New Project - Movie Settings confusing!

CubeAce wrote on 4/9/2020, 2:33 PM

Hi Jonboy and welcome to the Movie Edit Pro users forum.

They are the same as far as screen size and frame rate are concerned. It's just whether the video is recorded interlaced (i) or progressive (p) of which MEP will handle both types on import.. If you wish to export to a similar file format choose one of the formats in the drop-down export menu that have a 'p' in them.

Ray.

jonboy834 wrote on 4/9/2020, 2:51 PM

Maybe I did not express my problem clearly? (1) The New Project types listed in MEPP do not include MVI or MP4 1080p which is the format of the "objects" I would like to Edit. (2) The New Project options listed do not even include an NTSC option at 1080p - only 1080i. . . . (3) I do not wish to Import/edit anything with the "i" format nor would I wish to Render with an "i" format - Hope this makes my problem clearer?????

CubeAce wrote on 4/9/2020, 3:01 PM

@jonboy834

I did re-read your post before your reply (probably as you were reading it) and adjusted the reply. It doesn't matter which format is imported only the output selected for export which I've adjusted the image in the last post to show.

Ray.

browj2 wrote on 4/9/2020, 3:07 PM

@jonboy834

Hi,

We all in NTSC land have the same thing. Don't worry about it, just accept the "i". There is no ill-effect during editing. When you go to export, select "p" from the Display all dropdown.

John CB

CubeAce wrote on 4/9/2020, 4:22 PM

@jonboy834

Movie Edit Pro does not touch the original video clips but processes them internally. It's only the export settings that matter if for any reason it's important.

Ray.

Scenestealer wrote on 4/9/2020, 6:12 PM

@jonboy834

Hi

It is always worthwhile using the forum search function before posting as there is a wealth of information on most issues that are often re-occurring. Just entering "Project settings" can bring up discussions such as this:- https://www.magix.info/us/forum/vpx11-video-settings-default-to-interlaced-consequences--1232651/ .

Something else you could try is opening a new project and selecting a setting template that is completely different than what you want, although in this case preferably one that is named as progressive. Upon dragging one of your clips to the timeline a message window should appear warning you the material does not match the Project (Movie) settings and would you like it change the settings to match the clip that is about to import. Answer in the affirmative and it may do what you want but if it does not I would defer back to the fact that it does not affect the editing / preview process and just select a Progressive export template as others have suggested.

Peter

jonboy834 wrote on 4/9/2020, 6:12 PM

Thanks to all who responded. In summary - the list of "Movie Settings" which appears on opening a New Project has no importance and has no effect on how the media will be processed in the Editor. Can only speculate that it MAY be there simply as a convenience for those who would like a record of what they started with but are unwilling to type the description themselves??? . . . . or am I wrong??

PS Having edited in Adobe Premiere, Resolve, Corel/Pinnacle etc before purchasing MEPP - I like the less-cluttered aspect of MEPP and the availability of certain Effects etc, but some use of teminology is puzzling (maybe translated from the German?).

PPS Also, the detail in the On-line pdf Manual is exhaustive - but still lacks a "building-block" approach ie Basic approach with no frills, with links to options as the User requires them - The Manual could probably be rewritten to reduce the word clutter?

Has anyone else noticed this?

jonboy834 wrote on 4/9/2020, 6:35 PM

Peter/scenestealer: Thanks for your suggestion re checking Forums: https://www.magix.info/us/forum/vpx11-video-settings-default-to-interlaced-consequences--1232651/ However, I have no idea what VPX is (?) but the link seems to refer to something to do with Vegas? ?

PS Before troubling the Magix Forum (supposed to be kept separate from Vegas!), I viewed all the available Magix Tutorials and made relevant notes; and then took the time to read the whole on-line Manual (over 400 pages) and made some more notes. (Professional engineer by training :-) but found no answer to the question I eventually posed to the Forum.

CubeAce wrote on 4/9/2020, 6:54 PM

@jonboy834

VPX is Video Pro-X, one step up from Movie Edit Pro closer to Vegas products in flexibility but with a more Movie Edit Pro look and feel of use to it. The Magix manuals could do with a huge rewrite.

All editing in any NLE is non destructive and never touches the original files so any mistakes made are non lethal to the original files. Progressive just records a whole frame at a time while interlace is more for older TVs (CRTs) and monitors where the scan of the screen was broken down to two separate interlaced scans so an individual frame would consist of two halves. The ability of an editing program to handle both types is possibly more important for those people trying to rescue old recordings from VHS and the like.

Ray.

CubeAce wrote on 4/9/2020, 7:05 PM

@jonboy834

I used to come cross differences in technical terms having the same meaning in the recording industry all the time. I think it comes about from a mixture of some companies trademarking certain technical terms and companies having different approaches to the same problems coming up with different solutions that they don't want being confused with another competitors solutions they may feel is inferior.

