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Topic: Optimizing A Laptop For Video Mixing. - Page: 1

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VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
Two different types of laptop exist:
1) gaming/premium
2) budget
These laptops have different types of graphics cards, and gaming/premium laptops are much more expensive than the latter type. Gaming laptops have independent chips to deal with the graphics demands whilst the cheaper laptops use integrated graphics chips which make large demands on both laptop memory, and CPU power.
It has been a standard practice for a long time to optimize a laptop for DJ usage so as to minimize audio glitches. Little has been said about optimizing for video mixing..except get a Asus Rog (spend a small fortune?) and you won't need to worry. It has become obvious to me that with a little graphics optimizing for video mixing the budget laptops can meet a DJ's needs. Unnecessary things which drain a laptops ability to mix video have been incorporated into both VDJ8.2 and our operating systems. These things can be turned off. Examples are the rather stupid eye candy which revolves around Windows Aero, whilst VDJ8.2 wastes graphics power via things like CD covers needlessly moving around on the VDJ skin, and in my case coloured waveforms.

A couple of critical points exist:
1) Windows automatic updates must be switched off, and this task must then be done manually. Automatic updates places a huge load on the laptop CPU.
2) Memory is critical..there must be enough ram available to the integrated graphics chip to support video mixing. At the moment this seems to be around 4Gb.

I'm successfully using a very old budget laptop!

Comments?



 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 2:19 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 2:47 pm
Ron while you may play videos on an old laptop with out problems I HIGHLY DOUBT your machine can do what I need it to do.

Most video software including VDJ recommend that you "buy a machine with a dedicated graphics card", period!!

You can ask any video dj who has been doing this awhile and they will all say buy a machine with a DEDICATED GRAPHICS CARD......

Now when it comes to optimization I don't even waste my time, maybe I should but me personally I don't.

So any optimization tips are welcome.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 3:55 pm
I'm using an 8 years old laptop with an ancient x3100 video card. With the older version 8.0, I can play / mix 720p videos without an issue. On the 8.1 versions I can play only SD videos and with the later 8.2 versions I can play again 720p videos, but very difficult and the cpu looks overload. Updating to windows 10 and used hacked drivers helped a bit, but the best I manage to do is to stick with windows XP and use hacked drivers boosted for gaming.
The only optimization I could do on virtualdj, is to not use higher video quality and added frames and load the files on idle (that makes files load slow). But I did plenty of optimizations on windows, following guides I found here on this forum regarding deactivation of background services, realtime antivirus protection, etc. Actually, deactivate everything including internet is the best help on my old laptop. Also using a fast HDD (7200 rpm) helps. Another good advice is to use 32bit windows if you have 2 - 3 GB of ram and use 64bit windows if you have 4+ GB of ram.

Anyway, I would say that the intel HD 4000 integrated video cards are capable to playback H264 720p files without an issue. And with a HD 4600 you won't have any problem even with 1080p. The real problem here is not the graphic cards, but the drivers.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 7:46 pm
I'm running video on Intel integrated graphics and it runs perfectly. I would have always gone down the dedicated video card route however my DJ laptop is on-chip only and surprisingly works perfectly.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 9:47 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
"and load the files on idle (that makes files load slow)"

The above is important!
This setting is in the video options.
It does not slow down loading that much and avoids taking CPU usage into the red.

Another point is that if you're trying to achieve high resolutions then a budget laptop with a good CPU is needed (Intel i5 +).
However most videos look great at 720p.

There are a lot of options in VDJ which when optimized may aid video mixing.

By the way I can go on the Internet and buy songs while video mixing or use CU!
The Internet is not one step too far for an old laptop.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 9:54 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
I suspect most of us don't have the time to get involved with sophisticated graphics.
I'm up to my eyes in it just trying to find, and mix the right song for the moment, doing karaoke (plus maybe a bit of singing ), and compering the event.
I video mixed happily on NYE, used Tayla's video sample, and the basic text tool.
Also I use Don's tools, and a host of video samples.

...I was forgetting Slideshow which is very important for displaying peoples photos.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 10:19 pm
the SOUND INSURGENT wrote :
Ron while you may play videos on an old laptop with out problems I HIGHLY DOUBT your machine can do what I need it to do.

Most video software including VDJ recommend that you "buy a machine with a dedicated graphics card", period!!

You can ask any video dj who has been doing this awhile and they will all say buy a machine with a DEDICATED GRAPHICS CARD......

Now when it comes to optimization I don't even waste my time, maybe I should but me personally I don't.

So any optimization tips are welcome.



That's what I say and it works for me. I don't have to worry about what type of video, I just play it. Now the reason I don't optimize is, I believe that my machine should be capable of doing multiple things, at he same time. So, I bought a machine I thought could do the same as my desktop. As I am not a computer expert, I could be wrong, and would not advise anyone to do the same. However, I do video only (and karaoke) all night and don't have issues. I even do a lot more now that netsearch is unavailable, and my machine and VDJ work fine. Get that dedicated video card. Just because integrated works for some, it may not work for you.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 10:34 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
No matter how much an idiot spends..his laptop will never work well.
What is needed is an intelligent operator!

