MAGIX Movie Studio 2024 Platinum problems

rickduley wrote on 11/14/2023, 5:54 PM

I spent yesterday downloading and installing MAGIX Movie Studio 2024 Platinum (Serial number:
Removed by Moderator This morning I tried to use it looking forward to a Brave New World after years with Movie Edit Pro Plus. To say that I am disappointed is to gild the lily somewhat.

Before I get on to specific problems, let me grizzle a bit. I was hoping for a much more 'accessible' (that's a technical term when discussing GUIs) interface. Instead, the same old garbage. Bear in mind that MAGIX users are not all teenagers. Some of us (me included) are getting old, our get-up-and-go has got up and went (including our acute youthful eyesight). Although I made this same complaint to MAGIX some years back, no-one has paid attention. For goodness sake! MAGIX must get a copy of 'Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA)' and USE IT! MAGIX must give their aged clientele a GUI they can read easily. MAGIX could only make their GUI harder to distinguish if they took Henry Ford's advice and made every feature Black! To make it worse, they have reduced the sizes of most of the buttons regularly clicked to make them harder to see. It's a fair bet that they still have the Scroll Bar Button used to migrate through the video set to get smaller as the file gets bigger so that, when I am working on a three-hour video, I cannot grab the button with the cursor unless I use a magnifying glass.

In short, MAGIX, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

'Nuff of that (for the time being).

Now for what is wrong this morning (the first time I have tried to edit a video with MS2024P):

The video file I am working on is at OneDrive. (https://1drv.ms/v/s!Al0X3fNHgSK7hXVfj6oRRyiDTolu?e=x2SPcf)

1. Look at the Image (Platinum Problem) . Look at the window in the top right corner. MS2024P seems pretty choosy about which videos it displays with a thumbnail image. I can't figure out any reason for that but it sometimes makes finding the video I want easier if I see a thumbnail instead of an Icon.

2. MS2024P does not play any sound from the video file.

3. MS2024P, when instructed to play the video, takes an age to 'Preload' and then plays at about one frame per second (without sound).

4. When I check with MS Task Manager I find that I am still using 'MAGIX Video Delux Plus' whatever that is. However, when I peek a little deeper I find that MS2024P is actually using about five different things (see image MAGIX Problem ) none of which are working.

I'd like to get these things sorted out for me. I'd like to get some work done.

FWIIW: My machine is Intel QuadCore i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz, 32 GB RAM, running MS Windows 10 Home v. 1803, build 17134.228 on an MSI B75MA-P45 motherboard with a SAMSUNG SSD main drive.
It has RealTek High Definition Audio and a SAMSUNG U28D590D VDU driven by an NVIDIA QUADRO K620 Video Card. There is a Logitech C930 webcam and I have Windows Defender as Anti-virus with Firefox and Skype running in the background.

Thanks folks. All help will be greatly appreciated

Comments

AAProds wrote on 11/14/2023, 6:39 PM

@rickduley

For goodness sake! MAGIX must get a copy of 'Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA)' and USE IT! MAGIX must give their aged clientele a GUI they can read easily. MAGIX could only make their GUI harder to distinguish if they took Henry Ford's advice and made every feature Black! To make it worse, they have reduced the sizes of most of the buttons regularly clicked to make them harder to see.

Yes, I agree, what are they thinking? The young nerds have taken control, methinks. Nice dark blue on almost-black looks cool but pretty hard to see. And I shudder to think what the smaller buttons and controls look like on a UHD screen.

Re One Drive, I don't use it but it looks like it's a web/cloud-drive. Try downloading your file onto a local hard drive and editing it from there.

'Magix Video Deluxe" has generally been the name of the main EXE file for a while so no issues there.

rickduley wrote on 11/14/2023, 6:54 PM

Thanks AAprods

I sent you the OneDrive link so you could get the file if you wished to try it yourself. Rest assured, I am not trying to edit the file from there. 🙃

Aside from that, my biggest problem is that I don't get any Audio in MS2024P. I have had a bit more of a play and MS2024P seems to find the scenes alright and I can cut out bits I don't want (like Ads) but that is not a heck of a lot of use without sound! 😝

Any suggestions, anyone?

