FR: Background Rendering

Report · Jan 01, 2014

Let's face it, no matter how much work Adobe does with hardware acceleration, it will be some time before we will never have to render again, no matter how complex the timeline. Given the need for some degree of rendering into the foreseeable future, it'd be great to be able to do this kind of thing in the background, allowing work to continue. We can export while we work, we can whistle while we work, it's definitely past time we could also render while we work.

I imagine this to be user initiated, just as it is now. The only difference would be that PP doesn't lock us out while we wait, but instead allows us to continue working. I imagine a new panel along with the Project, Effects, Info, Media Browser, etc. This Render panel would show current progress of all initiated renders, allow us to rearrange their order, cancel and pause them, etc.

Premiere Pro would use whatever resources were available for the task, freeing them up as needed for continuing work.

Whatcha think?

Edit:

Here's the request I ended up with, if anyone wants to copy/paste:

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

*******Enhancement / FMR*********

BACKGROUND RENDERING

I'd like to add the ability to continue working while sequences get rendered within Premiere Pro. Rendering would remain user initiated, and never occur automatically. However, once a user initiates a render, we would be able to continue working. I imagine a new Render window along with the Project, Media Browser, Info, etc., where we could see the status of all initiated renders; pause, resume and cancel them; rearrange their order, etc.

Why is this feature important to you?

My thumbs are worn to the nub as I twiddle away waiting for PP to render. I just can't do it any more!

Report · Jan 01, 2014

I like the extra window. You could select separate areas of the timeline using either the (sometimes hated) Work Area Bar, or use the In/Out markers.

That might allow you to skip areas that you know you are going to change anyway, or that you know you are going to replace.

But, if I have to render now and then, it gives me a chance to get up and stretch, eat dinner, kiss my wife, stuff like that.

artofzootography.com

Report · Jan 01, 2014

You'd not lose the ability to take a break while rendering happens. In fact, it would likely happen faster as you're not using any resources for continuing work.

All you'd really lose is the excuse for taking a break. But...something tells me that a lot of folks would be willing to give that up if it meant they could keep working during a render when they wanted to.

Report · Jan 04, 2014

Bump

Report · Jan 04, 2014

Adobe tried this in a version of Premiere Elements and had disasterious results.

Report · Jan 04, 2014

Are you sure that wasn't automatic background rendering, which happens without user intervention? That's a very different thing than what I propose here.

Report · Jan 04, 2014

I would love this feature. Frankly, it's one that tempts me to leave PPro and go to FCP X at times.

And is there a reason PPro can't offer truly smart rendering?

Report · Jan 04, 2014

Premiere Pro does have real smart rendering: http://blogs.adobe.com/kevinmonahan/2012/10/11/smart-rendering-in-premiere-pro-cs6-6-0-1-and-later/

Report · Jan 04, 2014

I guess I mean something else by real smart rendering. My bad

I mean rendering that retains partial renders if you cancel a render. PPro sort of does this, but not really.

If you hit render and it says "24 files to render" and you cancel after 12 are done, those 12 that are complete will be retained.

But let's say you have one long clip on the timeline and you render it and halfway through you cancel. You lose it all.

No?

By "real smart rendering" I simply meant that P Pro should retain partial renders.

(And yes, there is an advantage for retaining renders at export, but it's minor compared to being able to render partial renders as one works in a timeline...)

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Cout me in for this one. Drives me crazy to lose renders because I bail before the complete render is done.

Report · Jan 05, 2014

I mean rendering that retains partial renders if you cancel a render.

Not yet.

http://forums.adobe.com/message/5980066?tstart=30#5980066

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Whoa! Steve! Bad form.

We have a lot of problems around here with newbies, getting them to use the word "render" when they mean to create preview files, and "export" when they mean to create new files from the source.

Unless I am totally confused, Jim means "render" and you mean "export".

We really appreciate your help around here, don't get me wrong, but we users need to keep "render" from being used both ways as much as possible. As you can see, even you didn't catch the meaning Jim was using. It is a real problem with new users. Believe me.

artofzootography.com

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Steven, I wasn't confused about Jim's request (which is a great idea), my reply was to wannabemekon. Smart rendering is a fairly standard term in the industry with well defined meaning.

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Sorry for introducing the confusion.

Report · Jan 05, 2014

No problem, preserving partial preview renders is long overdue too

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Well, it sure is possible - 10 years ago it was part of Pinnacles Liquid Edition, and I liked it back then.

Ulf

Report · Jan 05, 2014

That's why I argue for PNG as previews in the other thread.

http://forums.adobe.com/message/5980066#5980066?tstart=30#5980066

Combine resumable preview files with background rendering and I think PP becomes a much better tool.

Report · Jan 05, 2014

If I'm not mistaken, partially rendered MPEG2 previews remain on disk - since they are Intra-Frame, it's not an issue to close a file at any time with any amount of frames rendered. The point is PrPro doesn't see them.

Report · Jan 06, 2014

Looks like that's true. But...MPEG isn't lossless, and hence generally not suitable for use in exports.

Report · Jan 10, 2014

Here's the request I ended up with, if anyone wants to copy/paste:

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

*******Enhancement / FMR*********

BACKGROUND RENDERING

I'd like to add the ability to continue working while sequences get rendered within Premiere Pro. Rendering would remain user initiated, and never occur automatically. However, once a user initiates a render, we would be able to continue working. I imagine a new Render window along with the Project, Media Browser, Info, etc., where we could see the status of all initiated renders; pause, resume and cancel them; rearrange their order, etc.

Why is this feature important to you?

My thumbs are worn to the nub as I twiddle away waiting for PP to render. I just can't do it any more!

Report · Jan 05, 2014

Yes, you're right. I didn't read your original post closely enough.

Report · May 21, 2015

What was disastrous about it? I'd love to PPro to auto-render when I step away for lunch (or a long poop).

Report · May 21, 2015

Navarro Parker wrote:

What was disastrous about it? I'd love to PPro to auto-render when I step away for lunch (or a long poop).

It was a few years ago. I don't recall exactly, but I think it was crashing and loss of renders.

Report · Jun 25, 2015

I too would like Adobe to background render!

I thought it was doing it already

Thanks!

Report · Sep 12, 2016

I too would like this Jim! I am guessing it doesn't exist yet! I have just started using the Adobe Dynamic Link to Aftereffects and there is no hope of a live preview for most of my compositions. Background rendering while working, (as well as extremely low res automatic proxy) would make Premiere's workflow a lot less disruptive AND would speed up the final render if I work slow enough.