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62 of 66 persons found the following review helpful.
VSP Pro x4: Massive bug-fixes and new features
By thorsty
Corel Visual Studio Pro x4
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful.
Best of Breed – Well, COULD Be.
By R. L. Hodges
Better than anything else out there in my opinion, including Adobe’s totally overly complex and overpriced products. The interface is simple, good-looking, and even fun. This is the kind of sparetime activity software you wish for.
Know that if you are going to be editing HD movies, have the hottest quad processor and as much RAM as you may manage. I’ve got an AMD quad clocked to 4GHz, 8GB of RAM, and dual nVidia 9600s in SLI, which effortlessly handles everything I throw at it, including high-power games that make PS3 and XBox consoles look and feel like cheap smartphones. But when I edit HD, it gives my machine a severe workout. Thankfully, VSX4 has a brilliant way to relax this if you need it by way of using proxy files.
Also know that this software, as great as it is, is various merchandise combined. For example, DVD MovieFactory is no longer bundled with the software – they actually integrated it right into the software (they didn’t even change the menus one single bit).
Thank heavens, the crashy bugs are largely worked out now. I have yet to have this software crash on me. Also has a great deal of actually super fun playtoy things to amuse yourself with, like 3D, time lapse, and stop-motion, which work breathtakingly well, permitting you to make up for any features your camcorder may not have built-in. This kind of software may take the drudgery out of video editing and in truth turn a chore into a hobby. I am now having just as much fun (if not more) editing my video as I antecedently did watching it.
Rendering times could have been MUCH better in this software, the result of 32-bit software. VSX4 just doesn’t work my machine very hard. If it was 64-bit, it would be a dream.
Converting 2D video to 3D is the only “candy” feature I have played with. Not spectacular, but it works and adds galore fun depth to a great deal of other than as supposed or expected boring video (3D depth is adjustable). Fun to toy around with but not take too seriously. If it wasn’t shot in 3D from the beginning, don’t suppose much from a 2D to 3D conversion in terms of what you see in the movie theaters. If you don’t try to take it too seriously, you’ll have a lot of fun with it (and perchance a few headaches from the red/blue glasses). VSX4 DOES aid side-by-side color 3D, which requires particular video hardware to watch, like a 3D TV and the shutter glasses. My gear arrives next week, so I’ll play around with it some more, genuinely looking forward to full-color side-by-side 3D. It’s like Christmas.
Something that I perfectly LOVE with regards to this software that needs to be cited that PowerDirector doesn’t have: being capable to add/remove DVD/Blu-ray chapter marker points right on the timeline as you edit. Then, when you at long last get around to opening up the “Share” division of the program, which allows you to build the menus for your DVDs and Blu-Rays (and do the burn), your chapter markers are already there, and all you have to do is worry regarding the visuals of the menus themselves – the chapter marker work you did on the timeline itself is already done and saved. NICE. Even better, you may do more chapter marker editing while in the menu creation routine in case you missed anything. NICER.
Another thing I love is the WYSIWYG preview/work window you’re using to work on your video. It is playing working in high res HD – not the to a considerable degree pixelated version of the video you see in PowerDirector. PD9 probably has a function someplace to enable HD viewing/working, but VSX4 comes up that way as default. Note that viewing/editing in HD slows the software down rather painfully – looks nice but this is where the 32bit aspect of the software actually comes back to bite you hard, severely, and non-stop.
Highly recommended. With all the bugs of former versions, the software was nearly unworthy – it was as “crash-happy” as PowerDirector. Now it’s actually worth paying for. 4 out of 5 stars because, well, Adobe Production Suite CS5 it ain’t.
* UPDATE *
After at last getting around to moving on to creating Blue-Rays from DVDs, I have some new information, both good and bad.
The Good:
This software is solid as a rock. It NEVER crashes. I have never lost any work due to a crash, and it performs reliably no matter how badly it chokes on what I feed it.