AAProds wrote on 11/14/2023, 7:45 PM

@rickduley

Had a play, there's something about that MTS format that Magix doesn't like: same as you, no audio and lots of preloading.

I had success recoding it from MTS to MP4 with AVIDemux. It only took a minute or so. Use my guide here to change it from an MTS to an MP4:

http://aaproductions.net/avidemux.htm#xl_HeadingAnchor:58i1v2X

It intrigues me that we don't change the video (AVC) or the audio (MP2) but the program treats the file totally differently. Weird. It must all e in the file header info which messes up Magix.

"Good Day and Good Luck!". 😀

Former user wrote on 11/14/2023, 8:59 PM

@rickduley

I have no prob with the UI, on my 32" or my 24" screen it's fine, get some new glasses (BTW I just recently got some reading glasses but I don't need them to see the screen buttons)
There's def a prob with that mts file, it loads no prob in MMS dragged in or using the trimmer [&] option but it plays on the timeline slowly & there is no audio,
That file doesn't load into Vegas Pro, Free Resolve or Boris's Mocha Pro & Silhouette.
You also have a PC that has an 11yr old single thread CPU & a 9yr old 2GB GPU.

I think overall you're being a little unfair on MMS.

That video is a screen capture, find a better option/format for capturing.

Converted to MP4 it plays perfectly.

AAProds wrote on 11/14/2023, 9:36 PM

@Former user

Bit harsh there, Gid!

That video is a screen capture, find a better option/format for capturing.

If that's a screen capture, I'll eat my hat.

I have no prob with the UI, on my 32" or my 24" screen it's fine, get some new glasses

Example: the Optimise Timeline button is 1/3 of the size of the MEP 2021 button and much harder to hit quickly.

You also have a PC that has an 11yr old single thread CPU & a 9yr old 2GB GPU.

And as you have pointed out, you're also having trouble with it so?

Former user wrote on 11/14/2023, 10:05 PM

@AAProds

So where did that video come from that has adverts in it? If it's a download see if there's a different download option, again 'a download with adverts?'

You mentioned ' I shudder to think what the smaller buttons and controls look like on a UHD screen' , yet I have a UHD screen & have no problem with it. If you can't see the buttons that's your prob.

The OP complained about MMS poor performance but we've both declared it is a media problem, but they also said 'takes an age to 'Preload' ' however it does load ok on my machine, so before ripping into MMS get a machine that is much more adequate & check out the media first, someone who has a PC that was made 11yrs+ ago shouldn't be immediately blaming the most recent software for poor performance. "This software is crap but admittedly I did test it with a dodgy file on my dinosaur of a computer" 🤦‍♂️

AAProds wrote on 11/14/2023, 10:20 PM

@Former user

Geez mate, take a chill pill. I also got the "preloading" and it did take some time, so much so I gave up. You think I should upgrade my machine? As for "calculating graphics data", that would have taken half an hour here.

The MTS file is borked, and when converted to MP4 as I describe, it will probably work OK on Rick's machine.

And lastly, if the realtime show has ads, of course you're going to get ads on the iview version. How else do you think they would make money from them? In any case, it's obviously a DVB recording of the realtime show. For example, WinTV10 gives me MTS format files for HD recordings.

Former user wrote on 11/14/2023, 10:34 PM

@AAProds

In short, MAGIX, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

In short, the OP is not in a position to make such a statement.

rickduley wrote on 11/14/2023, 11:08 PM

@AAProds

@Former user

I hope AAProds has lots of Ketchup (or a range of tasty hats 😬). I have been recording things from free-to-air for ages — as MTS files. I have processed them through various MAGIX products. Sometimes I have had to revert to Video Easy to get things done but up 'til now Movie Edit Pro has usually done the job.

My comment on the GUI of the current version ("... should be ashamed ...") is founded on having been known internationally in Software Engineering circles. I am not exactly GUI illiterate and I stand by my statement. Students who presented a GUI as inaccessible as that to me would have had to hope they did well in their exam! Remember, I said 'STUDENTS", not SEs in an international software company.

I converted the MTS to an MP4 and it loaded with sound! That's progress, folks! 😁

I have a habit of splitting lengthy videos into 40min segments. Earlier versions of MAGIX products have bogged down horribly with longer segments. I can remember a 1½hr video which took 1½ days to parse. I have split this file.

