X7 upgraders - please give your impression

michaels wrote on 6/29/2015, 7:54 AM

Hi, I'm a X6 user, and am starting the trial of X7 with a view to upgrading. I must admit the initial marketing material did not give me a strong impression or motivation to upgrade, though after seeing the UI I agree it's a better look. Sorry to ask so directly, but I'd be grateful to hear if X6 -> X7 users have found it a worthwhile upgrade. I'm mainly using it for HD & mobile-phone video editing (colour temp adj & basic editing including titles). Thanks, Michael.

Comments

browj2 wrote on 7/3/2015, 11:58 PM

Hi Michael,

There are really only 2 features of any significance that I can find, and some features that were broken in VPX6 are still broken.

The 2 features are the new UI look which is nice, but not worth paying much for, and proDAD Mercalli V4 plugin. The latter is really nice. The standalone version was selling for 200$, so it was better to buy VPX7 with the plugin rather than the SAL Mercalli for the same price as the upgrade.

Two main features that are still broken:

Does not work properly with Xara P&GD10 and 11 for creating an overlay animation. The video does not advance and no animation is created, only a static image. It does work fine with Xara v9, however.
~~Dual language (multi-language feature works up until burning, and then the Dual language setting is missing~~.

I have raised tickets for both of these.

Dual language actually burns ok without using the Dual Channel parameter indicated in the manual. My mistake.

Given what you say that you do, I can't see any real reason for you to upgrade.

johnebaker wrote on 7/4/2015, 7:13 AM

Hi John CB

. . . . Dual language (multi-language feature works up until burning, and then the Dual language setting is missing. . . . .

I have tried this in the trial version of VPX 7 and it definitely works when burning BD, cannot try DVD - mpeg licensing limitation prevent final burn, however the option is there in the preview window.

Probably a dumb question - did you set the audio tracks up correctly?

HTH

John EB

browj2 wrote on 7/4/2015, 10:03 AM

@John EB,

Well I'll be.....!

Yes, everything was set up correctly for the languages, but I didn't actually try burning. I got as far as the parameter screen below and since there was no Dual Channel option as indicated in the manual on p388, I gave up.

Excerpt:

Audio type: You can use MPEG Layer 1/2 audio or "AVCHD audio track". Select "No
audio" in the export dialog. (My comment - no such selection available)

Sample rate: You can set a sample rate of 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz for the audio track.
VCDs and SVCDs require 44.1 kHz, DVDs require 48 kHz. To reduce the size of audio
data it is recommended to lower the bit rate instead of the sample rate.

Mode: You can use Mono, Stereo, Joint Stereo or Dual Channel. If the audio type
"AVCHD audio track" is used, "5.1 surround" mode may also be selected.
• Dual Channel enables encoding of two mono tracks (e.g. different language
sound tracks) that can be switched during playback. (My comment - no such selection available)
• Joint Stereo is an optimized stereo encoder which takes advantage of the fact....

End of quote

Here is the parameter screen.

When I had tried it in VPX6, it didn't work and Magix acknowledged the problem. I hadn't actually tried burning in VPX7 as the parameter was not available and I assumed that the feature was still not working. I just tried burning a DVD in VPX7 and left the parameter as Stereo. To my great surprise, it worked! So I take it all back. Magix should change the instructions in the manual.

Furthermore, this was my first time Encoding to DVD in VPX7. I was only exporting until now. The project is just over 11 minutes, and I think that it took no longer than that. It seemed very fast. Then I burned using the command File, Burn CD/DVD, Burn copy of an already created video disk. It was all in German, so I guess that that is my only complaint. I managed to burn the disk.

Now I'm happy, almost. If only they could fix the animation part with Xara 11, which is actually a very nice update. Except for the animation not working, the interface works much better than Xara 9 and 10 and Xara always stays open. Going back and forth to modify an overly or mask is very fast. I'm waiting for Xara Designer Pro X11 to come out before purchasing. But for anyone else who doesn't want or need to do web design, go for Xara Photo & Graphics Designer 9 if you want animated overlays/masks, or 11 if you just need static overlays/masks.

Thanks,