Avid Video Engine

[Analogue]

Working on several music projects for broadcast which requires a video track. Never had any problems during the years with video in ProTools but today I'm stuck. Video engine wont launch.

It started with trying to import a new video file into a new project. The file was in.mp4 format. At first I got the "Timeout when trying to connect..." error, then I disconnected the video engine (shouldn't have done that...) and now It wont start at all.

Trashed prefs, went back to PT 12.6 from 12.7, reinstalled codecs, nothing helps.
Mac 12-core, 2 x 2.93 GHz, 32 GB, ProTools HD.
Hope AVID or anybody can chime in here......

[audiobob]

Originally Posted by Analogue

Working on several music projects for broadcast which requires a video track. Never had any problems during the years with video in ProTools but today I'm stuck. Video engine wont launch.

It started with trying to import a new video file into a new project. The file was in.mp4 format. At first I got the "Timeout when trying to connect..." error, then I disconnected the video engine (shouldn't have done that...) and now It wont start at all.

Trashed prefs, went back to PT 12.6 from 12.7, reinstalled codecs, nothing helps.
Mac 12-core, 2 x 2.93 GHz, 32 GB, ProTools HD.
Hope AVID or anybody can chime in here......

Try converting the mp4 to ProRes or Avid DNxHD. PT has issues with mp4's...though Avid says they should work.

[priorytools]

Also, try this.
open activity monitor. Find the QuickTime background video mallarky (it’ll be in red cos it’s a ^*ck up)… quit it, then restart.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by Analogue

"Timeout when trying to connect..." error, then I disconnected the video engine (shouldn't have done that...) and now It wont start at all..

PT doesn't like changing the network-setup while it's running. If you switch between multiple networks it usually leads to a video engine hickup as the Mac changes it's IP address or network settings.

AFAIK, the video-engine uses Satellite technology behind the curtains even when you are not using an actual Satellite setup so I guess switching the network or it's settings throws it off.

I have to switch between various VLANs from time to time and usually the video engine gives me a video error when I hit play while the Mac is still getting a new IP from the router even though I'm not using Satellite. But normally it you do nothing for a few seconds till the dust has settled you can continue to work normally.

[Analogue]

Problem solved. It boiled down to an illegal character on one of my disc names..... A backslash. Beware!