Forum: MAC Version Technical Support - Topic: Some tastes about video freezing that helped to avoid the issue for a while

Oks here we go...

All we know now, that the video freezing still in MAC.

Nevertheless, i refused to surround about this and made some tastes all night long and i figured out when i left the video window open, i could mix for long time without freezes (how much time or how many times again without freezing? i do not know, keep tasting), in the other hand, when i just closed the video window the freezing thing began. This taste, i made it again and again with the same outcome.

So... keep the video window open.

I don't know if this thing cheats your MACs about the Video freeze, it helped me, and maybe could work for u mates; anyway heres my Mac config. No tech explanation at all.

I'm using a Macbook Pro @ 2.8 Ghz with 4 gigs of RAM with Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB.

Ill keep tasting and keep in touch with my results.

Saludos

Format your drive with fat32, I always have the video on a second output (2 projectors). I never have those problems neither in 5.2.1 or 6.0.2, It could be your Vestax or the RMX that's messing up your comp. I can go for hours on end without a "serious" freeze, or hang ups and it never freezes/crash. Close all mac desktop effects, wireless, etc. Don't use anitvirus or any crapware. My Edirol works like a charm in Mac OS and I assume your Echo does too. So it could be the controller, I don't have any experience using MP3 since I only do video full quality with a 2TB hard drive.

1.- I just got my mac two months ago and running 32 bits... dont see the reason to format again, the only thing that is causing problems is VDJ, everything else is just fine.
2.- THE FREEZING thing occurs with VDJ stand alone too.
3.- I don't use antivirus since is MAC, do you?
4.- I got 500 HD and 200 used.. so you say...
5.- The worst thing is that VDJ after a time, and inclusive in the start up recently don't allow play or load songs (doesn't crash, just don't allow play or load). i have to relaunch again and again, imagine it at live...

I would like to see your set uo, where u playing in mty?

Saludos

I only do Corporate and private parties. Tomorrow I have one. Send me a private message. You can see what I do with video.

oks... after a lot tastes still working the video without closing the video window... but the thing now is when yore playing for a long time, (no matter what, audio or video), vdj just doesn't allow play anymore in one deck (the right one (red)).

Jay,

I just changed the the codecs to quicktime and still have the same problem.

just frustrated abut this. Any advise?

Saludos

You are doing something wrong. I just played 6 hour straight without a single problem in Mac VDJ 6.0.3 Video with transitions loading one in one deck and then the other. The program is working great.
When I said format your drive, I meant the external one or ones. I did not know you only use the internal. Also, when I said antivirus/crapware, you would be surprised how many people installs Norton Security or something else. My Mackbook pro only has Virtual Dj installed. It's a shame you could not see the program working as it is.

Could you please elaborate on your hardware specs (including the controller) as well as the video format you're using?
I have tried running my VCI-300 with 6.03 both on OSX 10.6.1 and Windows 7 with bootcamp 3. When on OSX I can play with smaller latencies but the video output isn't smooth enough (I have a GeForce 9400m). When using Windows 7 the video output is perfect but I must use higher latencies with ASIO4ALL which makes using VDJ more difficult than it should be

+1
same here, just using win xp.

The biggest bug bare is the latnecy issue using Bootcamp on a Mac.

It's a known issue that bootcamp.exe has MASSIVE latency issues. If you can get away without running it then i suggest doing so. It will disable your Apple shortcut buttons and Mac drive access through windows but the computer should still run fine.

just my findings there. =)

My specs are:
Macbook Pro dual core 2.66, video nvidia 9400/9600GT. Sound Card Edirol FA66. I use a 2TB Lacie 2 x1 TB Raid 0 as main but my back ups, Seagate 2TB 5,900 RPM 32MB cache and Seagate 1.5 + 750GB 7,200 (2 drives) runs just as fine.
What I have find is that fat32 stresses the system less on load that OSX Plus format, I turn off all power savings on the system, run the program alone and turn off the flashy animations of OSX. Everything counts to get performance.
I use a Numark Total Control, not because is cheap, I use it because with what I have read, I think it is a use and forget about problems controller. I run everything with it with no issues. Obviously I don't scratch with it but for mixing video is perfect.
The format I use is .vob full quality with each video running about 149-259 MB in size wich is a heavy load on itself. A ver small part is MP4 but, without DRM's. I don't run them from itunes, I take off the garbage from them and use them from a folder like any other video and they load superfast, almost in a blink. I have about 7,500 videos all original and paid for (have all the original DVD discs) and a very very few DVDs gave some trouble because VDJ internal video decoder doesn't like them. I convert them with Nero 9 to digital with same size and resolution and all problems dissapear.
I can mix and even have effects perfectly except with a very very few .vobs that I know (like 10 folders of .vobs (each folder comes from a DVD)) with those I load them and I know I can't move the controller wheels or there will be a less than a second freeze on the screen but not on the sound (people don't notice), still, I know how to load them with special care and the shows goes on.
We all would like a program that runs like a charm with cero problems, but it does no exists. I have been checking Serato SSL video plug in and it can't even run .vobs, is expensive, you need lots of equipment and has it's problems too, just check their forums. VDJ is the best for video.

