What is VideoStudio Pro X2? Repackaged version 12?

Cyberdude · Post by **Cyberdude** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:46 pm

I currently am running version 11.5 Plus. I used to get upgrade notices for version 12. Now it is for Pro X2. What is the difference?

Does Pro X2 still support SmartSounds Quicktracks? Have they integrated them better and added better features? Creator 2009 (also a consideration for the same upgrade price) offers SonicFire Pro with their package (don't know what version though). This provides Mood Mapping - something that standard Quicktracks does not.

I searched the Corel Website for "SmartSounds" and for "Quicktracks" and could find nothing on either. I am puzzled since SmartSounds website shows support only through version 11 of VideoStudio.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:46 am

X2 is version 12, and it does still support SmartSound pretty much like previous versions.

Cyberdude · Post by **Cyberdude** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:18 pm

Thank you for your quick response.

Do you have version 12 / X2? Is it any better, or faster than 11.5? Worth the upgrade? 11.5 seems to work fine for me.

I am still trying to figure out how (if possible) to use QuickTracks music for menu music. I also need to determine how to control the volume level during menus. Any help on these two matters would be appreciated. Thanks.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:36 pm

I do have X2, and I do think it is worth the upgrade. However, I didn't use v11, as I didn't think that was worth the upgrade from v10. Why not download the trial and see for yourself.

As for the QuickTracks, you can't use them as QuickTracks for menu music. However, find the QuickTrack that you want to use and put it in your timeline. Then go to Share>Create Audio File. This will create a WAV file that you can use for a menu. And, as far as I know, you can't adjust the menu volume.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:43 pm

No one can offer cast iron guarantees when it comes to assessments of a program. Certainly, X2 is faster than VS11/11.5+ when it comes to start-up and, for me, accessing HDV and AVCHD videos. It is also faster in processing/rendering some projects on my Quad since there does seem to be some optimisation for Quad cores added to the program. But if you don't have a Quad and don't use high def video, these are marginal improvements for you.

A lot of people like the things like transitions in overlay tracks. And there are a variety of other things. But again, for some people who don't normally use these things, there is not much of an improvement.

So the very best thing for you would be to download the trial copy and see how it operates for *you* and not for someone else.

As for SmartSound, there is not difference of which I am aware between its operation in VS 9, 10 or 11 and its operation in X2... The controls all seem the same to me. Your mention of the other program and its free version of Sonic Fire Pro would be tempting, though I suspect you will find it is the cut down version of that program. Sonic Fire have just had a sale (as they do regularly) offering that same cut down version of Sonic Fire with one of their sale SmartSound discs which they were selling for $49.95 (as opposed the more normal price of $99). I have the full Sonic Fire Pro 4, though I understand a new version 5 is, or will soon be, on the market. It really is great -- but of course you require a fairly large SmartSound library of discs to take any advantage of it. And that can get very expensive...

As for controlling the volume of audio on your menus, the only way I am aware of to do this is to change the volume level either in VS itself, inserting the audio file in question in the audio timeline and adjusting the volume; then saving that file and inserting it later in the menu. Or else doing the same thing in a third party audio editing program, then using that in the menu.