HEVC- Codec Fee

Andrew-Guerin wrote on 5/30/2021, 11:44 AM

I have been using Movie Edit pro 12 for years and it has been quite clunky. I switched over to Movie Edit Pro Premium as I saw it was installed on my computer along with a plethora of Magix software. So far it has been better but all of a sudden I am unable to import .MOV files and need a fee-based activation code. Is this normal? Was I using a free trial? Is this a one time payment or for every video? did my product unregistered?

Thanks

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 5/30/2021, 1:12 PM

@Andrew-Guerin

Hi

. . . . Is this normal? . . . .

Yes, the fee based activation is mentioned in the specifications here - under the File Formats section.

However before purchasing I would suggest the you download and install MediaInfo and analyse one of the video clips you are trying to import, post the results from the Text view, and is generating the codec request - there may be another problem associated with the video clips which will cause issues.

John EB
Forum Moderator

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 24H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

CubeAce wrote on 5/30/2021, 1:42 PM

@Andrew-Guerin

Hi Andrew.

I'm confused as to why you need a fee based codec to play mov files which are QuickTime based not HEVC. Have you reinstalled the last available Windows version of QuickTime onto your computer that I assume you have now running a machine using Windows 10?

So, have you got a new machine? You mention

I switched over to Movie Edit Pro Premium as I saw it was installed on my computer along with a plethora of Magix software.

Supplied by?

It would help a great deal if you gave us more information on what is going on and on what.

Ray.

 

Windows 10 Enterprise. Version 22H2 OS build 19045.5737

Direct X 12.1 latest hardware updates for Western Digital hard drives.

Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F Gaming motherboard Rev 1.xx with Supreme FX inboard audio using the S1220A code. Driver No 6.0.8960.1 Bios version 1401

Intel i9900K Coffee Lake 3.6 to 5.1GHz CPU with Intel UHD 630 Graphics .Driver version Graphics Driver 31.0.101.2135 for 7th-10th Gen Intel® with 64GB of 3200MHz Corsair DDR4 ram.

1000 watt EVGA modular power supply.

1 x 250GB Evo 970 NVMe: drive for C: drive backup 1 x 1TB Sabrent NVMe drive for Operating System / Programs only. 1X WD BLACK 1TB internal SATA 7,200rpm hard drives.1 for internal projects, 1 for Library clips/sounds/music/stills./backup of working projects. 1x500GB SSD current project only drive, 2x WD RED 2TB drives for latest footage storage. Total 31TB of 10 external WD drives for backup.

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. nVidia Studio driver version 572.60 - 3584xCUDA cores Direct X 12.1. Memory interface 192bit Memory bandwidth 360.05GB/s 12GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory, shared system memory 16307MB PCi Express x8 Gen3. Two Samsung 27" LED SA350 monitors with 5000000:1 contrast ratios at 60Hz.

Running MMS 2024 Suite v 23.0.1.182 (UDP3) and VPX 14 - v20.0.3.180 (UDP3)

M Audio Axiom AIR Mini MIDI keyboard Ver 5.10.0.3507

VXP 14, MMS 2024 Suite, Vegas Studio 16, Vegas Pro 18, Vegas Pro 21,Cubase 4. CS6, NX Studio, Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio. Mixcraft Pro 10 Studio. CS6 and DXO Photolab 8, OBS Studio.

Audio System 5 x matched bi-wired 150 watt Tannoy Reveal speakers plus one Tannoy 15" 250 watt sub with 5.1 class A amplifier. Tuned to room with Tannoy audio application.

Ram Acoustic Studio speakers amplified by NAD amplifier.

Rogers LS7 speakers run from Cambridge Audio P50 amplifier

Schrodinger's Backup. "The condition of any backup is unknown until a restore is attempted."

Andrew-Guerin wrote on 5/30/2021, 2:36 PM

@Andrew-Guerin

Hi Andrew.

I'm confused as to why you need a fee based codec to play mov files which are QuickTime based not HEVC. Have you reinstalled the last available Windows version of QuickTime onto your computer that I assume you have now running a machine using Windows 10?

 

Supplied by?

It would help a great deal if you gave us more information on what is going on and on what.

Ray.

I am not trying to merely play the movies (that being said I am unable to) I am trying to import .mov files to my MVP projects.

