Thanks Jeff. I've just discovered the following -  I copied the files into the program (following the prompt at the start of a new project which says there might be problems if you DON'T do this). The copied files have the red dots on utilised clips but the original file clips when viewing in the original folders do not (except for the occasional one as mentioned).

Just out of interest I wonder if you or someone else knows if is it essential to copy files into the program at the project start, especially if one does not move original folder(s) which would lose the link? Thanks again! Phil

Hi Phil.

Where were these files stored before you copied them to your hard drive? In my experience, the app suggests you copy them if it senses they are currently on any sort of removable media (e.g. a memory card/USB stick) or still on the camera (e.g.memory card or internal hard drive). In that situation, once copying to local hard drive is complete, I always disconnect/remove the original storage medium so the computer is working only with the coped files.

As a matter of normal practice I always copy the mts files from my video camera's hdd to a dedicated folder on a dedicated USB3 external drive and then disconnect the camera from the computer before I begin any editing. That way, all the app sees is the files on that external drive. I suspect, in your case, the app is correctly "red-dotting" the copied files (because that is the source it is using) leading to the confusion you are seeing with the original versions.

However, if your files are already on your hard drive before you begin to edit there is absolutely no reason why MEP should suggest you copy them in order to work on them!

HTH

Jeff

Hi Jeff, the files were in folders on my main D drive. I suspected there was no real need to copy them for a second time into the program as long as they remained in the same location but I was playing safe. I guess that's the explanation. Many thanks for your help! Kind regards, Phil.

Hi

There is no need to copy the files so long as they are on an internal hard drive and they remain in the same location - in the image below mine are on the W: drive.

I have a similar approach to project videos using the folder structure shown below, the red asterisked is the root folder for all projects and the blue asterisked folder is an example of one of the root folders for an individual project with the subfolders holding all the resources eg video, images, audio etc sorted by type/source and other miscellaneous folders I use.

The folder called Blank,you can see is an empty master folder structure I use . To create a new project folder, I copy and paste the Blank one, rename it to the project name then add all the resources into the appropriate sub folders.

I also backup the projects using the same structure to external hard drive(s), so if I need to restore one again everything is in the correct location.

HTH

John EB

Hi,

@hatfieldphoto

I'm not sure what you mean by copying into the program. You can copy onto a hard disk, but copy into the program? The program uses the file that is on the hard disk; it is not "in" the program. If you import the file onto the timeline, it is still not "in" the program but is used by the program; it needs to always be in the same place on your hard drive. If you now delete the file from the hard drive or move it, then reopen the program and project, it will not find the file.

Can you give us a screen shot of the message that you are getting about copying files into the program? And also a screen shot of MEP with the import tab open to the location of where you are reading the files?

As Jeff mentioned, I get a message about copying files onto my hard drive, not into the program, if I try to use files that are on a USB memory stick.

John CB

What I meant was copying into the Magix folder which was created by the program- sorry if my language is not technically correct, I am part of a certain age group not used to computers combined with a daily loss of brain cells!

@hatfieldphoto

Ok, I understand. What was the question again? Senior's moment.

As you saw from what John EB showed, he, and I guess many of us, do not keep our video and photo files on the same hard drive as the program, meaning not on drive C. I actually have My documents going to drive B (how that drive became B, I don't know), so the folders created by Magix are under:

B:\Documents\MAGIX\Movie Edit Pro Plus

since that is the latest version of MEP that I have installed. I then create a subfolder called Projects and add this as the projects folder under Program settings (shortcut Y).

My projects are all saved under B:\Documents\MAGIX\Movie Edit Pro Plus\Projects but usually under subfolders that I use to group by subject, like Vacations, Christmases, Travel, Family, Tests, Tutorials, etc.

All of my videos and photos are kept elsewhere. Unlike John EB, I keep my videos under a folder for videos and another for photos, with subfolders by date, to which I append a subject. I keep everything on my hard drives, with a double backup - to another drive and also on Bluray data disks.

In MEP, under the Import tab, I create links to the main folders and then to subfolders for whatever I happen to be working on. Do you know how to do this? It is very convenient.

So, all raw video and photo files (and music and audio) on are hard drives, not under the folder created by Magix. Although one could put them there in subfolders, there is no advantage to this.

John CB

I try to keep things a simple as possible, so taking one of our typical weddings, we would usually have 3 cameras and 2 sound recorders. Once recorded, in the editing room we would create a new folder with the client's name on an external hard drive that we use to download all new recordings to. Each camera will have a separate folder within the client folder as will the audio recorders so we instantly know which is which e.g. Claire's Lumix, Roger's Lumix, B Cam, Audio. Files from the camera and audio recorder cards are downloaded directly to those folders and the cards are stored until the project is finished. The downloaded folders are then copied directly to the editing PC hard drive into the Desktop Folder 'Video Editing', from where they are accessed by VPX to edit from, leaving the external drive and cards as a backup. The attached video should explain, going from the desktop 'Video editing' folder then showing loading a blank project in VPX, then accessing the files directly from the media pool window, which is reading them from the desktop folder.

Hope that helps,

Roger

Hi Roger

A heads up - if you have to use System Restore to reset Windows to a prior restore point then any files and folders added, after the restore point reverted to, will be lost - the Desktop is not protected from a System restore unlike the Documents and Library folders.

Cheers

John EB