What is MAGIX Connect?

NickHope wrote on 9/18/2017, 3:46 AM

I had a program from Magix called Connect installed in C:\Program Files (x86):

I think this was installed for the first time along with installing Vegas Pro 15 build 177.

It was also in the Task Scheduler section of my AutoRuns listing, indicating that it was getting run automatically at some point.

I think I just inadvertently uninstalled it by double-clicking it in Control Panel > Programs & Features to try and run it. I never thought that would just uninstall it without at least a prompt.

The installer for it is still sitting in my Documents > MAGIX Downloads > Installationsmanager folder:

Does anyone know what this is? I guess it could be to do with the Vegas Pro Connect app for iPad, but I think it more likely that it is something that connects to Magix for licensing or "news" purposes.

Comments

Former user wrote on 9/18/2017, 10:46 AM

Probably not related, but just in case ... I just ran VP15 a few minutes ago and on loading I got a message, can't rember exactly, about not connected to inet I think. I switched on inet cliked ok and VP15 then continued to load.

Is this a new procedure or was it always there?

It only appears if the inet is not on.

EricLNZ wrote on 9/18/2017, 6:48 PM

It also comes with MovieStudio. These are the folder contents in case they give you a clue.

MozartMan wrote on 9/18/2017, 7:48 PM

It also comes with MovieStudio. These are the folder contents in case they give you a clue.


Those are exactly the same DLL files that are located in Firefox installed folder. Looks like Magix is running hidden browser on the system which was installed without any notice to the user.

monoparadox wrote on 9/18/2017, 8:02 PM

When I see an executable named "crashlogmailer.exe" I would assume in part, this stuff connects to Magix perhaps for feedback and other things such as registration and licensing.

-- tom

fr0sty wrote on 9/18/2017, 11:07 PM

Perhaps product update notifications as well...

Systems:

Desktop

AMD Ryzen 7 1800x 8 core 16 thread at stock speed

64GB 3000mhz DDR4

Geforce RTX 3090

Windows 10

Laptop:

ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 32GB (9980HK CPU, RTX 2060 GPU, dual 4K touch screens, main one OLED HDR)

Peter_P wrote on 9/19/2017, 9:06 AM

Probably not related, but just in case ... I just ran VP15 a few minutes ago and on loading I got a message, can't rember exactly, about not connected to inet I think. I switched on inet cliked ok and VP15 then continued to load.

Is this a new procedure or was it always there?

It only appears if the inet is not on.

I get the same message since a couple of days. It seems to be sufficient to press OK.

Former user wrote on 9/19/2017, 11:00 AM

Hi Peter_P, and today it's not coming up even once, weird.

rraud wrote on 9/19/2017, 12:09 PM

After I installed AS12. I noticed some 'questionable' adware (or spyware) programs which seemed to be installed along with AS, which had no relation to audio (or video). Coincidence maybe, but the install date/time were the same as AS12 and there was no opt out or other options as I recall. I really hate it when this happens. I'm growing a little skeptical of Magix.

Peter_P wrote on 9/19/2017, 12:12 PM

I get it every time I start Vp15. Today I have to confirm the OK in the popup twice to start Vegas. Netfeed is disabled in the properties.

Peter_P wrote on 9/19/2017, 12:13 PM

After I installed AS12.

Sorry, what is AS12 ?

monoparadox wrote on 9/19/2017, 1:29 PM

If anyone uses ccleaner and I assume many might, be aware of malware issues.

-- tom

rraud wrote on 9/19/2017, 2:07 PM

After I installed AS12.

Sorry, what is AS12 ?


Sound Forge Audio Studio 12.

rraud wrote on 9/19/2017, 2:41 PM

"If anyone uses ccleaner and I assume many might, be aware of malware issues.-- tom"

No to go too off topic but.. Yes, that was an brief issue in Aug-Sep. Piriform/Avast states it has been eliminated. To be sure, use versions 5.34 or higher.

Peter_P wrote on 9/20/2017, 1:19 AM

Hi Peter_P, and today it's not coming up even once, weird.


JN_

It seems as if this problem vanished on my system with the Vegas internet connection this morning as well.

AVsupport wrote on 9/20/2017, 6:09 PM

maybe it's the friggin' spammachine?? hahaha

my current Win10/64 system (latest drivers, water cooled) :

Intel Coffee Lake i5 Hexacore (unlocked, but not overclocked) 4.0 GHz on Z370 chipset board,

32GB (4x8GB Corsair Dual Channel DDR4-2133) XMP-3000 RAM,

Intel 600series 512GB M.2 SSD system drive running Win10/64 home automatic driver updates,

Crucial BX500 1TB EDIT 3D NAND SATA 2.5-inch SSD

2x 4TB 7200RPM NAS HGST data drive,

Intel HD630 iGPU - currently disabled in Bios,

nVidia GTX1060 6GB, always on latest [creator] drivers. nVidia HW acceleration enabled.

main screen 4K/50p 1ms scaled @175%, second screen 1920x1080/50p 1ms.

NormanPCN wrote on 9/20/2017, 8:44 PM

"If anyone uses ccleaner and I assume many might, be aware of malware issues.-- tom"

No to go too off topic but.. Yes, that was an brief issue in Aug-Sep. Piriform/Avast states it has been eliminated. To be sure, use versions 5.34 or higher.