Upon further research, I believe Apple (content recorded from an iPhone) utilize HEIC and HEVC to save room for picture and video files respectively. The flies show as .HEIC for images and .MOV for movies. Although it say .MOV I am almost positive that it is .HEVC. I do have the free Windows HEIC codec installed on my computer but I cannot import those images into my project.

Windows also has a HEVC codec for $.99. Has anyone had success using this? Is there something I am missing?

CubeAce wrote on 5/30/2021, 3:08 PM

@Andrew-Guerin

Hi Andrew.

The reason John asked you to download MediaInfo and post the results of looking at one of your files is he strongly suspects it will not only be a mov wrapper but also using a variable frame rate within the codec.

Apple effectively cut free support for their codecs to other operating systems around 2016 so most new files captured by newer i Phones now have to be converted using programs like Handbrake to a constant frame rate MP4 or similar codec before they can be edited in most Windows based video editors. I only say 'most video editors' because all of those I have looked at can't cope with the files but I don't pretend to have looked at all available Windows based video editors. The MEP HEVC codec in this instance will be of no benefit and is only to allow the program to export a project in the standard HEVC format.

Also HEIC is not supported, only HEIF.

Why I'm not sure but may have something to do with the way our hardware works within Windows.

The nearest I can find on explanations is here.

Ray.

Last changed by CubeAce on 5/30/2021, 3:27 PM, changed a total of 3 times.

 

Windows 10 Enterprise. Version 22H2 OS build 19045.5737

Direct X 12.1 latest hardware updates for Western Digital hard drives.

Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F Gaming motherboard Rev 1.xx with Supreme FX inboard audio using the S1220A code. Driver No 6.0.8960.1 Bios version 1401

Intel i9900K Coffee Lake 3.6 to 5.1GHz CPU with Intel UHD 630 Graphics .Driver version Graphics Driver 31.0.101.2135 for 7th-10th Gen Intel® with 64GB of 3200MHz Corsair DDR4 ram.

1000 watt EVGA modular power supply.

1 x 250GB Evo 970 NVMe: drive for C: drive backup 1 x 1TB Sabrent NVMe drive for Operating System / Programs only. 1X WD BLACK 1TB internal SATA 7,200rpm hard drives.1 for internal projects, 1 for Library clips/sounds/music/stills./backup of working projects. 1x500GB SSD current project only drive, 2x WD RED 2TB drives for latest footage storage. Total 31TB of 10 external WD drives for backup.

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. nVidia Studio driver version 572.60 - 3584xCUDA cores Direct X 12.1. Memory interface 192bit Memory bandwidth 360.05GB/s 12GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory, shared system memory 16307MB PCi Express x8 Gen3. Two Samsung 27" LED SA350 monitors with 5000000:1 contrast ratios at 60Hz.

Running MMS 2024 Suite v 23.0.1.182 (UDP3) and VPX 14 - v20.0.3.180 (UDP3)

M Audio Axiom AIR Mini MIDI keyboard Ver 5.10.0.3507

VXP 14, MMS 2024 Suite, Vegas Studio 16, Vegas Pro 18, Vegas Pro 21,Cubase 4. CS6, NX Studio, Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio. Mixcraft Pro 10 Studio. CS6 and DXO Photolab 8, OBS Studio.

Audio System 5 x matched bi-wired 150 watt Tannoy Reveal speakers plus one Tannoy 15" 250 watt sub with 5.1 class A amplifier. Tuned to room with Tannoy audio application.

Ram Acoustic Studio speakers amplified by NAD amplifier.

Rogers LS7 speakers run from Cambridge Audio P50 amplifier

Schrodinger's Backup. "The condition of any backup is unknown until a restore is attempted."

johnebaker wrote on 5/30/2021, 4:44 PM

@Andrew-Guerin

Hi

. . . . Windows also has a HEVC codec for $.99. Has anyone had success using this?  . . . . .

The Windows codec is for playback only in Films and TV or Windows Media Player and is not available to toher programs.

As @CubeAce has said the MediaInfo analysis will tell us exactly what the video encoding format and the framerate type.

. . . . I switched over to Movie Edit Pro Premium . . . . content recorded from an iPhone . . . .

