Hi

. . . . I have PSP 2023 Ultimate, and with Happy Otter Scripts, it's drop dead easy sending images and getting them back on the timeline . . . .

Is this a destructive or non-destructive edit to the images?

John EB

@johnebaker Hi, it's in a non destructive way, it loads the new edited image on to the timeline as a Take.

This is why I upgraded to Adobe AE,

Sapphire Effects ( S_Effect - Builder) & Sapphire Transition (S_Transition) do work in Vegas but you can't limit what controls are shown back in the Video Event FX window & the Background/Layer choice is a bit messed up.

BTW. Along with Silhouette these don't even show in VPX.

@Former user yeah Silhouette isn't listed as being supported by Vegas. As for the controls in Sapphire not being limited in the Video Event FX window, I only have a couple of Sapphire plugins, and I find the BCC equivalents work better (more responsive) in Vegas. Besides, they are out of my price range.

I always advocate that someone use what works best for them.

@Reyfox Yeah, I've had Boris a few yrs now but I'm still going through them to see what's what, I'll get to a point where I will be able to recall what I have & be able to use what's best but there's so much 👍

the BCC ones are a lot easier on my system, if any are going to crash it'd be the Sapphire ones, I don't think I'm going to be able to upgrade the Sapphire ones indefinitely but I have a perpetual licence so I have them forever,

I haven't looked to see if Silhouette is supported by Vegas but it works fine, I've got the standalone version which I tend to open rather than the plugin, same again I don't know how long I'll be able to afford to update each yr,

Edit, - Just looked at my Boris account, all licences except BCC are out of date, support ended end of last yr while i was poorly, most want $695 to renew support, Silhouette wants $995 😂 I could prob get a better price by asking in the chat window on Boris's page but I think for now I'm going to live with what I've got, 😁👍

@Former user, @Reyfox

Hi

Thanks for the video clip, that confirms what I was expecting when I saw the Save as Take option in the HOS.

VPX and MMS can send an image to an external image editor, in my case tested with PSP 2021, and Photo Designer without the need for scripting, however it is a destructive edit and in VPX14 and MMS 2023 when returned back to the program, the image on the timeline is not updated until the cache is refreshed - using the Empty undo and cache memory feature under Edit is required.

@browj2

Hi John

Earlier versions of VPX and MEP, I tested on MEP 2016, would automatically update the image/cache on the timeline on detecting a change in the image, in VPX 14 and MMS 2023 it does not, is this on your bug list?

The 'Save as take' feature would be a boon for VPX/MMS

John EB

@johnebaker @Former user @Reyfox @browj2

Hi John.

Earlier versions of VPX and MEP, I tested on MEP 2016, would automatically update the image/cache on the timeline on detecting a change in the image, in VPX 14 and MMS 2023 it does not, is this on your bug list?

Yes and no. They won't show up on an open project but should show the changes when a project is re-opened. At least that works for me but I tend to use png or psd files.

Ray.

@CubeAce

Hi Ray

. . . . They won't show up on an open project but should show the changes when a project is re-opened . . . .

The changes don't appear because the cache, which is a temporary file (or in memory ?) is not updating to reflect the changes, as it used to do, when you close/open the project the cache is recreated, it does not get saved on close of the program or project so the changed image is loaded.

This is what I am seeing

Did you try the Empty undo and cache memory option?

The destructive editing does not matter to me as I have the 'Auto preserve' turned on in PSP.

John EB

@johnebaker

Hi John.

I don't think I have ever emptied the cache, and since I have only owned Magix products from the 2018 version onward of MEP I've never known any better. Certainly at the beginning I never tried anything like that. As the image is effectively open in two programs at the same time I'm surprised MMS / VPX doesn't crash when it's altered.

Ray.

@johnebaker Hi, A isn't auto assigned to Empty undo and cache memory, (it's not in MS either)

I put it as A after reading this, 👍

@Reyfox

Hi,

Thanks for the video about Normalizing in Vegas. It proves my point - in Vegas it's a Switch and you don't know by how much the gain was adjusted. In VPX/MMS, you do. However, in VPX, you cannot adjust the ceiling which is a drawback.