The Bad:
Performance: It chokes on what I feed it. Working with HD video brings this 32-bit software to it is knees. It does not fetch your computer to it is knees – just the VSX4 software itself. Yeah, I know, I may throw it into proxy mode AS A BAND-AID DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF THIS 32-BIT SOFTWARE, but with a scheme like mine, that shouldn’t even have to be considered. VSX4 is VERY sluggish when working with HD. It won’t crash on you, but you’ll be continually waiting (after hitting playback buttons, dragging jog bars, working with effects and transitions, mode shifts, etc) for the software to catch up to itself as it chews hard on any HD video you feed it. I spend a LOT of time stopping preview/playback, which collapses into “slideshows”, so I may wait for this software to “catch up” to itself before resuming a smooth playback. This collapse into jerky slideshow playback happens whenever adding transitions, effects, etc. LOTS of lagging going on. This is the worse experience I have ever had on my custom-built 4GHz 64-bit Quad (8GM ram, 2 TB drive space). It is the only software on my scheme that altogether fails at using the raw horsepower available on my system. All 4 processors are being used, but only in 32-bit mode – the software is not competent of using the 64-bit power of my system, which leaves almost half the resources of my system unused as it chokes and stutters on HD. I ought to NOT be forced to throw the software into proxy mode when I’m running solid 64-bit OS on 64-bit hardware. Corel – 32-bit is now an albatross around your neck. It was time long ago to crank this product out in 64-bit. PD9 might crash endlessly and have the worst tech support on the planet, but you’re still getting clobbered by it just because it’s 64 bit. Even I went and paid for PD9 Ultra64 – it’s that important.
Next Problem – Menus: When editing the menus, your changes are not saved. MAJOR bug. A progress bar goes throughout the screen, but when you go to open your project back up, whaddya know – all your DVD/Blu-Ray disc menu work is gone. Didn’t save. This is a long-standing bug in the DVD MovieFactory 7 software that Corel integrated into VideoStudio for the X4 version. I have to wonder if any individual even did the most simple of testing at Corel. Was astonished to see this glaring bug carry over.
Next Problem: Sound Stuttering: The Blu-Ray discs this software cranks out are visually beautiful, splendid quality, nearly no noticeable drop in quality from source to output whatsoever. But if you don’t use transitions amidst video segments, there are sound gaps amongst scenes. These are skips in the sound, like the software was choking for the duration of conversion or someone hitting “mute” for a fraction of a second on each scene alter (and the sound from the next scene, when it in the end kicks in, jolts you into annoyance). I am still investigating if this is actually on the Blu-Ray discs VSX4 is cranking out or if it is how my PS3 is playing the Blu-Rays (never seen my PS3 do that with any other discs). However, there has likewise been a couple of instances where I noticed some very noticeable sound slippage (people’s mouths are now and again not moving in sync when you listen them speaking or other sounds not matching the action on screen). The slippage seems to be random, and likewise seems to take place only once in a while, and for short periods that last only a minute or so, but the sound stutter amidst scene changes are continuous and reliably annoying. Sound slippage was a very annoying bug carried over from DVD MovieFactory 7. In fairness, ALL video production productions may exhibit sound slippage, so I’m not distinctively pointing at Corel on this one. But the jolting sound gaps amongst scenes with no transition effects are horrible. I have resorted to using transitions as a band-aid to keep this from happening(!) when creating Blu-Ray discs. Being the novice videographer that I am, even I know that’s bad.
Another problem: The menus, transitions and most of the effects are exceedingly limited. Even after adding the “bonus pack” and “content pack”, you wind up with only in regards to a dozen DVD menu template choices and only 8 Blu-Ray menu options. And most of the menu selections are ridiculously childlike – surely not one thing you’d use if you are attempting to take your video work severely in any way. I still have yet to find good instructions on building my own Blu-Ray menu templates. I listen when it comes to it, but have found no instructions. I guess I just have to use the Force.
One final nitpick: Downloadables/online content. Sorry, Corel, but CyberLink’s got you nailed on this one. VSX4 is a fantastic product, if not a bit TOO simplistic, but it pales in comparison to the universe of PowerDirector’s online/downloadable content. One thing that VSX4 has going for it that CyberLink needs to compensate attention to is that VSX4 does not insult you each step of the way by forcing you to “Register” or “Activate” dissimilar functions of the software as you genuinely go into the software to use it. Well done, Corel, for showing CyberLink how it’s done and for not treating your customes like crooks (why you got my money).
