@Apollo89x

Hi.

I don't think you are being ignored. I just think no-one here works with Windows Movie Maker.

Personally I've never even used the WMV format so really couldn't give you any advice beyond as far as I'm aware the WMV codec averages and compresses the colour space to help reduce the file size, which is the probably causing the colour changes you're noticing.

Ray.

Hello and thanks for getting back to me. :)

The reason why I save the video into WMV format (rather than mp4) if I'm gonna further edit it in Magix is because when saving into WMV I can set the bitrate I want the video to be/maintain, and it works...
Wheras if I save into mp4 format, even if the original file was 26k bitrate, and I set that to be the export bitrate, when exported into mp4 format the bitrate drops dramatically. :/

@Apollo89x

I remember earlier debates on this use of Movie Maker prior to importing to MEP!

You told @CubeAce (Ray) this is because MEP drops the bitrate dramatically. But the Export as MPEG-4 screen includes an "Advanced" button and that allows the user to set whatever bitrate is desired! (I've just checked this and whatever I set as Maximum and Average sticks!

As Ray also said, it is because you choose to use this highly unusual workflow that no-one can really help you. Why not test whether it is Movie Maker or MEP causing this "problem" by importing the same file to both softwares and then exporting it? Does the MEP export then have a greenish/sepia tone?

Jeff
​​​​​​​Forum Moderator

Hello and thanks for your reply.

Magix does hold the bitrate that I set when exporting.
(I use the advanced settings tab | And so import the file in WMV format - Do any final edits which I need to it - Then export it into MP4 format with the bitrate set being held fine)

I have just done an experiment though | But the results make things even more confusing:
I uploaded 2 different footage files into Magix / And then exported them both into the standard MP4 format which I use.

File 1 was MPEG2 format (raw footage directly from my camera, so not edited by any program) / File 2 was MP4 format (footage which was edited by WindowsMovieMaker previously, but saved into MP4 format not WMV).

I uploaded both into Magix, then exported them straight away, however BOTH exported videos actually look better (less greenish toned) in the Magix exported version! :|
*As when compared side-by-side to the original copies, both of the originals have a greenish tone compared to Magix.

So it appears that the colour only gets messedup when you put a WMV format file into Magix, then export it as MP4.
 

@Apollo89x

So now you understand why we feel it's an unusual workflow. Personally I wouldn't contemplate using the WMV format. It shifts the colour space of a recording, losing some gamut that can't be recovered accurately if transposed back to another format.

@Apollo89x

+1 to what @CubeAce wrote.

Jeff

Thankyou.

When I do my next edit I will export file from WMM into MP4 format (as well as WMV), and then see if the MP4 format file is fine when processed through Magix.
*Hopefully the loss in bitrate when exporting as mp4 rather than wmv won't have much impact on image quality.