All clips were normalized to full value. The gain of the first one was raised by 3.5db, the second and third, 0, the fourth by 22.5db. Since the first 3 were with the same camera in the same location with the same background noise, they should all have the same adjustment, but they don't because of a loud noise (coming from my mouth). With other clips, there is no or little other noise. Without going into details about volume adjustment and compression, to balance these out, I need to know the lowest gain added and apply that value to the others. With Vegas, I don't know what this is, with VPX/MMS, I do.

Audio object automation/volume curves - I still don't see this in Vegas. Below shows separate object and track volume curves in VPX. As far as I can see, in Vegas there is only one volume curve, not two.

You can also have other audio curves on an Object:

Multi-move vs Nesting in Vegas - thanks for the video but no, nesting in Vegas is not multi-timeline. Multiple movies in VPX/MMS is part of my videos on getting started. Below is a simple example of a multi-movie (multiple timelines) project, Seasons with movies for each season. I can go back and forth, copy/paste from one to the other. At the end, I can simply export each separately or use the DVD/BD burner to create a multi-movie disk, each having multiple chapters if desired.

There are many uses for multiple movies. For example, when I import VHS cassettes or 8mm/S8mm films, they often have multiple topics. I can split them up and put the pertinent parts in each movie. Movies can be exported/imported into other projects as they are really just a single movie project. Movies can be appended to an existing project/movie, and more.

Here is another example of a project with many Movies - each is a day during my sister's vacation with us where we travelled to and visited various places. Each will be exported to MP4 as I complete them, and the final result will be a DVD and a BD with multiple movies and chapters:

Another example, I have templates that I use that contain some elements, like placeholders, titles (outros), audio, coloured tracks and more. I can simply import the movie into a different project and everything is available.

In VPX, nesting is done within the same project by using multiple movies. The movie name is in the Project Temp Folder. Simply drag the movie that you want to nest onto the timeline of the main movie. If you need to adjust the source, it's in the same project. In Vegas, you are importing an external project onto the timeline. If you need to adjust it, you have to reopen that project, make the adjustment, then reopen the movie that uses the nested project.

Here is an example:

The second movie is nested onto the timeline of the current movie. I can now add effects to that object as a whole. If I need to adjust the BTS for nesting Movie, I can just click on it and change it.

As for my comments on Vegas Post, again the intention was not say that what we have is equivalent or even close, but for most normal users (not us) what we already have with VPX/MMS goes a long ways towards what Vegas Post is. At the base, we get with VPX/MMS an external audio editor (ME3), and an external photo editor (Photo Designer 7). Photo Designer is not the equivalent of Image/PaintShop Pro/PhotoShop, but it can do a lot for those who don't need the high end stuff. Are you aware of ME3 and Photo Designer?

ME3 vs SFAS, hmmm - I have SFAS16 and prefer ME3 but since I have SFACL, that is what I use (way beyond SFAS). Vegas Edit Pro comes with no external editor or photo editor or it has an add-on like SFAS. MEP and VPX have always come with ME3 and PD7.

VPX/MMS also comes with Travel Maps (you can't do what it does even with Vegas Post).

If you now add in plugins that we got over the years, like HitFilm and NB plugins, we are going a long ways toward Vegas Post Effects. Most users of VPX/MMS do not need or would use higher end stuff like HitFilm. Those who do should go there.

Lastly, for those who like them, we have the 3D titles made using Xara 3D Maker. VPX comes with the full version. Nothing like it in Vegas.

So, for most users, they probably have more than enough with just the main programs VPX/MMS Plat/Suite. It's a case of looking at what we actually have, need and use.

You asked what else I would miss (I think that you can see why multiple movies is a must for me):

• Travel Maps, which I use extensively in almost every project because I am going or went somewhere and want to show where.
• Xara 3D Maker
• The interface with Xara DPX for static and animated overlays and masks
• Soundtrack Maker
• Slideshow Maker music
• Music that comes with VPX
• DVD/BD maker with templates and ability to modify them as I wish
• All the stuff that I bought in the Store - effects, templates, music

What I don't like about Vegas other than what is missing that I have listed:

• Having to insert tracks - someone on my YT channel asked how I got all of the tracks showing in MMS. The question for Vegas is where are the tracks?
• f is a function of x:

It reminds me of university math and is a real turn-off.

There is more, but that is enough. It's mostly what one is used to, I guess.

@johnebaker

Shortcut "A" opens Program settings in VPX to the Video/Audio tab. I changed the tab, Ok, A, and it goes back to the Video/Audio tab. Using "Y" to open the Program Settings goes to whatever was the last tab opened.