That could add further complications if the video format is definitely HEVC.

What is the version number as found under Help, About?

What is your computer specification - see this topic for details of what is required.

John EB

Last changed by johnebaker on 5/30/2021, 4:49 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 24H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

AAProds wrote on 5/30/2021, 9:55 PM

The HEVC codec has to be paid-for. If your files are HEVC, I'd suggest you just pay up. 👍

I can open variable frame rate HEVC files with no issue (can't vouch for the audio sync because the clips are not long enough). I have the HEVC codec, but this is a separate issue to the frame rate. HEVC and the frame rate, at least on Android, are two separately selected features. I also have Quicktime Alternative installed.

I do all this on a machine that is allegedly way below spec.

In my view this is only about codecs, not the computers themselves (apart from unticking Hardware acceleration).

All my forum comments are based on or refer to my System 1.

My struggle is over! I built my (now) system 2 in 2011 when DV was king and MPEG 2 was just coming onto the scene and I needed a more powerful system to cope. Since then we've advanced to MP4 and to bigger and bigger resolutions. I was really suffering, not so much in editing (with proxies) but in encoding, which just took ages. A video, with Neat Video noise reduction applied, would encode at 12% of film speed. My new system 1 does the same job at 160% of film speed. Marvellous. I'm keeping my old system as a capture station for analogue video tapes and DV.

System 1

Windows 11 v23H2 severely modified by Openshell and ExplorerPatcher

Power supply: 850W Cooler Master (should have got modular)

CPU: Intel i7 13700K running at 3400mhz, cooled by a Kraken 2x140mm All In One liquid cooler.

RAM: 64gb (2x32gb sticks) G.Skill "Ripjaws" DDR4 3200Mhz

GPU 1: iGPU UHD 770

GPU 2: NVidia RTX 3060Ti Windforce 8gb

C drive: NVME 500gb

Bluray Burner: Pioneer BDR-212D

Various other SSD and HDDs.

Monitor: 27"/68cm Samsung, 2560 x 1440, 43 pixels/cm.

MEP 2021 version 20.0.1.80

Movie Studio 2025

Magix Video Easy version 7.0.1.145

System 2

(Still in use for TV and videotape capture)

Windows 10 v22H2

CPU: i5-750 at 2670mhz with 12gb RAM

Onboard IEEE1394 (Firewire) port

GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4770 (512mb) which is ignored by MEP

Hard drives: C Drive 256gb SSD, various other HDDs.

Monitor: Dell 22"/56cm, 1680x1050, 35 pixels/cm

MEP 2021 version 20.0.1.80

Movie Studio 2023 version 22.0.3.172

VPX 12

CubeAce wrote on 5/31/2021, 5:25 AM

@AAProds

Hi Alwyn.

In the topic I linked to earlier there is this paragraph.

All iOS devices loaded with iOS 11 and later are able to software-decode HEIF content and HEIC images. However, only devices with Apple’s A9 chip and later are able to hardware-decode HEIF content. To hardware-decode HEIC images and 8-bit video content on a Mac, you will need to use Intel’s 6th Generation and newer CPUs, while 10-bit video content will require 7th Generation and newer Intel CPUs.

If you use a PC, you will need to use Windows 10 and update it to April 2018 Update and higher to be able to software-decode HEIF content.

I don't know this from first hand experience but it would appear to depend on the content of the HEIF file.

Ray.

 

Windows 10 Enterprise. Version 22H2 OS build 19045.5737

Direct X 12.1 latest hardware updates for Western Digital hard drives.

Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F Gaming motherboard Rev 1.xx with Supreme FX inboard audio using the S1220A code. Driver No 6.0.8960.1 Bios version 1401

Intel i9900K Coffee Lake 3.6 to 5.1GHz CPU with Intel UHD 630 Graphics .Driver version Graphics Driver 31.0.101.2135 for 7th-10th Gen Intel® with 64GB of 3200MHz Corsair DDR4 ram.

1000 watt EVGA modular power supply.

1 x 250GB Evo 970 NVMe: drive for C: drive backup 1 x 1TB Sabrent NVMe drive for Operating System / Programs only. 1X WD BLACK 1TB internal SATA 7,200rpm hard drives.1 for internal projects, 1 for Library clips/sounds/music/stills./backup of working projects. 1x500GB SSD current project only drive, 2x WD RED 2TB drives for latest footage storage. Total 31TB of 10 external WD drives for backup.

