Only get 1 frame or green background in RAM-Preview AE CS5.5

Hi All,
I've been working with AE for a few years now, and nothing like this has ever happened to me before:
I have a batch of quicktime videos (.mov)(stats are 1080 @24p) that play just fine outside of AE or Premiere. But when I stick them in and do a RAM-Preview, I get only the audio and 1 frame. If I scroll through the video I may get another frame or 2 if i'm lucky, or a dark green background. I have no idea what could possibly be doing this. And it happens in Premeire Pro CS 5.5 as well.
Stats for my mac are 4 gb of RAM and running OSX Mavricks

Codec is AAC, H.264, 2 Channel Audio, etc.
Opening up a file with VLC gives me 516 streams ( ! ) with
Stream 0 having Audio | MPEG AAC Audio (mp4a) | Stereo | 48000 Hz
Stream(s) 1 - 516 having Video | H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)(avc1) | 1920x1080 | Frame rate of 23.9744...
Some, however, have the (correct) decoding of Planer 4:2:0 YUV, as of which I believe this causes the Purp/Green colors & sometimes dropped frame.
Edit: (More Info)
Due note that the movies where recorded as AVCHD, then opened into Quicktime and then saved as a .MOV for greater flexibility with different programs.
Would it be worth it to try and find the .MTS files again, and use those?
Or, if they have gone missing, what would I do anyways?
Thanks.

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"I meant editing the text preferences file (which is something that power users can do" - I have no idea how to do this. Like I said, it's a fresh installation.
There must be something seriously wrong with my installation. I changed the settings as you suggested and it didn't make any difference to the RAM preview straight away, so I quit and restarted a AE and the setting had changed back to 0. I'm going to try reinstalling and see if that fixes it.
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Hey everyone,
I'm quite familiar with this old error and how to avoid it and fix it but when preparing new CS6 lessons for my classes it just seems to come up again and again without any apparent relationship to the assets I'm working with. I've mostly been preparing some "What's New in CS6" lessons and have had this error come up using Evironment Layers, Raytracing lessons, Motion Tracker lessons, etc. using text, footage, solids, you name it.
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Using the updates AE 11.0.0.378 on OS10.6.8 MacBook Pro 2.8Ghz Core 2 Duo with 4GB of RAM
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Thoughts?
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No, we have not given up on this issue.
Here's an explanation.
This error message is After Effects telling you that it can't do a RAM preview because it can't render and preview at least two frames. This state has many causes, though:
One cause is operator error. If you have the current-time indicator at the end of the composition or work area, and you have From Current Time enabled in the Preview panel, then you'll get this message when trying to RAM preview. This is because you're already at the end of the previewable duration.
Another cause is a badly behaved plug-in that is demanding waaaaaay too much memory, so After Effects can't render two frames using this plug-in. (Video Copilot Reflection has been known to behave badly in this way, for example.)
The two above causes apply to all versions of After Effects.
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So, what can you do? There are some command-line ways of purging "inactive" memory and making it free in Mac OS. I won't recommend any specific ones here, but a quick search on the Internet will turn them up. But a guaranteed and easy way of doing this is to restart the operating system.

Need help with the "RAM Preview needs 2 or more frames" error

I keep getting this error while trying to RAM Preview, I've tried to purge all my AE memory, upgrade to the latest version of AE (2014,2) but it still doesnt work.
Please help

What happens when you create a brand new project, put in a solid, animate its position, and RAM preview it?
If that works, what happens if you import your troubled project into this brand new one?
You have restarted your computer, right?