I have added the photo refresh to the list as Bug 58. I will update my thread on the bugs with VPX14 and link to the bug list so that you can go over it to see what is missing or has been fixed. I have not raised many issues with Magix over the last year or so - too time-consuming and I have been frustrated and disappointed enough with Magix's inertia.

With PaintShop Pro, one can also save the PSP project before returning to the video editor, so this keeps the changes available for future changes. In this case, one would be best to open PSP and the project by itself and make the update. I've never had to do that, but the possibility is there.

For those who have Xara DPX or P&GD, you can use that as the external image editor and if you also need more power, then use PSP as the external bitmap editor for Xara. So VPX/MMS to Xara to PSP back to Xara back to the video editor. I do this if I need to do something special that I find Xara does better/quicker than PSP. In any event, it is much quicker in all cases, including with Vegas I would imagine, to edit all images before (or after) importing them to the timeline using the image editor by itself. No need to open-edit-close-return to timeline-repeat, just open PSP and edit multiple images in a session.

@CubeAce

I don't think that Magix is removing anything to somehow make a separation between VPX/MMS and Vegas or any other programs. They are just making programming errors which introduce bugs that require fixing. If something is supposed to work a certain way, used to, then doesn't (not due to a change in how it works but due to an error in programming) then it should be pointed out and fixed.

Example, SFACL4 bugs that I have listed. We should not be getting this message upon startup:

The error is really nothing, just embarrassing, and some users have asked for a refund because of it.

The interface with SpectraLayers should work - Magix added SpectraLayers to SFACL4. I doubt that Magix would intentionally put in the bug with the interface to entice users to go to Sound Forge Pro or any other Magix program; they would not add SpectraLayers to SFACL in the first place. All this does is turn off users to other Magix products.

ALL:

My biggest problem is lack of inspiration, imagination and art skills. I want great intros but none of the ones that I have do what I want, mainly because I don't know what I want, and if it exists, it can't be any good because it exists and I want something else. Vicious cycle leading to procrastination and stagnation.

To conclude, those who require powerful effects and can afford them should go for them. But for most users, what we have is sufficient. It's just a matter of knowing what we actually have and how to use it.

Time to actually do something rather than talk about it.

John CB

@browj2

Hi John

. . . . Shortcut "A" opens Program settings in VPX to the Video/Audio tab. I changed the tab, Ok, A, and it goes back to the Video/Audio tab. Using "Y" to open the Program Settings goes to whatever was the last tab opened. . . . .

My bad - I must have customised this on my PC, laptop installs are not customised and are as you describe - I will modify my comment.

Thanks for adding it to the list - I will go through it and see what items, if any, have been fixed.

John EB

@Reyfox

Hi,

Thanks for the video about Normalizing in Vegas. It proves my point - in Vegas it's a Switch and you don't know by how much the gain was adjusted. In VPX/MMS, you do. However, in VPX, you cannot adjust the ceiling which is a drawback.

When you set your volume "ceiling", it doesn't matter how much anything is increased/decreased when Normalizing. That is the idea, isn't it? Normalized audio?

All clips were normalized to full value. The gain of the first one was raised by 3.5db, the second and third, 0, the fourth by 22.5db. Since the first 3 were with the same camera in the same location with the same background noise, they should all have the same adjustment, but they don't because of a loud noise (coming from my mouth). With other clips, there is no or little other noise. Without going into details about volume adjustment and compression, to balance these out, I need to know the lowest gain added and apply that value to the others. With Vegas, I don't know what this is, with VPX/MMS, I do.

Audio object automation/volume curves - I still don't see this in Vegas. Below shows separate object and track volume curves in VPX. As far as I can see, in Vegas there is only one volume curve, not two. You can also have other audio curves on an Object:

You have the track volume and the clip/event volume in Vegas. Automation can be "faster", but it's an "automated" keyframing where you can "draw" it. It's still keyframing, which can be done in Vegas.

Multi-move vs Nesting in Vegas - thanks for the video but no, nesting in Vegas is not multi-timeline. Multiple movies in VPX/MMS is part of my videos on getting started. Below is a simple example of a multi-movie (multiple timelines) project, Seasons with movies for each season. I can go back and forth, copy/paste from one to the other. At the end, I can simply export each separately or use the DVD/BD burner to create a multi-movie disk, each having multiple chapters if desired.

