Hi,

The "Media transcoding..." message in CapCut, especially when editing long videos, is indeed often related to proxy generation. Let us understand what is happening and how to troubleshoot this issue.

Understanding media transcoding and proxies in CapCut:

• Media transcoding: When you import video footage into CapCut, especially high-resolution or long videos, CapCut performs "media transcoding" in the background. This is the process of converting your original video files into a more editing-friendly format.
• Proxy files: A key part of transcoding is the creation of proxy files. Proxies are lower-resolution, smaller file size versions of your original video clips. CapCut uses these proxies instead of the original high-resolution files during the editing process.
• Why proxies are important for long/high-res videos:
  • Smoother playback: Editing high-resolution video (like 4K or even 1080p) can be very demanding on your computer's resources. Proxies, being smaller, require much less processing power for playback and editing operations. This results in smoother, lag-free editing, especially on less powerful computers or with long, complex projects.
  • Faster editing: Operations like trimming, adding effects, and color grading are much faster and more responsive when working with proxy files.
  • Efficiency: Proxies allow you to edit efficiently without constantly bogging down your system with the full weight of the original, high-resolution footage. When you are finished editing and export your final video, CapCut uses the original high-resolution files to ensure the best output quality.

Possible causes for "Media Transcoding..." getting stuck

When CapCut gets stuck at "Media transcoding...", it means the proxy generation process is failing or taking an extremely long time. Here are the most common reasons for this:

1. Resource intensive videos:

   • High resolution/bitrate: Extremely high-resolution video (4K, 8K) or videos with very high bitrates (data rate) are more demanding to transcode.
   • Long video length: Longer videos naturally require more time and resources to transcode.
   • Variable frame rate (VFR): Video recorded with variable frame rates (common with phone recordings or screen recordings) can sometimes cause issues during transcoding.

2. Insufficient system resources:

   • Low RAM: If your computer doesn't have enough RAM (Random Access Memory), it can struggle to handle the transcoding process, especially for large video files.
   • Weak processor (CPU): A less powerful CPU will take longer to transcode video.
   • Full hard drive: If your hard drive is nearly full, there might not be enough free space for CapCut to create proxy files and temporary files needed for transcoding.

3. Software or driver issues:

   • Outdated CapCut version: Bugs or inefficiencies in older versions of CapCut might cause transcoding problems.
   • Outdated graphics drivers: Graphics cards are sometimes used for video processing tasks. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can lead to transcoding errors.
   • Conflicting software: Rarely, other software running in the background might conflict with CapCut's transcoding process.

4. Corrupted video files:

   • Damaged source files: If your original video files are corrupted or have errors, CapCut might get stuck trying to process them.

Troubleshooting steps to fix "Media Transcoding..." issues

Here is a systematic approach to troubleshoot and resolve this problem:

1. Restart CapCut and your PC: As always, start with a simple restart. Close CapCut completely and restart your computer. Re-launch CapCut and try importing and editing your video again.

2. Check system requirements and resources:

   • CapCut system requirements: Find the recommended system specifications for the PC version. Ensure your computer meets these requirements, especially in terms of RAM and processor.
   • Free up hard drive space: Check your hard drive space. If it's getting full (less than 10-20GB free), free up space by deleting unnecessary files, videos, or programs.
   • Close unnecessary programs: Before running CapCut, close other programs running in the background to free up RAM and CPU resources.

3. Update CapCut and Graphics Drivers:

   • Update CapCut: Make sure you are using the latest version of CapCut. Check for updates within the CapCut application itself (usually in settings menu) or using the link provided above.
   • Update graphics drivers: Update your graphics card drivers to the latest versions from the NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel websites (depending on your graphics card).

4. Transcode problematic videos manually (before importing):

   • Use a video converter: Before importing into CapCut, try manually transcoding your long, high-resolution videos to a more editing-friendly format and lower resolution using a video converter program (like HandBrake, MediaCoder, or online converters).
   • Recommended settings for manual transcoding:
     • Resolution: Reduce the resolution (e.g., from 4K to 1080p or even 720p for proxies).
     • Format: Convert to a more standard and efficient editing codec like H.264 MP4.
     • Frame Rate: Keep the original frame rate or convert to a constant frame rate if it's variable.
   • Import the transcoded videos: Import these manually transcoded, lower-resolution versions into CapCut. Since they are already in an easier format, CapCut skips or significantly speed up its own transcoding/proxy process. You can then edit with these lighter files. Remember to export your final video using the original high-resolution files for best quality.

5. Check for corrupted files:

   • Try different video files: Test if the "Media transcoding..." issue happens with all long videos, or only specific files. If it's only certain files, those files might be corrupted.
   • Re-export or Re-record: If you suspect file corruption, try re-exporting the video from its original source (if you created it yourself) or re-recording it.

6. Clear CapCut Cache: CapCut stores cache files that can sometimes become corrupted and cause issues. Clearing the CapCut cache can resolve unexpected behavior.

   • On PC:
     • Close your project and return to the home page.
     • Click the Settings button (usually a gear icon).
     • Navigate to Settings > Cache size.
     • Click the delete icon and confirm by selecting OK.
   • On Android:
     • Go to Settings > Apps > CapCut > Storage.
     • Tap on Clear cache.
   • On iOS:
     • Offload and reinstall the CapCut app, as there is no direct cache clearing option.

7. Run system file checker (SFC): Use the Windows System File Checker tool (sfc /scannow in Command Prompt as Administrator) to scan for and repair corrupted system files that might be indirectly affecting CapCut's operation.

8. Disable hardware encoding: Some users have found that disabling hardware encoding improves stability:
   • Close your project and return to the home page.
   • Click the Settings button.
   • Navigate to Settings > Performance.
   • Uncheck the box labeled Speed up hardware encoding.
   • Click Save and restart CapCut.

Inconsistent behavior (works sometimes, not others):

The fact that the issue is inconsistent suggests it might be related to:

• System load: On "good" days, your computer might be less loaded with other processes, allowing CapCut to transcode more easily. On "bad" days, background processes or higher overall system load might be straining resources, causing transcoding to get stuck. Closing unnecessary programs before editing can help with this.
• Video file variations: Even if videos are all "long," there might be subtle differences in resolution, bitrate, or encoding between files that make some more demanding to transcode than others.

If the problem persists:

If you have tried all these troubleshooting steps and are still facing the "Media transcoding..." issue, it is highly recommended to contact CapCut technical support directly. There might be a more specific bug or issue related to your system configuration or CapCut installation that they can investigate.

• Contact CapCut support: You can reach them via email at: [email protected]
• Provide details to support: When contacting support, give them detailed information:
  • Your PC specifications (CPU, RAM, graphics card, operating system).
  • The version of CapCut you are using.
  • Detailed description of the problem, including the "Media transcoding..." message, freezing, and inconsistent behavior.
  • Information about the video files you are trying to edit (resolution, length, format).
  • Troubleshooting steps you have already tried.

By systematically working through these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the "Media transcoding..." issue and hopefully get back to smoothly editing your long videos in CapCut!