In fact the idiots will probably nip off and get a bit of porn.
The Blue Screen Of Death!
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 10:38 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
AMAHM, and Beatbreaker are off topic.

THIS THREAD IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN AN ASUS ROG.

Many people have to make do with old laptops.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 10:48 pm
I'm sorry, I thought it was about optimizing a laptop for video mixing. You gave your results, and others have given theirs. If you want to stay on a small budget, continue to do so. However, my machine is two years old, so I don't consider that the latest. You think that months of research is saving money. I think my time is worth a great deal. As some would say, time is money. Buying a computer with a dedicated video card is my way of optimizing a computer for video mixing. If you want to continue tinkering around until you find the cheapest way to do it. go ahead. Time does not mean anything to you. There are other opinions, unless you think yours is the only way. Then get a blog where you can control all of the content. This forum is for everyone.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 10:59 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
Please AMAHM..I'm giving the other side of the coin for those who don't have much.
They cannot afford all the latest equipment.
It's even hard for them to get a legal copy of the all important VDJ8.2..the peoples DJ'ing software!
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:03 pm
OK for now, I have to go to work. Have a great night. However, if it's slow in the club, I can reach you from there.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:06 pm
I don't own an ASUS ROG, lmmfao!!

Ron once again your giving bad advice.

Here's why it's bad, you have plenty of free time on your hands as you don't work because your retired or something. Next you have a higher skill level when it comes to tearing apart and tweaking machines.

Most of us here have full time jobs on top of family life and then gigs, so for me I have no time to sit around and hope everything works.

At least if I buy a jacked up machine I can run harder and longer and do more then your machines so I must be doing something right.

I have never spent over 1200 dollars for any of my machines and yes this includes both MacBooks!! If you know what you need and how to wheel n deal the machines can be bought pretty cheap.....

In fact some video software won't even run with a dedicated graphics card.



I'm not an idiot by any means so the name calling isn't needed Ron.

So by a machine with dedicated graphics card and you'll spend less time messing around tweaking and more time making money so you can afford the finer things in life ;-p
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:13 pm
bigron1 wrote :
Please AMAHM..I'm giving the other side of the coin for those who don't have much.
They cannot afford all the latest equipment.
It's even hard for them to get a legal copy of the all important VDJ8.2..the peoples DJ'ing software!


This whole statement is crap!!

Can these people not work?? I was raised to work hard for whatever I want even if I have to go without for months at a time!!

I think you'd be better off teaching them the skills it takes to get a job or how to properly fill out an application.........
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:17 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
Beatbreaker..of course you're not an idiot, but some will download porn, and then scratch their heads when things don't work.

You have a good point!
I myself will buy a Asus Rog when I have the spare money..one day!

The work situation is political Beatbreaker..keep away.
You have a new President who has vowed to bring the work back to the USA.
We shall see.
Just remember those who have little..not even work.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:20 pm
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
So the thread is disrupted.
We want to talk about how an older laptop can be configured to enable video mixing, but AMAHM, and Beatbreaker have hijacked the thread.
Sad.

Anyway it will make money for those who sell high end laptops.

..and it's the old tag team, Beatbreaker & AMAHM.
 

Posted Mon 02 Jan 17 @ 11:35 pm
From VDJ itself,

Q: What are the system requirements for running VirtualDJ 8 ?


Below are the minimum and recommended system requirements for running VirtualDJ 8:
Ideally, your computer should meet and preferably exceed the recommended requirements.



Windows

Supported Operating systems

Windows XP SP3
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10

Minimum Hardware requirements

Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon™ XP
Windows XP SP3
DirectX compatible soundcard
512MB RAM
20MB free on the hard drive

Recommended Hardware requirements

Intel® Core™ 2 or AMD Athlon™ X2
Windows 7
Multi-channel DirectX compatible soundcard
2048MB (2 GB) RAM
200MB free on the hard drive

Additional requirements for Video mixing

ATI™ or NVIDIA® video card w/256MB of dedicated DDR3 RAM
Video card must support dual-screen output


Just trying to help in case you didn't know ;-)
 

Posted Tue 03 Jan 17 @ 12:34 am
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
"Additional requirements for Video mixing

ATI™ or NVIDIA® video card w/256MB of dedicated DDR3 RAM
Video card must support dual-screen output
"

This is what the thread is about!
Things change..even the people who program our software don't know it's true capabilities. It's a remarkable software.
I've had a few of cans of Budweiser now..I promised myself I would make no more comments this night.

This should be on another thread..I was angry when I saw the VDJ put downs on the
Digitaldjtips website..and then I did a Internet search for the next hour trying to figure out who wanted us out of the way.

Anyway..don't drink, and drive, or post whilst enjoying a can.
 

Posted Tue 03 Jan 17 @ 12:47 am
VDJ RonPRO InfinityMember since 2010
DDR3 RAM is not essential..DDR2 will suffice and integrated Intel graphics is often more than enough.

You need a lot of stars before I'll argue with you LOL.
Never pick on the little guy while there is a big boy to fight.

I actually flipped a coin to decide a school "back field" fight between a little tough guy, and a big guy.
I would not fight both.
I got the big guy, and won.
Hm ..the little guy was tough so maybe I was lucky.
 

Posted Tue 03 Jan 17 @ 12:49 am
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