Final Cut Pro 7 and Avid Media Composer 6 rendering issues on 24 core system...

[PunkNugget]

glad you figured out your problem! but I think I should help clarify something for you..

You don't have 24 cores. You have 12 cores that are hyper threaded, which is why the OS sees 24 cores.

If a single threaded CPU core is given a task and is done in less time than of the clock cycle, it sits idle for the remainder of that cycle. Hyperthreading allows it to fill that space with another task, thus that core is performing two tasks in one clock cycle. This is a particularly helpful feature if you plan on using this server as a file server, since the server will be handling many small tasks at once.

You're right, I stand corrected on that term: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Although for big tasks like video rendering, hyperthreading gives virtually none to marginal performance increase, and some say that it can even hurt performance under certain circumstances.

When talking about how much faster CS6 is OVER AMC6, well that doesn't seem to be my experience as I see the huge difference in how hyperthreading has able to really speed up my renders in AP6 over AMC6 not having that ability to use hyperthreading.

On the other end of things, you are correct where you do have to let an app like AP6 "dedicate" it's time to finish the render and not do other things that will impede that rendering process. Maybe Avid made it this way so you can do other things in the background to not hinder anything when it's rendering. That being the case (and as expensive as AMC6 is) they should have written the code in their program to give you that option so you can either enable or disable that hyperthreading feature in your preferences folder; especially for long video renders so it can process the task quicker.

To me though, I'd rather have the all threads occupied on one project to get it done faster so I can move on to the next task.

You say cs5 seems faster than cs6 even when only using 12 of your 24 available threads. This is probably why

BTW, If I confused anything about CS5 being so much better (in terms of speed) over CS6, it's really marginal. I was really trying to focus on how much better the rendering performance of CS6 is OVER AMC6.

What's surprising is that the DPVP is finally able to be resized without it locking itself to a very small screen. I'm still very disappointed in AMC6 overall; it's just glitchy.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

As for the Avid Media Composer composer window resizing, though I haven't used AMC 6 extensively and am still using 5.5.3.3, I do not know what you mean, as I can at least extend my composer window to the full width of my 1920 x 1200 pixel display, as shown below:

But as far as core usage, Adobe seems to have got it right, at least it helps with all the compressed footage one gets nowadays. I have to transcode around 2.5 TB of H.264/AVCHD footage for Avid and it takes its time, as not all cores are used and the footage is a bit ******.

 

[PunkNugget]

As for the Avid Media Composer composer window resizing, though I haven't used AMC 6 extensively and am still using 5.5.3.3, I do not know what you mean, as I can at least extend my composer window to the full width of my 1920 x 1200 pixel display, as shown below:

The DPVP wouldn't let me grab (lets say) the right bottom corner and resize to fit my screen. What it did instead was go to the smallest screen possible without it allowing me to resize it. IT STAYED LOCKED IN THAT SMALL SCREENED POSITION - VERY FRUSTRATING !!! While all the other windows were able to be resized manually. VERY CONFUSING; even to the tech guy trying to help me. Actually it started doing that after he helped me fix all the other things that were glitchy. When that resizing issue started happening, he quickly got off the phone as he too was getting tired of trying to figure out why I was having so many little issues like that - LOL !!!

Again, it seems to have corrected itself for now where I am able to resize it manually. We'll see how things progress with AMC6 when I get time to train on it.

But as far as core usage, Adobe seems to have got it right, at least it helps with all the compressed footage one gets nowadays. I have to transcode around 2.5 TB of H.264/AVCHD footage for Avid and it takes its time, as not all cores are used and the footage is a bit ******.

I'm glad too for Adobe's CS6 product line, as everything so far seems to be working for me on The Hackinbeast. I'm just grateful...

 

[LethalWolfe]

Like simsaladimbamba I can stretch the Source/Record window edge to edge on my 24" Dell. Maybe a preference or user setting file got corrupt and that's causing it (maybe it's the unsupported gear ). I'm running 5.5 though not 6.

