@jerancampy22

Hi

@CubeAce is comment above is entirely correct when he states that computer does not meet the minimum specifications for MEP 2020 or 2021 - this is a common issue, as MEP is and has been so for many years designed to take full advantage of the integrated GPU, in an Intel processor for Hardware Acceleration - this is a necessity especially if the video is from a new smartphone, GoPro etc and/or is 4K.

Issue 1 is a WIndows 10 problem.

In Windows File Explorer left click and hold down on a file and press the Esc key on your keyboard once then release the left click mouse button.

If that does not work, check for a mouse driver update.

Issue 2: - MXMPEG2 Error 0110 - have you started using a different source for your video files? This error suggests you do not have the codec necessary for the video file - is Quicktime installed?

However if the video is from a new iPhone or other device then Quicktime may not be able to decode the newer video codec.

Issue 3 - it looks like you do not have any links to the external hard drive set as shown below highlighted in blue, are they under the Media option in your image? Alternatively you can turn on the file explorer view circled in image below to navigate you external drive(s).

Issue 4 - this follows on from issue 2, and suggest that video files are Variable Frame rate which is typical of many smartphone devices and some bottom end video cameras. This is an issue for many video editors.

John EB

@jerancampy22

Hi Jeran

If you have upgraded to Windows 10 recently with a clean install of Windows, are you sure you have an MPEG2 decoder in your system? In recent years Windows did not install one and it needed to be downloaded from the Windows store for a small charge (maybe even free).

As @johnebaker has suggested - the files you are trying to play may now be encoded with an MPEG2 codec, or, they always did but could use the MPEG2 codec as a legacy of an earlier Windows version which has been wiped.

Similar shenanigans could have occured with your .mov files previousl accessing a legacy install of the Quicktime Libraries which now need to be reinstalled.

Peter

@jerancampy22

Hi.

To show you what I meant earlier about Windows updates and mov. files. I have found a folder with two types of mov files. Some of which I can no longer see within Windows explorer or play on Film and TV and one I still can.

This happened about two months ago. The other files can still be loaded into MEP and used though. I have no idea why.

Ray.

@CubeAce

Hi

Are the ones that will not play HEVC ? If so do you have the Microsoft HEVC codec installed?

John EB

Hi John.

They are the few files I managed to produce from NB Titler Pro6.

They appear to be vfr.

General
Complete name                            : I:\Magix Videos\Playing with MEP 2020\Chatham Historic Dockyard World Text.mov
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : QuickTime
Codec ID                                 : qt   0000.02 (qt  )
File size                                : 1.55 GiB
Duration                                 : 8 s 2 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 1 662 Mb/s
Writing application                      : Lavf57.71.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : PNG
Format/Info                              : Portable Network Graphic
Compression                              : Deflate
Codec ID                                 : png
Duration                                 : 8 s 2 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 1 663 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 60.000 FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 59.940 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 63.766 FPS
Color space                              : RGBA
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossless
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 13.364
Stream size                              : 1.55 GiB (100%)
Language                                 : English

Ray.

@johnebaker @Scenestealer @CubeAce @jerancampy22

Guys, jerancampy22 needs help. What does he need to do/install to be able to open MOVs? Surely there is a solution for him?

@jerancampy22

Jeran, it would help if you could give us the exact details of the files that will no longer import. You can get a report detailing the file info using Mediainfo. Open your file in it then on the Tree menu, choose "Text". You can copy all that text report and paste it here. That will give us a clue as to the exact MOV codec being used.

I thank everyone for your help. You guys know you’re stuff. I realized you were right about the .mov. I don’t think it is an MEP issue. It is a Windows issue because some .mov files will work with MEP. The ones that don’t work also do not show a thumb on the icon in explorer so I assume this means windows won’t work. The part that baffles me is that I use Pot Player as my media player and it will play all these files. The .mov that show thumbnail image and the ones that don’t.
I ended up purchasing a little program that converts video and so I have just been converting the .mov today into mp4. An added step but not the end of the world.
Drag still does not work and neither does the media pool. Well the media pool works but doesn’t show my mapped drives. This used to work. Someone showed clicking the boxes at the top but it still won’t go back far enough. It starts at workspace. I would need it to start at computer and it would be listed in there. But when I open workspace it just shows main drives.
I think I’m going to unregister. Uninstall and see what happens if I install all over again.
I also see you guys say my PC is not good enough for the MEP program. Is this a graphics card issue? I’m going to getting a new PC fairly soon so I’d appreciate some suggestion of things needed to get the most of MEP including faster render and hardware assistance.

Thanks everyone!

