A couple of annoyances with MEP2021

me_again wrote on 9/18/2020, 3:13 AM

Greetings,

I'm trying to look at MEP 2021 as a new program, not as an "upgrade" from the many previous versions I've bought, so in the light of that I'm wondering if anyone else finds the following idiosyncrasies annoying or at least inconvenient.

Annoyance 1 - I don't use too many key press shortcuts; I've prefer to use menus and on-screen "buttons" for the basics at least, I'm probably a bit of a dinosaur in that respect. The main ones I do use Z (remove start), U (remove end) and ctrl+del (remove scene). For some reason I always use the split objects button (below the video monitor) tor splitting - or at least I used to.

In all previous versions I kept the split objects button on "split movie" and whenever I Z-ed or U-ed the split objects button would remain on "split movie". Now the button changes to whatever I've just used be it Z or U or ctrl+del. I've been wondering why my projects have been getting considerably smaller as editing goes on, now I know.

Annoyance 2 - I'm currently editing some stuff from old VHS and miniDV cameras, a lot of which appears to be in 3:2 format so I've set default project/programs settings to 3:2 ratio and width and height using the "use setting as presets for new movies" check marked for convenience. During editing, when I split a movie another tab opens in the correct ratio format.

However if after saving the project I want to start another similar project by clicking on File/New Project, I'm confronted by a pop-up window offering everything from Ultra HDTV 16:9 (3840x1650) to SD PAL 576i 4:3. Nowhere is there the option for what I have set up as the current default movie ration of SD quality 3:2.

I know I can manually alter the movie settings. I know I can learn to use keyframes.I know I've ranted about MEP and it's increasing number of foibles with every version. I'm really trying to like MEP 2021. I'm really getting annoyed with it though.

AndyW

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/18/2020, 5:16 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy

Annoyance 1 . . . . Now the button changes to whatever I've just used be it Z or U or ctrl+del . . . .

That is a common behaviour with many programs where you are changing the mouse mode.

I know what you mean in a slightly different way, I have a shuttle setup for editing and I still use the Z, T and U keys out of habit.

Annoyance 2 - agreed this can be annoying if the projects you are creating are not one of the most popular formats.

Some users create and empty project set up with the correct dimensions AR etc and use this as a 'master'. I do something similar for my project folders, copy the master and rename it then drop all the resources etc in it.

John EB

me_again wrote on 9/18/2020, 9:49 AM

Thanks for the reply John. Im glad it's not just me.

It's obviously about teaching old dogs new tricks with young programmers looking after my mental wellbeing by keeping my mind agile and hand-eye coordination up to the mark.

Still, at least I wake up every morning for which I'm grateful. That's 95% of the battle which I suppose makes annoyances with MEP seem somehow insignificant.

Just going to have a cup of tea and philosophise some more.

AndyW

me_again wrote on 9/23/2020, 3:01 AM

Greetings again,

Another annoyance has cropped up. Not difficult to sort but I find it irritating.

This one involves editing a photo in an external editor and occurs with both Magix Photo Designer and Paint Shop Pro (old I know but still as good as most programs for what I want).

From MEP 2021 right click the still and then edit in Photo designer or whatever you've as editor. Edit as required then save as overwrite. The edit now does not show in MEP whereas in all other versions the image changes to the edited version.

MEP 2021 continues to show the unedited image until saved and reloaded UNLESS you go to "edit/empty undo and cache memory".

edit - I should add that if you don't do either of the above steps, the movie is saved with the unedited version of the still image.

Just thought I'd log this incase others have found the problem and are unsure of how to clear it without unnecessary steps.

AndyW

ps - I think I must have accidentally clicked "don't show this again" on the save window of Photo designer as it now doesn't as if I want to save as new image or overwrite. I've looged for a .cfg or .ini associated with Photo designer but can find nothing.

Does anyone know how to reset the defaults of Photo Designer without reinstalling it as a free download from Magix?

johnebaker wrote on 9/23/2020, 4:00 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy

. . . . must have accidentally clicked "don't show this again" on the save window of Photo designer . . . .

AFAICS there is no option to reset this anywhere.

. . . . I should add that if you don't do either of the above steps, the movie is saved with the unedited version of the still image. . . . .

That does not happen here, save the project, close MEP or start a new project, then reload the changed image project the new version of the image is loaded.

However if you do not save and reload the project and export it does use the old version of the image.

Personally I use PaintShop Pro - currently X9 - for editing externally with Auto preserve on which saves a backup copy of the original earlier versions of PSP also worked with MEP as far back as PSP X2

John EB

me_again wrote on 9/23/2020, 4:20 AM

Morning John,

Aah, bad English I'm afraid - only had 1 cup of tea at the time of writing.

When I wrote:

MEP 2021 continues to show the unedited image until saved and reloaded UNLESS you go to "edit/empty undo and cache memory"

I was correct in my mind but the words didn't reflect that. Using "edit/empty undo and cache memory" simply allows you to conitnue editing with having to save, close or start a new project. Sorry for the confusion.

AndyW

johnebaker wrote on 9/23/2020, 8:33 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy

Thanks for the clarification.

Happy editing

John EB