Magix is a German company and last time we took a look at their video editing softwareMovie Studio was called Movie Edit Pro Premium.
We were quite impressed with what we saw, and gave the package three and a half stars in our ratingand noting that it “has a few flaws and annoyances, but it covers a lot more than the basics and even includes automated features” for novice editors.
Now, with a new name coming new updates that keep editing simple for novice editors.
Upgrades under the hood
When you launch the latest version of the video editing app, you would be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed. The interface looks exactly the same.
But not performance to feel the same. One of the biggest changes isn’t one you’ll see, but one you’ll feel as Movie Studio’s engine running, INFUSION Engine, has been upgraded to version 3.
According to the company, the engine “enables a seamless GPU workflow for all current graphics cards from Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD.” This should provide smoother rendering of complex projects, or those containing 8K footage, as well as accelerated exports for AVC and HEVC formats.
When working with 8K, depending on your video editing computer optionally, you can preview your footage in real time while editing. This is a big boon as we’re slowly moving towards larger and more complex video files, and it’s great that Magix is at the forefront of this.
Magix Content is an excellent new addition for 2022, offering an extensive library of: music samples† stock photos† stock videos, and animation for Platinum and Suite subscribers. †
This gives you access to royalty-free media to enhance your own projects. Stock libraries are nothing new. – although being able to access them directly from the editing interface is always a bonus. But is Magix’s offering worth the subscription price?
That would really depend on how much you use it and whether you like the content.
Magix claims to have millions of video and audio files – all thanks to their partnership with Storyblocks – and we’ll have to take their word for it. The selection seems to be huge indeed, and luckily you can find what you need via a search box or different categories.
You also have the rights to use all available content for any type of project. Best of all, there is no time limit above which you lose the right to use that media.
Admittedly, there is a wealth of free and paid stock libraries online – including: Adobe Stock and Adobe Stock Alternatives† Magix definitely wins here for sheer convenience.
New travel animations
You know those fun movie moments when travel is illustrated by a dot moving across a yellowed map?
Well you don’t need the best video effects software to bring travel animations to life. You can recreate them better than before with Movie Studio. Again, however, Magix has locked this feature for Platinum or Suite editions of the video editing software.
There’s a new ‘fly-in’ option, designed to give your animated route a smoother introduction. You also get more control over the map itself, allowing you to skew and rotate and zoom in and out.
If your imported files contain GPX data (ie general geographic information, including waypoints, tracks and routes), this feature can take advantage of this and display your elevation next to the map – just to show how high you went on your last hike!
Many tools have been redesigned and improved for easier use and manipulation. This applies to new controls that allow you to move video clips in the main preview area. It’s all about simplifying making collagessplit screens or something like that, which makes it much more fun.
The handles you use to manipulate your footage are larger and easier to select, giving you more control over a clip’s position and scale, right from the preview area. The rotation tool gains more flexibility, allowing you to specify where the rotation point is, opening up even more creative possibilities.
If you want to make videos will be shared onlineyou will appreciate the new social media management templates, which simplify the creation of vertical or square format projects typical of each platform
Smartphone media auto-alignment is another great feature that we appreciated. Some video editing software has issues with footage shot from a phone, especially an iPhone, where the footage is upside down for some reason. This new feature automatically corrects the orientation of a clip so that you (and your audience) always see it facing up.
Exclusive Features
Complementing the range of new features available with higher versions of Magix’ software is the new effects package, which is designed to add atmospheric lighting effects to your projects.
You are offered over a hundred templates, which are also fully customizable. These effects include beams of light and the flickering of candles, to change or convey the perfect mood for your post-production scene. But only by opting for the Suite version will you get this boost in creativity.
Prices and subscriptions
There are many ways you can get your hands on a copy of this video editing suite. You can buy Movie Studio outright for $69.99 / £49.99 – ideal if you hate Adobe’s Creative cloud subscription model and wants a consumer level Premiere Pro alternative†
The Platinum Edition costs $99.99 / £69.99, includes 600 additional transition effects and titles, advanced color correction tools and the new travel route animation. If your budget goes for this, we’d say it’s well worth the extra money.
Movie Studio 2022 Suite is currently running a massive promotional campaign. Magix claims the usual price is around $1000 / £900, which sounds extraordinarily high, but it can be yours now for less than Movie Studio Platinum – just $79.99 / £64.99. Suite includes those cool new lighting effects. If you’re interested, grab it while you still can.
If you prefer to subscribe, you can get Studio, Platinum and Suite for a monthly fee of $2.99 / £2.29, $3.99 / £2.99 and $4.99 / £3.99 respectively .
As an added incentive, Platinum and Suite plans include MAGIX Content (unfortunately nothing for standard Studio users).
Magix is so confident in their product that you can also try out their editing software for free. We recommend checking out Movie Studio to see if it’s for you.
final verdict
Magix Movie Studio is a neat, affordable video editor designed with ease of use in mind. Some issues remain, such as the reverse track order, but this is clearly a choice and something to get used to when working with other video editing tools.
Overall, the new additions will be of great benefit to many editors, both newcomers and more experienced.