Scenestealer wrote on 4/9/2020, 7:11 PM

@jonboy834

I have no idea what VPX is (?) but the link seems to refer to something to do with Vegas? ?

VPX = Video Pro X is the Magix big brother of Movie Edit Pro and it may suit you better given your experience in other NLEs. It contains the features and most of the straight foward aspects of MEP with some nice professional features thrown in. I do not recall a mention of Vegas in the discussion I linked to and they do have their own Forum but unfortunately Vegas users often post here even after we have placed a Sticky at the top of the main page redirecting them.

Good to see you approach your quest for information in a logical manner (I am professional engineer too!) and I agree the PDF and Online manual and Help prompts are lacking a little in that they are inconsistent in their terminology having perhaps lost a bit in translation. The most difficult is that the terms at times call the features or buttons something different to the feature in the GUI.

the list of "Movie Settings" which appears on opening a New Project has no importance and has no effect on how the media will be processed in the Editor. Can only speculate that it MAY be there simply as a convenience for those who would like a record of what they started with but are unwilling to type the description themselves??? . . . . or am I wrong??

Yes! The settings are important in terms of Resolution and Frame rate in that the Export Template that opens picks up the settings when offering an appropriate template. MEP will warn you when you start the Export That the setting don't match and would you like to change either / or. The Project settings also determine how the frame grid of the timeline is arranged and the resolution at which the titles are displayed so that you see the correct preview ie "without judder" that you will see after export.

I think after years of working with the 2 x programs that apart from the anomalies I mentioned in the manual, Magix have covered the bases pretty well and most questions in this forum often come back to a few basic issues and misunderstandings.

Enjoy!

Peter

Forum Moderator

jonboy834 wrote on 4/9/2020, 7:33 PM

Peter: Thanks for the clarification (and empathy!). You wrote: Settings important for Resolution and Frame rate . . . since Export Template later picks up these initial Settings when offering an appropriate template and warns you at Export to change settings if there is a conflict . . . . OK so I would have to ask, if that is correct, where would I find/or type in an initial Movie Setting corresponding to MPEG4 AVC/H264 or MVI which is the description of every one of my 60 or so "objects" which I have to edit? No such description appears in the pulldown list of Movie Settings?

Scenestealer wrote on 4/9/2020, 10:18 PM

@jonboy834

Have you tried what I suggested earlier? :-

Something else you could try is opening a new project and selecting a setting template that is completely different than what you want, although in this case preferably one that is named as progressive. Upon dragging one of your clips to the timeline a message window should appear warning you the material does not match the Project (Movie) settings and would you like it change the settings to match the clip that is about to import. Answer in the affirmative and it may do what you want but if it does not I would defer back to the fact that it does not affect the editing / preview process and just select a Progressive export template as others have suggested.

So just choose say a PAL 720x576 25p template in the Movie Settings drop down in your Screen shot and then when the timeline appears, import your clip...and see what happens.

Peter

jonboy834 wrote on 4/9/2020, 11:36 PM

Scenestealer: I did exactly that. No problem. Seems to render as chosen ie MPEG-4 HD 2 Quality 1920 x 1080 29.97 fps. Cannot divine from Video Properties whether it is 1080p but it may be. Thx Clearly there is a "screw-up" in requesting Operator to choose Movie Settings per pull-down list - THE LIST HAS NO EFFECT on the eventual rendered product. Maybe this is something Magix can clarify ie NOT the Forum, but the MANUFACTURER??????

CubeAce wrote on 4/10/2020, 2:50 AM

@jonboy834

Hi.

Selecting a chosen screen size and frame rate on import will effect the program on output, as the selected GOP structures and frames rates will also alter as default settings in the export dialog box. Mismatches of such things can cause juddering or frame tearing of the moving image on export so some care has to be exercised when selecting how to set a project up. Some playback hardware will not accept certain file types so flexibility of export formats is preferable depending on the final file destination and use. NLEs have to be flexible for these reasons that Peter earlier explained.

Ray.

johnebaker wrote on 4/10/2020, 3:41 AM

@jonboy834

Hi

. . . . Cannot divine from Video Properties whether it is 1080p . . . .

Have you read this topic at the top of the Video forum?

MediaInfo is the go to tool for analysing video to determine exactly what codec, frame rate, Interleave/Progressive and much more.

HTH

John EB

Scenestealer wrote on 4/10/2020, 6:07 AM

@jonboy834

Seems to render as chosen ie MPEG-4 HD 2 Quality 1920 x 1080 29.97 fps. Cannot divine from Video Properties whether it is 1080p but it may be.

This should not be a mystery............I think you are exporting via the button at the top right corner of the program which is a very simplified way. If you go to the top File menu > File >Export> Export as MPEG4 it should open with an Export Template with all the attributes of the file it is going to render.

browj2 wrote on 4/10/2020, 9:25 AM

@jonboy834

Other than what the others have added, to clarify, I have not found any problem with the "i" in the project settings, but I would prefer to not see it. Everything else is important - resolution and speed (fps).