There are many uses for multiple movies. For example, when I import VHS cassettes or 8mm/S8mm films, they often have multiple topics. I can split them up and put the pertinent parts in each movie. Movies can be exported/imported into other projects as they are really just a single movie project. Movies can be appended to an existing project/movie, and more.

Here is another example of a project with many Movies - each is a day during my sister's vacation with us where we travelled to and visited various places. Each will be exported to MP4 as I complete them, and the final result will be a DVD and a BD with multiple movies and chapters:

I don't think you fully understand what Nesting is Vegas is. Everything you mentioned can be done with nesting. You can place as many completed projects on the timeline. Open them individually, make changes, copy/paste to other nested projects, save them once adjusted, adjust the "single" nested clip with FX, crop, etc. Anything you can do with a single event on the timeline, you can do to a nested project. No difference. And render out any timeline nested project individually. I don't burn DVD's. I haven't in many years, and never with Vegas so can't comment on doing them in Vegas. But I do have .

As a side note, this was available 10 years ago in Pinnacle Studio (Avid Studio).

In VPX, nesting is done within the same project by using multiple movies. The movie name is in the Project Temp Folder. Simply drag the movie that you want to nest onto the timeline of the main movie. If you need to adjust the source, it's in the same project. In Vegas, you are importing an external project onto the timeline. If you need to adjust it, you have to reopen that project, make the adjustment, then reopen the movie that uses the nested project.

Not true. Drag the movie you want on the timeline of any project you are working on. You don't have to "import" it. Drag and drop. Easy. You do not have to re-open the project. Remember, it's a nested single clip. Highlight the nested clip on the timeline, Alt+N, and it opens the nested clip. Do any adjustments you want, Alt+N, and it's a single event on the timeline. You can do this with each and every nested movie. Or... if you want, you can have as many Vegas Pro separate editors open at the same time.

As for my comments on Vegas Post, again the intention was not say that what we have is equivalent or even close, but for most normal users (not us) what we already have with VPX/MMS goes a long ways towards what Vegas Post is. At the base, we get with VPX/MMS an external audio editor (ME3), and an external photo editor (Photo Designer 7). Photo Designer is not the equivalent of Image/PaintShop Pro/PhotoShop, but it can do a lot for those who don't need the high end stuff. Are you aware of ME3 and Photo Designer?

Here is where I will disagree. VPX/MMS doesn't come close to the compositing in Post or it's 800+ effects. Are VPX/MMS very capable editors? Yes. Can they do compositing? Yes. Will this suffice for a lot of users? Definitely yes.

ME3 and Photo Designer 7, do they come with the software? I don't see them listed. I use Paintshop Pro 2023 Ultimate, which works great, and as @Former user showed, you easily do non-destructive editing with any photo editor and Happy Otter Scripts. Audio editing is something I rarely do. Smartsound's which integrates into Vegas is what I use to create music. I've been collecting the music for 20 years and have a sizeable library. Yes, the music costs money, but I buy on sales.

VPX/MMS also comes with Travel Maps (you can't do what it does even with Vegas Post).

Travel maps are a plus. I have Google Earth Pro.

If you now add in plugins that we got over the years, like HitFilm and NB plugins, we are going a long ways toward Vegas Post Effects. Most users of VPX/MMS do not need or would use higher end stuff like HitFilm. Those who do should go there.

Plugins are not the same as VFX video. One trip to something like or explains it better than I can. I have Ignite Pro 5, which includes all of the Hitfilm's plugins. Almost all are compatible and work in Vegas Pro. I also have NBFX TotalFX 7 where everything works, in addition to BorisFX Continuum Complete, Sapphire units, and other additional software. This is where Vegas Pro really outshines VPX/MMS, in plugins. Are they necessary for editing video? No. But they can make the process so much easier, especially in the "tweak" department.

Lastly, for those who like them, we have the 3D titles made using Xara 3D Maker. VPX comes with the full version. Nothing like it in Vegas.

No, you are right. Vegas title editing is .... wanting to say the least. One of the most asked about feature requests. But I don't think they will be updating any of it any time soon. But, since you brought up plugins, I have Titler Pro 7 and BorisFX Title Studio.

So, for most users, they probably have more than enough with just the main programs VPX/MMS Plat/Suite. It's a case of looking at what we actually have, need and use.

