How to convert video files for smooth playback
Renders can be very useful in video editing projects, especially when you have limited resources (low RAM or underpowered CPU) or are adding complex effects to your clips.
Modern video editing software, as well as free software, will usually attempt to playback your edit in real-time, all done in software. This should work fine for simple edits or VFX. However, the more you ask of your program, it will struggle to play back your edits in real time. If you are lucky, you might only get one or two frames per frame. So we render.
We will show you how to access and control your render files using popular video editing programs. Finally, we’ll give you general tips and advice to ensure your computer runs as efficiently and effectively as possible.
HOW TO RENDER IN ADOBE PREMIERE PRO
Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful non-linear desktop video editor that gives users almost complete control over their projects.
You can choose one or more clips to be rendered to speed up playback, if the effects you apply are too complex to slow down Premiere’s ability to play them quickly.
It’s also useful to be able to render between In/Out points. This means that your request can begin and end at any point in a clip. You can also delete rendered files using the same action as the other apps. This means that it’s not a one-size fits all affair like the ones we have looked at. Instead, you can just pinpoint the render you don’t need and keep the rest.
HOW TO RENDER IN CYBERLINK POWERDIRECTOR
To get CyberLink PowerDirector rendering your project, click the handy “Render Preview” button to the right of the interface. This will save all effects to disk, which will free up RAM and allow for smoother playback.
PowerDirector will automatically do this for you if your system runs out of memory. You can manually select a range that the software will render and ignore the rest.
You can have more control over the action by using the Settings window. One of these options is to render files in Ultra HD resolution.
You can also delete files from that window if they don’t work as expected or you simply need more space. Select the files that you want to delete from the next window by clicking on “Manually Delete”.
HOW TO RENDER IN THE APPLE FINAL CUTS PRO
Apple Final Cut Pro offers a lot of flexibility in rendering files. It defaults to auto-render when you aren’t doing anything on your computer. The default limit is too short. It’s set at 5 seconds by Filmora. However, you can adjust it in Preferences’ Playback section. You can adjust the delay to suit your needs, disable it completely, or increase or decrease the delay.
You can render the entire project or just the highlighted sections. This gives you some flexibility. However, if something goes wrong and you don’t like the result, click on the Library in the sidebar and go to File > Delete Generated Library Files. Then tick ‘Delete Render Files. You can’t select any specific section in Premiere. However, you have the option to delete all unused files or the entire project.
HOW TO RENT VIDEOS IN HITFILM
HitFilm renders automatically. However, you can also manually trigger it by right-clicking on any clip in your timeline and choosing the ‘PreRender’ menu. You can also remove any render that was applied to a clip from this menu.
You can delete pre-renders like the others on this list to force the software create a new clip with all its applied effects. This is useful if space is an issue or you want to archive a project.
If this is the case, go to the Options panel and then visit the Proxies & Pre-Renders menu. You’ll find two options here: “Delete Pre-Renders For Project” does exactly what it says: all rendered files will be deleted. Another option is to delete all pre-renders files on any project.
HOW TO RENDER VIDEOS ON WONDERSHARE FILMORA
Wonderrshare Filmora allows you to easily see what sections of your project must be rendered. Any red line on your timeline will indicate which parts might have dropped frames or be displayed in lower quality (it all depends on your computer’s RAM and CPU).
Go to File > Render Preview to manually trigger a rendering operation. Filmora will write the effects to disc so you can’t do any other things to your project. It’s easy to delete preview files: File > Delete Preview Files.
You might find repetitive actions with many effects tedious if you are working with them all. Automating the process can help you to do this. You can do this in the app’s preferences. Make sure Background Render is checked, and tell Filmora how long you want it to wait before it triggers. By default, it is 5 seconds. Filmora will then take care of all your rendering needs.
Clicking on the ‘Clean” button next to the “Preview Render Files” menu will allow you to delete all of your project’s rendered images. However, you can’t pick and choose which renders you want to delete. It’s all or none.
VIDEOS RENDERING: GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
Sometimes rendering may not work properly, but this is rare. This happens even with the most powerful video editing laptops and computers. You’ve seen how different video editors let you delete files and restart from scratch. But what if you get the same results?
Unfortunately, this is not a case where you can eliminate potential variables. You might try switching off filters to see if that helps. It might be best to begin with the basics. Make sure your software is up-to-date.
Sometimes you may find that uninstalling the program from your computer and reinstalling could be a solution. It is possible to resolve problems by making sure that your operating system is up-to-date. You can also pack your computer with as much RAM and storage space as you can afford. It may have become a meme thanks tv shows like The IT Crowd but turning off your computer and restarting it can solve many mysteries.
Although there is no simple solution to a video editor not working as it should, this checklist may help you.