Only 32-bit CCleaner had the issue.

EricLNZ wrote on 9/23/2017, 5:17 AM

@ Nick & Cornico - if you've uninstalled Connect you are possibly running the risk of your software not being able to do its monthly phone home to keep your activation going?

john-brown wrote on 9/25/2017, 10:54 PM

One user on the Magix.info forum said that this is a way for Magix to notify you of ads. Some users were being notified constantly, were annoyed and dumped Magix MusicMaker because of this. One uninstalled MusicMaker but was still receiving popup message for MusicMaker addons. Connect did not get removed.

I have not had this problem and I have Connect - by Magix Software. It is under Connect in Windows Apps.

Has anyone found anything more about negative consequences of removing Connect?

BTW, I noticed in an early Magix screen about Sony products that "Vegas Connect" was not yet available. What was "Vegas Connect?"

John CB

Vegas Pro 18 Edit, Vegas Movie Studio 16 Platinum, Magix Video Pro X16, Magix Movie Studio Platinum 2024, Xara Designer Pro X19, Samplitude Pro X8 Suite, Music Maker 2025 Premium, SF Audio Cleaning Lab 4, Sound Forge Pro 16 and more.

But no but yes wrote on 9/25/2017, 11:07 PM

It's spamware which runs pop-ups on your desktop, advertising Magix software products. I got one this morning when I booted my system. It was advertising a 'Music Maker Rock Overdrive Sale'.

I think Magix slides it out with their Music Maker software. Or, at least, I see complaints about it on the Magix Music Maker forum.

The installer is called: Connect_170511_09-01_-hidden-_2_5_1_84.exe.

You'll probably find it in: ...\Documents\MAGIX Downloads\Installationsmanager

It installs: Connect  MAGIX Software GmbH  XX/XX/2017   8.31 MB   2.5.1.84

And it sets up a scheduled task: Task  Connect  MAGIX Software GmbH  C:\Program Files (x86)\MAGIX\Connect\connect.exe

Delete 'em all and send a rude email to Magix GMBH.

They've had $700 from me in the last year or so on Vegas Pro 14 and 15.

They've decided that the Mercalli plugins I paid extra for last year are abandonware, or else I have to have two full installations of Vegas Pro on my system (which I'd prefer to keep streamlined and clean).

And they think it's OK to use my system to stick their ads in my face, at any time.

I dunno. Greedy? Sneaky? Certainly disrespectful.

And it undermines the good-will generated through the hard work and open communication from the Vegas development team.

RogerS wrote on 9/27/2017, 5:43 AM

On a related? note, does anyone know what the program "magix content and soundpools" is? It also appeared when I installed Vegas Pro 15. Does it do anything useful?

Custom PC (2022) Intel i5-13600K with UHD 770 iGPU with latest driver, MSI z690 Tomahawk motherboard, 64GB Corsair DDR5 5200 ram, NVIDIA 2080 Super (8GB) with latest studio driver, 2TB Hynix P41 SSD and 2TB Samsung 980 Pro cache drive, Windows 11 Pro 64 bit

ASUS Zenbook Intel i9-13900H with Intel graphics iGPU with latest ASUS driver, NVIDIA 4060 (8GB) with latest studio driver, 48GB system ram, Windows 11 Home, 1TB Samsung SSD.

VEGAS Pro 21.208
VEGAS Pro 22.122

Try the
VEGAS 4K "sample project" benchmark (works with VP 16+): https://forms.gle/ypyrrbUghEiaf2aC7
VEGAS Pro 20 "Ad" benchmark (works with VP 20+): https://forms.gle/eErJTR87K2bbJc4Q7

MozartMan wrote on 9/27/2017, 7:44 PM

On a related? note, does anyone know what the program "magix content and soundpools" is? It also appeared when I installed Vegas Pro 15. Does it do anything useful?


"Magix Content and Soundpools" is installed with MusicMaker.

http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/MAGIX-Content-and-Soundpools-18044-program.aspx

VEGAS_CommunityManager wrote on 9/28/2017, 2:34 AM

Hi everybody,

here are the answers to your questions.

What is Connect?

Connect is a tool we use to communicate directly and efficiently with our customers in order to share valuable offers and other information. Since it operates independently of your MAGIX software, you don't have to open your software to receive our best offers. With Connect, you'll never miss out on our best deals or important information.

 
Do I have to use Connect? Can I uninstall it?

No, you do not have to use Connect. To uninstall it, go to your system's Control Panel, choose Uninstall a program, find Connect in the list, and follow the normal uninstall procedure from there. While this will not affect the operation of your MAGIX software in any way, remember that you will no longer receive future offers through the Connect system.


Does Connect collect data from me?

Connect gathers anonymized data only relating to your interaction with the notifications. This enables us to optimize our offers and show only relevant deals without burying you in offers you are not interested in. Connect does not collect your personal data, or any data which can be connected specifically to you. Of course we never disclose your data to third parties.

Best regards

Mathias

bigrock wrote on 9/28/2017, 3:00 AM

Very poor policy to be installing this kind of garbage on people's systems. Totally and completely unacceptable for a professional level product. This needs to stop.

digilyd wrote on 11/9/2017, 6:31 AM

Mathias, it had been good to ask whether users want it, I do not recall that question from the install process.