GPU support for Videopad

Lancelot_Chan

c_major wrote:

Hi,

Currently VideoPad uses GPU to compute effects and transitions.

We are working on also using GPU for encoding and decoding as well as format conversion. Entire video processing will then run on the GPU if suitable.

Revised hardware pipeline expect to be released early next year.

Any progress on this project?

borate

The revised pipeline is in place; VP uses GPU for encoding/decoding when applicable.

See choices under the EDITING tab in OPTIONS.

Use the 64-bit version for best memory handling on large/complex projects.

Lancelot_Chan

I'm still on 32bit win 7. 🙂

Oh, so it's using GPU to encode now. Thanks!!! In this option box, I have Default, None (CPU only) and my radeon 7850 HD. However, whenever I pick radeon 7850 HD, it goes back to default. LOL. Only when I click none (cpu only), it indicated a change and asked me to restart. Once restarted, it was set to none (cpu only). When I changed back to my GPU, it asked me to restart and ended up with default again.

borate

What version of the program is being used? Try this beta. For licensed users upgrades are free for up to six months from purchase date. After that, VP will continue to fully function but a fee will be required in order to register the newest. Retain your old install file and registration info.

Choosing other than the default and clicking on OK here prompts for a VP restart, after which that selection is shown in the window.

If that's not the way it's working there perhaps your hardware does not support the function.

http://help.nchsoftware.com/help/en/videopad/win/about.html

Verify that video driver and Direct-X are up to date...

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179113

Lancelot_Chan

I'm using the latest driver already.

I guess it was not detected. When I tried shotcut earlier today, another free video editor, it doesn't detect my hardware acceleration either. But when I manually set it to amf (AMD VCE), the loading all goes to the GPU. Same when I use OBS studio to capture my screen, if I use amf encoder, the load will goto the GPU.

I wish VP has a manual switch for me to forcefully put the load on GPU like shotcut and OBS studio. 😃 I didn't end up using shotcut editor because it kept crashing often. It's not as low-end old computer friendly as VP is.

These are my hardware accelerated encoders in OBS and shotcut:

OBS:
http://www.rsw.com.hk/obs-amf.jpg

shotcut:
http://www.rsw.com.hk/shotcut-amf.jpg

Right now my GPU works in VP only when there is effects and transitions, not the bulk of encoding.

borate

File a suggestion, and refer to this thread... https://www.nch.com.au/suggestions/index.html?software=VideoPad

Lancelot_Chan

I'm currently using 11.17. I'll try the beta (doesn't have much hope) and also file a suggestion with reference to this thread too.

Tried the beta, same, always reverting my choice to default. Let's hope NCH people add the h264_amf option for me. https://content.invisioncic.com/r33241/emoticons/default_biggrin.png I know I'm just one little paid customer. haha.

More info for the programmers...

Lancelot_Chan

I've read that openshot only supports Nvidia encoding. Maybe it's the case here too that AMD VCE (amf) was not supported. https://content.invisioncic.com/r33241/emoticons/default\_sad.png

-0-

https://gist.github.com/nico-lab/94ded6ded780208e35d663001bbeadb7

More info about h264_amf. Really I'm looking forward to be able to use it with videopad, the best video editor I've come across in my opinion. Even if I have to pay a little bit more to enable this function. 😉

My old computer is at its peak setup with no options to upgrade CPU (i7 990x on X58 motherboard) anymore. So all I can do is to switch as much loading to GPU as possible. Of course I may spend some money to get a nvidia card. However, the last time I tried GTX 1080ti, my screen only showed cursor and no picture. Thus changing hardware is way less preferred. Plus I changed to radeon HD 7850 just month ago. I don't want to get another piece of hardware yet. Installing hardware is very tiresome for me.

So please NCH ppl, make this happens. 🙂

borate

You may just have raid the piggy bank for a new box.😁 If export time from VP is good, it seems to be a non-critical issue. Improvements are always in the works.

Share a project here and someone will report how it performs for them. The process is easy, quick and can be done privately. Just follow these steps...

Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left. Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER. Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
Upload --- Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER. Do NOT upload the individual VPJ or export file.
Get link --- Get a public link. If using Google Drive click GET SHAREABLE LINK. If necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with the link can view"
Share --- Click COPY LINK | DONE. Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately to me. It won't be shared.

* Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES. Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

Lancelot_Chan

So far export time is reasonable as long as I don't go with h265 or using any auto-fix effects. : ) So yes it's not a critical issue. Just want to make the best use of my limited resource. Glad that there will be chance to have this in the future version.

You're the best, as always. I'll keep on supporting and recommending VP to people.

borate

Future GPU usage improvements may not apply to your older PC? When you make suggestions or write to tech support be sure to include the PC specs.

Lancelot_Chan

Ok, I'm writing again with reference to this thread.

As of this moment VP's export speed without auto-fix or h265 is reasonable, but not the fastest. The program I moved from to VP, Pinnacle Studio 15, rendered faster in some conditions like without lighting effects. It just could not retain the original clip's quality no matter the bit rate I set to it. That's the first reason I tried VP out and fell in love with it immediately. PS15 also was way less stable and often unable to export when effects are stacked up. So that's another reason I like VP about, stability and reliability.

However, when PS15 renders with text effects, the GPU will get to work too so maybe it's one of the reasons why it's faster, with the other reason being rendering with more quality loss obviously.

borate wrote:

You may just have raid the piggy bank for a new box.😁

This is my piggy bank.

http://www.rsw.com.hk/piggy-bank.jpg