Slow loading videos - AS3 + EVP2 + WP - Can anyone help?

11 replies
Hey everyone,

Hoping someone can give me some tips or point me in the right direction.

I host all my videos with amazon S3, but use Easy Video Player 2 (hosted on a WP blog with OptimizePress) to generate the code to place them on webpages. I also handbrake all videos using the ipad / iphone legacy custom setting, web-optimised box checked.

Recently the videos have started to take a long time to load up... and by that I mean it takes 5 or 6 seconds of white space before a black box appears... which then turns grey, and then finally loads. Normally takes around 20 seconds for the process to complete fully... so not ideal for sales videos!

I thought S3 would mean my videos would always load super-speedily, but it appears I need to tweak some more... Can anyone suggest what could be the problem / what I could do to speed things up?

Thanks in advance
#as3 #evp2 #loading #slow #videos
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    It could be caused by a number of issues.

    One of the most common issues with slow loading mp4 files is if your video file has the meta data stored at the end of the file. A lot of programs will do this by default. What this means is the whole video file needs to download before it will start playing. If however you have the meta data at the beginning of the mp4 file it can start streaming right away and download as they are watching it.

    What program are you using to render the videos and are they mp4 format?
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      Have you followed the EVP2 instructions to process the
      videos via Handbrake using the settings they recommend?

      Also, you can use Amazon CloudFront to stream your
      sales videos faster by selecting that option within EVP2.

      Make sure you're using the minimum number of WordPress
      plugins too as these can affect the loading speed of your
      site.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
      Signature

      .

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      • Profile picture of the author Phil Ainsworth
        Thanks for the feedback.

        Will - I currently use Camtasia 7 to generate videos using the "web optimised" setting which does generate a mp4 file. Would this cause it to store the meta data at the end of the file?

        Shaun - After generating an mp4 from Camtasia, I handbrake it using the 'iphone / ipad' setting, with the "web-optimised" box ticked. The resulting file is the one that goes to S3.

        I wasn't aware of CloudFront - thanks, I will look into it now!

        With the plug-ins... I don't think its that as there's only Optimizepress installed on the problem site. However, my evp is located on another site which has approx. 30 plug-ins... could the plug-ins on that install of evp be affecting the performance of the other site?

        Thanks in advance

        Phil
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  • Profile picture of the author Phil Ainsworth
    POSTED IN THE WRONG THREAD
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohsin Rasool
    Hi Phil,

    EVP guys recommend to optimize video again using Handbrake
    You will find it in there support guide, it will solve most of issues like meta info at the
    end .....


    -Mohsin
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  • Profile picture of the author Phil Ainsworth
    Hey Mohsin,

    As posted above, I already handbrake my videos (iphone/ipad setting, web obtimsed option ticked) and still have this problem.

    Thank you anyway

    Phil
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by Phil Ainsworth View Post

      Hey Mohsin,

      As posted above, I already handbrake my videos (iphone/ipad setting, web obtimsed option ticked) and still have this problem.

      Thank you anyway

      Phil
      Phil,

      If you are using the web optimized option in Handbrake (sorry, I missed that detail in your first post) then that is exactly what it will do -- put the meta data at the beginning of the video file so that is not the issue here. That rules out probably the most common issue.

      If it were me I would probably just try loading the video file in a different video player such as flowplayer or jwplayer (both free) and see if the same lag is occurring. If it is then you know it is not EVP causing the problem. But if the loading time is much faster then you will know it is an issue with EVP causing the videos to load so slowly.

      The fact you said it takes a while just for the black video box to appear leads me to believe it is an issue with EVP. They are who host your video player and so if the video player is taking 5 seconds just to load then that is an issue with them. The video file can't possibly load until the video player and it's files have all loaded.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom B
        Banned
        It sounds like more of a problem with the codec you used to and not the software used to display it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Phil Ainsworth
    Just BUMPING this in case anyone else can point me in the right direction...

    Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated
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