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. nVidia Studio driver version 572.60 - 3584xCUDA cores Direct X 12.1. Memory interface 192bit Memory bandwidth 360.05GB/s 12GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory, shared system memory 16307MB PCi Express x8 Gen3. Two Samsung 27" LED SA350 monitors with 5000000:1 contrast ratios at 60Hz.

Running MMS 2024 Suite v 23.0.1.182 (UDP3) and VPX 14 - v20.0.3.180 (UDP3)

M Audio Axiom AIR Mini MIDI keyboard Ver 5.10.0.3507

VXP 14, MMS 2024 Suite, Vegas Studio 16, Vegas Pro 18, Vegas Pro 21,Cubase 4. CS6, NX Studio, Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio. Mixcraft Pro 10 Studio. CS6 and DXO Photolab 8, OBS Studio.

Audio System 5 x matched bi-wired 150 watt Tannoy Reveal speakers plus one Tannoy 15" 250 watt sub with 5.1 class A amplifier. Tuned to room with Tannoy audio application.

Ram Acoustic Studio speakers amplified by NAD amplifier.

Rogers LS7 speakers run from Cambridge Audio P50 amplifier

Schrodinger's Backup. "The condition of any backup is unknown until a restore is attempted."

AAProds wrote on 5/31/2021, 6:53 AM

@Andrew-Guerin

Andrew, did you install that HEVC codec and how did you get on opening your MOVs?

@CubeAce

Ray, from that article, it seems that HEIF is not relevant to this discussion. It is an image format/container only, not a video format/codec.

Magix says MEP will open HEVC files if the codec is installed (after paying). If it doesn't do so, then it needs to change the spec sheet.

Also, I'm confused as to why you need a fee based codec to play mov files which are QuickTime based not HEVC. 

A MOV file can be HEVC. Here's one from an iphone 11:

General
Complete name                            : D:\Computer Reference\MOV Files\iphone 11 20201031_141621.MOV
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : QuickTime
Codec ID                                 : qt   0000.00 (qt  )
File size                                : 87.6 MiB
Duration                                 : 1 min 19 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 9 235 kb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2020-10-31 06:16:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2020-10-31 06:17:41
Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime
com.apple.quicktime.make                 : Apple
com.apple.quicktime.model                : iPhone 11
com.apple.quicktime.software             : 14.0.1
com.apple.quicktime.creationdate         : 2020-10-31T14:16:21+0800

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : HEVC
Format/Info                              : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                           : Main@L4@Main
Codec ID                                 : hvc1
Codec ID/Info                            : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration                                 : 1 min 19 s
Bit rate                                 : 8 980 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (29970/1000) FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 28.571 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 30.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.144
Stream size                              : 85.2 MiB (97%)
Title                                    : Core Media Video
Encoded date                             : UTC 2020-10-31 06:16:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2020-10-31 06:17:41
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : hvcC

Cheers, Al

 

 

 

All my forum comments are based on or refer to my System 1.

My struggle is over! I built my (now) system 2 in 2011 when DV was king and MPEG 2 was just coming onto the scene and I needed a more powerful system to cope. Since then we've advanced to MP4 and to bigger and bigger resolutions. I was really suffering, not so much in editing (with proxies) but in encoding, which just took ages. A video, with Neat Video noise reduction applied, would encode at 12% of film speed. My new system 1 does the same job at 160% of film speed. Marvellous. I'm keeping my old system as a capture station for analogue video tapes and DV.

System 1

Windows 11 v23H2 severely modified by Openshell and ExplorerPatcher

Power supply: 850W Cooler Master (should have got modular)

CPU: Intel i7 13700K running at 3400mhz, cooled by a Kraken 2x140mm All In One liquid cooler.

RAM: 64gb (2x32gb sticks) G.Skill "Ripjaws" DDR4 3200Mhz

GPU 1: iGPU UHD 770

GPU 2: NVidia RTX 3060Ti Windforce 8gb

C drive: NVME 500gb

Bluray Burner: Pioneer BDR-212D

Various other SSD and HDDs.

