I'm not sure if this is related to Avid but whenever I minimize Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.2, my computer would pause for 1 or 2 seconds. My computer is a Dell Precision Workstation 670 with 3.6GHz Intel Xeon, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard drive, and Quadro FX 4400 video card.

Your help is appreciated.

Wow! Only 1 or 2 seconds? Geez, mine freezes for 30 sec on up to about 3 min.  It doesn't do it every time I minimize, probably 1 out of 6 times. Switching between project types and JKL use can trigger it too. Incredibly annoying...

Jeron

Mine does the same thing for about 20 secs 1 out of 6 times... very annoying when I'm in a hurry which is most of the time...

http://www.avid.com/exchange/forums/18634/ShowPost.aspx

I've posted on that thread too Erik. What exactly is this fix? Is it the act of playing the composer window in monitor number 2 (I only ever play the composer window in monitor number 2 so that doesn't fix it on my machine) or the act of playing the composer window in both monitors?

I can click on the graphic Play button all day and never get this hang. For me it is using JKL that triggers it. It is far better on 5.2.1 than 5.2 though. What triggers it the most is switching to another program or minimizing, speeding play back up to around 90 with J or L, and switching project types between HDV and SD. It happens more when dealing with HDV media as well.

Jeron

Thank so much for all your help and responses. I followed this link, http://www.avid.com/exchange/forums/18634/ShowPost.aspx, and found that work around and I can live with it to a point. However, I was thinking that is this problem due to the Multi-display hardware acceleration set to Single-display mode in my Nvidia video card setting. Why is Avid recommend setting this to single display mode?

Jeron, have you tried a different keyboard?

No I haven't tried another keyboard, but I have a Shuttle Pro device which sends a J, K or L with its transport controls and it causes the problems too. The weird JKL "flakiness" started with 5.2, it was fine before that.

I have another keyboard I can try though.  It is worth a shot

I do notice that if I click on the task bar or start menu with Xpress Pro running, I'm guaranteed to have a 30 sec or more hang in the system the first I do that. After the first time the hang only occurs around 15% of the time.

Jeron,

With your ShuttlePro have you noticed that if you use the center wheel to go frame by frame it seems to skip at least two frames every ten seconds. The pc seems to pause then catch-up. I have this problem. I have tried with non-drop and drop frame media and have tried this with more than one Shuttlepro.

Could this problem be related? I have had this issue with every version of 5.0.

I contacted Shuttlepro and they said they were unware of a problem but would look into it. I have also tried multiple Shuttlepro drivers.

I haven't noticed that yet. I usually use the center wheel to move a few frames at a time (less than 10 seconds worth). I do notice that the outer wheel (the spring loaded one) tends to do this behavior when you turn it really far. Which may be what you are talking about?

The outer wheel when turned just a little bit for the slow motion transport seems to work fine (like at 10 or 2 o'clock). When you turn it to play faster (like 8 or 4 o'clock) for a few seconds then let go, the computer keeps playing to "catch up". It isn't a pause it is more of a delayed reaction to the action of releasing the wheel. You release the wheel and the computer keeps playing for 5-10 seconds more.

I have the JKL keys mapped to the three buttons above the shuttle wheel. It is just a straight "press this key" mapping. They behave the same way as the JKL keys on the keyboard.

Using JKL I don't have a problem. But, this this version 5.0 does not seem as smooth as the prior version. It seems more jerky.

The problem got a lot better with 5.2.1. It was really bad with 5.2, to the point where I had to stop using JKL. Now I can go an entire editing session using JKL in 5.2.1 not see it. What is weird is that I've never seen it happen when I click on the graphic play button on the screen. The two methods of playing video (graphic play button and L keyboard key) seem to behave differently on my machine. I don't know why.

I can say for certain that setting focus to something outside of Xpress Pro for the first time will cause it to hang almost every time; e.g. clicking on the start menu or task bar.