You asked what else I would miss (I think that you can see why multiple movies is a must for me):

• Travel Maps, which I use extensively in almost every project because I am going or went somewhere and want to show where.
• Xara 3D Maker
• The interface with Xara DPX for static and animated overlays and masks
• Soundtrack Maker
• Slideshow Maker music
• Music that comes with VPX
• DVD/BD maker with templates and ability to modify them as I wish
• All the stuff that I bought in the Store - effects, templates, music

Vegas doesn't come with any music. It can do slide shows. The OGG music that comes with VPX is nice, but looking at the Specifications, it can't export that file format. Vegas has a far more extensive Import/Export portfolio, and total customization of it.

What I don't like about Vegas other than what is missing that I have listed:

• Having to insert tracks - someone on my YT channel asked how I got all of the tracks showing in MMS. The question for Vegas is where are the tracks?

Send anything to the timeline (drag/drop, double left click), and tracks are created. No unnecessary tracks taking up space that you aren't using. Want to add more? Ctrl+shift+Q. Do that as many times as you want. Do you have ?

My biggest problem is lack of inspiration, imagination and art skills. I want great intros but none of the ones that I have do what I want, mainly because I don't know what I want, and if it exists, it can't be any good because it exists and I want something else. Vicious cycle leading to procrastination and stagnation.

To conclude, those who require powerful effects and can afford them should go for them. But for most users, what we have is sufficient. It's just a matter of knowing what we actually have and how to use it.

Time to actually do something rather than talk about it.

We've all been there. I'm stuck right now editing a video. Mentally stuck. Some video editing just flows. Some, well, takes an effort to even open the project.

We are getting a little OT from "add-ons" but anyway three comments.

in Vegas it's a Switch and you don't know by how much the gain was adjusted

Actually in Vegas you can see this. There's an Event (Clip) Properties box which also has the option to switch Normalise plus shows the Gain.  Also a Recalculate button and controls for Time stretch / pitch shift.  At least VMS17 Platinum has this so I assume Vegas Pro does.

With Volume keyframes I agree it would be useful to have these for a clip in addition to the track envelope.  Personally I consider anything that relates solely to the clip should be there with the clip rather than rely on track keyframes behaving as you want them to.  My old Serif Movie Plus had them.

Also while discussing keyframes my old editor had a useful feature I've not found in any other editor I've played with.  With Clip keyframes not only could you make them interpolate Linear, Fast Slow etc but you could also control how they behaved when a clip was trimmed, extended, stretched or shrunk.  A keyframe's mode could be Absolute, Proportional, Relative to Start or Relative to End. Very useful.

@ericlnz

Hi Eric,

Thanks for that, I'll take a look in Vegas 18. I figured that there had to be some way to find out the gain.

For keyframing, take a look at my tutorial on keyframing and you'll see something similar with the keyframe editor, something most users don't notice.

@Reyfox

Hi,

Too much for tonight. I've been told that I have to go to bed.

But, I'll say a word on normalizing.

When you set your volume "ceiling", it doesn't matter how much anything is increased/decreased when Normalizing. That is the idea, isn't it? Normalized audio?

Yes and no. Normalizing is not normal. Normalizing takes the loudest noise and raises the gain of the entire clip such that the loudest noise goes to 0db if that is the ceiling.

I gave the example of 3 video clips taken on a walk, #1 with no one speaking, #2 with me speaking but not loudly, #3 with some talking and then a loud shout. In all 3 cases, you can hear background traffic because I was between 2 highways, in the woods about a half km from each highway.

Normalizing all 3 gives different results. In #1 the background noise is very loud. In #2 the background noise is lower and the talking is loudest. In #3 the background noise is very low, the talking is low and the shout is loudest, going to 0db. So in the last 2 cases, let's say that the talking in #2 is around -6db to 0db. In #3, the talking is now at -20 to -14db because of the shout. I now have a mess. Playing back I get loud background noise #1, then lower background noise #2 with talking that is normal, and finally #3 very low background noise, barely discernable talking and then a shout. I need to get the background noise to be the same in all 3, thus I need to know by how much the gain was increased. I showed this in:

To balance these out, I would do like the guy showed in your video on normalizing in Vegas, cut the shout to make it separate, or as I usually do, use the object volume curve to reduce the volume at that point in the clip. Then, I would use the gain increase of #2 as my base, decrease the volume of #1 to be the same, and increase the gain of #3 to be the same. Then I would check using a meter that #3 does not exceed 0db. I use YouLean Volume Meter 2 for this.

