Movie Studio 2022 Suite version 21.0.2.138

@Robert-Vauthrin

What do you mean by "change the location for a new project?" It has no location until you save.

When you Save a new Project for the first time, you get the normal Windows Explorer interface to go and put the Project file (.mvp) in a folder on a drive that you select. Does this not work?

Look under File, Settings, Program Settings, Folders tab. When you installed the program, you could change the default locations for files, like Projects, to wherever you wanted. Since you probably didn't do this, then change the locations in the Program Settings.

John CB

That may be how it works in this software, however clicking on “New Project”, should create a project (files must be created and stored somewhere even if they’re Temp files). On top of that, why does the option exist on that screen if it’s not used? Design flaw perhaps. I have to admit I’m primarily a Premiere Elements user.

Perhaps I should explain a bit more why I am concerned. I am using Movie Studio 2022 on a laptop. I don’t want to write video files to my “C” drive. I want to use a portable hard drive for video files and as one portable drive fills up, I want to be able to switch to another portable drive.

anyway, thanks for the explanation.

@Robert-Vauthrin

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the explanation.

Even though a project may be huge, the project file itself, .MVP, is small.

There are two ways start a new project.

Before doing so, you should have the default locations under Program Settings, Folders set to where you want Projects, Exports, Recordings and Disc Images to go.

Note that mine are set to my B drive.

1. On the New screen, you can put in a Project name. By default, under Options, "Copy media to project folder" is not checked. The Project folder is greyed out because it is using the default location and nothing will go there other than the small project file and rotating backups.

If you don't want your Project file to be in this folder, then do a Save immediately after creating the project and change the location. The first time that you Save, you will be given the opportunity to change it. I use subfolders by subject, so that is when I point to a subfolder. From then on, the project is saved to that folder.

2. On the New screen, if you check "Copy media to project folder" then the Project folder box will become available and will propose a combination of your default location plus the name of the project. You can see this in the image below.

Everything that you add to the timeline will now be copied to this folder.

If you don't want your Project files to be in this folder, then do a Save immediately after creating the project and change the location. Of course, since you created a project folder, it will be the first default location for your project, so just save.

When you add something to the timeline, you will be asked if you want to Copy it to the Project Folder or just Import. Since you set up the project this way and you want to copy material to the Project Folder and you don't want the message to pop up every time, check "Don't show this message again" then press "Copy."

John CB

Thanks for the thorough explanation. It’s much clearer now.

@Robert-Vauthrin

Hi

In addition to @browj2 comments,

. . . . files must be created and stored somewhere even if they’re Temp files . . . .

The necessary 'support' files created by the program will appear in either:

• The same folder as the source videos added to the timeline, the 'support' files have a .H0 and .HDP
   
• If using Proxy files the lower resolution files created on import are also in the same folder as the source video files and have a .mxv file extension and 'proxy' in the long file name
   
• The AudioTemp folder for audio files - you may find copies of the original files, those that have been 'mixed down / edited externally, and the .H0 and .HDP support files.

Once a project is complete and finished the .H0, .HDP and Proxy files, if used, can be deleted. If you go back to the project at a later date these files will be recreated.

The cache file for Preview playback is created on the C:\ drive, however it is small - approx 30 MB in size.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

@Robert-Vauthrin

Hi Robert,

I should have added that I use method 1. I leave the material used in its source location; no copy. if I want to archive the project with all source material, I do so at the end by going to File, Backup Copy, Copy Project and media into folder. Then I archive that.

John CB

John, I appreciate all the info…now that I have a better understanding, I’m going to give the software a try.

Wrong Wrong Wrong. I do not WANT a default folder. When I create a new project I want to select the folder that I want to save the that particular project at that time. Why have a "Project Folder" choice that is ALWAYS grayed out??? If it is impossible to choose then it shouldn't exist. Strange.

@Tom-Lamson

Hi,

There is a slight confusion here that needs clarification. The Project Folder, the way that it is used in the startup screen, is meant to be for creating a folder that will contain a copy of all media that you put in the project.

Is that your intention? If so, then just check the box "Copy media to project folder" and you will have access to the Project Folder to select/create a new folder.

If you just want the Project File, the project_name.MVP file, to be saved in a particular or new folder, then you do that the first time that you save, not when you start the project or on the startup screen. That is what I do and here is how it works.

