I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, why?

Digital Perfomer in the context of television/film scoring and post-production.

Moderator: James Steele

Forum rules
This forum is for discussion related to the use of Digital Perfomer in the context of television and film scoring and post-production.
User avatar
supersonic
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by supersonic »

Is there a QT format that takes least CPU?
Music is movement in silence
My day jon - http://www.audioplanet.pl
My other passion - http://www.aps-company.pl
NLA
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:49 pm
Primary DAW OS: Unspecified

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by NLA »

The best codecs regarding CPU efficiency are intra-frame only codecs like Apple Pro Res or DNx for example.

"Takes less CPU" actually always means way bigger files.
A factor of 8 times the size or more is possible and normal.
In terms of synchronization and tight playback in Video Slave, all I can say is: please use the above mentioned codecs wherever possible!

Best,

Flo
User avatar
supersonic
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by supersonic »

NLA wrote:The best codecs regarding CPU efficiency are intra-frame only codecs like Apple Pro Res or DNx for example.

"Takes less CPU" actually always means way bigger files.
A factor of 8 times the size or more is possible and normal.
In terms of synchronization and tight playback in Video Slave, all I can say is: please use the above mentioned codecs wherever possible!

Best,

Flo
Do you mean to say that the compressed files can induce sync problems?
Music is movement in silence
My day jon - http://www.audioplanet.pl
My other passion - http://www.aps-company.pl
NLA
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:49 pm
Primary DAW OS: Unspecified

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by NLA »

Looks like I forgot to answer that last question of yours ... just checking in again and saw it.
Sorry for the huge delay ;-)

Yes, highly compressed files (using codecs like H.264) are not the best choice for frame-accurate sync timing. I did a lot of testing and found out that VirtualVTR had the very same problems with those files. They are not completely off, but they are not as spot-on as the other ones I mentioned and they tend to "swim" (sometimes too early, sometimes too late).
It also depends a lot on the encoding settings used when creating the files ...

But to be clear: we are talking about 1-3 frames here. For many musicians this is not a big deal so I can just say: highly compressed files are not optimal but they work pretty well in most situations.
Marc7777
Posts: 238
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:34 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by Marc7777 »

+1 ..screw it.. +1,000,000

Just wanted to bump this up.

I've been having horrible CPU spike problems for awhile, and just been dealing with it through the season.. I knew it was video related because if I "cleared movie" my problems would go away.. But I score to picture.. thus my need for VIDEO!!!

So, I recently bought the Video Slave app after a friend told me about it.

Synced up the video, on the same mac pro, via the IAC bus. and BOOM! DP is running smooth again! No CPU spikes, nothin. *knock on wood* and it's very accurate, no stutters in the video or anything.

So yea.. if you have some weird things, check and see if it is the video causing it (by just clearing the movie) and if it's the video... check out Video Slave!
DP 8.04 64bit, VEP 5 (Latest), 1 Dual Quad 2.26 Mac Pro 2009 w/ 10.8 as DP DAW. 1 Dual Quad 2.26 Mac Pro 2009 w/ 10.6 as VEP Sample Machine. PCIe 424 - 4 2408's. Console - Yamaha 02R 96v2. AD/DA - Apogee Symphony IO. Waves, Sonnox, MOTU Plugins.
User avatar
supersonic
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by supersonic »

Hi guys. A little update on the topic. Seeing how the Video pumped my CPU I decided to go back to this thread. I ended up using a solution that costs 0$. I am running a second instance of DP on my Macbook Pro slaved via MIDI TC over LAN cable. This second DP is playing the VIDEO (so far flawlessly). Maybe not the most elegant solution but it has the merit to work almost out of the box and for no extra cost.
Music is movement in silence
My day jon - http://www.audioplanet.pl
My other passion - http://www.aps-company.pl
dewdman42
Posts: 1217
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by dewdman42 »

+1

I don't know if its any good, but I stumbled on this little cheap app in the Mac App Store the other day, its currently only $3 in the app store.

http://adb4nd.com/syncr-for-logic/
5,1 MacPro 3.46ghz x 12 cores,96gb, Monterey (OpenCore), Lynx AES16e-50+X32
User avatar
supersonic
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: I'm now using VideoSlave to host video instead of DP, wh

Post by supersonic »

didn't work for me on Yosemite
Music is movement in silence
My day jon - http://www.audioplanet.pl
My other passion - http://www.aps-company.pl
Post Reply