@Ross-Jackson ...and if it fits your needs, keep using it. We are conditioned to think that "upgrade" means better. Not always.

I am still using Microsoft Office 2003. Why? My needs are basic and it fits my needs.

Someone on my forum bought the "upgrade" to Movie Studio Platinum 18, thinking it was the next version of Vegas Movie Studio. According to this customer, Magix is refusing to issue a refund when he requested it.

Another different member of my forum has requested a refund for the same reason, and has not got any replies from Magix.

Since when can a company refuse a refund 24 hours after a purchase ?
Surely this is against the law in all countries of the world ?
It is definitely against the law in Australia where the customer and myself are based.

WTF is going on at Magix Germany???
I'm hoping this is just a misunderstanding and will get sorted out.

Now that I have had time to digest what has happened, I can say 100% that this whole situation is 100% deceptive on behalf of Magix. They MUST state clearly on the sales page that Vegas Movie Studio is now a retired product and the new version is a completely different program. Their behaviour is causing unnecessary confusion for many people.

It also appears according to the below thread on the Magix Community forum that you need to pay extra for some codecs? I hope it's another misunderstanding.

https://www.magix.info/us/forum/movie-studio-18-export-no-hardware-acceleration--1278698/#ca1688089

@EricLNZ isn't that the case with at least some other MAGIX programs as well?

@Dr Zen are you familiar with the restriction in the current T&Cs? Please see here. But I agree with your comment(s) re this.

They MUST state clearly on the sales page that Vegas Movie Studio is now a retired product and the new version is a completely different program.

And if they don't ?????

@vkmast Yes I did read that. Typical legal crap from an EU country.
If a large number of people get tricked into a buying a program they don't want and are refused to get refunds, that is a sure way to create insane negative publicity for a company and lose their customer base for good. It's not a sustainable business model to trick customers into buying something under false pretences. I will be warning everyone on my YouTube channel, Facebook and mailing list tomorrow and advise EVERYONE to download free trial before exchanging any money.

They MUST state clearly on the sales page that Vegas Movie Studio is now a retired product and the new version is a completely different program.

And if they don't ?????

They'll lose a lot of customers who will never come back. Negative publicity has a habit of spreading like digital wildfire!

They MUST state clearly on the sales page that Vegas Movie Studio is now a retired product and the new version is a completely different program.

And if they don't ?????

They'll lose a lot of customers who will never come back. Negative publicity has a habit of spreading like digital wildfire!

This policy of Magix will be worked out not only negatively on VMS users but also on Vpro users. New users who just bought VP18 with the promise to get VP19 for free are now doubting if they get real VP19 or do they get Magix Video Pro X.

Magix is smashing their own windows by trying to make profit out of the end of VMS this way.

As VMS user you have following options.

1. Keep editing with VMS17 as long as possible, no learning curve.
2. Switch over to Vpro, no learning curve.
3. Switch over to MS18 as forced by Magix, new learning curve
4. Switch over to a NLE of your own choice, new learning curve.

As long time user of VMS, I would go for option 2. When short time user, I would go for option 4.

3POINT

Good comment.

+1 @3POINT  ... and it will make the upgrade path from MS18 to Vegas Pro - if there will be one - less intuitive than is the case up until now with VMS to VP. It might also explain why the recent VMS to VP upgrade offer has been such a good offer $$$-wise.

@EricLNZ isn't that the case with at least some other MAGIX programs as well?

@vkmast Not to my knowledge, but it should be clearly stated in the promotional material. Like Corel with Corel Video Studio advise you that Blu-ray burning requires additional payment.

@3POINT Magix isn't forcing anyone to MMS18. But before someone who "thinks" (and the way things are, I can understand how) they are getting an upgraded VMS, well, we all know they are wrong.

Is it a bad choice? Depends on the person. But if VMS serves their needs, I'd stay with that until all this fallout settles. VEGAS isn't helping with $149 for VP18 Edit upgrade at the moment. But you will get both VP18 and VP19 upon release.

This upgrade price is twice the MMS18 upgrade price. It is something to consider for the VMS user. I personally think that all VMS users should be emailed and told to wait until VP19 is released at a special price for them upgrading. But that's me.... it would go a long way of making the transition better for them.

Side note: I wrote about how I disliked the way the folder structure in past versions of Vegas (VP17 and before) of VideoFX, etc... and that it reminded me of VMS. Seems I was right.... it would make the transition easier for a VMS user to see something familiar. Maybe... VP19 will have two options for Window layout.... VP17 like, and VMS.

@EricLNZ on the Specifications webpage, you have to pay extra for HEVC/H265

They MUST state clearly on the sales page that Vegas Movie Studio is now a retired product and the new version is a completely different program.

And if they don't ?????

They are probably in breach of German or EU Consumer Protection legislation as it to appears to me clearly a case of misrepresentation.

@3POINT Option 1 for me, and if necessary at a later date Option 2.

@Dexcon re "the upgrade path from MS18 to Vegas Pro - if there will be one -". I doubt that as well. Why would MAGIX encourage customers to move back to VEGAS if they are lucky enough to get VMS users to their MAGIX side? 😐 (unless...of course)

I did @3POINT's 2. suggestion ten years ago after I had had VMSP 10 for about six months. I have used all versions of both VP and VMSP since then. I think 3POINT has used VMSP versions as well even though he has VPs.

I did @3POINT's 2. suggestion ten years ago after I had had VMSP 10 for about six months. I have used all versions of both VP and VMSP since then. I think 3POINT has used VMSP versions as well even though he has VPs.

Indeed, I used all VMSP and VP versions. Most of my edits I did with VMSP just because why should I take my car out of the garage when I could do the same with my bike. I used VP only when there was a need for using scripting tools as Vegasaur or nesting, for this VMSP projects were easily opened in VP.

It also appears according to the below thread on the Magix Community forum that you need to pay extra for some codecs? I hope it's another misunderstanding.

https://www.magix.info/us/forum/movie-studio-18-export-no-hardware-acceleration--1278698/#ca1688089

Actually the webpage does tell you an extra fee is required for HEVC. It's in small print which I missed. Thanks to @Reyfox for pointing it out.

I dropped a line to a German video magazine about this small MS not VMS magic...

I hope they will get some magix answers.

If Magix doesn't want to lose their VMS customers, it would been wise that Magix officialy announced the end of VMS and that they offer a one time free upgrade to MS18 for all registered VMS17 users, or an extra low entry upgrade to VP.

With this comment, I am not specifically criticising any individual, but the misspelling of a certain English word has become so widespread even with English speakers that it does my head in.

If Magix doesn't want to loose their VMS customers ...

'loose' means 'not tight' or 'not exact'. The correct word intended here is surely 'lose' which means to be deprived of something or fail to win.

I am so sorry to be so pedantic, but 'loose' instead of 'lose' is so widespread these days that I am at a loss to understand how this misspelling has come about.

If Magix doesn't want to loose their VMS customers, it would been wise that Magix officialy announced the end of VMS and that they offer a one time free upgrade to MS18 for all registered VMS17 users, or an extra low entry upgrade to VP.

We have just made an official announcement about MS 18 in the "News" section.

Thanks Dexcon for correcting my misspelled word. As a none native English speaker I wasn't aware of the different meaning. I will edit my comment accordingly to avoid any confusion.