When you add background music and narration, this adds to the complication. Pick 2 very different songs, normalized (they should have already been) and one may sound much louder than the other. This is where using YouLean Volume Meter 2 becomes a tool to help determine the loudness. Now we're talking about perceived loudness, LUFS, a whole new vista.

Anther tool I would use is the compressor to adjust the talking part to have a lower dynamic range. It's usually a combination of normalizing, compression, object volume curve adjustment, object volume adjustment and finally track volume reduction. Another tool that I use is noise reduction, so I would probably reduce the background noise of all 3 clips using the same noise print.

What you are missing is that in VPX/MMS you have the track volume curve (also in Vegas), the object volume curve (not in Vegas) and the overall adjustable object volume (as shown above and also in Vegas). As Eric points out, there is only one volume curve in Vegas.

Nesting in Vegas - I understand how it works, but you don't seem to understand how multiple movies work in VPX/MMS. In Vegas, when I mentioned importing, I meant loading, dragging in, whatever. The nested object is a separate project in Vegas, in VPX, it is in the same project in a separate movie. That is a huge difference.

ME3 and Photo Designer 7, do they come with the software?

Yes and they are shown in the Program Settings, Folders tab by default.

Here is Photo Designer as the external image editor:

Pre-menu:

Photo Designer:

Here is the video that I just sent to Magix about the problems with SFACL4 and more. ME3 comes towards the end.

We've all been there. I'm stuck right now editing a video. Mentally stuck. Some video editing just flows. Some, well, takes an effort to even open the project.

Glad I'm not alone.

Off to bed.

John CB

As Eric points out, there is only one volume curve in Vegas

My comment is only in respect of VMS, I've no experience with Vegas Pro. @Reyfox would be best to clarify the situation with Vegas Pro.

I find the audio part of making a video that has narration, music, sound effects and camera audio the most demanding. Viewers will notice audio glitches easier than video errors!

@Reyfox, @ericlnz, @browj2

Hi

. . . . We are getting a little OT from "add-ons" but anyway three comments. . . . .

Bringing the topic back to "add-ons" - 2 are mentioned below 🙂

On the subject of Normalising, I am with John CB on this one. I no longer use the older 'peak' Normalising method for the very reasons John said.

With VPX I exclusively use the EBU R128 normalisation when necessary, and use the Mixer to do the final relative audio levels between video audio, narration, and music.

For compressing and setting of volume to meet the EBU R128 requirements, I use MDynamicEQ and Youlean Loudness meter - this ensures that the volume levels between sources are more consistent between movies, especially those that are part of a group either as individual movies on BD.

EBU R128 avoids the changes in loudness as John CB has mentioned, this was basically brought in to stop the practice of 'loud' adverts in broadcast (radio & TV) necessitating the need to grab the remote 🙉.

Reyfox

I too use DVDA 7 - it is and always was the best and most versatile disc creation program, the only other one I used before DVDA was DVD Lab Pro 2, it is a shame that this one did not do BD discs. I have tested more modern disc creation software available, and find them to be 'limited' eg they cannot do simple things like play a chapter and have it return to the menu at the end of the chapter.

John EB

@johnebaker I remember the days when commercials were way louder than the tv show you were watching.

@Reyfox

Hi,

Ok, back at it.

DVD/BD - I, too, have DVDA. Never used it. I have all of my DVD's/BD's (about a dozen or so) scattered across my desk waiting for me to add them to my database (I'll come back to database). Most were done in Pinnacle Studio before I moved to Magix, and I have no recollection as to how I did them. Not only that, some of the project files have disappeared. I had a disk crash but the stx files should be on the backup drive but are not. That said, DVDA is an add-on and can be used for video from any nle, not just Vegas. Vegas itself does not have DVD/DB capability, but VPX/MMS do, with templates. DVDA is no longer sold.

I also have SmartSound and have a plugin on the wishlist. That would be a good add-on for VPX/MMS.

OGG audio files - no need to export to that as we are usually exporting a movie to MP4. For audio, one would export to a wave file, not OGG. For anyone wondering, any music or sound effects that you buy in the Store has the extension mxcogg. This is a protected ogg format so that you can't use the audio with anything else. Of course, you can always import to the timeline and export from VPX/MMS to wave and use that.

