@David-Spector

Hi, and welcome to the user to user forums.

When you say you are a first time user, do you mean of this version of the program or have you been using another video editor or a previous version of this editor?

If it was a previous version of this editor, did it look like this and are you familiar with using that interface?

Are you currently still using the trial version of Movie Studio 2023?

Ray.

@David-Spector

Hi,

I found a video and could play it, but could not move it to the time line.

You can drag it to the timeline.

Try pressing F9 to reset the windows...

Thank you so much for the starting info. I will try all this.

Ray, "When you say you are a first time user, do you mean of this version of the program or have you been using another video editor or a previous version of this editor?"

I mean the first time I am trying out Movie Studio 2023, or any product of Magix. I have tried many video editors and found only one so far that was easy to use: ClipChamp, the Windows 11 builtin editor. To insert a cross-fade, you don't have to overlap clips, just butt the clips and select cross-fade and move a slider if the duration is different from the last cross-fade. So easy. But it cannot store projects locally or fork projects. It can only export video locally. So I'm still looking.

"Are you currently still using the trial version of Movie Studio 2023?"

I just started the trial yesterday and have 29 days remaining. The interface is very different from other editors and I haven't discovered how to do basic editing as yet. browj2's response is very helpful, so I haven't given up yet.

browj2, F9 brings up the settings dialog okay, but I can't find Windows or Reset in any of the tabs. Please help. All I can do is close the program from the task bar. Also, perhaps you can explain how to locate a video and import it for use in the editor?

@David-Spector

Hi David.

I too really started my video editing with Magix. The prior version of the one you are trying out now.

I have since tried other video editing packages and realize that the workflow for this editor is somewhat different to the other editing packages out there.

All I can say is that I picked up the workflow of the Magix editor far quicker once I got into editing with it than I subsequently have trying to use other editing packages. For me at least I found it eventually more intuitive.

Mainly because the tracks can contain anything and you can mix and match still images with video clips. Yes the tracks shown within the interface are 'upside down' compared to other editors, meaning the first track gets covered by anything placed underneath it but that for me made more sense.

I also found using the timeline view easier to edit with than using the Storyboard mode or Scene overview, but I guess all have their uses.

Timeline view.

Storyboard mode. You may be able to apply cross fades there the same (or similar) way as you did in ClipChamp.

Scene overview.

To find each view in the timeline editor look closely at each image and see which icon is highlighted in light blue to activate that view.

I'm sure @browj2 tutorials will be of help. There are also bite sized tutorials to be found on the Magix website such as this one.

Unfortunately some of Magix own videos also need updating but the information is also applicable to the newer program where settings are the same.

The programs manual can be downloaded from the programs help tab.

Ray.