Taking files from movie studio 13 to 12

ElvishViolinist wrote on 11/10/2015, 9:37 PM
Hi all,

A friend and I are editing a movie together; she has movie studio 13, and I have movie studio 12. I would like to move her files over to my computer, but my software says it can't open them because they were edited on a higher version of movie studio. Is there a way I can work around that so I can open these files on my computer? Maybe a different way my friend can save them?

Thanks

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 11/10/2015, 9:51 PM
There's not much you can do with the Studio version. I don't believe it can save "EDL" files, which are mostly generic.

Does she have 12 installed? If so, and even if she's already started editing on version 13, she can launch both 13 and 12 simultaneously, highlight and copy everything in the version 13 project, and paste it into 12. Then she could save a .vf file that you can share between you.

If she doesn't, you're kinda stuck. Sorry. :( About the best you could do in that situation is to divide the labor up so that you are making all the basic rough cut edits, send the .vf file to her, and she can finish off the fine details. Version 13 can open version 12 files with no problem.
ElvishViolinist wrote on 11/14/2015, 9:17 AM
Well, I believe both are the studio platinum versions. Would that make a difference? What are EDL files?

Okay, we thought that might be what we would have to do. Thanks for the reply :)
UKharrie wrote on 11/14/2015, 5:16 PM
Chienworks
I wonder if you can enlighten me? I thought the issue was that you can't go back a version, because the software thinks there may be an "Effect" that's only in the later version. This would cause the software to stop because it would not "understand" what was expected. Isn't that it?


Just a thought: - that Sony software writers could include an Option to "behave like version xx" so this would grey-out any features that are not common . . . it might be a dire warning to Users to keep up-to-date as well !!!
The other issue is that all the Media files would have to be in exactly the same place
- this could be achieved by using a portable HDD which is given a drive-letter that neither PC already uses.
This is an area where Cloud-based software / files are really ahead; although there are plenty of folk that distrust anything that could be "shared in the Cloud" since it could also become "Lost in the Cloud" - at least if it's on your HDD, you know who's looking at it.
Sharing an "Edit task" is perhaps something SMS could look at for an update?

I wonder what they'd think about having the software on that moveable HDD ( I know SMS likes to Select "C" - but we have to fight all software that does that ( don't we? ).... this would mean that for any "shared Edits" the original purchaser would have to assign a Password, so the Software + Media on that drive, plus ( dare I suggest "Partitions" ?), would become playable on a suitable Win OS - that way all the features would still operate and a rendered file could be stored in a folder "my renders" using the same Partition as other imported media, sound effects, etc. Whilst the movable drive is given "permission" it would be possible to [u]add media<>/u but not remove it - other than by way of copying a "Rendered" Edit.
On returning the HDD the second Editor would retain a copy ( on a Memory stick, perhaps ) so they could both watch the progress and suggest changes, etc.


This too might convince the other person to buy the Update once they saw the benefits...


Also, the ability to "share" an Edit might become a great Sales advantage.



I note that Show Me How has a competitor....
ElvishViolinist wrote on 11/23/2015, 3:57 PM
Interesting thoughts, UKharrie.

I for one don't know why SMS doesn't let you share .vf files among different versions. It would be nice if they just did the greying out of certain features like you mentioned, or at least gave the ability to save something in a format fitted to older versions. Of course, this current way makes you buy a new version; which is great for them, but doesn't appeal to users so much.

I did find a work around- I downloaded the trial version of 13, and opened my friend's files with that, then pasted the clips into 12. Some of the clips don't work, but that's only because they came from subclips only she has. For everything else, I have the exact same raw footage on my computer, so I just tell the software to look where I have the clips stored.

It works, but it won't once the trial version runs out I'm guessing. It'll get the job done for now.
Chienworks wrote on 11/23/2015, 5:20 PM
Microsoft's response to this issue with different Office version file formats was to initially introduce converter programs that would change newer files into older formats. There would be a warning about which features would be lost and did you wish to proceed anyway. Shortly after that the newer versions had updates with "Save As" previous versions, also with the same warnings. Eventually updates for the older versions were released that allowed opening newer files with *most*, but not all of the features intact.

Of course, Microsoft has far more resources and a much larger user base and can afford to add these capabilities. They also have the momentum to simply wait it out for users of old versions to eventually upgrade, and more capacity to survive those who don't.

If i had to guess, i'd say that in the case of Vegas it's more a case of the company not wanting to deal with users saying "Hey! I saved my project as version 12 to send to a friend, but half the transitions are missing and two effects aren't working. What's wrong and when will you fix it?"