Vegas FX/HitFilm - fantastic stuff, but way beyond the capability of mere mortals. Have you ever actually used it for a video? Not many of us are making sci-fi films or need super-sophisticated effects like those shown in the videos. Nice to have if you have a lot of time on your hands and the need, but not very practical for most users. Imagine how much time they took to create each of the videos that you showed. Just to do one or two effects would require hours of learning + trial and error.

Much of what was shown can be done in BluffTitler. The current version has stuff way beyond my comprehension with 3D model movements, GLB animation (whatever that is) and Physically Based Rendering.

Of course, the motion tracking in HifFilm is superb. We need much better motion tracking with VPX/MMS (currently defective).

Travel Maps, Google Earth and more - I use Google Earth to get a road route from point A to point B (wish it would do multiple points like Google Maps), then import the kmz route into Travel Maps.

For routes captured using GPS, I import the route into a program called GPX Utility for treatment - removal of points, compression (reduction of the number of points), and more. Then, I import the resulting GPX file into Travel Maps.

There is also Google Earth Studio - 3D flyaround to create an MP4 and import into VPX.

I did the above of Notre Dame Cathedral just after the fire before the imagery would change.

A few years ago, Magix bundled Vasco da Gama with MEP. It's not a plugin but an SAL even though the serial number seemed to be linked to MEP. The result is imported into VPX/MMS. I use it much less now as Travel Maps gives me the satellite image and is much faster. However, for certain things, like taking off and landing at airports, for example, the landings in Iran in this video:

If I had to do it again, I would probably use Travel Maps with satellite view or a mix of map and satellite view for walking and driving around.

Since you have not used Travel Maps, you'll find that the final product will automatically be placed on the timeline in VPX/MMS. The TM project can be saved and reopened for further editing. TM has different resolutions available. I usually make the duration longer than needed and then make speed adjustments in VPX.

Tracks - I don't find that having tracks showing in VPX/MMS takes up space. The convenience is in having them there and being able to drag an object onto whichever track I want. More Tracks can be inserted, if necessary, by clicking on the + button in the track header for the desired insert location. I often park objects on certain tracks for use elsewhere in the project and turn those tracks off.

I also usually use a template with coloured tracks.

If I forget to start with the template, I can import the movie template and move everything to that movie. And I can import the template for as many Movies as I need.

Database - More on on-topic, I think that a useful add-in would be a database of projects. Since I am poorly organized and have started many projects but not completed them (some day maybe), I created a database of projects using M$ Access. Does anyone use anything like this? If so, what?

I need to create more views and reports, but I can quickly get the mvp filename, mvd filename from the folders. You can see in the table image that I am way behind even filling in the fields of the tables, and I need to delete the test projects.

File Manager - Another somewhat add-on available is Magix Photo Manager. Despite the name, it "manages" image, video and audio files. I find it useful for categorizing videos and photos with people for most of the categories. As usual, I'm way behind in categorizing my 60k+ photos and videos.

A little know feature is the ability to create Albums using Photo Manager. These alb files are actually video project files that can be opened in VPX/MMS where you can continue on with an MVP project. So, when you're looking a photos and videos and you think, hey, this stuff would be good in a video, just create an album right in Photo Manager, drag in the clips, and then open the album in VPX/MMS.

The files can be dragged from Photo Manager and dropped onto the timeline in VPX/MMS.

The default image editor is Photo Designer 7 that comes with it (and with VPX/MMS) and this can be changed to another image editor, like PaintShop Pro or PhotoShop, just like in VPX/MMS.

The only problem is that Photo Manager is now about 6 years old and desperately needs an update. It doesn't look like this is on Magix' radar.

John CB

@CubeAce @browj2 @Former user @Reyfox @johnebaker @ericlnz Your extensive comparison of the pros and cons of VPX and Vegas reminds me of an interview I saw with Magix about the two product lines. It may contain some useful information: https://www.videoaktiv.de/magazin/magazin-editing/interview-20-jahre-magix-video-deluxe-was-war-was-ist-was-kommt/seite-2.html

Of course, there is still a distance to the professional league, because Video deluxe is supposed to keep some distance to Video Pro X - and not least to the Vegas Pro, which was bought four years ago. Or are we getting this wrong?

