What is the AVD file format?
An .avd file is a sidecar cache file automatically generated by MAGIX Movie Edit Pro (marketed as MAGIX Video deluxe in German-speaking markets) when a video clip is imported into an editing project. It is not a video file and cannot be opened by a media player.
The .avd file stores metadata about the associated video clip: a reference to the original file's path, scene detection data (in and out points of automatically detected scenes), and other clip-analysis results. MAGIX uses this cache to avoid re-analyzing clips every time the project is opened.
.avd files always appear alongside their source video - for example, clip.avi will have a companion clip.avd in the same folder. The primary project file uses the .mep extension.
Practical notes:
- Do not move or rename
.avdfiles independently of their paired video files - Deleting an
.avdfile is harmless: MAGIX regenerates it automatically the next time the project loads, though re-running scene detection can take time for long clips .avdfiles are a Windows-only artifact; MAGIX Movie Edit Pro / Video deluxe is a Windows application- The product has been marketed under several names (Movie Edit Pro internationally, Video deluxe in Germany) but both versions generate the same
.avdsidecar files - Current releases (MAGIX Video deluxe 2024 / Movie Edit Pro 2024) continue to use this format
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAVD files are automatically generated application data from MAGIX Movie Edit Pro. They pose no security risk; they contain no executable code, no user credentials, and no media content. An AVD file encountered outside a MAGIX project folder is unusual - confirm it came from Movie Edit Pro before assuming it belongs there.
Format details
in a nutshell- Android Virtual Device configuration file - Android Studio uses .avd as the extension for Android Virtual Device (emulator) configuration folders/files - completely unrelated to MAGIX.
- Avid video file (legacy) - Some older Avid editing systems used .avd as a media or project file extension; rare and not to be confused with the MAGIX format.
Programs that open AVD files
Windows1 app
MAGIX Movie Edit Pro / Video deluxe
Paid AVD files are opened automatically by Movie Edit Pro when loading a project - you do not open them manually. If a clip shows missing scene data, Movie Edit Pro will regenerate the AVD. Technical details
deep spec| Role | Sidecar cache file storing video analysis metadata for a paired video clip |
| Format type | Proprietary binary; undocumented structure |
| Byte order | Little-endian (Windows MAGIX product) |
| Stored data | Source file path reference, scene detection in/out points, clip analysis metadata |
| Typical file size | A few KB to ~1 MB (scales with clip length and scene count) |
| Operating system | Windows only |
| Companion file relationship | Paired with source video file; same base name, different extension (e.g. clip.avi → clip.avd) |
| Primary project format | .mep (MAGIX Movie Edit Pro project file) |
| Regeneration behavior | Deleted .avd files are automatically recreated on next project load (re-runs scene detection) |
| User interaction | None required; fully managed by MAGIX software |
| Product branding | Generated by both Movie Edit Pro (international) and Video deluxe (German market) - same format |
| Current product | MAGIX Video deluxe 2024 / Movie Edit Pro 2024 |
| Released | circa 2000s (MAGIX Movie Edit Pro; exact version unknown) |
| Latest version | Tied to current MAGIX Video deluxe / Movie Edit Pro (rebranded 2020+) |
AVD conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about AVD files.