As soon as my project is open, with the name that I indicated on the startup screen, I click on Save (the diskette icon). The Windows Explorer interface opens with the project name indicated as the File name (by default) and a folder selected (often the last one used). I then navigate to where I want my project file to be saved or create a new folder, keep or change the file name, Save.

My projects are all saved under:

B:\Documents\MAGIX\Movie Studio 2023 Suite\Projects\.whatever_folder_I_want

I have folders for travel, holidays, Christmases, people, etc. That is where I keep just the Project file and its backups, nothing more.

I keep all media in its original location.

At the end of a project, if I want to archive it, then I use File-Backup Copy-Copy project and media into folder.

Does that help?

Here is my complaint. In the Movie Studio Introductory Video there is no "Project Folder" at all. It is immediately clear that the Project Folder is not something to be determined at this point.

In the actual Movie Studio 2023 there is a grayed out "Project Folder."

It makes no sense to have an unusable option. This was the basis of Robert-Vauthrin's complaint. He saw a choice to select a directory when there was not a choice. He and I wasted time trying to figure out how to enable it. I wandered through the settings, I watched the video; I Googled the problem which is how I found this post. The absence of a "Project Folder," as in the video, makes more sense.

Please don't argue that the option is there for information only. The path so long that it is is truncated.

BTW, The video is on the Movie Studio 2023 page but the video is using Movie Edit Pro.

@Tom-Lamson

Hi Tom.

It's greyed out because you are using the load existing project tab and not the create new project tab.

Ray.

@Tom-Lamson

Hi

The project folder is greyed out because you are not following the instructions @browj2 gave you above ie ' just check the box "Copy media to project folder" ' as shown below

Please re-read @browj2 post directly above your last comment.

John EB
Forum Moderator

@Tom-Lamson

Tom, I sympathise, but in the big scheme of things, this is not a biggy, I would have thought. At least now you know how it works. FYI, in the 18-odd years I've been using Magix, I have never set the folder location on that screen. If I do want to set it, I set it on the Program Settings (key Y), Folder tab.

The video is on the Movie Studio 2023 page but the video is using Movie Edit Pro.

Again, I sympathise. Magix changed the name (only) of Movie Edit Pro to Movie Studio last year. The functionality of MMS is the same as MEP, give or take a few changed bits and bobs (including the screen you have shown us above). Those MEP tutes are "basically" valid for MMS. 😉

Please don't argue that the option is there for information only. The path so long that it is is truncated.

Nobody's arguing about this. That is simply the default project folder location, on the Magix installation drive.

@CubeAce

It's greyed out because you are using the load existing project tab and not the create new project tab.

Ray, it's greyed out on the Create New Project tab, as per JohnEB's video above (and Tom's second Image; the first (superceded-but-still-in-the-tute image shows "new project" but has a much more intuitive project-folder activation tickbox).

Hi All,

@Tom-Lamson

I see your point. Separating the "Copy media to project folder" from the "Project folder" location box has made it confusing. At first, I, too, looked at how to set the folder from the startup screen and only realized later that doing it my way required making the decision upon first Save, even though it was quite clear that access to the "Project folder" location box was linked to the "Copy media to project folder" checkbox (in older versions).

Since the Project Folder location is set in the Program Settings, when you start a new project and enter a Project Name, it is copied to the "Project folder" location box after the Project Folder location as set in the Program Settings Folders.

As I mentioned, all of my projects go in subfolders (I actually use VPX) and I would like to be able to set that location here, by selecting/creating a folder and have it stick so that when I come to save for the first time, my choice is pre-selected in Window Explorer. This, I believe, is logical and is what you are complaining about.

In the above image, I would like to be able to select the subfolder "Tests" in the startup screen and have it pre-selected when I first save. This would be logical.

So, I suggest that you and @Robert-Vauthrin each create a ticket explaining the problem and what would be an improvement.

@AAProds

Hi Al,

Yes, it's minor but annoying and, for new users, confusing. We are used to it and know what to do. The user should have access to the box whether or not one wants to copy the media to a folder. Afterall, Magix made it more confusing and should fix it.

John CB

I do appreciate all the information. I regularly create videos of varying lengths. My default program is Adobe Premiere Elements”. I must admit I’ve been using it for many years so I’m fairly familiar with how it works at least for my needs. I sometimes use Corel’s Video Studio Pro as I like the stabilization included better. Anyway, I often research other options and after reading many reviews I decided to purchase the video editor from Magix.
 