Is it because you are coming from FCP 7 the reason you built the rig? Seems like would be less of a chore to just run Windows since both PPro and AMC are cross platform (and both have portions of their bundle that are Windows only). I know Avid gives both PC and Mac in the same box and I think if you use Adobe's cloud/lease service you get Mac/Windows on the same license but don't quote me on that.

If you are after real time performance and being able to toss whatever you want into the timeline you should look at Sony Vegas (PC only). I don't know how it is these days but it used to known for having the best RT performance and for being able to playback almost any codec in the timeline.

I think it's a bit premature to say Avid should be ashamed of AMC because it doesn't render as fast as PPro in your test. Put Media Composer and PPro head-to-head in a large shared storage, multi-editor situation and you might be telling Adobe they should be ashamed.

 

[MrPlayer66]

PunkNugget, what kind of stuff do you edit?

 

[spacepower7]

Damn, I'm feeling old.

I remember in the mid 1990's when adding film grain via plug-ins in After Effects would take 12+ hours of rendering on a 30 second clip. If you wanted to change the 29.97 video to 24 or 18 fps, add another 12+ hours rendering. I think that was in After Effects 3.x

Not to sound like a grumpy old man but...

In the days of film, cutting and splicing work prints, that really honed an editors skills VS today's undo and redo computer options. If the editor messed something huge up, they'ed have to buy another work print.

I'm not critisizing, I love the advancement of tech, it's just that today, editors hone their skills in a different way, although they are both via trial and error.

Apple used to (still does?) have great interviews with directors on their website. One of the best I remember was Walter in an interview about editing Cold Mountain. He mentioned tapping his foot in a rhythm to make edit decisions in FCP, a habit he developed using a flatbed film editor.

Good luck, it's a tough industry, but I hope you are successful.

 

[fox10078]

I think if you use Adobe's cloud/lease service you get Mac/Windows on the same license but don't quote me on that.

This is true, You have two installs available and you can install one on windows and one on mac if you please.

 

[PunkNugget]

Like simsaladimbamba I can stretch the Source/Record window edge to edge on my 24" Dell. Maybe a preference or user setting file got corrupt and that's causing it (maybe it's the unsupported gear ). I'm running 5.5 though not 6.

HA! You're funny with the "unsuppored gear" comment... Again... ahhh forget it. Just read post #11; that's where I stand on that subject. But like I said in my last comment AMC6 DPVP is working fine now, but now I'm really liking AP6 and all the other apps for what I can do. Plus, with me using DigitalJuice.com's stuff, they're focus is Adobe's CS6's product line as they haven't found the demand for Avid's products yet. That's fine. Like I also said before, when I'm done with my next few vids, I'll spend some time learning Avid AMC6. At least I have a few years of upgrades. Who know, they might come out with a more compatible upgrade after 6.5 as even the Tech Guy said that they've been having major issues with 6.5 anyway. But that goes with any company. I'm just surprised that AP6 works as nicely as it does for my needs and is very similar to FCP7 (with a excellent streamlined interface).

Is it because you are coming from FCP 7 the reason you built the rig? Seems like would be less of a chore to just run Windows since both PPro and AMC are cross platform (and both have portions of their bundle that are Windows only). I know Avid gives both PC and Mac in the same box and I think if you use Adobe's cloud/lease service you get Mac/Windows on the same license but don't quote me on that.

No. I built this rig because it was a mid-life thing for me, plus I wanted to have the fastest Mac OS X machine around. According to GeekBench I'm the second fastest recorded system to date (Thanks mainly to Tutor and BrainDeadFool here on MacRumors). Here's the link to that one:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/282584-top-20-hackintosh-geekbench-scores/

If you are after real time performance and being able to toss whatever you want into the timeline you should look at Sony Vegas (PC only). I don't know how it is these days but it used to known for having the best RT performance and for being able to playback almost any codec in the timeline.

