Editing an audio track

emmrecs wrote on 5/9/2019, 4:36 AM

Hi Andy.

Interesting! I've seen this message, though not with ME (because I don't use it, I have the new Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab set as my "default" audio editor) but I have no idea why it appears, presumably something has corrupted the installation, perhaps that recent update! (Not very helpful, I know.)

However, I think that if you re-run the MEP installer, without uninstalling the app previously, you should be offered the option to "Repair" the installation. Theoretically, this should also affect a repair to ME.

If you do decide to follow this route I would definitely create a Restore Point before starting so that you have the option to return to what you previously had should the "repair" fail.

One other thought/discovery: I've just opened the Program Files folder where MEP is stored, opened the Music Editor folder within that directory and see it includes an "Install Launcher" file. Perhaps worth running that and seeing what happens? Again with the caveat to create a Restore Point first!

HTH

Jeff

CubeAce wrote on 5/9/2019, 6:40 AM

If you mean MEP premium, 18.0.3.261 not 18.0.2.261, then Music Editor 3 is opening and working for me when using the 'Edit Wave Externally' command.

me_again wrote on 5/9/2019, 8:42 AM

Aah, I was wondering who would be the first to spot that. Yes it should be 3 not 2.

It would seem then to be coincidental with the last update. Install Launcher just hangs when clicked. I may try a repair but I'm not feeling that brave at the moment.

Thanks both for your input.

AndyW

CubeAce wrote on 5/9/2019, 9:08 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy.

I don't know if this is relevant but I'm running Win 7 Pro.

browj2 wrote on 5/9/2019, 9:23 AM

@CubeAce

It works for me with 18.0.3.261, but the waveform doesn't show up in ME3, at least the first time. The waveform flashes on the screen whilst exiting. If I go round again on the modified audio clip, the waveform usually opens, but not always. The audio is there, but not the visual.

How do you get the "Edit Wave Externally" command? It does not show up when right-clicking on the audio part of a video clip. This is on my bug lists for both MEP and VPX. I have to do a mixdown first, then the command shows up when right-clicking on the resultant wave object. To isolate just one video clip, I have to make a range, mute any other audio on other tracks within that range, do Shift+D (mixdown) and it asks if I just want the range, yes, and it does it.

Do you see "Edit Wave Externally" when you right-click on the audio part of a video file?

@me_again

If you still have an older version of MEP, can you try changing the path and exe under Program Settings, Folders to the other version?

ME3 also works as a standalone, so you can double-click on the MusicEditor.exe in Windows Explorer, and it should open. However, I think that each install may replace the previous one, so if it is corrupt, then you need to reinstall it, as Jeff said.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 5/9/2019, 1:03 PM

@browj2

Hi John.

Yes, I right click to get the 'Edit in External Editor' command, but if I remember correctly you do not use proxy files whereas I do. I also import sound and video to sepreate tracks as a matter of course.

browj2 wrote on 5/9/2019, 1:33 PM

@CubeAce

Hi Ray,

You are using proxy files. Start a new project, turn off automatic proxy files, import a video and do a right-click on the audio part; "Edit audio in external editor" will probably not be there. I rarely use proxy files, and the possibility to send the audio of a clip to an external editor should always be there.

In playing around today in MEP2016 Premium where it worked, I managed to break it. Glad that I made a video showing that it was there.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 5/9/2019, 2:08 PM

@browj2

Yes, I believe we had this conversation on another thread John. It is not possible to open a sound file with any external audio editor within MEP using the "Edit audio in external editor" command as it will be missing in the dropdown list unless dealing with proxy files.

I think this may be deliberate so as to not have the possibility of accidentally altering original material, as it may be possible (I'm not 100% sure) that the external editor would destroy the original soundtrack unless the 'Save As' command was used and the cancel button was used before exiting the program.

While the video side of MEP editing is non destructive I'm not so sure about the audio side.

johnebaker wrote on 5/9/2019, 2:22 PM

@browj2

Hi John

. . . . Start a new project, turn off automatic proxy files, import a video and do a right-click on the audio part; "Edit audio in external editor" will probably not be there . . . .

With mp4 and MOV files it is not there, however with WMV files (WMA audio) the Edit audio externally does appear and works as it should.