The main idea is to use the same project settings (shortcut E) as the desired export settings, with the exception of the "i" vs "p." I always export using the settings for MP4 under File, Export movie, Video as MPEG-4, click on the Display All button, open the popdown and select:

MP4 Full HD 1920x1080 29.97p

I touch no other settings.

The video editor has to be able to handle videos, photos and audio from different sources and formats. Everything gets adjusted to the format set for project settings, except for the interlaced part, which appears to have no effect.

Even some of the Magix effects that come with a video, like some transitions, intros/outros, etc., are at 25fps and get adjusted on the timeline to 29.97.

I have created some templates with settings for editing and export, along with track colours and names, and some Movie effects. I start a project with the template and "save as..." right away.

As was mentioned, you may want to look at VPX because of the additional features. After using VPX for a couple of years, I would not want to go back to MEP. I use the second monitor, measuring instruments and project temp folder extensively, and more.

I, too, am a P. Eng, but I did not read the entire manual, just most of it, over the course of a couple of years. The Quick Start chapter should get you going, along with the tutorials on the Magix website.

You may want to look at my tutorials on basic editing as some of the tools and processes are not all that obvious to new users.

John CB

jonboy834 wrote on 4/10/2020, 3:58 PM

@jonboy834

Hi

. . . . Cannot divine from Video Properties whether it is 1080p . . . .

Have you read this topic at the top of the Video forum?

MediaInfo is the go to tool for analysing video to determine exactly what codec, frame rate, Interleave/Progressive and much more.

HTH

John EB

jonboy834 wrote on 4/10/2020, 4:00 PM

Have reviewed this Topic as suggested incl Magazine, and installed Medial . Thx

jonboy834 wrote on 4/10/2020, 4:00 PM

@jonboy834

Other than what the others have added, to clarify, I have not found any problem with the "i" in the project settings, but I would prefer to not see it. Everything else is important - resolution and speed (fps).

The main idea is to use the same project settings (shortcut E) as the desired export settings, with the exception of the "i" vs "p." I always export using the settings for MP4 under File, Export movie, Video as MPEG-4, click on the Display All button, open the popdown and select:

MP4 Full HD 1920x1080 29.97p

I touch no other settings.

The video editor has to be able to handle videos, photos and audio from different sources and formats. Everything gets adjusted to the format set for project settings, except for the interlaced part, which appears to have no effect.

Even some of the Magix effects that come with a video, like some transitions, intros/outros, etc., are at 25fps and get adjusted on the timeline to 29.97.

I have created some templates with settings for editing and export, along with track colours and names, and some Movie effects. I start a project with the template and "save as..." right away.

As was mentioned, you may want to look at VPX because of the additional features. After using VPX for a couple of years, I would not want to go back to MEP. I use the second monitor, measuring instruments and project temp folder extensively, and more.

I, too, am a P. Eng, but I did not read the entire manual, just most of it, over the course of a couple of years. The Quick Start chapter should get you going, along with the tutorials on the Magix website.

You may want to look at my tutorials on basic editing as some of the tools and processes are not all that obvious to new users.

John CB

jonboy834 wrote on 4/10/2020, 4:09 PM

Rather than using Quick Render options, your suggested approach did indeed work for me: "always export using the settings for MP4 under File, Export movie, Video as MPEG-4, click on the Display All button, open the popdown and select: MP4 Full HD 1920x1080 29.97p" Will further review your 2016 Tutorials -soon - Muchas Gracias! Opinions seem to be divided on whether the Movie Setting (selected from New Project pull-down) has any influence on rendered product. Have to question why they are there in Magix???? VPX cost Cdn$550 so out of my reach, and most likely processor intensive for my humble i5 PC - Thx anyway.

Scenestealer wrote on 4/10/2020, 5:01 PM

Opinions seem to be divided on whether the Movie Setting (selected from New Project pull-down) has any influence on rendered product.

I wouldn't say divided - those settings are important during editing so that you see the a proper representation in preview, of your footage as it will look with those settings, if that is your intended export format. If your intended export format is different to your camera footage then you choose an appropriate format for the project at the "New Movie" stage, in the movie settings box. If there is not a suitable choice then you can scroll down that box to the last selection which says "User defined" and select that.When the timeline opens there will appear the main Movie settings window with the possibility to enter a custom format.

The "influence on the rendered product" is that those initial Project movie settings will offer you an appropriate export template (FRate and Bit Rate, etc.) when you choose the codec you wish to export with.

VPX cost Cdn$550 so out of my reach, and most likely processor intensive for my humble i5 PC

VPX can be had for much less as an upgrade to MEP and is often offered as a special.

VPX uses the same Engine as MEP so uses similar resources and can increase performance with HEVC editing and export via a mid range NVidia graphics card.

Peter