Video sound cleaning lab 2014 with Movie Edit Pro?

Kami_1 wrote on 11/23/2013, 10:29 PM

Hi,

I posted this elsewhere a few days ago, but no replies.

I downloaded a trial version of the new Magix Video sound cleaning lab 2014. Of course, the first thing I tried to do was import a MVP (Movie Edit Pro MX 18) file. It doesn't do that.

Then I tried to import MPG files, ones which are currently used in a MEP project. Got message that it can't do that file type.

The cleaning lab's Help file didn't tell me anything useful.

It's not listed in Install Extra Programs in MEP.

So how do I use this new cleaning lab to "clean" audio videos I'm editing in MEP? Is there any integration between the two programs?

Thanks.

Comments

browj2 wrote on 11/24/2013, 8:52 PM

Hi Kami,

I missed your post. The other programs is way to the bottom of the list and I was making up my post while you posted yours. Also, I didn't download the updated program as a trial, so I am depending on those who did.

As I indicated in my post, I have the previous version of Video Sound Cleaning Lab, so I am not sure what the 2014 can and cannot do. I am reticent because it seems that the old version does more, possibly by accident rather than design.

In VSCL, I can open an mts file (AVCHD) that came from my camera with no problem. It takes a while to process the video portion so you have to be patient.

To integrate the program with MEP, go to File, Settings, Program, Folder tab and change the Audio Editor to VSCL. My path is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\MAGIX\Video_Sound_Cleaning_Lab_DLV\VtClab.exe

Click on ok.

I got this from the Magix FAQs.

Select the clip that you want to edit in MEP, do a right click or Alt+z. MEP will do a "mixing down," then it opens VSCL and imports the clip. In MEP it changed the sound portion of your video or the audio that you selected to a "wav" format. When you exit VSCL, it asks if you want to save the project. Answer either yes or no, either way it brings your modified wav file back into MEP, I think. It takes about 5 seconds after you close VSCL to update MEP.

Try it out and let me know how you make out. Try some radical changes to a test file so that you know it worked.

Good luck,

Kami_1 wrote on 11/24/2013, 9:43 PM

Hiya,

Okay, I followed your steps and got it to work. Thanks! At first I didn't see the right button menu item to use the external editor.

But I can see that going out to and back from the Video sound lab won't work for me. Sometimes I spend more time (hours) cleaning audio than I do video (each object often has different issues). So maybe it's better I stay with the internal editor only.

Again, thanks much.

Kami

P.S. The Magix techs couldn't duplicate the problem I had with MEP 2014 (the shifting and disappearance of the video window in the audio cleaning panel), so I'm still using MX18. Disappointing.

browj2 wrote on 11/24/2013, 10:33 PM

Hi Kami,

You seem to be cursed with your disappearing video window in the audio cleaning panel. Strange.

As I indicated or at least implied in my other post, VSCL is supposed to allow the user to do much more audio cleaning and mastering work than can be done in MEP. For me, that special work was spectral cleaning. I have sound files, both on video and recorded externally, that often have problems; someone coughs, drops something, shuts a door, etc., and I want to get rid of or at least reduce the particular instance of noise. Reducing the volume is not an acceptable solution. The VSCL that I have does a wonderful job of this. And I can take care of anything else at the same time, including adding commentary, edited, cleaned and fine-tuned. It drops the modified audio file back into MEP nicely. If Magix has removed spectral cleaning, then, in my opinion, they have effectively diminished, if not eliminated, the usefulness of VSCL.

I did not cover Audio Cleaning Lab 2013 (ACL) in my post, but I have it and it only does spectral cleaning light. Or in my case, it does not work. I have tried several times to clean up some background noise without success. It sounds good when I highlight the problem zone, but when I accept, it calculates, processes and then leaves the sound aurally and visually the same as before. I will raise this with Magix. Something is definitely wrong with ACL.

That said, there is no reason for Magix to have two programs - ACL and VSCL. VSCL, at least the version that I have, does more than ACL, can do audio by itself, or audio with video, and Magix sells them for about the same price. The ACL spectral cleaning tool is a lighter version of what I have in VSCL.

Regards,

Kami_1 wrote on 11/24/2013, 11:23 PM

Hi Kami,
That said, there is no reason for Magix to have two programs - ACL and VSCL. VSCL, at least the version that I have, does more than ACL, can do audio by itself, or audio with video, and Magix sells them for about the same price. The ACL spectral cleaning tool is a lighter version of what I have in VSCL.

Regards,

I was wondering about the two similar programs too.

Gotta ask... What's spectral cleaning?

Kami

browj2 wrote on 11/24/2013, 11:55 PM

Hi Kami,

See my other post for the screens. Straight from the manual:

MAGIX Spectral Cleaning removes background noise (such as coughing, whistling or clapping) from a recording without audibly influencing the signal. The music is displayed in the Spectral Cleaning Editor by means of a
spectrogram (sometimes also referred to as a sonogram). This displays the frequency elements with regard to time (see illustration). The frequency level is then visualized by a color code or by its brightness, respectively. Audible background noises are usually louder than the signal and are generally restricted to a certain frequency spectrum. They are therefore highlighted in the spectrogram in color and can be easily encircled and removed with the mouse.

In MAGIX Spectral Cleaning Editor you can now simply mark and "remove" all noises with the mouse. Lost elements of the original frequency spectrum are then added from the signal surrounding the
noise in order to avoid audible gaps.

MAGIX Spectral Cleaning is ideal for all short but clear sounds in the
music, such as clicking, coughing and even short drop-outs, but NOT
for permanent disturbances such as hiss or noise. In such a case
please use the DeHisser or DeNoiser.

I have used it with simple voice recordings as well as singing.

Regards,

Kami_1 wrote on 11/25/2013, 8:56 AM

Thanks John! Much appreciated. Unfortunately, many of the "noises" I need to get rid of are voices, along with traffic, sirens, drilling, wind, hammering -- often all at once! I save many of the filters I create.