Magix Movie Edit Pro 2013 Premium review

The chroma key effect for removing green-screen backgrounds has been revamped, with an anti-spill control that helps to avoid a halo of green around the edges of subjects. It’s only available in certain processing modes, though, and not in the one that gave the most accurate mask. It’s not possible to feather the edges of the mask, nor to tidy up the edges of the green screen by cutting them out manually.

The revamped chroma keying effect still requires that the green screen fills the background (unlike the one in this shot)

Also new is the ability to synchronise two video clips that were shot simultaneously by analysing their soundtracks. This builds on the existing Multicam function for editing material shot with two cameras, but it’s disappointing that it still can’t cope with more than two. We were impressed that the software synchronised our two clips despite lots of background noise and very few distinguishing features in their soundtracks. Sadly, it took us a while to figure out how to use this feature. The Help section states that synchronisation is automatic, but then continues to instruct users to synchronise them manually. We eventually found the necessary command by chance, buried deep within the timeline’s right-click menu.

It’d be unfair to paint a wholly negative picture of Movie Edit Pro 2013. Its timeline controls are responsive and mostly straightforward. There’s a lot to admire too, such as the ability to use 99 tracks and use some powerful effects. However, its weaknesses are much more apparent than its strengths. In a year in which consumer video editors from Sony, Adobe, Serif and Pinnacle have all made great strides, Movie Edit Pro doesn’t hold much appeal. Try Serif MoviePlus X6 instead.