"Not Responding" halting project

StarCityFame wrote on 3/30/2010, 5:18 PM

This used to happen while in trial period... thought I'd gotten rid of it after purchase. Now it's back.
I occasionally work with multiple file types, so starting to think this has something to do with 9.0 hanging - meaning it goes into "Not Responding" and I need to kill it in Task Manager.
Today's project has MPEG-2 video on the timeline that I am editing. I have not yet added AVI's, though they are waiting in the Explore area, already imported. So are various BMP and JPEG files.
One would think mixing file-types ought not be a huge issue. (I always convert odd files to be MPEG-2, otherwise I'd have a variety of 5 or so types for client projects (as they seem to use various shooters/cams/software). Would rather convert to AVI, but sometimes things don't work out so well, so therefore MPEG-2 has been the work-around for me using SUPER (c).
I have listed my PC's criteria, and I realize it is not the fastest thing on the planet. Normally I get through my projects just fine... the exception being when I mix file types, I suspect.
I have saved this hanging project to a back-up file. I have rebooted my PC. I have looked for an update I might be missing (didn't find one). The project continues to hang up soon as I click play.
Wish I could explain better, but nothing unusual is going on beyond editing an MPEG-2 on one video timeline and some JPEGs and BMPs on another timeline just above the video.
Thanks for any help you can offer on explaining this... Ron

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 3/30/2010, 6:33 PM

Don't kill Vegas when it says "Not Responding." It's thinking. The more sources you have on the timeline, the more likely it is to happen.

Some things to check if it seems to happen more than you are used to:
-- Save your project, close, and reopen Vegas periodically (every hour or two). This flushes the memory buffers.
-- Close running apps, don't multitask, and turn off all antivirus processes.
-- Where are the files you are working with stored? External and network shares can double the time it takes.
-- Available memory and page file space are important here, moreso in opening and editing than in rendering.

Your P4 with 2G is at the low end for working with multiple file types or HD. Even MPEG-2 has some implications as a long GOP lossy format. You may want to consider upgrading at some point.

TLF wrote on 3/31/2010, 12:03 AM

I would have this problem if I switched from Vegas to another app, and then tried switching back. Vegas wold think for an age before springing back to life.

I changed the 'Close media files when not the active application" setting (removed the tick) and now Vegas no longer stalls.

Christian de Godzinsky wrote on 3/31/2010, 6:19 AM

Be patient. Only if Vegas does not "come back" after 2 minutes or so, it might have hanged...

Do you see any activity on the cpu during these hangs?

On what version of Vegas are you exactly?

I experienced long hangs occasionally with no cpu activity (read - too often), and reverted back to 9.0b (from 9.0c). That helped!!!

Still waiting for 9.0d to solve this issue... When SCS...when ???

Christian

StarCityFame wrote on 4/2/2010, 10:38 PM

Thanks all. Yes, I know my PC is a loser - especially since it will not upgrade any higher than 2G RAM. (It's a 2004 eMachine.)
I believe the issue with having had another program open to edit a BMP might have been the problem - so thanks for bringing that up. What I eventually did was delete the offending clip (a BMP file) and then brought it back in again... problem solved. I will uncheck the box for that process about closing media files. Thanks again.
I usually do not have any other programs open, due to the low memory hindering things. And the photo editor was all I had open, but now I know not to even do that. I will have to stop the anti-virus as well... hadn't occured to me. (I normally unplug the network cable while rendering, but in most cases, I don't really need to be live while editing either... so there ya go. All interference obviously needs to be killed off.)
I have Vegas 9.0c which I purchased in March 2010. What with all the equipment and operating costs of running a tight ship, a new PC is on the wish list for the time being.

Grazie wrote on 4/2/2010, 11:10 PM

> What with all the equipment and operating costs of running a tight ship, a new PC is on the wish list for the time being.

Well compare your PC with what SCS are suggesting you run Vegas on? See any "voids" in your hardware or s/w? :-

System Requirements

* Microsoft® Windows® XP 32-bit SP2 (SP3 recommended), Windows Vista™ 32-bit or 64-bit (SP1 recommended), or Windows 7

* 1 GHz processor (multicore or multiprocessor CPU recommended for HD)

* 200 MB hard-disk space for program installation

* 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)

* OHCI-compatible i.LINK® connector*/IEEE-1394DV card (for DV and HDV capture and print-to-tape)

* USB 2.0 connection (for importing from AVCHD, XDCAM EX, or DVD camcorders)

* Windows-compatible sound card

* DVD-ROM drive (for installation from a DVD only)

* Supported CD-recordable drive (for CD burning only)

* Supported DVD-recordable drive (for DVD burning only)

* Supported Blu-ray recordable drive (for Blu-ray Disc burning only)

* Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0

* QuickTime® 7.1.6 or later

ushere wrote on 4/3/2010, 12:32 AM

* QuickTime® 7.1.6 or later

BUT no later than 7.6.2!!!!

RichardHK wrote on 5/9/2010, 6:41 PM

I have a recent PC, specs below, and have this 'Not responding' problem causing me hell on a project. Do not have different file types, all AVI, although maybe the Camtasia Studio AVI format is not supported well by my Vegas 9.0d.

Ten 1GB (4+minute) files in parallel, and system goes into 'Not responding' mode every time I select anything, play, pause, stop, whatever. Takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes before things happen again, and then lots of spluttering, etc.

As TLE advised, I changed the 'Close media files when not the active application" setting (removed the tick) and Vegas did work more quickly (several seconds between operations) UNTIL I tried to clean up audio tracks (deleting superfluous audio tracks - leaving 10x video track behind.) Since then, Vegas went back to 'sleep' mode. A terrible waste of time.

Edit: Converted all Camtasia AVI (Microsoft format 30 frame progressive) to MP4 HD format and problem solved. Yes, I can now complete project BUT cost me nearly 10 hours of extra workaround hassle. Not good for professional software. No profit on this job.

Anything from SCS on v9.0e and if it will solve this? Please don't tell me that Camtasia will not be supported. Many thousands of Camtasia users out there making web video.

Oh yes, it still takes nearly 2 minutes to startup my Vegas 9.0d like others here.

EDIT: V9.0e has FIXED 95% of this problem. I can now move around Camtasia AVI files (selecting, etc) with no delays. And can work on timeline most of the time Ok. Vegas still pauses sometimes for some reason, but basically working again. I will test more fully soon with another 30+ 1.2GB AVI project but likely best to convert to MP4 again anyway.THANKS SonyCS.

Richard
Hong Kong

Specs: Intel Q9450 quad 2.66GHz, 4GB RAM, 300GB drives, Windows XP Pro SP3. Full spec profile done.