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My system: Windows 7 Professional, two Intel Xeon X5650's, 12GB RAM, and a NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800.
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PREVIEWS
Fast Previews: Adaptive Resolution Limit 1/4
Enabled OpenGL and both sub-options for OpenGL enabled.
MEMORY & MULTIPROCESSING
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On my screen magnification ratio setting, I am using 25% and my Resolution/Down Sample is set to quarter. On my preview tab, I have tried setting my resolution from the default of "Auto" to "Quarter" with no difference.
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Under AJA Preview there are check boxes, one for "Video" and the other for "Preview." I've checked and unchecked them both and I'm still getting poor RAM previews. No matter what I have toggled, I seem to get between 1 and 2 fps for my RAM Previews.
I am not currently using the AJA card for anything. I will consider uninstalling it if this might possibly solve my problem. It's just a hassle to install and uninstall cards on a per need basis.
If there are any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them. At this point, I'd do just about anything to have realtime previews back.
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How do i make the ram preview render the whole thing not just part of it

i have a super-fast modern desktop computer so ram isn't an issue. i want the green bar to cover the whole thing, not leave gray and blue spaces.
unrelated but while i'm here: is there a way to increase just the gamma of just the in-program composition window since i like to keep my monitor dark for my eyes but always have to increase brightness when watching movies as a result.
also is there a way to increase the text size of the ui besides increasing the text size for the whole windows 8.1?

How much RAM does your super-fast modern desktop have? AND what is the size of your composition?
If you're getting spaces between the green bar, your RAM Preview options may include skip frames.
If you don't have enough RAM to cache a large (or long) video, you can lower the resolution that you're attempting to RAM Preview (in your comp window if you're using Auto, or in the RAM Preview options). Unfortunately, it means that you'll be trading quality of the video playback for duration of frames played.
You can adjust the exposure of the video in the comp or footage windows by using the Exposure Button
Turn up the value to over/under expose the video, but it won't change the RENDER, just the way you look at it in the window.
You can toggle the icon on/off if you have a certain value you like to keep it set to.
Exposure Button & Value

AE CS4 - why such poor RAM preview on my FAST machine?

Hi all, I just installed After Effects CS4 - I have a smokin fast mchine: quadcore Zeon 3.20 GHz, hyperthreading turned on, nvidia quadrofx 3800 with current driver, 12 GB DDR3 RAM, windows 7 64bit ... can you PLEASE help me troubleshoot a problem: even on the simplest compositions, a moving picture or a moving piece of type, the RAM preview stutters along, the current time indicator hops along at a choppy pace, images in the frame dont look like they're moving smoothly, and all i get is about 6 seconds of RAM preview ... seems to me that I used to get better performance on a MUCH MUCH slower machine under windows XP ... i have looked around the forums and seem the advice on multiprocessor options and the like, but nothing I do seems to help ... do any of you have any advice for me to improve my performance??? if you have any questions about my setup or preferences, let me know, I will be on this until I get what I expect out of my (otherwise incredibly fast) machine

Hi Todd, thanks again for your reply ... FYI, I bought the FX3800 for Avid editing, for which it is the qualified video card, and supports distributed processing in the Avid along with my DX HD hardware BOB - I had hoped it would work well with After Effects, too, but I do understand the Adobe is very transparent about the fact that, as long as your card has OpenGL support, probably best to sink your $$$ into more RAM or faster CPU .. but to stay on topic, I am just very stunned that I am not getting better playback with my system ... I have the most recent Nvidia drivers ... I have 2 NEC 2490WUXi2 each connected through DVI-D to my video card, each runnign at its native 1920x1200 res, 59 hertz ... the programs I have installed are Adobe CS4 Production Premium, Win7 64bit, MS Office 2007 Enterprise, latest version of Quick Time, Media Player version 11, and NERO 9 ... you dont think that one of these video player apps (like media player or QT) are messing with my screen performance do you? what about Nero 9, have you heard any compatibility or display problems associated with this app? would unistalling any of these programs be a troubleshooting technique that you'd attempt?
Finally, when you say "an issue with a bottleneck of drawing to the screen" what do you mean exactly? 'cause this kinds sounds like a goood description of what I am seeing ... what might be the cause of such a bottleneck, I am willing to try anything ...
Thanks, sir, for your reply!
Derek Reid
Trader Multimedia Inc.
www.tradermm.com
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:46:43 -0600
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: AE CS4 - why such poor RAM preview on my FAST machine?
Just one thing to cut down a frequent misconception:
Your nice graphics card doesn't do much for After Effects performance.In fact, trying to use OpenGL for rendering (including rendering of previews) can cause problems.
I recommend turning OpenGL rendering off for all but interactions. I.e., choose the http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/9.0/WSAF696587-2D81-42e2-B248-4C5C2B7D3614a.html and turn off http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/9.0/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a4f2dff7-79e8a.htm l. OpenGL is not compatible with Render Multiple Frames Simultaneously multiprocessing.
I'm not saying that OpenGL is your problem. Rather, because you mentioned your nice graphics card, I just had to stress that you need to forget about that with regard to After Effects. It's not really relevant.
It may be that the jerkiness is an issue with a bottleneck of drawing to the screen. (I don't know, but it's possible.)
Your hard disk being too slow wouldn't be an issue with RAM previews, since the frames are all cached in RAM.
>

