Magix Video Pro X

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We all want to edit like professionals, however, it's a lot harder for some of us than for others.For years I’ve been using the Adobe suite for all of my editing. I love the work flow and all of the features. The problem with Adobe is that whenever there is some major new standard in video editing, they never update their software to utilize it. They force you to buy the next release to get the new features.It's not easy to pick up an editing program and start cutting up footage. After listening to its consumer base, Magix has decided to make good on user suggestions to develop an easy, affordable pro-level editing program. They call it Video Pro X.MAGIX is offering a special introductory price to the users of Magix. Users of other MAGIX software or other video editing software packages may buy MAGIX Video Pro X for a special introductory price of 199.99

For instance, when Premiere CS came out, they didn’t support native HD editing. You had to buy a 3rd party app to utilize it. Then when they started supporting native HD editing, they didn’t support all formats. AVCHD is the latest and greatest HD format. Premiere CS3 currently doesn’t support it. So instead of updating CS3 to support that format, Adobe would rather have you purchase CS4 to get AVCHD editing.Video Pro X aims to grab a new level of consumer for Magix, those who are looking to move into the more professional realm but who are not quite there yet. MAGIX Product Manager Video, Sven Kardelke says, "MAGIX responds with this professional package to requests, which are communicated to us by the consumers. We see the package as a continuation of our consumer video editing product. Therefore the ambitious users are our target group for Video Pro X. User, who once started out with MAGIX consumer products like Movie Edit Pro, or also multimedia agencies and smaller production companies"

The program imports video material from XDCAM camcorders and can natively edit AVCHD material, and of course, users can create 1080p discs with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound if you've got a few BD-Rs laying around waiting to be used.Nevertheless, this is a video editing program is now a proud price. Especially when comparing it with the current entry-Garde cut programs. It is thus evident with this program a new target audience, which is prepared a little more money to make video editing easy.

The interface in Video Pro X is beautiful. It doesn’t even look like windows, it looks more like Linux or X Windows. It has source and preview windows, a bin for all of your imports, a timeline and a window for all of your effects and transitions. The GUI is charcoal grey in color and is very pleasing to the eyes.For many editors out there, the only software options are extremely basic or extremely advanced. With a new interface that sets both preview and timeline monitors side by side on the top left portion of the screen, the Video Pro X makes real the hope that pro level editing can be simple. Flexible workflow and interface design, all coupled with the ease of use and format variety typical of all MAGIX products. MAGIX Video Pro X imports video material from XDCAM camcorders and can natively edit AVCHD material or many other sources. The new user interface with source and program monitors as well as a project clipboard make efficient workflow and uniform effect control using keyframes or Bézier curves even easier.

[Mastermind]

Everything from QuickTime to TGA is supported and can be edited freely on up to 99 video tracks. The program can also natively edit AVCHD and accepts XDCAM for those who are looking for better video quality. Exporting was a breeze with MPEG-4/H.264/3GPP with AMP and AAC audio formats.There are two options for timelines when it comes to editing. You have a standard timeline view and also a scene editing view for the less experienced. You can link and unlink sound and video, slice, fade and scrub with ease.

There’s also a multi-track audio mixer that allows you to edit Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. I don’t have a 5.1 setup yet so I was unable to test this.You can managed up to four simultaneous recordings of events like weddings, concerts or other live events can be synchronized in MultiCam mode. New features lets you automatically place video objects at the correct position on the timeline with the help of a detailed audio analysis. Videos can be burned to DVDs or Blu-ray discs in Full HD 1080p and Digital Quality Sound.MAGIX Video Pro X supports VirtualDub plug-ins and proDAD Vitascene/Adorage for video, plus VST modules and DirectX plug-ins for audio.

Customise the flexible new interface to match your personal needs. The individual windows can be resized or repositioned any way - even across multiple monitors. Save the new window arrangement and launch it again at any time with the function keys. Users who have switched from MAGIX Movie Edit Pro can select whether they would like to work with the familiar workflow or with the new Video Pro X concept, including source and program monitors, the project folder, and many additional new functions. Specify the keyboard shortcuts for all of MAGIX Video Pro X's menu functions however you like.

This allows you to adapt existing shortcuts to your requirements or to add new ones, which is especially useful for users who have switched from a video editing program from another publisher.It is also the administration of the keyframes and effects much clearer now than in the previous video deluxe versions. To create a visual effects now list their parameters through keyframes easily arranged and are changeable. Especially nice is solved in the portrayal of the Count function: If you click on a parameter in the keyframe list is its function directly on the clip in the timeline as a function appear.There’s several 3D effects for creating titles and also 3D morphs and wipes. The 3D title tool was a great addition as not many editors have this as a part of their package. The built in title tool is top notch. It has everything you need to create professional titles. All you have to do is click on the filter and add your text. I usually make my credits in Photoshop and then animate them in After Effects.

[Mastermind]

Project files created with MAGIX Movie Edit Pro can be imported directly and seamlessly integrated for further editing in MAGIX Video Pro X. Import AVI file sequences from compositing programs via integrated alpha channel support. Insert .psd files without converting them directly into your project.By simply clicking on the 3D option, we were able to make animated titles that we could click and drag into any direction to change the look and feel of our title. We created 3D wipes and transitions in seconds. Normally this would take hours upon hours of frame-by-frame editing to animate the text. But here it's as easy as clicking the button.

