Buffer size

[Gavriel]

Hi, I would like to have an explanation about the meaning of "Buffer" that appears at the bottom of the timeline screen. If I have 16GB RAM, what should be the recommended "Playback Buffer Size" - now its 2GB in my System Setting.

[antonsvideo]

no need for 2GB or more unless you work in UHD

for HD I set 512MB

[BernH]

Originally Posted by antonsvideo

no need for 2GB or more unless you work in UHD

for HD I set 512MB

One area where more buffer with HD could be beneficial is if you have complicated effect area that is killing playback.

Giving more of a run up to the problem area may let Edius get through it since it has more time to load the larger buffer before hitting the problem area, or if you use the pre-fill buffer playback (Shift-Space) to play the area, it will pause and fill the buffer before playback. If you don't have enough buffer to cache the entire problem area, then playback will suffer once the buffer is exhausted.

Essentially though, since Edius tries to read ahead to fill the buffer, if you can play without the buffer getting emptied, there is no real need for a larger buffer or to use the pre-fill (Shift-Space), as Anton suggested.

[Gavriel]

Thanks.
Where can I find more explanation regarding the buffer and how Edius uses it?

[BernH]

Originally Posted by Gavriel

Thanks.
Where can I find more explanation regarding the buffer and how Edius uses it?

Aside from what is listed in the Edius help/manual, I am not aware of any other official documentation.

[GrassValley_PS]

Buffer is basically a cache where the EDIUS Timeline "reads ahead" and stores that information in the buffer. It consists of 2 numbers. The second number is the maximum amount of storage area and the first number shows what is currently being played. If the timeline starts to drop frames (the first number will start decreasing), it will still play real time until the first number reaches 1. Basically it means the buffer has run out.

The maximum amount allowed is a combination of RAM in the computer, the Playback Buffer Size setting located in Settings>System Settings>Application>Playback, and the Project Preset.

Assuming you have 16G RAM and work in HD, GENERALLY I suggest setting the Playback Buffer Size to 1.5G or 2G. As Anton mentioned, anything above 2G is generally for 4K or above.

If you open the Mixer and have something set other then Off, the buffer size will only load to a maximum of 5. That is because it is a dynamic mixer and some of the function will not work correctly with a larger buffer.

A lot of people watch the red line above the ruler area of the Timeline to see dropped frames. The Buffer is a much better indicator and people should get used to watching that instead of the red line.

[antonsvideo]

I have my red line disabled, it is too distracting to see these colored lines

[Jerry]

I only show blue.

[antonsvideo]

Originally Posted by Jerry

I only show blue.

same here :)

[Gavriel]

Thanks for the detailed explanation.