AE CC 2014 Mercury Transmit Ram Preview with AJA flickers

Hey Everyone,
I have installed the latest AJA drivers and plugins and enabled Mercury Transmit preview in AE but when I render the preview the output flickers. One frame is normal the next is darker, normal, darker etc.
Has anyone got this working yet ?
Nic

Hi Nic,
I'm not familiar with that error message. It's probably generated by the AJA Preview plug-in. Can you post a screen shot?
8-bpc vs. 16-bpc does not always affect the appearance of the comp, it depends on the source material in use and how you are manipulating it. And in any case you can always switch between 8/16-bpc to get better performance when necessary. Keep in mind that switching color depths will invalidate any cached frames.
Some facts about RAM preview playback performance with video preview in After Effects:
Enabling video preview of any form uses the CPU and memory resources of your computer, and when these are in low supply can eventually result in slow frame rates during RAM preview playback. This is because as the frames are played they are transformed on-the-fly (no caching) to the format of the video preview device. The higher the memory requirements of the frame (resolution, frame rate, color depth), the sooner you'll see the playback frame rate slow down. After Effects does not have the option of dropping frames during playback to maintain playback speed, like how Premiere Pro does.
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RAM preview questions

1. Is there a way within the AE interface to monitor the amount
of used / available RAM during an active RAM preview?
2. Is there a way to display the number of the frame that is currently
being processed during the course of a RAM preview?
3. Is there a way to initiate a RAM preview in reverse beginning
from the current frame? Alternatively, is there a way to initiate
a "spacebar preview" in reverse beginning from the current frame?
4. Is there a way to retain the processed frames of a RAM preview
after making a timeline change that does not affect the already
processed frames?
Question 4 examples:
-RAM preview first 120 frames, view result, extend the active
work area to lengthen the RAM preview, the entire RAM preview
needs to be re-rendered from beginning.
-RAM preview first 120 frames, interrupt and view, activate hidden
layer that begins at frame 100, the entire RAM preview needs to
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thanks

First of all: I'm German, I make mistakes!
I don't know any real solution for any of your questions, but I have some work-arounds:
1. Is there a way within the AE interface to monitor the amount
of used / available RAM during an active RAM preview?
1. On Windows 7 you could look at the (I think it's called:) mini application on your desktop that indicates the usage of processor and RAM simply by hovering with your mouse over the little bar at the far bottom right, that shows the desktop. That's what I do!
If your not comfortable with that (or not able to) then the only way I know to figure something out about the (possible) RAM usage is to look under the preferences in the "Memory & Multiprocessor usage" (or something similar, I own the German version...).
2. Is there a way to display the number of the frame that is currently
being processed during the course of a RAM preview?
2. Maybe you could insert a timecode effect. Just make a new solid and choose the effect from Text/Timecode.
3. Is there a way to initiate a RAM preview in reverse beginning
from the current frame? Alternatively, is there a way to initiate
a "spacebar preview" in reverse beginning from the current frame?
3. I don't know any way to start a preview reversed, but you could set your work area to the area to want to preview (uncheck "From current time" option! That's what I didn't know How to limit RAM preview to the work area?! ) and also check the "looping option" in the preview panel to "ping-pong" (I don't know if they're called so...).
4. Is there a way to retain the processed frames of a RAM preview
after making a timeline change that does not affect the already
processed frames?
4. After Effects actually does exactly that! But it doesn't seem to know, if the layer is above or beneath the already rendered ones. Also if you change a keyframe it will re-render everything up to the next keyframes. But apart from that it does keep the rendered keyframes without re-rendering really, really unnecessary parts.
I also just tried out extending the work are and it keeped the rendered frames. Maybe AE didn't had enough RAM to keep yours?

