Should I update??? + smart rendering questions

I love the general rule to not update mid-project. But the reality if you have multiple projects on the go ALL the time, sooner or later you probably have to update mid one of those projects 🙂

Of course always keep the previous (whole number) version installed. I never remove an old version just in case.

And avoid rushing into a new version and wait to see if any significant issues are apparent.

Thanks again, everyone...

Confession: I read all your replies... and then I updated.

First I made sure I had multiple backups of the project in multiple locations. Then I updated all CC apps. Then I created a new Pr project, and imported my old one into it.

I decided to risk it because of the things I detailed above. The only thing I've done is open my sequence in the new project and choose Render In To Out (preview files set to ProRes 422.) At this point, I can say that I'm so glad I did this. Holy smokes. Whatever they did to "smart rendering" is astounding... in version 22.4, it arrived at 10% rendered in roughly the amount of time that it took to get past 1% before.

I was prepared for rendering/exporting to take hours not minutes, because there is a lot of AE green screen keying on VFR footage in this project (see my other posts, already hashed all this out and weighed different options). In 22.3.1, the first time I tried rendering the timeline, I left it rendering overnight (started around 8 pm ish), and when I got up in the morning (not early), it was at 60% ish. It is now at 28% after only an hour and a half, on 22.4. So cool to see the green line move across the timeline like this.

I realize I could still get bit in the butt with some surprise bug, but so far so good. This is quite an improvement. If I end up regretting the upgrade, I will present myself back to this thread for my "I told you so's". Sorry for being the rebellious teenager here.

@Jeff Bugbee, thanks for your concern about the final render. Here's why I'm sure it will fit: the ProRes files I was trying to fit before were my original shots, both around an hour long. The final timeline is both of them edited together, and only around 30 minutes. My drive could hold one ProRes file that was 230 GB and most of the other which was just under 200 GB, but not both of them completely. I got rid of those and went back to editing just the phone footage (no other viable option) so I have all that space back. The total of the preview files plus the final render will be much smaller than those ProRes intermediates were. But you're right, I need to talk to Puget about more space.

Stick to the version you're working on and finish your project.

Then, you can update.

Thanks for your input, everyone!

The only reason I'm even considering it: I'm running into limitations of my equipment/system. I'm not a pro, just a music teacher who makes educational video. Much of my footage is shot with a phone. I had to do a lot of green screen keying in AE for this project. I've already posted on this forum for workflow suggestions for all that, so I'm pretty much past that part. It was suggested to me that I transcode the footage to ProRes CFR first... so that's what I tried.

Problem: I don't have enough drive space left for ProRes versions of both hour ish long clips I am using. (When I had Puget design my computer, I went big on CPU and GPU, but went not so big on RAM and drive space. Live and learn.) I tried LucidLink, but discovered that my "very fast" (is the way it's marketed, fastest available in my area) internet speed is nowhere near fast enough to use LucidLink practically.

So... I'm pretty much stuck using my original phone clips to edit with. The computer doesn't really struggle much with them while editing, even with effects and dynamic link, which is nice. It does stutter some, but at 1/4 resolution in the program monitor, actually not that much. The problem is that the final export is threatening to take around 36 hours. I tried it once and must have hit some time out wall because it didn't finish. So I feel like the smart rendering workflow is the only saving grace I have left. (I like this better than render and replace because it's easier to make changes as I go if necessary.) I figure hey, if the computer is going to have to spend hours rendering, it may as well do it in between editing sessions as I finish up the project. That way the final export will be a reasonable time... and cherry on top, my editing playback will be super buttery.

So that's why, when I saw that smart rendering was one of the selling points of this update, I really wanted to jump on it. I feel like I need all the help I can get at this point. Most answers here are saying DON'T DO IT. I hear you, and thanks. 🙂 But if I have a backup of the project, then I'm not really risking losing anything permanent, right? Other than time to downgrade back if necessary?

Smart rendering is only meaningful for clips that are not modified for the final output.  So finish your edit in the Premiere version you are working with, output it, then load up the new version and output again if you believe that will result in improved results.

If I had two editing computers, then I might consider doing it if I only updated one of them.

Otherwise, I wouldn't risk it mid-project.

You recognize the potential issues with upgrading in the middle of a project... Great! Now that you know that, no one else but you can make the decision whether or not to update. Personally, I would never update in the middle of a project. Why risk the completion of my project for slightly better render improvements? Not a worthwhile tradeoff.

That said, if you do go through with it, you have a plan to revert in case of issues. Great! Now you must simply choose whether or not to update. Would you rather finish out your project in relative ease on the current version? Or potentially spend hours of editing time upgrading and downgrading Premiere versions if there's an issue for a slight render gain?

If it were me: NO

Is it worth the risk messing up your project just for smart render.

In general, it's true: never change a running system. However, if you do want to update, it's always better to make a backup of your project first. Simply choose File > Save As or File > Save A Copy.