Thanks for responding, John.

I know my (10-year?) old version doesn't handle a webcam or Skype, but I'm doing a free trial with "MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2017" right now, and I'm hoping to purchase it -- IF I can do those actions. I'm afraid I can't afford the two more expensive versions right now.

Thanks again.

Hi,

In ten years a lot a software can be used to capture screen and sound from webcam and Skype or FaceBook. Low price such Movavi, Snagit or high end like Camtasia Studio can do also tou search free capture screen software and continu to use you old version but consider that a new version work in 64 bits and handle HD.

Regards,

YR 

I appreciate your advice on those other programs, YR, but I knew most of that.

Are you suggesting, though, that the version of Magix I'm now testing (Movie Edit Pro 2017) DOES NOT import webcam or Skype?

As it so happens, I am now testing that version of Magix, Wondershare and Movavi, and will likely choose one by later today.

So, can you or someone else please answer my specific question soon?

Thanks.

Hi

When you click the Record button below the Preview Monitor you will be presented with the following screen

For Skype try the Screen option and for the Webcam the Analog option - ensure your web cam is plugged in or enabled and is recognised by Windows before using MEP.

Note the trial version has limited functionality and will only record or export 3 mins of video.

HTH

John EB

Hi,

If you go for Movie Edit Pro, get at least the Plus version or you will quickly run into limitations, the same ones that you will likely run into with the programs that you mentioned. For Wondershare, I presume that you mean FilmOra, which is the film editor. I did not notice keyframing in either product and they look pretty basic. Movie Edit Pro looks to be much more advanced.

If all you want to do is to bring in videos from your webcam and Skype, then you don't need a sophisticated editor. I don't use Movie Edit Pro or its big brother, Video Pro X, for either purpose. The webcam capture program that came with my webcam works much better - but that is all that it does.

Sadly, John EB, neither of those seemed to work (although some reconfigurations might be needed to fix that -- I did follow your directions).

On the other hand, I went to my trial version of Wondershare and was able to immediately record my webcam, save the file and work with it. Now I'm going to check further to see if that program will also record a Skype session.

Just as an FYI... I've always really liked my older version of Magix, but I've also come to know that things within that program are often more complicated than other programs. So, where to go from here, I just don't know. I need to make a decision fast, and get to work on an important new project.

Any more ideas? :(

See my previous post. Movie Edit Pro does some things very well, but some peripheral things, like screen capture, not so well.

You mention that "that things within that program are often more complicated than other programs" meaning in Movie Edit Pro. Not really. There is just a lot more that you can do that other programs cannot. Don't confuse complication with sophistication. Actually, Movie Edit Pro is quite straight-forward, but like all programs, you have to learn how to use everything. I also use Pinnacle Studio Pro and it is much more complex than Movie Edit Pro, no more sophisticated with less features, and I find it rather convoluted. But, once you know how to do things, then it becomes easy and routine.

Like I said, use a simple webcam capture program that does just that, and then edit the result in a video editor.

browj2, my webcam program also does a nice job of recording. I also have a standalone program that will record Skype sessions for me. I was only hoping whichever video editing program I chose would handle both operations.

Also, browj2... I've actually been doing instructional hockey videos since about 1979 or '80 -- analogue first, then switching to digital when that came in. My current Magix editor was the cream of the crop when I bought it, probably about 10 or more years ago. In comparison to other programs, though, it had a fairly long learning curve. So, my reference to things being complicated had more to do with trying to hurriedly find an answer to webcam and/or Skype recording without having to experiment for an hour or more -- in comparison, some of the other program I'm testing just do it, without any configurations, whatever.

The more sophisticated the program, the more choices that you have. They have to cater to more complicated connected equipment as well and give the user many choices or parameters.

As you found in MEP, clicking on the red record button brings up a bunch of choices, and that choice brings up parameters, etc. I only use the mic recording and I find that it works very well. I tried webcam capturing on my desktop computer and quickly gave up as there was a terrible latency between the video and the audio. I had no success at all with my Surface Pro as it says that it cannot connect to the selected device. I quickly gave up and just use the simple programs that work. Of course, Magix programs should work also.

If you are doing any major editing of your videos, I suggest that you stick with either MEP Plus or one of the other major consumer products like Pinnacle or Cyberlink. I was not impressed by the ones that you mentioned, but then, I haven't used them.

If I was doing instructional videos like yours, I would go for MEP Plus (I use Magix Video Pro X) along with Xara Photo & Graphics Designer or Xara Designer Pro X. Xara allows you to annotate(make diagrams) your videos, with animation. It is launched from within MEP/VPX and the video advances in the drawing editor in animation mode, so your drawing can follow the action and morph. I posted some examples awhile back.

