Update 2013.12.07 - I broke down and accepted the Magix special offer for VSCL2014, mainly because it came with MusicMaker Soundtrack Edition which gave me a couple of Movie Score sound pools.

First quick reading confirms that the tools in the previous version are no longer there. Spectral cleaning is gone and replaced by 2 methods, neither of which do the same job as spectral cleaning and allowing the user to invert the sound to hear what gets cut. The methods in the new version include:

1. Cutting out the sound and replacing it with a sample from one side or the other of the cutout part;
2. Zooming in and drawing on the waveform to reduce the noise level.

The manual only gives a brief introduction of the cleaning effects and states that detailed tips are displayed in the video monitor in the info box, simply click on the effect for extra information.   The effects are all based on presets that can be tweaked using the knob, but the detailed parameters can no longer be seen or adjusted.   I haven't tried the program with MEP yet, and I will report back once I have.

Hi,

Video Sound Cleaning Lab 2014 (VSCL) has just come out.

I am posting this in the MEP forum because VSCL is a companion tool of MEP, that gives the MEP user more tools to clean up and enhance the sound of a video. I reviewed the differences between the new and previous versions and have some questions as to the usefulness and value of the new version. I have also compared VSCL with ACL, but have not discussed the results here.

I have version 1.0 of Video Sound Cleaning Lab (VSCL) which came out in 2010, I think, and I obtained it as an add-on to when I purchased some other Magix program. I do not believe that there has been another version out since the one that I have. Magix has just announced version 2014 for a time-limited low price including a basic version of Music Maker for free for registered Magix users. I already have MM2014 so there is nothing in that for me.

I have quickly reviewed the new version and found a few obvious differences. Magix states that it has given a better look to the interface, but other than that, does not indicate any significant new features. The main visible addition is the video track on the timeline. However, they have done what I believe to be some dumbing down of the program.

For VSCL2014, Magix states that the programs can clean and improve typical video sound noise and general noise, generally optimizing the video sound, using presets that represent the most common video sound problems.

Firstly, spectral cleaning has disappeared. The icon on the right hand side has disappeared and there is no mention of spectral cleaning in the features or videos for VSCL 2014. For me, this was the most useful feature of the program since I already have most of the other effects elsewhere, like in MEP.

Secondly, they appear to have removed all of the effects racks from the effects modules where you could set all of the available parameters for the effect. Note that the gear symbol in the lower right corner of each module has disappeared.

Magix advertisement says that they have made sound optimization easier than ever before and they have even more presets, more than 150. However, the previous version has many presets and I rarely used them, except as a guide and then I used the detailed parameters in the effects racks for fine-tuning.

In MEP, there are built-in audio object effects, including cleaning. Edit wave externally, Alt+Z, opens Music Editor 3, which contains additional cleaning and mastering tools, but no spectral cleaning. I have changed MEP to open VSCL instead of Music Editor 3.

See below for an example of the detailed effects racks that are likely no longer available in VSCL2014.

VSCL version 1.0

 

VSCL Spectral Cleaning screen

 The above effect tool does not appear to be in the new VSCL.

Parameters for first effects rack – Reduce Popping Sounds

 This and the other effects rack do not seem to be in the new version.

  Other effects modules under Enhance button

 

VSCL 2014 screen shot

 

VSCL 2014 – Mastering screen

Note the modules above that look similar to the previous version, but without the effects racks.

Cleaning & Restoration Suite on Pro site

There is an audio Cleaning & Restoration Suite in the pro site (pro.magix.com). I watched a tutorial on spectral cleaning with this tool, and interestingly, the tool contains two methods, the Audio Cleaning Lab (ACL) method and the VSCL method. The former is referred to as on-line cleaning and the latter as off-line cleaning. The overall tool seems to be more extensive than ACL and VSCL combined, so far as I can tell. Maybe Magix is dumbing down the programs to get us to purchase their higher-end programs. But, the Cleaning & Restoration Suite cannot be purchased separately or connected to MEP2014 and is only available as an add-on to Video Pro X.

Questions:

1. Has anyone tried out this new version of VSCL2014? Comments?
2. If so, is it possible to make detailed parameter adjustments, or only high level adjustments?
3. Is there anything useful in VSCL2014 that is not already available in MEP plus the linked Music Editor 3?
4. If not, then what would be the point of buying VSCL2014?
5. If so, what exactly is useful enough to warrant buying VSCL2014?
6. Is there a replacement tool for spectral cleaning in VSCL2014?
7. Am I correct in saying that this version is a step backwards from VSCL 1.0, particularly with respect to spectral cleaning? If so, we need to advise Magix of our discontent.

Thanks,