6 Replies Latest reply: Nov 22, 2010 12:28 PM by cooleon RSS

    Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?

    cooleon Community Member

      This is probably so basic, it will be embarrasing, but I'm new to all this...

       

      When  viewing HD video footage from a Canon 60D (.mov files) at 1920x1080 25fps or  1280x720 50fps in CS4 Premiere Pro, the footage does not run smoothly,  just jumps along the timeframe like the computer can't process the info  quick enough (the sound is there though). However, the footage runs perfectly ok when I run it on  Quicktime (not QT Pro) on the same laptop, sound-synched.

       

      Here's my system:

       

      Macbook

      Processor: 2GHz Intel Core Duo

      Memory: 2 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3

      Hard Drive: 87gb space

       

      Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

      VRAM 256MB

       

      x1 1tb Western DIgital Elements external hard drive

      x1 2tb Western Digital Elements external hard drive

      both 7200rpm and running through usbs via hub to laptop

       

      No RAID devices (I keep reading about this but have no idea what it means)

       

      1.Do  I need a new graphics card? And if so what is recommended, and is it  something that sits externally or do I have to install it?

      2.Do I have enough RAM to run this application?

      3.Is the way I've set up the system correct?

      3.Is compatability with the camera an issue?

      4.Is this going to cost me a fortune to fix?

      5.Finally,  I haven't got there yet, but I will be using the other applications in  CS4 Creative Suite - am I going to find similar problems?

       

      Thanks to anyone that can help!

        • 1. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
          Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

          Canon's H.264 compression in a MOV wrapper will never edit very well in CS4 no matter what kind of computer you have.  CS5 fixed a lot, if not all, of the issues associated with Canon DSLR video files.

           

          Conversion to another format and/or codec is advised if you stay with CS4.  The CS4 Adobe Media Encoder may work for you, as well as Quicktime Pro.  I recommend either Photo JPEG MOV files or Animation MOV files.

           

          -Jeff

          • 2. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
            cooleon Community Member

            Thanks. I'm getting there.I take it that means my system is fine, its just the complexities of merging different technologies (why is it so complicated!? I just wanna shoot and edit and HD movie!)

             

            On QT Pro it gets smoother if I downsize to 1280x720 HD and only at 24fps and only as photojpeg files, not animation. At 25fps it is still jumpy.

             

            Still not good enough for what I need to do. I want full size HD and would love to see what 25fps does.

             

            Now trying the Adobe Media Encoder, but what format should I enter in order to use on Premiere Pro if converting from Canon 60d .mov files? I need the final edited piece to be full HD quality.

             

            Really appreciate any help anyone can give to a techno ignorant like me!

            • 3. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
              Harm Millaard CommunityMVP

              The problems you are experiencing are to be expected from this system in combination with this material. Even CS5 will not help here.

               

              The problems are:

               

              1. Underpowered CPU.

              2. Not enough memory.

              3. USB externals, which are only good for backups.

              4. Only 1 internal SATA disk, maybe not even a 7200 RPM disk.

               

              It is time to look at a serious system upgrade.

              • 4. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
                cooleon Community Member

                Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

                 

                Tried adobe media encoder. Didn't work. Downloaded other trial converters. None of them worked. In the end stumped up £35 for single incident support from Adobe.

                 

                They were brilliant. They spent several hours over a couple of days trying different things - they were always convinced there shouldn't be a problem, depspite my low-end system.

                 

                In the end all I needed to do was put chosen footage in timeline, then select "sequence", then "render effects in work area" from drop down menu. It proceeds to render all clips in the timeline - and hey presto! Smooth FULL HD footage from a Canon 60D.

                 

                Also, when you're creating the project, you need to set presets to AVCHD 1080p 25fps (or whatever you're footage was shot in: 720p 50fps etc.)

                 

                So it wasn't my system that was the problem.

                • 5. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
                  JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                  It actually was your system.  Rendering creates NEW files in a NEW codec, one that your system could obviously handle better.  Technically, this issues wasn't solved.  A work around was found.

                   

                  But hey, sometimes that's the best you can get.  As long as you keep producing, right?

                  • 6. Re: Jumpy footage in CS4 PP - is it my system?
                    cooleon Community Member

                    My point was that the solution, in this case a "work-around", was relatively simple because it was within the existing software and didn't require me to spend thousands of pounds on a system upgrade, as was previously advised.