We can endure the long wait for shadow files to generate, or we can download something like Magic+PD. With that in mind I thought I would have a look at both methods to see the advantages or otherwise of shadow files and Magic+PD.
For the experiment I used the same 4 clips I used in the post I reported in the above link. I thought the results would interest you.
PD13 - intel HD4600 i7 (no dedicated card) 16GB RAM
Shadow Files:
4 clips equalling a total of 2 min 21 secs. 3840x2160 25.
Time to generate shadow files 20 min 14 secs
Insert three transitions - pass
Add 4 effects - Neutral density, Mosaic, Mirror, Moonlight. (one to each clip) - pass
Add to clip 1 - video in reverse - pass
add to clip 2 - Rotate 180 - pass
add to clip 3 - increase speed x4 - pass
add to clip 4 - video in reverse - Fail (system memory warning from PD)
After the failure I reduced the preview down to Non Real Time and attempted to continue. However, timeline was so jerky it was impossible to edit further.
Magic+PD
Time to generate proxy files 1 min 42 secs
Again, same 4 clips equalling a total of 2 min 21 secs. 3840x2160 25.
Add 4 effects - Neutral density, Mosaic, Mirror, Moonlight. (one to each clip) - pass
Add to clip 1 - video in reverse - pass
add to clip 2 - Rotate 180 - pass
add to clip 3 - increase speed x4 - pass
add to clip 4 - video in reverse Fail (system memory warning from PD)
Once again, after the failure I changed the preview to Non Real Time, and here's where the difference really shows.
I was able to add and edit the following without a single jerk on the timeline.
With splits I ended up with 15 separate clips edited as folows:
Clip 1 - Reverse video
Clip 2 - Reverse video
Clip 3 - Reverse + speed minus .4 +Rotate 180
Clip 4 - Speed x 5
Clip 5 - Rotate 180
Clip 6 - Reverse video+ Crop + rotate 180
Clip 7 - Speed minus .9 + Rotate 180
Clip 8 - Reverse video + speed minus .9 + Rotate 180
Clip 9 - Speed x 4.10
clip 10 - Reverse video
Clip 11 - Reverse video
Clip 12 - Reverse video + Speed minus .26
Clip 13 - Reverse video + speed minus .26
Clip 14 - Reverse video
Clip 15 - Speed x9
Each of the 15 clips was separated with a transition and had an effect included. With increases/decreases in speed the final project was 1min 41 secs long. At this point I stopped the test and Magic still hadn't failed, I wonder how much further I could have gone.
Conclusion
Clearly in Normal preview mode, Shadow files and Magic+PD are evenly matched except in terms of generation time. But as you will note from the above test, Magic is way ahead when the preview mode is changed to non real time. With splits, the original 4 clips were turned into 15, and all were given a heavy load of Power Tool assignment and in most case more than one. There was still no jerking on the time line, this surpised me greatly.
Given the above findings, and if you don't mind editing with no audio (non real time) then Magic is going to be better for you.
I hope that you find this result interesting
Robert
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at Feb 02. 2017 10:29