Also just to follow up. Many people saying the mov files must be from android or new iPhone video. This isn’t the case really. The majority of these non working mov files are stock video from envato elements. A vast majority of their videos are mov and it’s these that do not work in MEP. The other mov that work are usually iPhone video or other but I have an iPhone 8.

thanks again. I will update if I figure out how to drag and drop off files on the timeline again

@jerancampy22

I think I’m going to unregister. Uninstall and see what happens if I install all over again.

Before you do that, try:

The part that baffles me is that I use Pot Player as my media player and it will play all these files. The .mov that show thumbnail image and the ones that don’t.

I don't use Potplayer, but if it's like VLC Player, it will have it's own internal set of codecs it uses to play files. Those codecs are probably not available to other program such as MEP.

I agree about phone videos, I have no problem importing the latest Android MP4s and Apple MOVs. I have Quicktime Alternative installed, as well as a bunch of other stuff that may be providing the codec for reading these. There are potential security issues (QT is not longer updated), but I haven't had any trouble in that regard.

@jerancampy22

Hi.

I think in the very early days most media file types from Macs and Windows were mostly incompatible with each other with Media creatives mainly relying on Macs until Microsoft caught up where upon Apple made the Windows QuickTime version for Windows to encourage people to use the mov file format on both platforms for their own reasons but in 2015 decided against that policy and stopped QuickTime for Windows support. By that time most video cameras had the choice of recording either mov or MP4 files straight from camera and variable frame rate codecs developed really for the sole purpose of saving storage space on earlier smart phones that had storage limitations due to the small capacity micro SD cards of the time. The phone cameras were not that good at that point and few people used them for serious video use. Again the codecs were proprietory to the manufacturer and not shared on other platforms as they are seen as marketing advantages over competitors. More recording time for a given amount of storage space.

At this point almost all video editing programs were designed to edit camcorder footage that did none of those things and relied on the standard video formats developed by the industry at large that were the domain of the camera manufacturers. I say almost because I personally have not found an exception. I doubt anyone here has tried every program or found every program out there. To date though no-one has ever come to the forums and said 'I have found this program that can handle and edit all variable frame rate codecs'.

Again. Since then, some programs seem to have been able to produce variable frame rate mov files, possibly under license on their output renders but are designed to work cross platform on both Windows and Apple operating systems so maybe the developer kits via an Apple license allows for this but Windows only programs do not seem to get that privilege. Android has developed a similar stance, possibly down to competition with Apple.

The playback of such files is much easier that the re-rendering of such files. How does a re-render replace the missing frames or decide how to cut which frames when the frame rate speeds up and slows down due to the increased or decreased amount of movement within the scene and keep the audio in sync? Support for playback only does not involve any problems for Apple or Microsoft allowing people play their files across platforms to share. Recording and storage though, that I think is still a selling point and advertising advantage. Hence of commercial value and not shared freely.

Where frame rates do not vary a great deal or suddenly change speed and are close to a 'correct' or normal playback speed, sometimes a video editing package seems to cope but may still present audio sync problems. Most of my mov files are produced from graphics editing packages and there is no audio track.

The last release of QuickTime alternative was actually earlier and hence older than the last official QuickTime for Windows by Apple.

Drag and dropping files has never been the most reliable way of importing any file into any program. Sometimes creating shortcuts where they are not needed and in theory could leave a lot of scattered broken links in the registry that could clutter the operating system. Much better to use the internal browser of an individual program.

MEPs' should look like this. (Minus my own links of course)

Most Windows editing packages will rely in part on the computer having access to an Intel Chip with an inboard GPU not below a certain age. That is because most editing packages rely on Intel Quick sync technology for intelligent use of shared resources between GPUs and CPU. The only notable exception I can find is Davinci Resolve that purely relies on processor speed and core count but also amount of vram.

The use of an nvidia graphics card mainly helps with smoother playback. Depending on the resolution of the files used and expected export resolution will define how much processing power and vram the graphics card will need to have. Look at this page for the minimum specs needed to run. Expect to need to exceed all of the specified needs for better playback and export times. I think the ram requirements are particularly set way too low and if using files of 4K or more would suggest 32GB of ram. Also aim for a newer generation of processor than eighth. Separate drives ideally for storing projects and to write to. Large cache sizes and high speed spinning drives or SSD / M2.

Ray.

@CubeAce

By that time most video cameras had the choice of recording either mov or MP4 files straight from camera and variable frame rate codecs developed really for the sole purpose of saving storage space on earlier smart phones that had storage limitations due to the small capacity micro SD cards of the time. 

As was pointed out to me on Videohelp when I said the same, storage space isn't the reason. The reason is to improve exposure. The slower the framerate, the better the exposure. In dark conditions, the framerate slows way down and vice versa. The framerate on my S21 in the dark runs down to 4fps, whereas outside, it's 60fps, all in the same video. I tried a 30fps export and a 60fps export; the 60fps resulted in a smaller file (8.5mb v 6.6mb).

