TechNote

Optimize Windows XP for Adobe Premiere Pro

Optimizing Microsoft Windows XP can eliminate compatibility problems that can interfere with video editing. To optimize Windows XP for Adobe Premiere Pro, work through the tasks in this document. To further eliminate problems, simplify the system to include only those components necessary for editing video.

1. Make sure that the system meets the requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro.

The system requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro vary depending upon the type of media with which you work. For example, if you work with low resolution media--that is, still images or audio files from your computer that you're outputting to CD-ROM or to the Web--you need less processing speed and memory than if you work with digital video. Some issues, such as poor playback of video or audio, can be the effects of not having enough RAM or processing speed in your system.

Make sure that the system also meets the requirements for the capture card you use. For details, contact the capture card manufacturer.

-- Intel Pentium III 800 MHz processor (Pentium 4 3.06 GHz recommended)

-- Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 1

-- 256 MB of RAM installed (1 GB or more recommended)

-- 800 MB of available hard-disk space for installation

-- CD-ROM drive

-- Compatible DVD recorder (DVD-R/RW+R/RW) required for Export to DVD

-- 1024 x 768 32-bit color video display adapter (1280 x 1024 or dual monitors recommended)

-- For DV: OHCI-compatible IEEE 1394 interface and dedicated large-capacity 7200 RPM UDMA 66 IDE or SCSI hard disk or disk array

-- For third-party capture cards: Adobe Premiere Pro certified capture card

-- Optional: ASIO audio hardware device; surround speaker system for 5.1 audio playback

-- DirectX-compatible sound card

Note: Adobe doesn't recommend FireWire disk drives for use with Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Check hard disk speed.

To check the hard disk speed--and determine if it's fast enough to capture DV without dropping frames--test with a third-party hard disk utility, such as TCD Lab HDTach or Canopus EZDVtest.

If you work with analog video, contact the manufacturer of the capture card for hard disk speed requirements. If you work with DV video (IEEE 1394), Adobe Premiere Pro requires a hard disk that can sustain a minimum data rate of 5 MB per second for smooth playback.

In addition, disks should have a rotational speed of 7200 rpms or greater. As you save more content to the disk, access and transfer times to the disk increase to slow performance. If you work with disks at near-capacity, use a faster disk (for example, one with a speed of 10,000 rpms) to compensate for the decrease in performance.

If you use external drives, make sure that the cables can handle the drives' data rates and rotational speeds. Adobe recommends that you use large capacity UDMA 66 IDE or SCSI drives dedicated to video only. If you use an IDE disk drive for capturing video, see the next task in this document, "Optimize IDE disks." Adobe Premiere Pro doesn't support multiple devices on a FireWire chain or multiple devices on a FireWire card.

3. Optimize IDE disks.

Windows XP enables Direct Memory Access (DMA) by default on most IDE devices . If DMA has been disabled, reenable it to improve the transfer rate of IDE disks and prevent dropped frames and jerky video during capture and playback. For more information on DMA mode, visit the Microsoft Web site at www.microsoft.com/whdc/default.mspx .

For instructions on how to optimize IDE disks, refer to your Windows documentation.

4. Verify that device drivers are compatible with Windows XP.

Device drivers are files that allow Windows to communicate with devices such as capture cards, video display adapters, SCSI cards, and disk drives. Contact the device manufacturer to ensure that you have the latest driver for it.

For instructions on how to verify that device drivers are compatible with Windows XP, refer to your Windows documentation.

5. Optimize the video display.

Display options and hardware acceleration can conflict with capture card drivers, resulting in a system error, and screen savers can interrupt the flow of data when you capture video, causing dropped frames. In addition, display options use system resources, decreasing resources available to Adobe Premiere Pro.

Adobe Premiere Pro works best with video cards that support Direct 3D. Video cards that don't support Direct 3D (and use GDI mode) may have performance issues that affect speed and make the video appear to have dropped frames.

For instructions on how to disable hardware acceleration in Windows XP or optimize display options, refer to your Windows documentation.

Important: If you have a Sony VAIO with DVGate Motion, don't disable video display acceleration; doing so may affect the overlay capabilities of the video display adapter.