The first section parsed remarkable quickly. If that's going to be permanent it's a welcome improvement MAGIX. 👍 So far, so good.

The second segment parses equally quickly but then MS2024P bogs down. Somehow, something goes into an endless loop and the only way to get out of it is to kill the app using Task Manager. Reloading MS2024P, however, takes me back to having the first segment done and no progress on the second segment. Now I seem to have lost the working app altogether — Task Manager tells me it is using 75% of CPU , but I cannot get it back up on screen. Just have to kill it again.

I am hoping someone will try to convert this video to DVD and tell me the tricks when they are successful. There is certainly something I am not getting right with MS2024P.

In the meantime, I'll try the MTS file in Video Easy.

Thanks

Former user wrote on 11/14/2023, 11:15 PM

I hope AAProds has lots of Ketchup (or a range of tasty hats 😬). I have been recording things from free-to-air for ages — as MTS files.

@rickduley 😂👍👍

rickduley wrote on 11/14/2023, 11:34 PM

@AAProds

@Former user

Video Easy is into the second segment of the MTS files and is sailing merrily along. It's V. 6.0.0.47 (UDP3) Serial Removed by Moderator. I suspect it's 20 years old.

Is anyone having any luck with this file and MS2024P?

Who from MAGIX is following this thread, and how is it that MS2024P can't do a job that 20-year-old software does?

AAProds wrote on 11/15/2023, 2:34 AM

@rickduley

Rick, what do you mean by "parsing" the video and how did you "split" it into 40 minute segments?

Given your (reasonably low-end) system it would be worth trying using the Proxy files feature to edit.

rickduley wrote on 11/15/2023, 2:39 AM

@AAProds

@Former user

Sad to have to report that Video Easy did the job — Easy Video I guess! 😂

Note that it created the DVD from the MTS file so the question for MAGIX remains, "Why does MS2024P not read MTS files properly?"

I guess I am old-fashioned but I have this idea that if a piece of software performs a certain task then the improvement on that piece of software should perform the same task. This, of course, has the corollary that, if I am expected to pay for the improvement, the new software should also have enhanced functionality.

Am I expecting too much?

rickduley wrote on 11/15/2023, 2:46 AM

@AAProds

Rick, what do you mean by "parsing" the video and how did you "split" it into 40 minute segments?

By 'parsing' I mean the act of finding the separate scenes in the video to permit the excision of Advertisements and other undesirable elements.

If I have the MTS file (or other) loaded I move the line which identifies the active point in the video, then click on the 'Scissors' icon. The file is split at the active point.

Given your (reasonably low-end) system it would be worth trying using the Proxy files feature to edit.

'Scuse my antediluvian, Luddite understanding but what is a Proxy File? 😳

emmrecs wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:25 AM

@rickduley

First, please remember these are user to user, public forums and personal, confidential data like serial numbers, should never be posted here. Hence, I have edited your posts which include them.

I would agree fully with the comments made by @Former user and @AAProds that your computer is really quite seriously under-powered for running the most recent version of MMS. As such, it is not really fair to blame MAGIX if it struggles with your editing requirements. As you say, your version of Video Easy is now old and was designed to be used on much lower-powered systems than are required by more recent, and much more highly-specified (and hence demanding) video editing programs.

Jeff
Forum Moderator

AAProds wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:26 AM

@rickduley

Rick, remove that PS code above ASAP! Somebody will grab it and start using it.

AAProds wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:34 AM

@rickduley

Rick, re Video Easy, yes, you are right. I have version 7 here and it can't open that MTS (well, it was trying, but would have taken over an hour).

So Magix has done something to it's file import function recently.

The Proxy feature creates low-resolution copies of your clips and then Magix works on those when you edit your project. This is handy if you have a low-performance system working with HD files. Then, when you go to export (or create a DVD), the program will use the master files to produce a high-quality export.

You activate Proxies by ticking the box in the Movie Properties dialogue (key E). Unfortunately though, this probably won't work in this particular case because the program can't even open the file in the first place.

