Magix updates its top of the range video editor
Magix publish a wide range of video editing solutions, from those costing just a few pounds, to the product that’s the subject of this review: Magix VideoPro X7. This is the most comprehensive and most expensive product in its range, but if you’re serious about the videos you take, it’s could well be worth being as serious about how you edit them.
If you only produce the occasional slideshow, or video taken on holiday, for example, then one of the other products in the Magix range would certainly do the job. However, for the dedicated amateur or professional videophile, VideoPro X7 offers so much more. While it represents a substantial investment, when when you add up what you get for your money, we believe it’s well worthwhile.
This latest version has over 50 new features, ranging from hardware-accelerated H.264 video decoding, to MultiCam editing in real time on up to nine tracks. It’s also the first product to include the full version of proDAD Mercalli V4 video stabilisation. This normally costs $299, and is still on sale at that price. If you take action shots, use a GoPro or similar camera, it’s pretty much an essential part of your toolkit. The reason being that the majority of DSLR’s, or Pro Video cameras use CMOS sensors that don’t handle vibration or shaking very well. This results in the introduction of even more distortions when the sensor tries to correct the problem. It seems that Mercalli is one of very few products that can automatically correct both shake and CMOS distortions.
Indeed, one issue with super zoom cameras – particularly when using them at the extreme end of their zoom range – is the introduction of camera shake, which can render the footage unusable. While I have to admit to a little scepticism when I read the press bumph, Mercalli really did produce spectacular results – so good, in fact, I was able to use some video footage that I’d originally abandoned.
In keeping with similar professional editing products, Magix has overhauled the interface making it more user friendly, with a darker more modern looking design. Where you can move and save window locations, output the preview monitors to separate screens and assign your own shortcuts that are saved with each project. Also, as I mentioned earlier the rendering times and playback is greatly improved due to the hardware accelerated decoding done by the GPU. In practice this provides a better workflow, because you’re not constantly waiting for the program to catch up.
Yet what I particularly like about VideoPro X7 is the subtle changes that have obviously come about as a result of feedback. Like the markers that tell you a clip has been used, the small arrow that appears when you hover over a clip that inserts the clip at the click of a button. The same feature is used to preview effects, only they are shown in the preview monitor.
Other new features include full 3D support, where editing is no different that with 2D because the footage is automatically synchronised. They’ve also added import and export support for the professional XAVC S format.
While I’ve only highlighted what’s new in this release, it’s worth remembering that this was already a very accomplished program. It includes some sophisticated editing tools, such as slow motion, chroma key, colour correction and enough effects to satisfy Spielberg. As if that wasn’t enough, users of VideoPro X7 can download all the compatible content from Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 for free; these include transitions, intros/outros, movie themes and other decorative elements. This amounts to over 6GB of excellent material, designed to make your videos more interesting and professional. It also allows you to easily create hundreds of new themes that look fresh and individualistic. Joe Lavery
More usability added to what was already a very polished product.