for 17 days, and now the program isn't working. I had no issues with 3D and have not added any footage or graphics. Literally all I am trying to do is play/preview and it won't. I am using Element 3D and frame rate is 30 frames per second.

Andrew Yoole
Inspiring
November 3, 2018

Make sure you have the latest version of Element 3D installed.

https://www.videocopilot.net/products/element2/update/

Kyle Hamrick
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 2, 2018

Which version of the OS are you on? I know Mojave has been causing issues for some folks.

Participant
November 3, 2018

I just updated to Mojave, this could be it