When I open Premiere Elements, the first thing I do is create a new project and set a project location. The location of the project is always on a portable USB drive where I keep all the input clips, audio, music and output files (usually mp4 or iso) never on the main computer drive. When I opened the Magix editor, I was expecting something similar (a project name and location) and sure enough it’s there just grayed out. I searched for a way to change the name and location but didn’t find anything. So I turned to this forum.

I now know a lot more but have to admit I’m still a bit confused. I want my software installed on my main drive but I do not want work files stored there. Again I appreciate the comments…oh, I do know how to read and I’ve done that. Please remember that what is perfectly clear to one person may not be as clear to another.

BTW, I have successfully used the Magix software to create a few videos. It has features I really like.

@Robert-Vauthrin

Hi Robert,

I now know a lot more but have to admit I’m still a bit confused. I want my software installed on my main drive but I do not want work files stored there.

It's still not clear to me exactly what you do.

Most of us here do not have our source files on the drive that has the OS (not recommended). Even My documents are on a separate drive. Thus, as you can see in my images, my Documents - including Magix user folders are on my B drive.

My source files are on more than one drive - photos on one drive, videos on the same or more (I have too many for one drive).

Everything is backed up (I hope).

Only my project files, the MVP files, are stored under

B:\Documents\MAGIX\Video Pro X\Projects

This is my choice and I do this because I like all of my MVP files to be located together under the above but in subfolders by category (see the image below for VPX). It makes it easier to find the project MVP file. I don't copy the media used into a project folder.

On the startup screen, you have the option to do what I do or to copy the media used, as it is used, into a project folder, located wherever you want. This creates a copy of your media used and uses up more disk space. Example, if you use 10 seconds from each of 10 video clips that are 4GB each, then all 10 complete files are copied to the Project Folder using up 40 GB of space.

So, which is it - do you want a copy of all media used to be copied to a specific project folder or not? That will determine how you start the project.

Here is an example of what I have under one of the subfolders. I sorted it by type, so you don't see the BAK files. That is all there is in my subfolder.

John CB

@Robert-Vauthrin, @Tom-Lamson

Hi

The Introduction video is out of date and does not reflect the new features that were introduced in Movie Studio

With respect to the 'Project folder' and premiere - the Magix video editors, that have the Project folder feature, are IMO similar to those of Premiere. I do not use it due to the method the inbult feature works - see further down this comment. I have a different way of working with 'Project folders'

When I start a new project, before I have recorded anything, on my PC and laptop, I have a 'Blank' project folder structure already setup, see image below, which I copy and paste and rename the root folder for each project I do. The video, audio and images are separated for my convenience - I never mix them all into one folder as you can see from the video subfolder in the image below, the images folder is also sub-divided by the device name they were taken with.

All the video files, images and audio for the project are dropped into the appropriate subfolders direct from the cameras and audio recorder on the day of recording. Once I have all the recordings, images and audio for that project done which can take up to 2 months, I start the editing.

For backing up I do not use the 'backup copy into folder' option in MMS as this only copies the video/images/audio actually used in the project - I often have excess video/images/audio that do not get used in the project, however they may be required at a later date if I have to revisit the completed project.

I use a semi-automated backup system using SyncBack, there are other progams which are similar for the same job, to back up the enitre project folder and subfolders to backup drives.

HTH

John EB

Perhaps I should clarify a few things.

1). I create/edit videos for clients. Currently I have more than 40TB of client data on various portable drives.

2), the data is organized by client then order #, so I keep everything together (input photos, videos, music etc). I also keep the editing project(s) together in the client folder. That way everything for one project is together. I’m aware there are many ways to organize data and perhaps mine isn’t the best but it’s how I choose to do it.

I want everything together. I do not want to separate anything including project folders. If a client calls me asking for a change, even months later, I can easily do that because it’s together. All I have to do is mount the drive everything is located on and proceed from there.

@Robert-Vauthrin

Using 'Save Project As' would enable you to choose the folder to place the project file and any associated H0, HDP or BAK files wherever you wanted to place them.

This forum has been a lot of help and I appreciate everyone who has assisted me.

Thanks to all for information. I understand how to save a project in the directory of my choice but I still think that the interface is not intuitive.