Videostudio 9 Upgrade or Media Studio Pro?

nt88498 · Post by **nt88498** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:05 pm

I have recently been debating on whether to upgrade to Mediastudio Pro, which I think is considered more for professionals. I currently have Videostudio 8 and am very comfortable with it.

This question is for the more advanced editors out there.

With Videostudio 9 coming out soon and some of the advances such as chroma keying, pan & zoom on video, flash animation overlays (which I'm not exactly sure what that is), mask effects, volume leveling, motion menus and movie screensaver creation, those are all things that appeal to me. But, Videostudio keeps being called software for beginners. I would consider myself an intermediate and would like to be soon considered a more advanced editor.

Again, I am very comfortable with Videostudio 8 right now, but am trying to decide whether to go with Videostudio 9 or Mediastudio Pro. Can anyone tell me if Mediastudio Pro would be much better than the new version of Videostudio or should I stick with a software program that I am familiar with.

What are the diffences in these two programs and would it benefit me to learn Mediastudio Pro?

Any comments, suggestions, advice out there?

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:19 pm

NT --

We're ALL just surmising about Version 9. I don't think any of us has actually worked with it, even in beta.

I started with v.7 in 2003 and have been using v.8 since it first came out about 11 months ago. My own main concern is whether v.9 will be more stable and more consistent than v.8. I've had to train myself to recheck things over and over, because of nonpreventable little glitches or changes which seemingly happen spontaneously. That's the negative. The positive is that, if you are careful, then you can get great results using UVS8. I do like it and will be upgrading.

If you have a highspeed connection somewhere, you can download a trial version of MediaStudio Pro and see what you think. You can use it to your heart's content for one month. Wouldn't that be long enough to know what you think?
Keith

jday · Post by **jday** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:34 pm

I agree with an above poster that until we actually see what VS9 can do, it will be hard to answer your question. That said, I do have both VS8 and MSP7, but never use VS8 anymore because of the features it is lacking (as compared to MSP7). The rumors of what will be in VS9 (yes, I read the press release) could go a long way towards making VS9 a reasonable alternative to MSP7.

One of the great features of MSP7 is the ability to have multiple video, overlay and audio tracks. You might think you don't need four or five video or audio tracks, but if yo really plan on getting more involved in your video editing/production this is almost a must. Sure, if you have two tracks (1 video and 1 overlay) you can simulate more tracks by using the two, rendering to an avi and then using the rendered file as one track in a project and then adding a third, etc, but that is a cumbersome workaround.

I'm excited about the possibilities of VS9 and if it is as good as it sounds, I will definitely upgrade and use it along with MSP7.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:43 pm

You also need to bear in mind that MSP 7 does not contain a burning module -- if you have shelled out the big buck necessary to buy the program and thus rate yourself as professional or at least semi-professionali, then you are expected to have the big bucks (or professionalism?) to buy a top-end production program such as Video Workshop 2.

jday · Post by **jday** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:12 pm

MSP7 does come with a version of Ulead's DVD Movie Factory for burning. However, I agree with Ken that if you want to step up the quality of your productions you will need a higher level authoring program. Personally, I use Sonic's DVDit. It is very flexible and has worked flawlessly for me. It might not have all the "bells and whistles" that some of the even more expensive authoring programs have but it cost me less than $200 upgrading from Sonic MyDVD.

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:45 pm

Ever think to yourself, "wish I could <insert just about anything here>" With MSP for the most part your only limited by your skills and imagination. Not to say it's going to do anything you can think of but it will do most....

As ppointed out above it just edits video, if your on a budget you can pick up a older version of quartet (MSP 7, DVDWS 1.3, Photimpact 8, Cool 3-d Production) for about $400..... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... 495&is=REG

This link doesn't state it but it has the older version of DVDWS which is more than usable. AC3, 16:9, mutiple VTS, imports mutiple types of files.... It's a steal if you get the whole package.

joosuna · Post by **joosuna** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:15 pm

message for Jday or anyone who is familiar with MSP7. How many video overlays does MSP7 allow ? How many audio overlays does MSP7 allow ? I tried searching info on it on the Ulea.com site but was not sucessfull on those issues

MikeGunter · Post by **MikeGunter** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:35 pm

joosuna wrote:message for Jday or anyone who is familiar with MSP7. How many video overlays does MSP7 allow ? How many audio overlays does MSP7 allow ? I tried searching info on it on the Ulea.com site but was not sucessfull on those issues

Up to 99 of video and audio.

MSPro is a really neat NLE. It can do almost *anything*.

Mike

ejskater16 · Post by **ejskater16** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:36 am

Here's another thing to consider...

I don't remember much from the press release for VS9, but with MSP7 you get Video Editor, along with Video Paint and CG Infinity.

When you download the trial for MSP7 it will not come with VideoPaint or CG Infinity, if I remember correctly.

Video Paint is a rotoscoping tool which lets you paint over video frames, and do a number of things. For example, I've messed around a few times with creating Star Wars-type light saber effects.

CG Infinity helps you create fancier looking titles, although you will probably prefer something more along the lines of COOL 3D. (MSP (not sure about VS) comes with Cool3d 3.0 which is pretty basic, but it works)

Well anyway, if you really do want to step up your video productions, I'd reccomend going with MediaStudio Pro over VideoStudio, because even with a version 9 coming out, it's still can't really be as advanced as MSP, like someone above said, you can pretty much do anything you want to, if you take the time to figure it out.

rwernyei · Post by **rwernyei** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:13 am

Another thing that you forgot to add is that Video Studio versions always come out before releasing Media Studio Pro. Ulead does this to test for user's feedback of the new added features before integrating it into Media Studio Pro. So, the answer is wait until VS9 comes out and download the trial. Then decide whether to buy VS9 or wait a little longer and upgrade to the latest version of Media Studio Pro.

Mike Gunter wrote:
MSPro is a really neat NLE. It can do almost *anything*.

Is this coming from the same guy that is a forum moderator for Adobe Premiere Pro at DMN?

MikeGunter · Post by **MikeGunter** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:50 am

rwernyei wrote:
Is this coming from the same guy that is a forum moderator for Adobe Premiere Pro at DMN?

C'est moi.

I also use Canopus Edius and Avid and Sony Vegas.

Not all products meet all needs. As an educator, I try to keep abreast of what technology is available and what it is best for given circumstances.

I'm a producer for a PBS TV series in the US that is edited on MSPro7 - a pretty good endorsement from the editor. I pretty much gave him his choice of whatever he wanted.

MSPro isn't real time. A fast machine and using a Matrox Parhelia card can get you close, often close enough, but some some need more RT.

What it can do better than anyone's else is take any CODEC on the timeline. You can make cues for your DVD list output to DVD Workshop2 for DVD production, export/import EDLs and it has many more professional functions, too.

Mike

david reece · Post by **david reece** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:48 pm

My 4pence worth.

let those people who want to buy it get it! And then those of us who were not satisfied with VS8 and had loads of problems can sit in the shadows and watch the drama unfold in this forum if it (pardon teh phrase) goes TITs up!