As as I wind down, I’ll just offer that my ultra-hot 64-bit quad processor, 8GB of ram, and 2TB of SATA drive space must have no problem whatsoever cranking out a high quality product with this software. So far I’m happy with most everything in the whole, and I proceed to use the product. But I’m dropping this now $65 product (about what I salaried on Corel’s web site) down to 2 Stars because of megasuck performance, menu issues, and sound quality issues on Blu-Ray discs.
HOWEVER:
Tech Support: Corel’s tech help is fantastic (listen up, CyberLink victims): I get responses from Corel’s web/email tech aid within 12 hours like clockwork, and they are helpful. They even ask me if I need any more assistance after they answer my questions or point me in the right direction. Their online tech aid forum is great, very helpful. During regular business hours, I have called Corel’s phone support and get a live person each time, speaking clear English, with very helpful data and my issues get solved. Hear that, CyberLink? Corel clients aren’t treated like thieves, pirates or criminals, and Corel doesn’t make you provide 5 dissimilar pieces of proof that the client genuinely salaried for the software, only to be refused service anyway – which is what CyberLink does. Never have I seen a company treat it is own clients (paycheck) so poorly as CyberLink. Corel – well done.
In light of Corel’s magnificent and responsive tech support, both through email, the aid forum, and on the phone(!), which I have systematically had outstanding service from, and for the fact that the software just does not crash anymore (wow!), I’m jacking this review back up to 3 stars.
I am, Corel, giving you 3 stars because I am assuming that you are going to address the issues above.
Thanks for tolerating this review.
32 of 35 persons found the following review helpful.
Turn Your Blah Videos Into Something Worth Sharing
By techdad review
VideoStudio Pro X4 is the latest release of Corel’s buyer video editing software application. The former version, X3, wasn’t incisively well received by Amazon.com users. Indeed, I myself had a hard sufficient time with X3 that I uninstalled it within 30 minutes of installing it. When I found out that X4 was being released, I wanted to give it a more indepth look and Corel was kind sufficient to send me a review license. After using it for regarding a week, I’m happy to say that it’s been fun and a pleasure to edit videos with VideoStudio Pro X4.
PROS:
- Performs well (even w/Core2 Duo processors)
- Short learning curve for basic functions
- Fair number of transition, title, filter, and media samples
- Easy to use and configurable layout
- Multi-monitor support
- Decent set of tutorials
- Great sharing options
CONS:
- More contextual support would make it even requiring little effort to learn
- A little sluggish at times
- Cumbersome previewing of media
The question I get asked the most by persons who have home videos is, “How may I put my videos on a DVD so I may part it with others?” That’s a good question. With the popularity of the pocket camcorder, like the Flip, humans have made innumerable video clips. Unfortunately, most of those clips have been imprisoned on the camcorders themselves or if lucky, made their way to a computer. Getting those videos onto a DVD to send to grandparents or friends have been more challenging. VideoStudio Pro X4 (VSPX4) is one way to get those videos onto DVD, but why stop there? You may also use it to upload it to YouTube or Facebook. Before you do that though, how with regards to sprucing up that video initial by putting a title graphic on and adding a soundtrack? With VSPX4, it isn’t as hard to do as you might think it is.
CAPTURE
VSPX4 is disunited into three distinct functions-Capture, Edit, and Share. Capture is the basi of those and allows you to without apparent effort import videos from a potpourri of sources. If you already have your videos on your computer, then you may in truth skip this part. As a matter of fact, when you basi launch VSPX4, it goes straight into Edit, the second and most robust function.
EDIT
If all you want to do is get your video clips onto a DVD or upload them to YouTube, you may beauteous much just add them into the “Project” and then go to Share and have at it. However, if you wanted to be a little more creative, you may genuinely spruce up that video collection here.