@AAProds

Hi Alwyn

. . . . storage space isn't the reason. The reason is to improve exposure. . . .

That depends on whose information you are reading.

@CubeAce is correct regarding space saving, it was the major reason for going to variable frame rate as early mobile devices had limited storage space, the file size of a movie being based on the content. The device still records at the framerate set, however the compression in effect dumps the frames that are the same as the previous ones. In theory you could record a video of a static object and end up with only one frame for the duration of the recording.

John EB

@AAProds @johnebaker @jerancampy22 @Scenestealer

Hi Alwyn.

An exposure for one frame that is longer than another would require a change of ISO value that would result in a video that constantly went from grainy looking to cleaner looking. While some auto ISO changes do occur during recording of a video file, at normal frame rates this would neither be as drastic looking or noticeable during playback but can sometimes be noticed in some recordings where light levels vary drastically.

John EBs explanation is the correct one.

As for the implementation over time to the mov format and subsequent alterations to allow for higher resolutions and presumably more aggressive use of the variable frame rate as the tech improves we can only guess at.

What I have noticed as well is that at one time MEP supported the exporting of the mov file format while the current 2021 version does not. VPX 11 can still export to mov. Can VPX12? Can someone check?

If it can't, that shows that somewhere down the line things are changing within the Apple mov format. What, I have no idea of at this stage.

Not only can VPX import all the mov files I have at present but when exported as mov files can then be read by Windows and shown in the thumbnails as well as being able to be played back on Windows Film and TV.

Editing of mov is still possible within MEP but there is no mov export option.

VPX 11 still has the option to export to mov.

The exported file from VPX will play in Film and TV and display properly in Windows explorer.

The exported mov file from VPX is certainly a lot different from the original at base data level.

General
Complete name                            : H:\VPX Export Folder\QuickTime to Quicktime export from VPX.mov
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : QuickTime
Codec ID                                 : qt   2005.03 (qt  )
File size                                : 9.69 MiB
Duration                                 : 8 s 0 ms
Overall bit rate                         : 10.2 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2021-05-25 08:54:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2021-05-25 08:54:51
Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile                           : Advanced Simple@L3
Format settings                          : BVOP
Format settings, BVOP                    : Yes
Format settings, QPel                    : No
Format settings, GMC                     : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default (H.263)
Codec ID                                 : mp4v-20
Duration                                 : 8 s 0 ms
Bit rate                                 : 9 456 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 60.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.076
Stream size                              : 9.02 MiB (93%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2021-05-25 08:53:44
Tagged date                              : UTC 2021-05-25 08:54:51
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.601
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : ADPCM
Format profile                           : A-Law
Codec ID                                 : alaw
Duration                                 : 8 s 0 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 352.8 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 kHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Stream size                              : 345 KiB (3%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2021-05-25 08:53:44
Tagged date                              : UTC 2021-05-25 08:54:51

For my original file data for this file please look at my earlier reply.

Ray.

I'll ponder further the reason for variable frame rates, although I wouldn't have thought phone videos are uncompressed, which is where you would save space if you slowed down the framerate. I thought video compression is about only changes between frames, which would already be in play already, before the FR was lowered (or increased).

From a consumption/viewing point of view, I don't see the point of exporting in MOV format so I can understand why that option has been removed; we have to be able to import it though.

@AAProds

They are not, but extra space here and there mounts up. If you were giving files to someone else working on Macs they may request mov files Alwyn, but I agree there is little point if you don't have up to date codecs available to make the file sizes smaller or able to export to a higher resolution. But the fact Apple retain and update the codec shows just how aggressive Apple is in keeping market share and an integrated system they control over a range of products. This is not just an Apple thing though. It goes across all industries now and I blame Nikon for kicking the whole thing off.

Ray.

@AAProds

Hi Alwyn

. . . .  I thought video compression is about only changes between frames, which would already be in play already, before the FR was lowered (or increased) . . . .

As I understand VFR - the lowering of the framerate not a reduction in the number of times per second the sensor is scanned to capture the data, ie frames are still captured at the stated framerate 25, 30, 50 or 60fps etc, and depending on the degree of change between frames determines if a frame, whether it is an I, B or P frame, is written to the file - if there is no change in a frame compared to the previous one then why create a frame, as I said above in theory you can end up with a video of a static object, which has no changes, using only one frame (an I frame) and still have a video duration of n seconds/minutes etc where n is any number you like.

John EB

I am comtemplating as whether to give up on magix software after have been using it since 2007. I use to think it was the top software however, i have been having many problems with my movie edit pro plus. No video pops up on my monitor, my 3D is not working and i tried support over and over again and seems it so hard to get them which cause me much frustration! Should i move on to "PINNACLE SOFTWARE OR WHAT"?