I think it's a bit premature to say Avid should be ashamed of AMC because it doesn't render as fast as PPro in your test. Put Media Composer and PPro head-to-head in a large shared storage, multi-editor situation and you might be telling Adobe they should be ashamed.

I won't disagree that there are other systems out there that can outschool my beast, but for what I use it for and for the existing system that it is, it is the one of the fastest beasts out there using Mac OS X. I honestly don't like Limp-Doze's (my term for Windows) OS. That's just me...

PunkNugget, what kind of stuff do you edit?

My own vid reviews. I use digitaljuice.com's stuff as well as their (very detailed) free tutes so I can use their products better for my needs.

Damn, I'm feeling old.

I remember in the mid 1990's when adding film grain via plug-ins in After Effects would take 12+ hours of rendering on a 30 second clip. If you wanted to change the 29.97 video to 24 or 18 fps, add another 12+ hours rendering. I think that was in After Effects 3.x

Not to sound like a grumpy old man but...

In the days of film, cutting and splicing work prints, that really honed an editors skills VS today's undo and redo computer options. If the editor messed something huge up, they'ed have to buy another work print.

I'm not critisizing, I love the advancement of tech, it's just that today, editors hone their skills in a different way, although they are both via trial and error.

Apple used to (still does?) have great interviews with directors on their website. One of the best I remember was Walter in an interview about editing Cold Mountain. He mentioned tapping his foot in a rhythm to make edit decisions in FCP, a habit he developed using a flatbed film editor.

Good luck, it's a tough industry, but I hope you are successful.

Well, I'm almost with you there. I remember when I was a kid (back in the early 80's) using a Super 8mm cam to do still frame anime when I was a kid and had to wait up to 4 weeks to get my 5 min. films back. That was a good time in my life, as it is now. With the exception of this global collapse that we're going to be facing here in the coming months ahead. At least I have some good memories...

This is true, You have two installs available and you can install one on windows and one on mac if you please.

Yes, but (as I mentioned earlier) I like Mac OS X far better than Windows and I already had thousands of $$$ spent on the current apps that I use, and some of those companies won't allow platform changes without more $$$ involved. Not worth it to me...

 

[LethalWolfe]

HA! You're funny with the "unsuppored gear" comment... Again... ahhh forget it. Just read post #11; that's where I stand on that subject.

I did read post #11 which is why I couldn't help but yank you chain about it (no ill will intended). And congrats on the system. I haven't built a custom rig in around a decade and I'd like to get back into it when I get the time. I could start in on a 'back in my day...' story about when I built an editing rig but then I'd just feel old.

I'm just surprised that AP6 works as nicely as it does for my needs and is very similar to FCP7 (with a excellent streamlined interface).

Adobe is really trying to capitalize on disgruntled FCP users. Some people say Adobe is trying to build FCP 8 and I don't think that's too far from the truth.

 

[PunkNugget]

I did read post #11 which is why I couldn't help but yank you chain about it (no ill will intended). And congrats on the system. I haven't built a custom rig in around a decade and I'd like to get back into it when I get the time. I could start in on a 'back in my day...' story about when I built an editing rig but then I'd just feel old.

You're not "old," just wiser man... Heck Paulo Dourado's who (at the time) was 19 years old, was my initial motivator to get my build on. Watch his vid here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzxDAL_bwOo

And Tutor (who is 59) helped me with the finishing touches with maximizing my machine to it's max performance through Underclocking.

So age to me has nothing to do with it. It's all about skill sets and the desire and heart to help others... also the desire to want to learn. With that combination you can't fail...

Adobe is really trying to capitalize on disgruntled FCP users. Some people say Adobe is trying to build FCP 8 and I don't think that's too far from the truth.

Well, all I can say AP6 is working nicely and I'm very impressed with the performance and it's beautifully streamlined interfaced design. Far better than FCP and Avid (so far from what I can see). Only time will tell when I get time to use Avid more later...