Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Common G-Force questions

Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall, keycompton

Post Reply
User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

I'm having a great time assembling a video using G-Force Standalone animations under Windows 10. One issue I'm running into is that FlowField animations are not entirely smooth, i.e., the animations speed up and slow down ever so slightly resulting in animations that subtly lurch along. Can anything be done to make the FlowFields run smoother?

I've used Windows 10's performance monitor and it appears I have plenty of resources available (even the most complex G-Force animations appear to consume less than 25% of the CPU). Any suggestions? Thanks.

My current specs:

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.30 GHz
ASUS X99-A Motherboard
32GB DDR4 SDRAM
ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8GB ROG STRIX
850w Power Supply
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by BTT »

Hello WilburPost

I don't know why there is often a stutter when changing FlowFields, it's always been an issue and SoundSpectrum have never found a solution.
I use a program called Fraps which shows the number of FPS it's amazing how low this drops when certain FlowFields are loading.
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

Thank you for the reply, BTT. Here's one of the videos:


BTW, I see my link above has been automatically revised to hide the first six characters of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure prefix. Please advise if there is another way I should share hyperlinks, or if I shouldn't share them at all. Thanks.
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

BTT wrote:
Mon Aug 30, 2021 8:57 pm
I don't know why there is often a stutter when changing FlowFields, it's always been an issue and SoundSpectrum have never found a solution...
Hi BTT,

In my case the issue isn't when FlowFields are changing via a slideshow, rather the same FlowField will continuously display micropauses during its execution. I presume some sort of calculations are taking place during these periods. This is my benchmark reference:

ColorMap: Mellow
WaveShape: Arena
FlowField: Bubble Tunnel

I've tweaked parameters to no avail in "Preferences (Standalone).txt" and "Global Preferences.txt". I've taken the target framerate to as low as 15 fps and as high as 60 fps, but the micropauses continue as before.
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by BTT »

Hello WilburPost
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by BTT »

Hello WilburPost

Links have been changed to "This is Ransomware" using tools in the Administrators control section. The reason for this being a mass posting by hundreds of Russian spammers with links to disgusting porn sites (not the normal porn). There were close to 70 people registering accounts every day, so changing links to "This is Ransomware" was used as a deterrent which has so far proved successful
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

Yes. Sorry for any confusion. Wilbur Post--from the 60s American TV show, "Mr. Ed"--is a moniker I use for graphics forums. :wink:
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by BTT »

Hello WilburPost

Just to make you aware of the following that applies to your videos:-

We permit registered only paid license holders (Gold, Platinum or Commercial) to post video(s) on the web, provided they meet these following conditions:

- 1) you must purchase an ACTIVE Gold, Platinum or Commercial license for the SoundSpectrum software that may be used in a posted video(s)

- 2) video(s) must include a text credit saying that "visuals are courtesy of SoundSpectrum (www.soundspectrum.com)"

- 3) the text credit must appear within the video(s) itself (i.e. the closing frame is fine) AND be included along with the details/description that are posted with the video(s).

- 4) URLs to all posted video(s) should be provided to SoundSpectrum and they should include all required credits while being used in a not-for-profit manner.

- 5) we reserve the right to rescind permission for any posted video(s) that contain objectionable, illegal, or is representative content (in our sole discretion).

- 6) you may not sell or license posted video(s) containing SoundSpectrum content, or place video(s) behind a paywall.