Monitor: 27"/68cm Samsung, 2560 x 1440, 43 pixels/cm.

MEP 2021 version 20.0.1.80

Movie Studio 2025

Magix Video Easy version 7.0.1.145

System 2

(Still in use for TV and videotape capture)

Windows 10 v22H2

CPU: i5-750 at 2670mhz with 12gb RAM

Onboard IEEE1394 (Firewire) port

GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4770 (512mb) which is ignored by MEP

Hard drives: C Drive 256gb SSD, various other HDDs.

Monitor: Dell 22"/56cm, 1680x1050, 35 pixels/cm

MEP 2021 version 20.0.1.80

Movie Studio 2023 version 22.0.3.172

VPX 12

CubeAce wrote on 5/31/2021, 8:44 AM

@AAProds @Andrew-Guerin @johnebaker

Hi Alwyn.

OK. I have always had both the HEVC codecs and QuickTime installed so have never noticed the deficiency. Point taken. Thank You.

Your example as you show it may not show visible signs of problems due to the minimum and maximum frame rates not being that far apart nor perhaps for long enough periods to cause problems. It's possible that variation only happened for a very short period of time so would not produce significant judder to be visible of to throw the sound out of sync. Nor are you that likely to cut the clip up and put segments in out of order.

As you state, such clips will play but there is another consideration that may throw MEP or VPX out. Your file has an 8bit depth and the codec can cope up to 12 bit. Without seeing a clips info it is difficult to pinpoint potential problems or know what hardware will cope with the processing requirements. Your file is 8 bit, with a normal limited colour range, and the variation of frame speed not that great. Compared with what can be produced with that codec it is not that challenging. What concerns me is when the codec does produce files that have more demanding data to be read and how Windows based machines cope. Video editors in particular that are at present more for producing finished files for internet and DVD \ Blu-Ray use where even YouTube would not be able to either upload or re-encode such files or play them back over the internet.

I would also find it interesting if you put your file through this site to find its GOP structure.

Ray.

 

Windows 10 Enterprise. Version 22H2 OS build 19045.5737

Direct X 12.1 latest hardware updates for Western Digital hard drives.

Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F Gaming motherboard Rev 1.xx with Supreme FX inboard audio using the S1220A code. Driver No 6.0.8960.1 Bios version 1401

Intel i9900K Coffee Lake 3.6 to 5.1GHz CPU with Intel UHD 630 Graphics .Driver version Graphics Driver 31.0.101.2135 for 7th-10th Gen Intel® with 64GB of 3200MHz Corsair DDR4 ram.

1000 watt EVGA modular power supply.

1 x 250GB Evo 970 NVMe: drive for C: drive backup 1 x 1TB Sabrent NVMe drive for Operating System / Programs only. 1X WD BLACK 1TB internal SATA 7,200rpm hard drives.1 for internal projects, 1 for Library clips/sounds/music/stills./backup of working projects. 1x500GB SSD current project only drive, 2x WD RED 2TB drives for latest footage storage. Total 31TB of 10 external WD drives for backup.

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. nVidia Studio driver version 572.60 - 3584xCUDA cores Direct X 12.1. Memory interface 192bit Memory bandwidth 360.05GB/s 12GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory, shared system memory 16307MB PCi Express x8 Gen3. Two Samsung 27" LED SA350 monitors with 5000000:1 contrast ratios at 60Hz.

Running MMS 2024 Suite v 23.0.1.182 (UDP3) and VPX 14 - v20.0.3.180 (UDP3)

M Audio Axiom AIR Mini MIDI keyboard Ver 5.10.0.3507

VXP 14, MMS 2024 Suite, Vegas Studio 16, Vegas Pro 18, Vegas Pro 21,Cubase 4. CS6, NX Studio, Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio. Mixcraft Pro 10 Studio. CS6 and DXO Photolab 8, OBS Studio.

Audio System 5 x matched bi-wired 150 watt Tannoy Reveal speakers plus one Tannoy 15" 250 watt sub with 5.1 class A amplifier. Tuned to room with Tannoy audio application.

Ram Acoustic Studio speakers amplified by NAD amplifier.

Rogers LS7 speakers run from Cambridge Audio P50 amplifier

Schrodinger's Backup. "The condition of any backup is unknown until a restore is attempted."