Ya, browj2, I have a bunch of Xara products.

My real question, however, is about getting my webcam and a Skype video interview into Magix Movie Editor Pro. And, if I can't, I'll probably go elsewhere. :(

Hi

. . . . my webcam program also does a nice job of recording. I also have a standalone program that will record Skype sessions for me . . . . .

AFAICS there is no big issue if they are giving you what you need and are easily managed - just the convenience of using one program.

I use a 3rd party screen capture program rather than MEP.

Sounds like you already have all you need - providing your existing MEP supports the file formats from the webcam software and Skype video are saved in - though if it is 10 years old, this suggests MEP 11 or 12,,which is very outdated and limited compare to later versions, you should consider upgrading to the latest version.

There are, as John CB has pointed out, a lot of extra functionality plus MP4 H.264 export - the current standard for web video in the majority of browsers and devices and you have the seperate original source videos in case you want to go back at a later date and do a re-edit or flashback style video.

HTH

John EB

Well, John EB, it appears as though everyone has that opinion: to use other programs for recording my webcam and Skype interviews.

What it also seems to mean is that neither of those operations is easily do-able in the MAGIX Movie Edit Pro program I've been testing. True? For, if so, I'll probably look elsewhere.

And, hey, I really appreciate everyone's attempt at helping me. Thanks.

Hi

. . . . What it also seems to mean is that neither of those operations is easily do-able in the MAGIX Movie Edit Pro program I've been testing. True? . . .

Not in this instance - it is a case of using the best tool for the job - MEP will record from a web cam and screen capture from Skype, however it is quicker and easier to set-up the dedicated tools for the job, they should only be have to be set up once and retain those settings for quick easy starting.

MEP is the program to bring it all together, importing the video, editing adding such effects as transitions, titles / captions, picture in picture etc then export and /or create discs with menus and chapters.

Of all the different video editing programs I have used over the years, MEP, VPX, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Vegas, ULead, Pinnacle, Power Director, Video Studio, Nero Video, AVS, to name a few, none are the 'Swiss army knife' of programs that you are looking for, each has their quirks and foibles and some of those mentioned are, IMHO, diabolical to use compared to MEP and VPX.

HTH

John EB

I guess I'll agree with most of that, John EB. Thanks.

Hi,

The best solution for this guy is to search on the Web a free software and try it or try many software to finally understand that in 10 years the software change. If you use a software like Movavi with 2 tracks the learning curve is 2 minutes but if you use MEP or any like Studio 20 or Cyberlink you must use many hours to learn. This guy try to do something that TV Show, distant interview may be for the New Year. The Skype advantage is PC and tablet including Apple products. Good luck to obtain the perfect solution in a snap.

Regards,

YR 

I think you missed a little about my video editing background in an earlier comment, yvon-robert, but I've been producing instructional hockey videos since before some here were born. However, because my work involved lots of other activities in my hockey business, I've always needed equipment such that I could run into my studio at night and get right to work -- producing an instructional video (or a radio show) -- in a hurry.

The real problem here, though, is that I need my video editor/s to do what I want done, and not what anyone else likes. So, while some might be excited by the kzillion features certain editors provide, my plans for the future will include lots of green screen, webcam work and Skype interviews.

So again, since I'm the one who will be burning the midnight oil on further projects, I need what I need.

Coach,

@Coach,

In MEP when you go to the record video screen, you said that neither of the recording screens worked but that it needed some configuration. What do you mean by that? Does your webcam show up on the list of video drivers? Can we have a screen shot? Here is mine from my Surface Pro 4.

In my case, the video does not show up because there is a problem connecting to the camera for some reason.

There is something else that I just want to check with you. Are you wanting to record your webcam while you are viewing the timeline of the editor, in this case MEP?

If so, I don't think that it can be done. Audio dubbing yes, but video no. I tried this once but using the webcam recording program that came with my laptop computer, Surface Pro 4. I don't know if any other programs can do this.

The next step was to import the video file created onto the timeline and match it up with where I wanted it. Not difficult.

If not, then, as John EB, pointed out, just set up the webcam program to save the file to a particular folder. In MEP, in the Media Pool, create a link to that folder, and then you when you save the webcam file, it will show up in the Media Pool Import and you can decide if you want to import it as is, at all, or trim it. And if it is an overlay (PiP) then you can drag it to where you want it to start. I think that this will be the method with most other programs.

That said, you are still supposed to be able to record directly using MEP from a webcam. The file is always stored on the hard disk and you have the option to also import it onto the timeline.. I will pursue why this does not work properly on my two computers. It seems that others do this successfully, but in my cases, I have a latency problem on my desktop and a connection problem or something on my Surface Pro 4.