• Hagen Hirche: The main differences between Video deluxe, Video Pro X and Vegas Pro are the range of functions and the operating concept. Video deluxe and Video Pro X form a product family, Video Pro X is seen as the big brother. Vegas, on the other hand, is a product family with a separate, international user base and is aimed directly at professional users who make money with video editing.

So Magix Video Pro X isn't professional editing software these days, but more for dedicated hobby editors?

• Hagen deer:It all depends on how you look at it. Video Pro X can definitely compete with professional video editing software in many aspects and is still part of the Video deluxe product family for all do-it-yourself customers. We're not dogmatic about that.

How do you pave the way for Video deluxe users to use the professional product Vegas? Are there efforts to become more uniform here?

• Hagen deer:Video deluxe users who are looking for more will usually find the ideal solution in Video Pro X with a very similar operating concept. The Video deluxe and Vegas product families, on the other hand, were developed in parallel over many years by separate development teams and each have their own operating concepts and fans. We will preserve this duality at the request of the users. Anyone who needs an ACES-compliant processing chain, expandability according to professional standards or the scripting options of Vegas Pro has not started with Movie Edit Pro. And those who love Movie Edit Pro's many templates and user interface for their personal projects may find it difficult to learn Vegas Pro. Exceptions prove the rule.

Are there efforts to create an easier transition here?

• Hagen Hirche: We are closely monitoring the switching behavior of our users and currently see hardly any movement between the product families. Nevertheless, due to modular development, a certain technical harmonization takes place in the long term.

@Nalmcruto, I remember that article and think it outlines the differences between the software and who it is made for. We can always go "tit or tat" about features and ways of doing things. To me, it doesn't matter much since I always say use what you want for what you need. In the end, it's a tool that is only as good as the one using it.

I have older videos that I have edited many years ago with a "consumer-type" editor many years ago. Outside of the footage showing it's age (1080HD 17Mbs/s), no one would be able to tell me what software or cameras were used, unless they knew me at the time.

What I have found is that "professionals" want total control over every aspect of editing. So the editing software has to be more "complex". One look at Premiere/AE, Resolve, Media Composer clearly shows that. I don't consider Vegas up to that level, just a 1/2 step or so below. Does it take longer to edit a video with these software? Yes. Sometimes much longer. Just look at the level of tools they have. And, they don't have templates. I've been color grading a 12minute video in Vegas, "forever". It's the little "tweaks" that matter, at least to me. It's like the different between Ignite Pro 5's Lighting and BorisFX Lighting. Adjustability. How much things can be fine tuned. And even this gets in the way, causing me to spend way more time than I should doing it.

And then, there are the plugins. What works within the software, and what is available. There are industry standard plugins that professionals look to and need.

Because something is no longer sold does not diminish it's usability. Especially if it was way ahead of everything at that time, which DVD-A was and probably still is, and was included with Vegas Pro purchases a few years ago. And while integration is nice, it's not the "be all, end all" in editing. A lot of editors "round trip" to other software outside of the editor all the time.

If someone gave two editors who used different editing software the same videos and instructions on where to cut/transition/title, I don't think anyone will say they know which editor was being used. But, I would rather have a loaded toolbox than a Swiss Army knife if I have to do any mechanical work...

Hmmm error trying to upload images...

 

What I have found is that "professionals" want total control over every aspect of editing. So the editing software has to be more "complex".

 

@Reyfox 👍 I make money from my YT vids so I guess I am pro but 95% of the time they don't inc any kind of fx, but that comment above is a big reason why after using MEP for 15+yrs (since 2004) I got Vegas a few yrs ago & now AE. There maybe a lot of templates in MS but I've hardly ever used them simply because of the lack of adjustment, sometimes they need to be adjusted but also the enjoyment I get is the refinement & adjustment making unique effects, rather than the off the shelf ones.

@browj2 I have Vasco da Gama somewhere. I think I got that with MEP 2016 or something like that. Never used it. As for Hitfilm, many use the software (or at least used to...). It is the AE for the masses. And while not for everyone, the ability to composite and do things that are utterly amazing, regardless of time, is there. I don't use HFP for editing. Nope. But I have used it for compositing and special fx work. And, the Effects part is a part of Vegas Post. It's always good to see what the potential of the software you are using can be. Something to grow into if you want to, or not. The option is there and beyond. We all look at what comes with software considerations and then decide. Hopefully after downloading a trial version.

Nice video your trip to Iran! The story telling was great!