- 7) you may not use video(s) containing SoundSpectrum content in any live performance, unless prior commercial license and permission has been granted
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by BTT »

Hello WilburPost
In my case the issue isn't when FlowFields are changing via a slideshow, rather the same FlowField will continuously display micropauses during its execution. I presume some sort of calculations are taking place during these periods. This is my benchmark reference:
Sorry, totally stumped with this issue. I have run GF with the three configs you quoted and it runs as smooth as a babies bum. The only thing I can think of is some other software running in the background, maybe an AV program updating etc...
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

BTT wrote:
Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:21 pm
Hello WilburPost
In my case the issue isn't when FlowFields are changing via a slideshow, rather the same FlowField will continuously display micropauses during its execution. I presume some sort of calculations are taking place during these periods. This is my benchmark reference:
Sorry, totally stumped with this issue. I have run GF with the three configs you quoted and it runs as smooth as a babies bum. The only thing I can think of is some other software running in the background, maybe an AV program updating etc...
Hmmm. I'll need to take another look. I've tried shutting down other processes and services that appear to be competing for CPU time, but maybe there's one thing in particular that's interrupting the flow? Thank you for the info!
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

jerohm
Senior Member
Posts: 419
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:19 pm

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by jerohm »

GF is, for all practical purposes, solely CPU intensive; the GPU isn't exploited whatsoever. Your hardware should be more than capable. I took a look at your video, and the only thing I noticed, was it appeared to use a MPEG clip (Sprite). Those are handled by an Apple process that is also pretty CPU intensive (video clips in particular). Some Flowfields (i.e., Rovastar's ) are just too busy to stand up to YouTube compression. I have "FlowField.ConfigPrepTime = 30", which I am sure is more than enough. You could also stretch out the transition time. Close down the browser when recording. I use the Nvidia GeForce Experience to do the screen capture to its >>> own SSD <<<. Some of the original C code has been replaced with Python, and there are cases where the interface between the two seem to be less than optimal. I notice it most with 'titles' display. I use WinAmp (32bit) because (of BTT and) it can easily bump up the task priority... Standalone has to deal with too many unknowns handled in the Win10 domain. I have a 4930K overclocked to 4.2 on all core, and am able to run 4K at ~60fps, falling to ~44fps during transitions. Most of my YouTube clips are done at 1920x1024 using an 7820HK laptop. Have fun! 8)
""

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

Hi jerohm,

Thank you very much for the response.
jerohm wrote:
Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:41 am
I took a look at your video, and the only thing I noticed, was it appeared to use a MPEG clip (Sprite).
There are no sprites used, at least not in the way G-Force implements sprites. My process is to record separate G-Force and Aeon Standalone video tracks for each of the various effects I want, using the MP3 song audio as a timecode for syncing the tracks later in my video editor (Adobe Premiere Pro). My video "Duster" is built by overlaying 9 different video tracks of G-Force and Aeon Standalones at work.

With the exception of the Particles layers, each track is a recording of a single G-Force (or Aeon) setting, i.e., no transitions.
jerohm wrote:
Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:41 am
Some Flowfields (i.e., Rovastar's ) are just too busy to stand up to YouTube compression.
Indeed. Some of the more detailed (and stunning) FlowField effects took a real beating from YouTube's (and Instagram's) compression, but the stuttering exists prior to recording or uploading to YouTube.
jerohm wrote:
Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:41 am
I use WinAmp (32bit) because (of BTT and) it can easily bump up the task priority... Standalone has to deal with too many unknowns handled in the Win10 domain.
Thanks for the tip. Bumping up Standalone's priority made no difference. I'll give WinAmp 32bit a try.
jerohm wrote:
Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:41 am
Have fun! 8)
Nothing but. :)
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

User avatar
WilburPost
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:20 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Can FlowField animations be smoother?

Post by WilburPost »

BTT recommended that I try running G-Force in Winamp 5.66. Yes, much smoother now! What a difference. :)

Here's the revised video using smoother G-Force animations from Winamp:

Now that I'm getting smooth animations from G-Force, I'm realizing that each subsequent step in the video production process adds flow-stilting artifacts:

1) Screen capture using Vidmore and saving to uncompressed MOV;
2) Exporting the final mix to H.264/MPEG-4;
3) Further processing applied by YouTube and Instagram (neither are especially accommodating of these graphics).

I think the other thing working against this is that the human eye appears to be especially sensitive to micropauses in an otherwise continuous flow.
Windows 10; G-Force Platinum; Aeon Platinum

Post Reply