Magix Movie Edit Pro always seems to lack adaptation to peoples' computer systems!

Artist3d wrote on 10/4/2013, 4:20 AM

Ever since Video Deluxe 12 I have been a loyal supporter of Magix continued release of new versions and all along I have hoped that they would stop maxing out their specs so much that the programs never runs any better really. At version 2014 I think I am about done waiting, it seems they have even removed the option for slower computers to preview at half - resolution, so that at least we could have a go at editing HD. Competing products offer a variety of low res preview options that at least allow smooth preview and a chance to sync things up.

Explanations about why video seems to preview jerky just never seem credible given that I am editing in a window that is no bigger than most YouTube Videos. I know it is only scaled to look that small but how hard would it be to have the program created an actually small scale bersion of the video in decent resolution, allow you to edit the footage smoothly and then use the full res footage only in the final output?

But I am tired of seeing the blame go to peoples' infinitely different machine configurations, the idea that a new Windows 8 64 bit machine with 1 gig of video and 16 gigs of ram processing at 3.6 ghz can't edit smooth and clean just seems unfathomable in this day and age. Software should be adaptive to the hardware and as I mentioned why don't any of these editors create an actual smaller sized video (suitable for the system) that mirrors the HD version just for the time you are editing it... I would even suggest that edit sessions on smaller resolution footage could be recorded and saved as a template of commands, and then reloaded over the original quality HD footage and re-executed automatically, then boom output.

I think it is time software took a little responsibility for being more adaptive to peoples' various computer configurations instead of relying on people to continually upgrade because the software wants to push the limits... I don't have a problem with pushing the limits but not to the point of inefficiency with the basic needs of syncing an edit. In some ways Magix has become for me a product I use for editing short clips when I need it's excellent Chroma Keying techniques, key framing speed changes and some of its other FX. Can't really edit with it anymore with multiple lines of video and sound. I'd like to at least see a slider for dropping the preview resolution to any precise increment that will just allow me to work smoothly.

I bet the original Video Deluxe 12 program I used years ago runs like a dream on the current tech because it was designed to deal with slower systems, maybe I will check it out ;-).

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 10/4/2013, 5:23 AM

Hi.

A very quick study of the information pages for MEP 2014 Premium and Plus versions gave this statement:

Edit 4K and HD footage as simply as DV footage.

With the new proxy editing feature, Movie Edit Pro 2014 Premium (or Plus) automatically creates easy-to-edit versions of your video files. This enables smooth editing even on low performance computers.
When exporting the program use the original files.
Combining workflow and impressive output quality.

I don't own any of the versions of MEP 2014, preferring to use VPX for my work but it seems that your desire for proxy file creation is already there! (In VPX 5 the Open Project screen includes a tick-box where the user can choose to have Proxy Files automatically created, or not, dependent on choice and the format of the imported files. Perhaps MEP 2014 is similar?)

As a final comment; your use of the software to produce "3D HD Video" is certainly going to stretch even the "best" computer, I suspect.

Jeff

gandjcarr wrote on 10/4/2013, 10:33 AM

Hi,

I currently have the MEP 2014 trial and what Jeff describes is probably one of the biggest improvements Magix has made in years. I am stil running windows 7 64 bit with 8 gb ram on MEP MX Premium v 18 and the increase in speed on HD video files is amazing. No need to "preview render", virtually no preload wait time, etc.

George

johnebaker wrote on 10/4/2013, 1:29 PM

. . . . Explanations about why video seems to preview jerky just never seem credible given that I am editing in a window that is no bigger than most YouTube Videos . . . .

But they are - when set to Full resolution the video is rendered at the resolution of the project setting. It is necessary for viewing full screen or dual monitor working.

. . . . Software should be adaptive to the hardware . . .

Most software does - MEP 2014 does during install and also has the 'Overload optimisation' option to do this to some extent.

. . . . I think it is time software took a little responsibility for being more adaptive to peoples' various computer configurations instead of relying on people to continually upgrade . . .

Unfortunately the software manufacturers are being 'attacked' on two fronts. From the hardware manufacturers and the OS manufacturers.

With hardware the problem is the very large number of permutations of the components and chipsets available - you can't cater for them all, hence the hardware specifications of the software.

They are also at the mercy of Microsoft and Apple for the OS. With Windows there has been a long stable period (11 years) of backwards compatability - what will run on Windows XP will run on 2000, Vista and 7. This is more consistent then Apple Mac OS where there has been a shorter history of backwards compatability.

Windows 8 changes all that because the OS has been redesigned to cope with modern hardware and its requirements so

. . . I bet the original Video Deluxe 12 program I used years ago runs like a dream on the current tech . . .

Not on Windows 8 it won't - it is not compatable, if it runs at all, there will be issues with the program.

As George says, the proxy editing of MEP 2014 should be a significant improvement for those with older machines and for new high spec machines which through a combination of components do not run as well as they should.

John

Artist3d wrote on 10/4/2013, 3:13 PM

I thank you for your responses, perhaps Magix's always intuitive interface caused me to skip teh manual, I missed the proxy editing option in ME 2014... please enlighten me as to where to find or how to invoke this option, it is one I have always thought would solve the problem for me.

Meanwhile I will try to find the proxy option in the manual!

Cheers

Artist3d wrote on 10/4/2013, 3:35 PM

GOT IT!!!! By Proxy! Thanks so much! My apologies for not knowing what that item was referring to. Awesome! This should be interesting to use with my 3D editing too because as pointed out that can rquire a heavier overhead.

johnebaker wrote on 10/4/2013, 3:49 PM

Pleased you found it. One of the great advances in MEP. in my opinion

Cheers

John