Choppy Avi Playback in Premiere

[eccentricfeline]

I have used Windows Movie Maker to create videos for years. I recently decided to move on to a more advanced editing program- Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0
Most all of the videos I use to edit are AVIs or WMVs. When I import the AVI file and drag it to the timeline, the video looks like a DVD that skips. Very choppy. The quality is okay, but it does not play smoothly at all. The audio however, is smooth.
All I want is for this so-called "better" editing program to at least give me the smooth playback of Windows Movie Maker.

Here's some of my computer details:
1015 MB (RAM)
160GB Hardrive
32-bit Operating System
Intel Pentium 4 Processor
Windows Vista Home Basic
2 Hard Disk Drives- (C and Recovery (D
Plus DVD/CD (E & (F

[Krispy Kritter]

Typical choppy playback issues are hardware related or old/corrupt video codecs.

Codecs would be the easiest to fix. Just download and install the latest Divx codecs.

As for hardware, I don't know how stressing video playback is on your machine running Vista with only 1 gig of RAM. You could use task manager to monitor cpu and memory usage while playing a video in Premiere. That will give you an indication of whether your hardware can handle it or not.

[jagabo]

If you're talking about smoothnes while editing in Premiere: editing programs are not designed for smooth playback or seeking. Formats like Divx AVI and WMV aren't editing friendly. The long GOPs make them difficult to seek through.

[eccentricfeline]

Typical choppy playback issues are hardware related or old/corrupt video codecs.

Codecs would be the easiest to fix. Just download and install the latest Divx codecs.

As for hardware, I don't know how stressing video playback is on your machine running Vista with only 1 gig of RAM. You could use task manager to monitor cpu and memory usage while playing a video in Premiere. That will give you an indication of whether your hardware can handle it or not.

Okay, thanks, I'll check that out.

[eccentricfeline]

If you're talking about smoothnes while editing in Premiere: editing programs are not designed for smooth playback or seeking. Formats like Divx AVI and WMV aren't editing friendly. The long GOPs make them difficult to seek through.

Really? So no editing program except Windows Movie Maker is smooth..?

[jagabo]

WMM isn't very smooth when dealing with long GOP sources either. Again, I'm not talking about the files you make with the editors, but working within the editors, scrolling around the video looking for cut points, etc.

[eccentricfeline]

WMM isn't very smooth when dealing with long GOP sources either. Again, I'm not talking about the files you make with the editors, but working within the editors, scrolling around the video looking for cut points, etc.

Right, I see what you're saying, but normally when I edit, I let the video play out, then stop it where I want to make a cut (Don't normally scroll). And it's very difficult when it just skips like a slideshow. I don't see how it's possible for anyone to edit things properly.