I want a better VDJ like everyone else but, also have to say that it does work as it is and that is very stable. As I said before once I played in a party 9 straight hours playing request after request after request (it was a 80's party, go figure) and VDJ did no crash or had any serious problem. My point is, It works! If you can't make it work is because you are doing something wrong or your hardware can't handle it, one way or the other. Ask for help and keep it simple. Isolate the problem. Don't connect everything at once. Test, test, test...Don't buy stuff if you are not sure it works.

I am please to hear that you aren't experiencing any problems. However your comment:



This is completely unfair and sightly unrealistic. EVERY machine, be it a Mac or a PC will be different. Different additional software installed, different updates.....the list goes on and on and on.

So to say it must be hardware or something the user is doing isn't necessarily always true.

I didn't mean put it in an offensive way. I just meant that we have to test, try and look for what works. I am used to do it since I used to build my computers for gaming and 3d benchmarking (overclock). Sometimes I try something and it does not work at all, so I read, ask, look for answers, etc. I still need to learn a lot with VDJ and almost have no time for it since I have a day fulltime work and a family. But I try to keep simple. I have two diferent macs, one with Leopard and one with Snow Leopard and if I just mix videos and do transitions it works, 5.2.1,6.0.2 and 6.0.3. Now, scratching video and video plug ins, I agree that on the Mac side lacks a lot. I am trying to help the ones that say they can even load videos continually without a crash or a freeze. I wish I could help more.

Regards.

Hi All,

I'm also having the same issue on a Mac, video freezes for no reason, and don't even dream with scratches, bring the videos down to the knees.
Have the MB Pro, 15.4", 9400 video card, 2 gigs of ram.

It has never happen to me on a PC, have tested it in high end and low end laptops with crappy intel cards and it works like a champ :(

It could be your videocard is underpowered. Your video card has to share memory with the cpu and has a smaller memory bandwith than a dedicated videocard. To run video on a Mac I think you need a faster videocard (Nvidia 8600/9600 or ATI X1600 and up). Still, try turning off all power savings and effects on the desktop (effects that make icons grow and bounce), turn off bluetooth and wireless network, and run the program alone. Try both VDJ 5.2.1 and the newest. See if it works better. Scratching video on the Mac is out of the question for now. You can do it but just for fun not for work as it's response is not tight under any Mac in OSX. If you read the forum there is a lot to be done on VDJ Mac to be on par with VDJ PC. The plus side on the Mac is it's stability (once you got it running right) and Core Audio for sound that works great.

Does VDJ support not provide minimum specs for running this on Mac OS?

That should be something tested and stated somewhere..

The recommended configuration to mix video is:

* Dual Core 2 GhZ CPU
* ATI or nVidia video card w/256Mb of Dedicated DDR3 memory (dual output capable)
* 2048 MB RAM


This is taken from the product specifications on this page.

I had the same issue with the trial version and running a friends registered copy on my mac (target mode booting)
The trail is new and works better with less freezes. I have already recommended him upgrading.
I'm running a Macbook Pro 1.83ghz Core Duo, 1 gig ram ATI RadeonX1600 128mb ram. With the latest trail 6.06 new years addition it is better but still chokes when playing 2 720x480 H264 files. I was able to improve the performance by going to preferences > codecs> and setting mp4 and m4v to be decoded by Quicktime Video. This helps, as it should this codec is native and natively supported on the Radeon, but there seems to be a narrow pipeline somewhere. Megaseg handles 2 files without a hitch in the background even while VDJ is playing 1 video in this format. But playing another H264 video on VDJ wil cause it to get choppy. It effects the other program but not as bad as VDJ...
I am hoping to test this on my friends new Macbook Pro 17" this weekend. I am hoping the next update makes this more stable for video mixing. If that is the case I may take the plunge and purchase the upgrade.

hi there i'm using the same macbook pro with leopard, & Virtual vinyl i upgrade to 6 and never works now im on 5 and goes well any way i have the same issue with the video
some times goes like freezing or if i do scratch goes like hicops is any other solution( by the way it never crashes) but if we pay for a original soft and a good mac why have this issues...??


regards

The problem I've always had is the video will freeze for about a second, then speed up to catch up with the audio. The audio never freezes. II have:

OSX v 10.6.7
2.4gh Intel dual core i5
4gb RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
Virtual DJ 7.0.4 - mac (b364)

What can I do to fix this issue. It happens at least 3-4 times in each music video I play, no matter the video format (mov, mp4, vob etc...)


Thank You!