HTH

John EB

browj2 wrote on 5/9/2019, 8:44 PM

@CubeAce

Hi Ray,

No. No danger of affecting the source audio of a video clip. The audio is mixed-down and a new file created which is sent out to the external audio editor. This new file does get modified in the external audio editor when exiting the editor and saving. Back on the timeline, the mixed-down file changes from red to yellow and has been modified. Delete it or keep it. Right-click on the video clip that no longer shows its audio part, Audio functions, Restore original sound and the audio part comes back onto the timeline...untouched.

@johnebaker

hi John,

Quite correct, with WMV files, the Edit in external audio editor shows up. I don't have a camera that shoots in WMV, but I have thousands of MOV, MP4, MPG and MTS files. The only WMV files that I have are those created with my screen capture program.

This has to work with files from cameras as it used to. I will post a video showing it working in MEP2019P but not in 2019, using exactly the same source file.

John CB

me_again wrote on 5/10/2019, 1:30 AM

Greetings,

Thanks John CB. Sorry started writing this in IE11 and forgot that it won't let me use the @ method.

However, I sorted it by installing MEP2015 (only the basic program, no whistles and bells) copying the Music Editor folder within "ProgramData / Magix / Movie Edit Pro 2015 Premium" to MEP2019 folder (in my case ProgramData / Magix / Movie Edit Pro Premium) et voilà.

Thanks for your help. I'm glad to see the post has started a discussion that may well help others unsure about audio editing.

AndyW

ps I would mark this as resolved but, being reasonably useless (at least according to my long suffering wife) but I can't immediately see how to.

FOUND out how, I need to mark the solution before I write. Is that odd or is it just me?

CubeAce wrote on 5/10/2019, 1:40 AM

@browj2

Is that when directly importing a video clip or copying without using proxy files?

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2019, 8:54 AM

Is that when directly importing a video clip or copying without using proxy files?

@CubeAce

Hi Ray,

What do you mean by "copying without using proxy files?" My project is set up to not use proxy files. So importing to the timeline by dragging from the Media Pool or Windows Explorer puts the video file on the timeline and no proxy is created.

I should have a video showing the "Edit wave externally" in a while, using MEP2016, MEP2019 and VPX7 all with the same source file. I just noticed that the command shows up in VPX7 (but not VPX10).

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 5/10/2019, 9:12 AM

@browj2

When you import any file into MEP whether using proxy files or not you get the option to copy files to project or do a direct import.

I assumed a direct import would then edit the source files.

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2019, 9:56 AM

@CubeAce

I almost never see that message and I almost always just import. If I want a copy of the files in a project folder, then I do it at the end or earlier if I want to transfer the project and its files to another computer. To do this, I use one of the selections under File, Backup copy. Thus, I selected Import only and checked the box to not show again. I have seen this pop up occasionally if I am using files that are on a USB memory stick, I think.

Either way, it shouldn't matter.

John CB

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2019, 11:05 AM

@CubeAce @emmrecs @johnebaker @me_again

Here is the video showing MEP2019, MEP2016 and VPX7, all using the same source file. In MEP2019 the "Edit wave externally" command does not show up when right-clicking on a mp4, mov or mts file.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 5/10/2019, 3:57 PM

I understand John.

I just did something by accident and I wonder if you can tell me what is going on, please.

I tried using import directly into MEP but accidentally left 'Create Proxy Files' ticked.

The video file imported much quicker but still created a proxy audio file. That I was able to right click and use the 'Edit Wave in External Editor' command.

So what would be the difference from a practical point of view?

Scenestealer wrote on 5/10/2019, 5:18 PM

Surely what is happening here is that it only works with a Wave = .wav file and Mp4 does not use .wav so it needs to be converted, either by mixing down or creating a proxy which generates an uncompressed .wav in place of the original audio (this is designed to reduce processor load because a .wav does not need to be uncompressed for preview). Vpx seems mix down to a .wav automatically on the "Edit Wave Externally" command but MEP seems to need you to do it manually before applying the command.

Peter

browj2 wrote on 5/10/2019, 6:30 PM

@Scenestealer

Hi Peter,

Not quite. The command does not show up in either MEP2019 or VPX10 on mp4, mov and mts files, which is why it's #2 on the bug list for VPX. As you can see in the video, it worked in MEP2016, but was fragile, and it worked in VPX7.

@CubeAce

Hi Ray,

Like I said, I rarely use proxy files. They use up a lot of disk space. The "Edit wave externally" command is supposed to work on the other files; it used to work. Most users likely don't use proxy files, so they would never even notice the feature.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 5/12/2019, 2:17 AM

@browj2

Hi John.