The default layout of the Edit step works well. It’s broken down into three sections. On the top left, you have the video screen. On the top right, is your collection of media, filters, transitions, etc. The entire bottom half of the layout is the timeline (or storyboard view). This is where you insert all the videos, effects, and audio. It’s gorgeous intuitive. The timeline reads from left to right and there are multiple rows of “Tracks.” Tracks consist of the main video track, title tracks, overlay tracks, voice track and music tracks.
Adding elements to these tracks concede you to custommake each track and then match them up to work with the entire project. It’s amazingly easy to add your own music as a soundtrack or cool effects to express your originative side. While I cherished having easy access to the media and samples, I found it very cumbersome to preview them to see or listen what they were. For example, VSPX4 comes with 25 sound effect clips named, S1 to S25. In order to listen what those sounds were, I had to select them on the top right side of the screen with my mouse, then go all the way back over to the video screen on the left and hit play. Doing that for each clip got annoying. It would have been better to grant the clips to be double-clicked for automatic preview, or right click on them to present a “preview” selection that would mechanically play them.
In ordinary however, I thought that controlling videos was comparatively easy and fun. There were a lot of more progressed things that I wanted to do that weren’t easy to figure out at first, like Multi-Trim but I in the end figured it out. I liked the voice over feature because when I do video reviews, I may just film the review, split the audio out of it, then plug in a mic and narrate the video while watching it. This is a big time saver for me because rather than having to carry out multiple takes to get the right one, I may just do it once and use VSPX4 to perfective it.
SHARE
The last function of VideoStudio Pro X4 is the part function. This allows you to invent a video file, audio file, disc, export to a mobile device, export to a DV camcorder, or upload to Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, or Flickr. Sharing couldn’t be easier. Ok, it could be a little bit easier. There are a lot of choices for creating dissimilar types of video files and contextual support here would have been nice to help persons figure out which type would work best for their needs. The routine of creating a video file is called rendering. Rendering may take a long time, depending on how long and complex your video is and the type of file you’ve chosen to save it as. Knowing which type you will have to use is important before you render it because you could end up wasting a lot of time waiting for the render to complete, only to find out that the file you devised isn’t going to work for you. The integration of file sharing web sites is a nice touch and very easy to use.
PERFORMANCE
My computer no longer qualifies as a high end system, but still ran VSPX4 very well most of the time. I have an Intel Core2 Duo 2.2GHz machine with 4GB or RAM, running Windows 7 64-bit. Though I comfortably met the minimum system requirements, there were times when I was working on more complex clips that made my preview video stutter. I’d guess if I had an Intel i7 processor with 6-8GB of RAM, I wouldn’t encounter any stuttering at all, in particular since VSPX4 is optimized for it.
MY PROJECT
Right before I begun writing this review, I decisive to formulate one more video project as a way for me to test VSPX4. I chose a 1min 30sec video of me throwing a plush Angry Bird doll at my sister, who was opening up a plush Angry Bird Pig as a gift. Here is what I did with VSPX4 to the clip:
1. I shortened the video to in regards to a minute
2. Added an animated title at the beginning of the clip
3. Added the Angry Birds theme song as the soundtrack
4. Added an Old Film filter to the clip to give a distinctive look
5. Copied the moment of affect (Bird hitting the Pig/my sister’s face) and added a slow motion clip to the end of the basi clip
6. Took that same affect clip and added a funny sound effect to it and added it to the end of the primary clip
7. Added a photo to the end
8. Added scrolling credits
9. Created an HD video of the entire project
10. Uploaded the clip to YouTube
11. Called my sister to tell her I’d uploaded this embarrassing video of her to YouTube
In case you’re wondering, I deleted the video from YouTube after I let her watch it first; I’m a good brother after all!
CONCLUSION
Corel’s VideoStudio Pro X4 is a strong video editing package. I wouldn’t call it a simple program, but it doesn’t take a great deal of time to get the hang of it. Up until a week ago, I had very little exposure to video editing software and now I feel very comfortable using it. VSPX4 has a good selection of tools that’ll keep you pleasantly occupied for hours at a time. I had a blast creating my last clip and I bet you will too.
*Review license provided by Corel Corporation
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