Premiere Pro CC 2014 - Choppy multicam playback

[RGTV]

So I'm running Premiere Pro CC 2014 (8.0) on OSX Mountain Lion (10.8.5), using CUDA acceleration and everything works fine except for one thing: when I do a multicam edit I switch the program monitor into the multicam mode as usual. However, during playback I'm dropping frames with the video (audio playback is normal). This happens with playback at any resolution, even down to 1/8. Since I've retained the previous version of Premiere Pro (7.0), I've checked it's multicam playback and it's completely normal at full res. After going through and matching all settings in 8.0 to 7.0 I'm really at a loss with this problem, any ideas?

[RGTV]

Thank you for your reply, it's good to know that Adobe is on the case. Just FYI, I tried each of your suggestions just now and didn't have any luck with them. Disabling Mercury Transmit helped a little initially, but as I said in post 15 "CompleteAheadOfPlay" starts high then drops to a point where it starts dropping frames.

[FAMS]

When you said that 3rd party codecs like mpeg had problems I did some more tests and now my multicamera is already fine with all cameras rolling well at the same time, including preview, with all features on.

I converted/exported all my cameras clips (MPEG 4:2:2) to Quictime Uncompressed YUV 4:2:2 8 bit and create a new multicam project and works fine with multicam view. Quality when playing is very acceptable and let me work well. I also try to convert to MXF IMX50 and seems to work fine too.

Conclusion: some 3rd part codecs are not handled well by première and its better to convert them to other formats. In my case this MPEG codec was

                    from Tricaster 8000 from Newtek.

Anyway, I think première still  have some bugs in multicam mode. 2 months ago I report na issue "MULTICAM AUDIO PROBLEMS" is this fórum (no one answer) and said that we cant use crossfades in áudio because Premiere get áudio from other parts, is a "messy"! I dont know if last update fix it but in earlier versions that didnt happen. Hope next updates fix more things in multicam mode and handle better with other codecs.

Thanks all for sugestions and informations.

[Kindhearted_Buttercup0D4D]

Hi,

I'm unable to edit at the moment due to this problem. I have a six camera edit going on and it's impossible. If I retranscode all of the original files to DNxHD, is it possible to relink those files in the edit instead of the existing ones i'm using without destroying the many hours that have gone into it so far?

Thanks.

[RGTV]

You could make a trimmed project by going to "File--Project Manager--Consolidate and Transcode" and match the Sequence. I'm assuming this is nondestructive, but you may want to backup first before trying it. Hope this helps.

[greningerpro@hotmail.com]

Sounds somewhat like you are saying update quicktime? Even if you're not I'll try it anyway

[ianskalski]

Hey so I found that when you use the edit camera option to change the shot order in a multicam that complete breaks the muticam and makes it sluggish.

[Tiny Mouse Media]

I just did the update and am still having the poor multi cam playback issue.

I'm on a late 2013 MBPr with 16GB ram, 1TB SSD HD, i7 Quadcore laptop. 2GB graphics card.

Working with Panasonic GH4 4K footage and even at 1/16 resolution the footage gets choppy after 3 seconds of playback.

I cannot edit.

My GH4 is also firmware updated. Running OSX 10.9.5

[RGTV]

I experimented with the multicam issue after the latest update. If I tried playback with an existing project it dropped frames as before, but if I started with a fresh project it behaves normally (at least so far). I can't speak to 4K, but experimenting with 1080p in a new project might be a good place to start.

[Tiny Mouse Media]

Thank you,

I'll try that..Also, are you by chance RGTV as in Red Giant?

[RGTV]

Nope, sorry.

[FAMS]

Hi!

In my case I did same test as you but no lucky, with original fles (MPEG 4:2:2).

So, in my case problem still and the codec clips is the problema, I think.

I will transcode all my files.

[SeeingSounds]

A little late to the party, but having the same issue with MTS files from a cheap camera, but transcoding to DNxHD did the trick

[RGTV]

Agreed. I just transcoded footage that was laggy in ProRes to DNX and playback was great. "CompleteAheadOfPlay" shoots up past 300 and stays there. Therefore I'd wager that this is a ProRes issue, or a codec issue in general.

[thebass]

I too am noticing poor performance with Multicam after the latest update. Besides Laggy, Slugglish GUI Response.

There are times when I can click on a clip in a Multi Cam Source Seqeunce and PP hangs to a Not Responding State Show on the Title Bar for about 10 Seconds, but it highlights the clip, also very slugglish like treacle when zooming in on a Nested Multi Cam Nested Sequence, showing high CPU Use.

Anyway the main performance issue for now is the Multi Cam Choppyness.

My system is a Q9650 with 8GB DDR-2 RAM and a GTX 760 4GB GFX Card. Win 7 SP1 x64

The OS and PP is on a SSD 60gb and the video on a internal Sata 2 7200 Drive.

I understand that my system is a little old now, and peformance wasn't the best even with the late version of PP CC 2014 before the update, but now after installing the latest update it has gotten worser.

Like it has already been said in a post above, when you turn on the Multi Cam Preview Monitor, then the playback starts ok, plays smooth for a few seconds, then starts to go choppy, and the frames indicater goes from green to yellow, and keeps increasing on the number of dropped frames.  One thing I notice is the the CPU is pegged out all the while at 100%. I am not sure but pretty convinced that this is the cause of the issue.

I am editing 4 streams of HDV 1080i PAL Footage.