I'm coming to the conclusion the problem is not with MEP but with Music Editor 3.

I opened ME3 separately and tried to use the import command from /File/Load video sound, and it would not open any of my MP4 or other video files. If you select a file from the dialogue box it will not show in the mini player or play before import.

CubeAce wrote on 5/12/2019, 2:21 AM

@browj2

Furthermore, changing the file types box from 'all' to 'video' results in no fies being shown from the same folder.

Scenestealer wrote on 5/12/2019, 3:13 AM

@CubeAce

I am coming to the same conclusion. I can not get it to open in any version of MEP/VPX going back to MEP2013.

I get that error code -6 - mind you it is the same version of ME 3.1.0.4 from 2013, that is in all the program folders of MEP/VPX. It does the same thing clicking the .exe in Windows explorer. I will have to try running a repair of MEP as suggested.

@browj2

I can not get the edit wave externally to show up in any version until I do a mixdown - even on XAVCS files that have a uncompressed PCM = WAVE soundtrack. The command in VPX9 V.211 I am running uses the command Alt+Z for Edit Wave externally according to the Manual, but this does nothing with the audio on these XAVCS Sony files.

Something perculiar I noticed in your video at about 3.06min was that when you moved the playhead to the second clip in MEP2016 the sound track suddenly became a wave without you doing a mixdown - but maybe this was an edit.

The fact that the prompt comes up saying that the file is in use in another program further makes me think that something is wrong with ME. At that point there seems to be nothing in Task manager to tell that ME is running but I am not sure I should see this as the program is embedded in MEP/VPX....??

Dunno!

Peter

browj2 wrote on 5/12/2019, 1:08 PM

@CubeAce

Hi Ray,

No, the problem is upstream of ME3. You can link other audio programs in Program Settings, Folders as the External Audio Editor. In MEP/VPX as I have shown, the right-click command to Edit Wave Externally does not show up on MP4, MOV or MTS files whereas, again as I have shown, it used to. When it did and you selected it, there was a two-step process: the first thing that happened was a mixdown of the audio part; once done, ME3 or whichever program is listed in the Program settings was opened, along with the mixed-down wave file.

In my second example, I used Audio&Music Lab Premium. I have also tested with Samplitude Pro X3, Sound Forge Pro 11, Audio Cleaning Lab, Video Sound Cleaning Lab. They all behave the same and have no impact on the command showing up or not when right-clicking; they are downstream of this command.

However, if you look at my bug list for VPX10, item #5, you'll see that there is a second problem. Audio & Music Lab, Audio Cleaning Lab and Video Sound Cleaning Lab no longer save and bring the modified file back onto the timeline. The new SoundForge Audio Cleaning Lab (my trial has expired) seemed to work properly with patch 306, had some problems with patch 317. I also had success in getting the modified file to come back using Samplitude Pro X3. This second problem has nothing to do with the first problem, getting the Edit Wave Externally to show up on all files.

As for using ME3 as a standalone, I just tested it with my favourite mp4 file and ME3 had no trouble opening the audio part for editing.

@Scenestealer

Hi Peter,

Thanks for confirming.

At 3:05 approx. in my video, you are correct. What happened was that the split is actually 2 captures. I must have done something between the captures that did not get captured. I must have tried the second object which got mixed down between captures. I was surprised to see this in the video, but I just left it.

Yes, the shortcut command, Alt+Z, for doing the editing in the external editor does not work on my test file in MEP2019 or VPX10. It used to do the mixdown and then open the file in the external audio editor; it still does in VPX7, although my last test opened AML and nothing showed up.

Try Shift+D, which will do a mixdown. Then doing Alt+Z will open the mixed-down file in the external editor.

This is all most perplexing and Magix needs to fix this in both MEP and VPX.

What I used to do was open the audio of my video file from VPX into AML when I needed to do some deep cleaning, like using the Spectral Editor.

EDIT: I just tried changing the external editor to ME3 in VPX7 in a new project and the right-click on the audio part of the same sample video file no longer shows Edit Wave Externally. So, I've managed to break VPX7.

I opened VPX6 and with the same file, Edit Wave Externally shows up. I am not going to play with the external editor in the Folders. I want to at least keep one program to show that this feature did work. Glad I got videos of MEP2016 and VPX7 before they stopped working properly.

John CB