Former user wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:40 AM

Note that it created the DVD from the MTS file so the question for MAGIX remains, "Why does MS2024P not read MTS files properly?"

@rickduley I think there's more to this then that, I mentioned earlier 'That file doesn't load into Vegas Pro, Free Resolve or Boris's Mocha Pro & Silhouette.'

Free Resolve tends to open most media formats, similarly Vegas will open a lot of formats, neither open yours.

Silhouette plugin which opens from an editor (Vegas Pro) is $1,095 & Mocha Pro plugin is $695, The standalone versions of these programs that don't need an editor to open them cost quite a bit more, Silhouette $1995.00 & Mocha Pro $1495.00, I have the expensive standalone versions & they're the ones I tried with your clip, I'm not saying more expensive is therefore better but I would expect 'professional' software to open pretty much any media format... but they don't open yours 🤷‍♂️

Therefore I deduce either that file/s are broken or just written in a format with old poss defunked software. that's why your old software is able to deal with them better. (I'm guessing a bit there)

AAProds wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:47 AM

@Former user

I'm not saying more expensive is therefore better but I would expect 'professional' software to open pretty much any media format... but they don't open yours

And the free AVIDemux ripped through it like a hot knife through butter.

Former user wrote on 11/15/2023, 3:54 AM

@AAProds Shutter Encoder just blinked & produced no file, I don't use that very often so might be using it wrong, Handbrake looked like it would take ages so i cancelled, I ended up using an app called Any Video Converter, that was a bit quicker but still took a few minutes, not sure how long because I left it running in the background but it was done within an acceptable time seeing as it is a 1hr 43min clip. 🤷‍♂️

I just tried Avidemux, (I never got to that in my list of options, I just left Any Video Converter running). yep that took literally seconds but that is a remuxer not a recoder. it's prob the best option for the OP for MMS 2024 👍

johnebaker wrote on 11/15/2023, 5:07 AM

@rickduley, @AAProds, @Former user

Hi Rick

I would agree with Gid's comment : 'I deduce either that file/s are broken or just written in a format with old poss defunked software.'

The issue the video file having with no sound is due to the way the audio has been encoded, and is not surprising due to the video having 2 audio streams.

From MediaInfo

Audio #1
ID                                       : 83 (0x53)
Menu ID                                  : 807 (0x327)
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
Format version                           : Version 1
Format profile                           : Layer 2

Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 41.667 FPS (1152 SPF)

Audio #2
ID                                       : 84 (0x54)
Menu ID                                  : 807 (0x327)
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity

Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)

The first stream is MP2 which is not supported in the AVCHD (.mts) container format, and it would also appear to silent. The MTS file format supports PCM, AAC and AC3 audio encoding.

The reason Al's conversion to mp4 container file format is because this does support MP2 audio streams.

The second stream is AAC encoded and does work in MMS 2024, you need video/audio on separate tracks and switch to audio stream 2 as shown below by right-clicking the audio track and selecting the option as shown.

There are further issues I am seeing with the file with the file that may be causing the issues with slow rendering etc.

The overall bitrate is way too low at 2 775 kb/s for AVCHD at 1920x1080 resolution - the normal range is for BD disc is in the range 15000 to 40000 kb/s
There appears to be subtitle text and BD menu embedded in the file.
These would suggest that the video has been 'ripped' from a disc - is this correct?

. . . . I have been recording things from free-to-air for ages — as MTS files . . . .

What did you use to record this?

Can you change the recording format to AVC (h.264) with AAC audio into a mp4 file?

With respect to your other comments:

The dark interface for programs has been in progress for over a decade, and is a result of Health & Safety issues with 'persistent users' eg office workers etc using computers daily, getting severe eye strain from staring at light/bright program interfaces.

. . . . I have this idea that if a piece of software performs a certain task then the improvement on that piece of software should perform the same task . . . .

Working with modern video formats you need the right tools, and equipment that can handle those tools/formats, efficiently. By analogy you would not try to use an old spanner (imperial measured in inches) on a metric nut, while some may fit they are not the best.

John EB
Forum Moderator

AAProds wrote on 11/15/2023, 5:54 AM

@johnebaker

The reason Al's conversion to mp4 container file format is because this does support MP2 audio streams.