If I am going to have to transcode, then what do you reckon would be best format to transcode to for the edit?

I know about the option of making proxy files but don't want to make low res versions that I can't use well enough to judge the focus, as this being a multi cam show I am working on, there are times when some angles are not in focus, or slightly soft focus for a little time whilst the camera ops have been reframing/refocusing.

I am really abit surprised as to why Premiere Pro has trouble playing back multi cam streams, I have recently been using Grass Valley EDIUS and could edit and preview smooth as butter 6 HDV Streams in realtime from the same drive I am using now an Hitachi SATA 2 7200 Drive. I understand that PP is a native x64 bit app, compared to the older EDIUS 6.08 32 bit app. I thought originally that the MPE was the Bees Knees? Is it not?

When I switch back to normal view, then the CPU usage drops back to about 25% and I get smooth playback again.

I know a lot of people are posting and reporting issues with the new 8.1 update, and speak of the slowness and slugglishness they are experiencing since they updated.

I really hope that you guys at Adobe can get your heads around what is causing this issue.

I enjoy using the software but at times like theses I feel like my stress levels are way too high.

Anway, that is my 2 cents

Any advice is much appreiated.

Thanks for taking the time out to read all this!

[RGTV]

I would advise 4 things:

* Transcode some test footage to DNX and see how it does.

* Check your Project settings to see if CUDA is enabled. Hit Ctrl+Shift+F11 before playback. Start playback and look at "CompleteAheadOfPlay". When that number starts to drop frames will too.

* If you're still having trouble backup your Premiere Pro settings (Keyboard shortcuts, Workspaces, Effects Presets, etc.)

* Uninstall Premiere and any 3rd party plugins, then re-install Premiere then the plugins.

Hope this helps.

[thebass]

Hi RGTV

Yes thanks for the reply

I have done the Ctrl+Shift+F11 thing and yes as mentioned it starts high CompleteAheadOfPlay then drops rapidly.

The FPS then goes  below 25fps and stays about 18,03fps < hence chopping.

OK,  I am gonna try transcoding to DNX but not quite sure on the workflow and what settings to use for HDV PAL 50i 1440 x 1080 Pixel Aspect Ratio 1.33

When I tried to do a match source it tells me this.

The source file's video stream is not compatible with this preset. Please choose a different preset.

Do you know what settings I need to adjust manually to make a preset that I can use again.

Also is 36 enough and how do I change the aspect ratio as the size seems locked a 1920x1080 when I need to change it to 1440 x 1080?

[RGTV]

If you look in the Media Encoder DNX presets in the "1080i 50" subset it seems to have to closest to what you're looking for. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, DNX will not let you change any of the settings. There is a spec closer to what you're looking for under "MXF OP1a" and "AVC-Intra", so you might try that instead.

[greningerpro@hotmail.com]

Are you saying all instances of Premiere on the system or only cc 2014

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi thebass,

Are you testing with a brand new project or an updated one? Please try a new project and see how that goes.

Thanks,
Kevin

[thebass]

Hi Kevin

No this is a project that I had already started in the last version. I updated to try and get rid of some of the crashes and not responding issues I had.

As I say, whilst the previous version was still not perfect, and still abit choppy at times, it wasn't as bad as the latest update 8.1.

I will have to wait abit before I can begin a new project as this is about 90% finished, I will manage.

At least the Media Encoder seems to be behaving now, I was experiencing alot of unknown errors on the exporting with the previous version.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi thebass,

If you update complex project files, like multi-camera sequences, things can go wrong if you update your project file. My advice is to go back to the previous version and continue your work there. More info on that here: Install a previous version of any Creative Cloud application

Thanks,
Kevin

[jim brodie]

Hi folks,

I'm also having problems.  I'm on a Mac with an AJA KonaLHe plus card running OS 10.9.5.  My multiclips are 30 - 60 mins in length and the audio is sluggish.  I updated to the the latest Kona LHe+ drivers, plugins and firmware and I have the same problems.

When I switch cameras, there is a lag in playback as I switch cameras.  I have a 12 core 1.2 with 30 gigs of RAM.  I've gone over and over again the settings recommended and no improvement.

Here is one thing that has worked.  If in Preferences - Playbackyou disengage the video and audio playback and just play through to your computer and its speakers it works.... no lost frames, no lagging audio.  I think there is an issue with longer clips and Multiclip.  It kinda defeats the purpose of using Multiclip. I wonder if I can go back to my AJA card playback after I've flattened the Multiclip.  What a pain in the butt!!  I've wasted a few hours trying to solve this...

Jim

[jim brodie]

Update:

I got a replacement AJA Kona LHe+ and there are less problems.  The audio is still buggy but manageable.

There is definitely a problem with how Premiere interfaces with the AJA card.  I have followed AJA's  detailed instructions

with their latest drivers... blown all of the relevant preferences, reset PRam.  Its interesting when  the Ted Talks post-production arm were reviewing software to cut their multi-camera talks they considered Premiere but ultimately chose FCPx.  Until Premiere repairs their multi-cam function I'd consider alternate programs for longer multi-cam work.

Jim

[Todd Mobley]

Has there been any viable update to this problem? Multicam playback is still unusable in CC 8.1.

Thanks,

Todd

[RGTV · Accepted solution]

As I stated earlier, the only solution I've found was to transcode my footage to DNX. With DNX footage I was able to do multicam with 8 angles with no lag. With ProRes footage it would bog down with only 3 cameras.