Video Studio 10+ - comments and recommendations?

bb193 · Post by **bb193** » Wed May 24, 2006 9:20 am

As a complete newbie, I hope I haven't breached any rules of etiquette by asking if anyone would recommend or offer any comments regarding Video Studio 10+?

I got my first Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 PC just before Christmas (a Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo P). As well as being the family PC, I use it for recording TV in the UK - simple 4:3 PAL with stereo sound - either analogue or UK DVB-T digital (Freeview). Obviously, this records in .DVR-MS format.

Along with most of the MCE community, I have been struggling to find a way to edit the files (top, tail and remove ads - I currently use DCUT - I'd hate an auto ad detector to get it wrong) and burn to DVD (preferably reasonably quickly). I have tried Sonicencoders and had some luck with Nero 6. However, I was recently tempted by Nero 7, and since I installed that, my audio and video have been out of sync. I've had to completely rebuild my PC. I don't really want to buy another turkey.

The PC came with WinDVD 5 as the MCE compatible DVD decoder and I have been considering upgrading to 7 at a cost of £30. Then I saw Video Studio 10+ available for £60 - including WinDVD 7. Tempting.

There has been quite a discussion about 10+ (eg http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/communi ... -dvds.html). However the trial link seems to be broken, so I can't give it a go. I've heard that it doesn't really work with .DVR-MS files. I've also heard that it is a big program, and it is hard work to just get it to take a video file and burn it to a DVD.

So I just wondered if any of you experts cared to comment on or recommend 10+ for a rather frustrated MCE user, who is really looking for a simple silver bullet to solve all my video problems.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:55 am

I love VS10+. I have been a VS user since v6. The new features in 10+ are by far the biggest changes from one version to the next that I have experienced. Having the 6 overlay tracks and the dvd menu customization are my favorites.

In my opinion, you can't beat it for a $100.

bb193 · Post by **bb193** » Wed May 24, 2006 12:42 pm

Black Lab wrote:I love VS10+......
In my opinion, you can't beat it for a $100.

Good answer. Clear, succinct, unambiguous. Thanks.

Do you use it with MCE? If so, does it work well with that? Does it work with DVR-MS files? As a complete VS newcomer, any idea how long it would take me to pick up (say) taking a single video file and burning it to a DVD with a basic menu?

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed May 24, 2006 12:59 pm

Hi Eric, and welcome to the forums...

I concur with Blacklab. Ulead has taken a major step with VS10 +. To have 6 overlay tracks and 5.1 Dolby is worth it.

Now for the MCE and DVR issues, VS10 according to Ulead supports both. There have been a few that have reported problems using it with MCE, however the flip side of that coin is that others have had no problems.

I don't use MCE OS so sorry I can't supply first hand information on that. There will be others posting to this that have, so hang around a bit. You could also do a search on the forums under this forum (VideoStudio) for MCE, or Media Center Edition, and find several posts on this..

Ron P.

TDK1044 · Post by **TDK1044** » Wed May 24, 2006 2:07 pm

VS10 and VS10 plus are certainly Ulead's finest hour. With previous versions of video studio, serious flaws were discovered within days of the product release, but I get the sense that although both VS10 and VS10 plus will need to be patched, they are considerably healthier than previous versions. I keep my use of any software of this kind as simple as possible, and VS10 does everthing I need it to do, and it does it very well. I'm sure those who like to push the envelope will find issues that need fixing in both products, but to be able to achieve what these products achieve for under $100 is very impressive.

bb193 · Post by **bb193** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:29 am

Thanks for all the replies - it all seems very encouraging.

Unfortunately, the discussion MCE discussion group I referred to above has concluded that since the trial software doesn't work and the support seems to be lacking to get it to work, it is a non-starter.

If the trial worked, I'd download and test it at the weekend, and I'm sure they would have my money for a bought copy next week. One good review on all the MCE sites, and they'd be flooded out with people buying it. All for the want of a horseshoe nail......

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:37 am

I realise you are talking about the trial version, and I do not have the MCE version, so cannot comment personally. But have you seen the discussion on this Board last week at http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... hlight=mce which is very positive about VS10 and MCE? I only ask since I would hate to see you give up on the basis of the trial version, when actual users of the full version say they have only minor, or no, problems at all...