We liked the addition of the 3D effects, since it's not a normal feature of most editing programs. Here we have all we need and more for professional-looking titles.Not all the title effects are necessary though. There are plenty that I would never use, but if you are into broadcast video I’m sure a lot of them would come in handy. Video Pro X comes with it’s own color corrector and chroma key tools as well. There’s also tons of wipes and fades to use for putting clips together

Magix Video Pro X Key Features:

• Native editing of complete HDV recordings with realtime preview in unchanged original format without quality loss.
  
  
• Supports XDCAM file import and editing of (for example, from Sony PMW-EX1)
  
  
• Compatibility with all current video formats: SD and HD formats such as DV, HDV and AVHCD
  
  
• Import and export of all important media formats, including QuickTime, Windows Media, AVI, MPEG 1, 2, 4 (AVC), JPEG, TIF, PSD, TGA.
  
  
• External plug-in support, for example, VirtualDub, proDAD Adorage/Vitascene, VST
  
  
• Open timeline: No more time-consuming conversion when importing different formats in SD and HD resolution directly into a project.
  
  
• 3D title effects with built-in MAGIX 3D Maker
  
  
• MultiCam editing: Perfectly synchronize up to four camera recordings and edit them live
  
  
• Sample-precise audio editing: Edit and move objects in the timeline with the precision of up to 1/48,000s.
  
  
• Precise keyframe functions with Bézier curves
  
  
• 3-way color correction
  
  
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound
  
  
• Integrated DVD authoring module with up to 8 switchable audio tracks
  
  
• Output on Blu-ray Discs with animated menus and 6 channel PCM surround sound

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You can export Mpeg 4, quicktime, windows media and even Magix’s own special format. I was disappointed that there wasn’t an export codec for flash videoWith the video effects tab lying directly above the timeline, creating professional-looking video is quite easy. There is an abundance of effects that we may or may not use in this lifetime, but we found it a plus that they are there and are so easy to access.

Video Pro X also comes with a three-way color correction feature that we thought worked well. As for exporting, we found it to be quick and easy.The integrated title editor allows you to change the size and position of text at any location in the image to create impressive title animations. Production of numerous scrolling and blending effects is especially easy with the help of a range of practical presets, e.g. for captions or subtitles. Change the length of your video and audio objects simply by stretching and dragging with the mouse. Audio objects maintain their original pitch.

Titles can also be edited directly as a track in the timeline, and additional parameters exist in addition to the classic options. Three-dimensional text animations can be created with the help of 3D Maker. Even pros sometimes get shaky shots. An efficient algorithm for image stabilization steadies it with counter movement. Precision is also key for audio.

Magix Video Pro X Specifications:

• Output
  
  • MPEG-2 Encoding: Yes
  • MPEG-4 Encoding: Yes
  • Audio Output Formats: PCM, Dolby Digital 2.0/5.1
  • Batch Render: Yes
  • Disc Authoring Software Included: DVD, Blu-ray Disc
  • Direct upload to sites: No
  
  
• Workflow
  
  • Batch Capture: Yes
  • User Interface: Storyboard, timeline
  • Nesting Tracks: No
  • A/V Level Envelopes: Yes
  • I-Frame Editing of MPEG Files: Yes
  • Surround Panner: Yes
  • Audio Scrub: Yes
  • Live Capture from Mic: Yes
  • Video Scopes: No
  
  
• Effects/Rendering
  
  • Keyframe Animation: Yes
  • Background Rendering: No
  • VST Audio Plug-In Support: Yes
  • Video Effect Plug-In Support: Yes
  • Chromakeying: Yes
  
  
• System Requirements
  
  • OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
  • RAM: 512MB minimum
  • HDD Space Required for Software Installation: 1GB
  • Formats Supported: Analog capture card, DV25, DVD camcorder, HDV, AVCHD, MPEG-4

[Mastermind]

Up to 4 tracks can be comfortable about the source monitor and "live" by clicking directly on the main track will be cut. Impressive: The video tracks can be assembled by an automatic analysis of audio synchronize. Who such a function often requires actually find in this price range nothing comparable.Make your movies available for viewing on mobile telephones, iPods, or other portable devices.

Besides Windows Media, RealMedia, or QuickTime, export is also possible in high-quality MPEG-4/H.264/3GP with AMR and AAC audio. Export your movie in numerous different video formats. Send your project via a Firewire connection to your DV or HDV camcorder or via the video output on your graphics card to analog or digital VCRs.

It takes beginners up to the next step and applies that same user-friendly workspace so that they don't get confused in the process.MAGIX delivers a Live Audio mixer, with an included complete effect rack for individual tracks and a mastering rack for the overall sound - naturally, everything is also available in Dolby Digital 5.1.

• Strengths
  
  • Easy professional-looking components
  • Multi-cam
  • 3D titles
  
  
• Weaknesses
  
  • Basic functions hard to use
  • No export codec for Flash video

It’s cheaper than most of the pro packages and includes AVCHD editing, which is REALLY important to me. The included Blu-Ray burning options are awesome! It seems like Magix thought of everything.