John, after the remux to MP4, the file still has the two audio streams, and Magix opens it in a flash. The "problem" must be in the file header info:

General
Complete name : H:\Magix Info\Rick\GN&GLuck_ copy copy full.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 1.81 GiB
Duration : 1 h 43 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 2 515 kb/s
Frame rate : 50.000 FPS
Writing application : Lavf60.3.100

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4
Format settings : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP : M=4, N=24
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1 h 43 min
Source duration : 1 h 43 min
Bit rate : 2 023 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 2 125 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Active Format Description : Full frame 16:9 image
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 50.000 FPS
Original frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Standard : Component
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan type, store method : Separated fields
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.020
Stream size : 1.46 GiB (80%)
Source stream size : 1.53 GiB (84%)
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
mdhd_Duration : 6182320
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Codec ID : mp4a-6B
Duration : 1 h 43 min
Source duration : 1 h 43 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 189 MiB (10%)
Source stream size : 189 MiB (10%)
Language : English
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1

Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 1 h 43 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 126 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 128 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 92.5 MiB (5%)
Language : aus
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 2

Working with modern video formats you need the right tools and equipment that can handle those tools/formats efficiently. By analogy you would not try to use an old spanner (imperial measured in inches) on a metric nut, while some may fit they are not the best.

What has changed is the (now in-) ability of Video Easy (and MMS) to open that type of file. You would think that programs would be more adept at opening (more) types as they advanced, not less.

rickduley wrote on 11/15/2023, 7:20 AM

@AAProds

@Former user

@emmrecs

@johnebaker

There has been a misunderstanding, and it's my bad! When I wrote

rickduley wrote on 11/15/2023, 4:39 PM

Sad to have to report that Video Easy did the job — Easy Video I guess! 😂

I was being ironic. Actually, Video Easy DID THE JOB which is why the Smiley is laughing until tears run down its face. I had had the impression that no-one thought Video Easy would work. Sorry about my offhand manner.

Anyway, AAProds is on my wavelength writing, "You would think that programs would be more adept at opening (more) types as they advanced, not less." At least there are two Video Editors which handle MTS files, Video Easy and AVIDemux. I guess I'll have to settle for those, and the option to convert my MTS videos to MP4,

Still, it does seem a shame to waste money on MS2024P. However there are other things than de-advertising films that I can do with it.

BTW: johnebaker says the dark GUI is to lessen the eyestrain in people (like office workers) who spend all day staring at glary screens. I certainly sympathise with them. I had enough of it myself at the merciless hands of Mr Microsoft Office. My solution to that started with turning the working area beige. A lot of software these days offers a range of GUI colour schemes. Some allow the user to devise their own. As my Dad used to say, "There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with butter!" (The point there being that a range of autumn shades can provide the Contrast in Colour which eases legibility without blinding the user.)

johnebaker wrote on 11/15/2023, 8:45 AM

@AAProds

HI Al

. . . . The "problem" must be in the file header info . . . .

Agreed - it has info in it that should not be there in the header and the file, ie stream 1 is a mp2 audio stream and is not standard for the .MTS file format

As I said previously the mp4 container format does support mp2 audio streams and hence works on first load, ie do not have to choose the correct audio stream as I indicated above for the .MTS file.

@rickduley

Hi Rick

. . . . You would think that programs would be more adept at opening (more) types as they advanced, not less. . . . .

There is a double gotcha:

There are some programs which allow you to put oddball video and audio streams into particular file formats, eg mkv, mp4, AVI, with encoding formats that are not in the standards for those formats.

Which then leads on to the issue of support of these 'oddball' video files by video editors, they do support a given format when they are programmed to do so and that format follows the appropriate video/container file standard(s).

In the case of your recording it is not standard for the container file format, hence my question "can you change the 'recorder' recording format to h.264/AVC video with AAC audio encoding and mp4 file format", preferably, though not strictly required, no text and menu streams as they should be / are ignored.

Is the device you used to record the program a DVD/BluRay recorder or a device such as a Happauge TV tuner?

My Panasonic DVD/VHS recorder, and Happauge TV tuner connected to my PC, both record direct from air.

BTW I got your Video Easy comment was meant to be ironic. 😂

John EB