Video stutter - please help!

[Pirx]

I don't use a server here and already did erase install the OS and everything... Maybe I should try do that again. (Gee, how I hate doing it!)
Anyway, thanks for your help FilterDecay!

[Pirx]

So, I did erased and installed the OS X Mountain Lion. On clean OS, without PT installed, the mov, mp4 and other files played in Quicktime with stutter.
I thought I'll downgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.8 (the OS, that my computer came with). Here the same files' playback with Quicktime was smooth. Full of hope I installed PT 10.3.9 and opened the session, and... video stutters again!
No plugins installed, no eucon, nothing, just fresh, clean OS and PT.
I downloaded Nvidia drivers, installed, no change.
Downloaded Mpeg Streamclip and converted the files to PAL, no change. Stutters, as hell.

Are there any additional video codecs, I should install?

Only one thing, that comes to my mind at the moment is, that the computer itself is too week and needs to be replaced... 1 processor, quad core 2,66. What do you think???

[FilterDecay]

What codecs are you using? h264 sucks for protools as its a compressed format and requires cpu power to decompress each frame. I would test with dv first. Its looks horrible but its always been solid. Also prores, mjpg and avids codec (cant remember the name right now) are all good for hi res files.

[lexaudio]

It really sounds like a codec issue.

Hi compressed videos use more CPU and will stutter to decompress. H264, mp4, even dnx on a system like yours will have stuttering issues.

With mpeg streamclip, convert to a less compressed format. I use photo jpeg and it works just fine on many different systems and quality is excellent.

You will notice the file size will likely triple, but hard drives are cheap

Lex

[joachim]

Originally Posted by lexaudio

With mpeg streamclip,

or with Quicktime Pro to ProRes 422 LT or DNxHD 36. Worth a trial.

[dford]

I might be late to the party…

However what version of Decklink Studio software are you running? The latest version is 10.1.4.

These updates often provide firmware updates to the cards as well…I know the jump from V9.x.x to V10.x.x does.

Might help too...

[Pirx]

Guys, thanks a lot for all your answers!

Just to let you know, how the story ends...

Yes, I had tried all possible codecs already. But following your suggestions I did another serious testing. Tried dv, prores, photo jpeg and DNxHD. Unfortunately, none of them worked.

I couldn't check the firmware of video card. I gave it away, when it turn out not to solve the problem. (It was Intensity Pro card with 10.x.x. version of Desktop Video, if I remember correctly).

I also checked the performance of Pro Tools without video in session. The playback is smooth, although the playhead is jumping a little, as it does when the video is played.

So,
- different codecs make no change
- replacing one GT120 with Blackmagic Intensity Pro doesn't help
- PT without a video doesn't perform 100% smoothly

The only conclusion I find is: change the computer. And that's what I'm going to do. Now looking for a newer, stronger Mac (can't afford the little, black can at the moment...)

Anyway, thanks again for all your suggestions.

Regards,

pirx

[joachim]

Originally Posted by Pirx

Should I than look for another computer? Or check something else?

Maybe clean uninstall of PT and re-installing.
Maybe upgrade to PT11HD/10HD.
(I did not have any stutter with a 2Core 2007 iMac 4GB Ram and DNxHD36)

[lexaudio]

Originally Posted by Pirx

Guys, thanks a lot for all your answers!

Just to let you know, how the story ends...

Yes, I had tried all possible codecs already. But following your suggestions I did another serious testing. Tried dv, prores, photo jpeg and DNxHD. Unfortunately, none of them worked.

I couldn't check the firmware of video card. I gave it away, when it turn out not to solve the problem. (It was Intensity Pro card with 10.x.x. version of Desktop Video, if I remember correctly).

I also checked the performance of Pro Tools without video in session. The playback is smooth, although the playhead is jumping a little, as it does when the video is played.

So,
- different codecs make no change
- replacing one GT120 with Blackmagic Intensity Pro doesn't help
- PT without a video doesn't perform 100% smoothly

The only conclusion I find is: change the computer. And that's what I'm going to do. Now looking for a newer, stronger Mac (can't afford the little, black can at the moment...)

Anyway, thanks again for all your suggestions.

Regards,

pirx

Create a test partition. Spare drive or something. Reinstall the OS and just PT. Install whatever codecs you need.

Just test the video. If it works, install plugins, and test.

If it works, something is telling me there is some corruption in the OS.

I had this problem on 10.6.8 and it just never came back. Started with a fresh everything install and everything was better from there on.

[Pirx]

Joachim, I did clean reinstall of PT already without any success.
How many monitors was connected to your 2007 iMac?

Lexaudio, I did install OS on clean drive and installed just PT. Tested the video within PT and it didn't work at this point already. (I have described this test in post #12). Honestly, I doubt, that anything else can be done...