Played with my conscience-decided to inform you all!

[Screwball]

I have found ulead stunning, but have found rendering and burning so so complicated to get it right. I sometimes have had success - but mostly (95%) unsuccessful. I have had so much help from the wonderful helpers here, but to no avail, It was making me ill with the stress and constant failures. Before I go on, I have to say I am no numbnut - I am the author of 'How To Solve Cryptic Crosswords' that has sold almost a million copies worldwide and have had a business compiling quizzes for TV, Pub chains and Butlins holiday camps - yet I failed miserably to crack Ulead! So, I decided to try a programme called Pinnacle Studio 9. First attempt - success! 2nd Attempt better. Quality superior - ease of use incredible - versatility incredible - infinitely more features - and can you believe there are assistants online so if you have a problem, just log on and they speak (actually type) the answers to any problem instantly - no waiting for some of you wonderful people to reply. It bothers me to be a turncoat and to forsake Ulead, but if anyone out there has had my problems I believe it is only right to inform. I must add that I have no affiliation with Pinnacle - just very, very happy that I discovered it!
Kindest regards
Kevin Skinner

[skier-hughes]

Have you checked the pinnacle forums?

It's full of people like yourself who are having the same problems you had with VS.......

Why?

Because pc's are wonderful things, and each one so so different, so for each satisfied Ulead customer you'll find a satisfied Pinnacle or Adobe customer, and exactly the same for each unsatisfied one.

The main thing is you are editing and enjoying it.

[joosuna]

Screwball, you sound like an intelligent person who has found a good solution for your editing video endeavors, I am happy for you. Some times, a product does not work correctly on some computers and some times it does an excellent job. I am battling with UVS10 plus cause my new computer or other new programs have major conflicts with UVS10, where as my old computer does great with UVS10. I haven't given up yet cause UVS10 does a good job about 90% of the time in my new computer.
But, I may have to join you some day, if I get too frustrated
regards
Joe
A long time user of UVS products

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Kevin

I have used Ulead Video Studio from v 5, and have had relatively no problems, not that I couldn¡¦t solve anyway. I use my own workflow, similar to the recommended procedure. It works for me.

It amazes me that there are so many users that suffer with major problems.

I have only used Pinnacle in trials, a long time ago, but could never get to grips with it.
Each to his own.

Remember where we are and give us some feedback.

Good luck to you and your video editing.

Trevor

[CycleWriter]

I was a Pinnacle Studio user up to Ver. 8. I was very happy with it until one day it mysteriously decided it no longer wanted to work on the same computer it had for over a year. I spent several frustrating weeks with Pinnacle tech support getting all the canned answers and nothing that solved the problem. After having reformatted my HD and reinstalling Studio for the 5th time with no success, I gave up and went in search of an alternative. I has already tried an SE 6 version of Video Studio and when I saw a Ver. 7 upgrade, I tried it. I'm now at Ver. 10+ and while I have some misgivings about some of its operation, it does what I want it to do without crashing or refusing to run, something that Pinnacle Studio did with regularity. No editing suite can be all things to all users and I have several on my computer that I use depending on the needs of the job at hand. But Video Studio is the easiest, most stable among them and therefore the most used. Had I even gotten a modicum of support from Pinnacle, I would probably still be using their product, but I think I am grateful to their failure for having led me to a superior product. That opinion may change if I'm unhappy with VS Ver. 11 (and it doesn't address some of the peeves I have), but as of right now I don't think any budget video editor comes close to VS.

[sjj1805]

I bet pinnacle hasn't got smartscene menus! that alone stands it head and shoulders over Pinnacle.

As for support - are they that bad they have to employ someone to sit 24/7 on the end of a computer to answer the influx of enquiries to the help line?

[Screwball]

I do agree with all replies and so wanted to stick with ulead as it is this programme that introduced me to the magnificent world of video editing, but a the end of the day, after many hours of creating a masterpiece (self praise is no reccommendation) it is so frustrating to not be able to render, let alone burn. It is like creating a fabulous painting that will never dry! But the reason for my post was simply to give others an opportunity to experiment with what works for their computer. I was a little surprised by the reply that they could never get any response from pinnacle help as I got help within seconds of logging on to the 'live chat help'. Perhaps they have improved the service of late? On another subject - wouldn't it be nice if we could offer our compilations for free on this site for use by others. I say that because I am going to Saltzburg shortly with the intention of making a detailed documentary on the city and its attractions (last year Prague which I have only just managed to burn!!!! courtesy of Pinnacle).