Green/Glitched Screen when switched from CS5.5 to Adobe CC.

I recently upgraded from CS5.5 to Adobe CC, and I converted a Premiere Pro project to open in CC. ALL of the video was green or glitched looking. The source videos are .mp4, with 17 videos that I'm pulling from to make this project. They have also changed from 59.94 fps to 0.00 fps or 0.01 fps. It shows up in Quicktime fine, and played in CS5.5 fine. I can only hear the audio, but all the video has turned green.
I am using:
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Why is RAM preview crashing my After Effects CC 2014?

Using Windows 7 x64
After Effects CC 2014
I'm getting numerous crashes when using the RAM Preview.
Until my current project started getting more complicated all was good - no crashes. As I've added more assets to it, it's become very unstable.
When I click the RAM Preview button it'll either crash immediately, or succeed. If it actually starts, it's fine. But more often than not it just crashes the whole program immediately.
How do I solve this?
Is there a checklist I can use to check for possible issues?

Right, right. Vague info I know, but I was hoping for a checklist of common culprits I could eliminate one by one. Very new to the world of video.
I'm running:
Windows 7 x64
Intel i7-3770K CPU @ 3.5GHz
32GB RAM
GeForce GTX 780
Doing a 720p project, but using mainly 1080p footage.
Video files used are .MP4 and .MTS format.
Using various effects. Mostly simple stuff.
Plenty of sound effects and music as well. All .WAV format. No MP3's (I heard AE hates MP3 format).
I don't get any crash info. The entire program freezes until I kill it manually.

After Effects Appears to "Close" and then Re-Open on RAM Previewing

I've been having this problem the past week and I can't seem to figure out why exactly it's happening. The good news is that it doesn't crash! I will get a slight halt when the RAM Preview says it is mixing the audio and then the close/re-open behaviour. The reason I describe it like this is that the application window disappears and then the icon reappears to the front of the taskbar as if it had been re-opened again.
Since it's not crashing it's not a major issue however is does become quite annoying when having to quickly review a lot of little changes one after the other. Does anyone have any ideas?
Cheers,
Jonny

YOu have not provided any system info or other technical details, so we can't really know. A common guess would be driver issues with your audio and graphics hardware...
Mylenium

Made preference changes, but still getting the Ram preview needs 2 or more frames to play back.

I'm new to After Effects CS6 and am working on a very simple Kinetic Typography project. I don't have a lot of memory, but this is a really simple project, so I'm wondering if maybe I'm just not using the work area correctly. Every once in while I can get the project to RAM preview, but only for a few seconds. Most of the time I get the "Ram preview needs 2 or more frames to play back" error message. I have pasted my sytem info and setting info bleow. Thanks for any insight!
I have checked the Render Multiple Fames Simultaneously box and have set the seetings at:
Here is the info when you click on details:
Installed RAM: 4.00 GB
Current RAM Usage: 0.00 GB
Allowed RAM Usage: 2.50 GB
Process ID
Application Name
Min Needed Memory
Max Usable Memory
Max Allowed Memory
Current Memory
Current Priority
3081
After Effects
0.00
0.00
2.50
0.00
3 - Low
System info:
System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB

What exact version of After Effects?
Show a screenshot of your TImeline panel and Preview panel when the problem occurs.
Make sure that we can see the details in your screenshot. Your current screenshot is unreadable because it's so small.

I have just downloaded Elements 11 & there is only one frame (basic) in collage, how do I get more?

I have just upgraded from Elements 7 to Elements 11 but find in the photo Collage there is only one frame, how do I get more, my old 7 had a good variety???

Hi Wobygong5,
I am afraid PSE11 has just one theme, ie. Basic.
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-Rahul.

Only get 1 frame or green background in RAM-Preview AE CS5.5

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