I fully understand that a free trial program comes with restrictions and limitations, but that it is rendered 100% unusable because it needs that codec whatever that is seems like a waste of time, and leaves me to believe there is some complicated procedure to get the program to do what it says it will do, since there are programs out there that works out of the box, even though they are trial programs with limitations, with Magix it seems complicated unless you are a IT professional or someone with the required tech knowledge and back ground....though the interface seems to be similar to other programs that do the same such as Filmora and Moavi, Magix seems alot less user friendly for the novice user.

@emmrecs @JanML

I do sympathise with Jan. It is pointless having a trial that doesn't allow you to use what is now a mainstream codec without actually having to purchase the complete program. Potentially another ex-prospective customer for the sake of a couple of dollars.

@JanML

Hi.

Filmora does not support HEVC and Moavi doesn't seem to support it either judging by the system specs.

Movie Studio is an enthusiast video editor and does take some learning. It is not like some other more consumer friendly editing programs you can find. The licensing agreements for various codecs is not implemented by the program developer but by the people who develop the codec. Each copy of the HEVC rendering codec has to be registered with codecs developers and has it's own unique registration key.

Whether a video editing package contains them within the editing package or is bought as add ons depends on the video program developers and Magix policy to charge separately is based on that they feel not everyone wants or need it and it help keep the cost of the basic software down.

Not all the users here use HEVC but those of us that do know it works and can assure you it works. Beyond that it is up to you but if you go ahead and buy you do have a short amount of time to ask for a refund if you don't like it as laid down by the terms and conditions on the Magix website.

Ray.

you do have a short amount of time to ask for a refund if you don't like it as laid down by the terms and conditions on the Magix website

@CubeAce

Depends where you live. My understanding is that if you are in the USA then the Returns policy states - "All MAGIX download versions, encoder upgrades, support vouchers, and shipping costs are non-refundable."

Under Terms and Conditions the 14 day cancellation period under Section 3 is only for consumers who are habitually resident in a state that is a member of the EU or the EEA.

As the UK has withdrawn from EU/EEA you UK residents no longer have a refund period. At least that's how I read it but I'm not a lawyer.

@ericlnz

Hi Eric.

You are of course correct but the new UK laws give us better returns protection now.

I believe Canada has even better consumer rights. At least it used to have.

Ray.

In Australia, the 14 day refund policy applies; no mention of the HEVC fee though.

@AAProds

Hi Al.

For VPX no it doesn't as it is supplied as part of the full program as included in the price. It does mention it for Movie Studio though. Magix should make it clear that the VPX trial version does not include them if that is the case.

Ray.

@JanML

Hi.

Filmora does not support HEVC and Moavi doesn't seem to support it either judging by the system specs.

Movie Studio is an enthusiast video editor and does take some learning. It is not like some other more consumer friendly editing programs you can find. The licensing agreements for various codecs is not implemented by the program developer but by the people who develop the codec. Each copy of the HEVC rendering codec has to be registered with codecs developers and has it's own unique registration key.

Whether a video editing package contains them within the editing package or is bought as add ons depends on the video program developers and Magix policy to charge separately is based on that they feel not everyone wants or need it and it help keep the cost of the basic software down.

Not all the users here use HEVC but those of us that do know it works and can assure you it works. Beyond that it is up to you but if you go ahead and buy you do have a short amount of time to ask for a refund if you don't like it as laid down by the terms and conditions on the Magix website.

Ray.

At least with Filmora and Movavi are you able to load any movie files and actually try the different interfaces of the program prior to buying it. With Magix this was not possible without either buying the program, or install some 3rd party codec at a cost ( I did buy the pro version, and it did upload the codec without additional charges upon entering the registration code and it worked fine, and is actually the better editing program in my "novice" opinion)....However I still think they (MAGIX) should included all required to fully run the program "out of the box" even though a trial.

@JanML

Any company has the right to market their product as they see fit and any consumer has the right to reject or accept the product as presented. That is the beauty of a democratic, free enterprise society.

I'm sure that if the lack of including the codec hurt sales in any way that Magix would find a way to include it or they are not worried about the consequences and that its non inclusion to the trial versions has not really hit sales.

The decision taken by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), to charge for the codec for those companies outside of the group development of the codec was a controversial one at the time and one they may regret in the future as it's newer rival vp09, which has no fees attached to its use may eventually take over and make HEVC somewhat redundant. Newer Nvidia and other GPUs can now natively hardware encode the new codec and YouTube uses it for streaming higher bit rate content. I expect Magix to incorporate vp09 into a future product at some point.

Personally I blame Apple for the charges as they are always looking at charging for anything available outside of their own platform systems and was one of the major developers of the codec and it's more recent derivations, but again, that is consumer choice as to whether to play along with the options or not.

Ray.

@JanML

Hi

. . . . . I still think they (MAGIX) should included all required to fully run the program "out of the box" even though a trial. . . . .

There problem here is that you are wanting to test the trial version with h.265 (HEVC) encoded video which is not included with the trial version, and in the full version has to be purchased for the reason @emmrecs gave in the first reply to your question ie:

. . . the HEVC codec because it is a third-party licensed add-on . . . .

However you can test Movie Studio with AVI, MPG, H.264/AVC in MP4 and MOV container file formats, and WMV

. . . . At least with Filmora and Movavi are you able to load any movie files and actually try the different interfaces of the program prior to buying it. With Magix this was not possible without either buying the program, or install some 3rd party codec at a cost . . . .

Then why not test Movie Studio with another video format/encoding that the trial version is able to load.

John EB
Forum Moderator

@AAProds

Hi Alwyn

. . . .  no mention of the HEVC fee though . . . .

It is there as you can see below:

John EB

@johnebaker

John, I was referring to the refund of the HEVC codec fee if you returned the main product within the 14 days.