Loading Clips into Memory?

[gradek]

Does Resolume load clips into memory or read them from the HD? Is there a way to choose either or?

--Martin

[edwin]

Resolume reads the clips from the HD. There is no option to load them into memory. You could create a ramdisk (takes part of your RAM and treats it as a disk) so you can read your clips from RAM.

http://www.superspeed.com/ramdisk.php


cheers
Edwin

[BuckRogers]

Hmmm really interesting stuff. If only laptop memory was a bit cheaper...

[vj.döppler]

The other solution is to use an EXTERNAL HDD, via USB2.0 or FireWire, an external hdd is faster than a laptop hdd, 7200RPM 3 plates 16Mb buffer, faster seek time VS. 5600RPM 2 plates... when needed, i play clips from my external HDD and the scratch is faster !

Also, check the compression of your clips. some codecs need more processor time or diskspace. i noticed that the clips load faster when you encode them as to be 'streamed on a server' (Fast Start, compressed header) this is because the 'packets' are encoded independently in smaller chunks, so, the clips begins to play even if its not loaded at all (into memory).
Try this codec: Apple Motion JPEG-A 30FPS 320x240 Progressive (No fields) Best Quality, Internet Streaming set on: Fast start, compressed header. also, try to make your clips for short duration, 1 or 2 seconds.
you will notice a faster performance.

Try it!

[gradek]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to use resolute with firewire external HD with clips 320x240 with Apple Motion Jpeg-A in a Mov file. All running under widows on a MacBook Pro! Good performer so far. I might try the ram disk thing especally if I go to 400x300 or higher.

[gradek]

I just though of something. does resolume, constantly access the HD for reading clips or does it load it into ram after the first read?...

[edwin]

hi gradek,
resolume reads clips from the HD all the time. So nothing is loaded into ram.

Edwin

[jessej]

Thanks for the very good information in this post...

I tried using a Secure Digital SD ram card as a 'virtual disc' instead of a ram disc, but it was a lot slower than a hard drive, so don't try that.

Next up is trying a ram disc...

[Edited on 10-11-2006 by jessej]

[gradek]

JesseJ. How fast was your SD card? I wonder if you would see a difference with a very high speed card designed for high end digital SLR cameras that need to write/read huge raw photo files.

I tried using a Secure Digital SD ram card as a 'virtual disc' instead of a ram disc, but it was a lot slower than a hard drive, so don't try that.

[GeeEs]

maybe a stupid question/thought...

I had a discussion with a friend last week about dedicated harddrives for Resolume. Given the fact that Resolume always reads from your harddrive we both think it will really damage your harddrive a lot faster on specific places/clusters where your clips are stored... Compare it with a vinyl record that is used for scratching on specific places in a track....

Lets say i play a clip as a background on a layer.. the harddrive will constantly read ony that specific spot on the drive.. over and over again... (Maybe you can replace your footage folder now and then to other places on the drive to spread the damage?!)

Is this just us being too worried about wearing off our drives a lot faster then in normal use?
Does anyone have experience with crashed footage drives and Resolume or other software using the same read actions that could be related to this fact?