Why can't I choose 1/4 playback resolution? It's grayed out on the choice menu.

[Daniel5C88]

Sometimes the 1/4 playback resolution option is clickable, and sometimes it's grayed out.  Why is this?

I'm assembling a choir video with 9 singers. If I use 1/2 or Full, there's a LOT of lagging and so forth.

FYI:

Macbook Pro with Mojave, 

2.9 GHz Intel Core i5

Thanks!

[samarahs]

Having the same issue.  Usually I always have the option but for some reason I suddenly do not.

[Andy 1968]

Standard definition and HD might not allow for 1/4 resolution during playback. I know 4K will. 

[Stan Jones]

I never noticed that!

An SD sequence allows Full and 1/2; HD - full, 1/2 and 1/4. 4K adds 1/8.

I don't know if there are other factors that affect this.

Stan

[Jordan Clay]

Yeah 4k allows 1/8. 1080 should allow 1/4. The fix I had for this was to make a 4k timeline and import 1080 into it. Scale 200% to fit, and then exported at 1080. This will however limit some plugins like tracking in AE. To track you will have to scale to 100% in PR then export link to AE for it to work, then Scale back to 200% after exporting back to PR.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Jordan,

It's the footage that usually allows for various fractional resolutions. If I ever have perforamance issues, I'll transcode or make proxies. I would think that those choices might be easier for you.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Jordan Clay]

I never really have a problem with resolution or needing to make proxies. My comp is running multiple clips fine, this was just stemming from a mistake I made importing a 1080 clip into a 4k comp and found out it gave me the option to go to 1/8th so i used it. But if you can take a look at the rotobrush issue that has been posted here with new updates past 18.1 that would be great! thanks

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Daniel,

I suspect your computer is not powerful enough to handle so many streams of H.264 video, which I assume you are editing with. H.264 also has limited fractional resolutions, offering you fewer options.

More fractional resolutions and better performance if you transcode

When I am faced with this situation, I would transcode (copy) footage to ProRes LT in Media Encoder. With my UHD (4K) footage, I was able to get 1/8 resolution with the bonus of excellent performance (see screenshot).

From the screenshot, you can see I only need 1/2 res to play back ProRes LT 4K footage smoothly on my computer.

If I was going to edit a multicamera sequence, I'd optimize the media before editing. By optimizing, I mean either transcoding or creating proxies (More info here: Proxy Workflow). This one extra step (optimizing footage) makes life so much easier as an editor.

Thanks,
Kevin