[CycleWriter]

I was a little surprised by the reply that they could never get any response from pinnacle help as I got help within seconds of logging on to the 'live chat help'. Perhaps they have improved the service of late?

Oh, I got through all right. I just couldn't get to anyone with the expertise to solve my problem. Unless they have hired a bunch of MIT graduates, I doubt their support has improved much.

On another subject - wouldn't it be nice if we could offer our compilations for free on this site for use by others.

Well, Ulead does offer such a service, but since it would require massive amounts of bandwidth to host videos, they can't offer it for free or without substantial advertiser support.

[htchien]

Dear all,

Can we keep the focus on helping other users or post your Ulead product problems, since there is a rule "For discussions of Ulead products ONLY!" on the top of this forum?

Ulead welcomes any opinions or responses on its products. However, it cannot answer questions regarding problems of competitor products.

Thanks for your cooperations, and wish you to have a good day.

H.T.

[Screwball]

Dear Steve,
you were the one that helped me more than any, I appreciate that very much, but it is not a case of a person sitting 24/7 because the product is bad, it is efficiency- the ultimate in efficiency! Wouldn't you like someone to be available 24/7 with BT - British Gas - Electricity suppliers? Ever tried to get any of these services support without smashing up your phone? Why should Ulead rely on knowledgable persons like yourself to offer online support for FREE! Efficient Online support should be part-and-parcel of the monies paid for these products, they are profiting millions - and you are offering your support for NOTHING. If Ulead had staff waiting for help calls perhaps I would not have had to ask you for help or eventually cross over to Pinnacle?

[htchien]

Hi Screwball,

The situation for Ulead tech support will be changed soon due to the InterVideo purchase from Corel. Sorry that you did not get helped from Ulead tech support in the past but I believe they will do better in the future.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

[dazzler]

Hi, I've been using Ulead VS9 and previous versions quite happily for a long time. Recently Premiere Elements 2 came bundled with some hardware I bought and so I tried it. Unfortunately it doesn't come close to VS7. For one thing PE2 kept inserting damaged frames unexpectedly throughout the edited videos.

With regard to difficulties with Ulead products, there certainly are some, but some of these relate to the background knowledge you need to make things work.

For example, I just created an SVCD that was supposed to play as well on the disc as it did on the computer. It didn't and was very jittery. Then I realized the issue was that I probably got the lower "field first" thing reversed. Now I'm trying to figure out how to correct this on an edited NTSC DV Type 2 video. Any ideas guys and gals?

The next thing that happened was that after creating menus on the CREATE DISC part, neither the clip nor menus appeared in the Ulead Preview viewer that appears just prior to burn. I burned the disk but it had no menus that could be reached in the usual way. Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Don

[Screwball]

Thankyou Ht for your very civil and constructive response. I re-iterate that I do feel rather like a turncoat and just love Ulead and its ease of use - creativity, potential etc but I just could not burn or render! Steve suggested that there was 'Almost' no problems with Ulead, not requiring 24/7 online help, but that is what this forum is about! On line help! There are literally thousands of problems suffered by many, (perhaps including himself in earlier days) so to suggest a product does not need 24/7 assistance is a little short-sighted. All I wanted to do today- which was my first topic - was to perhaps assist others - as they have very kindly assisted me - and suggest another possible avenue to sucessfully COMPLETE a project. I have no grievance whatsoever with Ulead, quite the reverse, I initially recommended the product to many and now envy those greatly that have mastered the product like Steve. In all honesty, if one follows the Ulead 'correct' procedure to render and burn, there is little or no chance of success. But with incalculable 'tweaks' and do's and dont's, project profiles etc., one can undoubtably achieve success. I am intending to set up another computer devoted entirely to Ulead as I refuse to be beaten, no internet no programmes - just ulead and windows XP. I sincerely hope I will not be shunned by all the very wonderful persons that have assisted in the past.
My kindest regards
Kevin