Auto Music Multi-Layer Set Mood Transition VS PRO X3

[Paul A Hodge]

I have made an online purchase of a full version of Video Studio Pro X3. I have followed the directions to activate the application. It is worth nothing that I first downloaded a trial version of Pro X3.

I have been a user of Pro X2 for over 12 months and I am disappointed with Pro X3 because in some ways the NEW and ¡¥lots more !¡¦ version Pro X3 is a step sideways and not forwards.

It is worth nothing that I purchased the Pro X2 via post and loaded it from CD ROM disc.

I have two PC¡¦s running Pro X2 and a new laptop running Pro X3. One PC is running Windows Vista Home Premium CPU Core 2 Quad 4G RAM; second i7 CPU OS Windows 7 premium 64 bit; and the laptop CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 4G RAM OS Window 7 premium 64 bit.

I feel as though I was conned into upgrading to Pro X3 after being impressed by Corel¡¦s advertising on the internet. This new product was going to be faster, better, have NEW! features and I must not forget the ¡§lots more!¡¨ statement Corel tags on at the end of their advertisement.

I use music a lot when editing my videos and when I read that you could use multi-layer music and set the mood and intensity of the soundtrack I was sold on Pro X3. However, I was again disappointed by Pro X3 because I can only work with one multi-layer music track in the Smart Sound library - * Run Down. Yes I can set the mood and intensity and add to timeline but only when I select this one track. I have no problems with the single layer music tracks.

I am now coming to my main question: Can someone tell me if after activating the full version of Pro X3 how many multi-layer music tracks are you able to change (set mood ¡V sub filter-variation)and then apply to the timeline. I though paying for a full version I would expect to have access to the 10 listed * multi-layer smart sound tracks.

The second question that is on my mind is to ask everyone if they have noticed any performance improvement in Pro X3 over Pro X2.

Thanks for this forum.

Paul

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Can someone tell me if after activating the full version of Pro X3 how many multi-layer music tracks are you able to change (set mood ¡V sub filter-variation)and then apply to the timeline.

You can set the mood to any of the Multi-layer SS Quicktracks. You understand that when they are talking about multi-layer tracks, it does not mean the number of physical audio tracks in the program. SS developed the Multi-layer music for their editor SonicFire Pro. With that program you can get down to fine tuning your audio to video.

SmartSound Quicktracks 5 comes with VS Pro X3. These are the multi-layer audio tracks that allow you to set various moods. With VS you are limited to setting one mood per clip. So to have differing moods of the same audio track (clip), you would need to duplicate that clip then change the mood, which may not flow well, since they are designed to have a beginning, middle and end.

What I found a little clunky, is that SS wants to use audio track# 1. I've tried dropping one into track#1, then add another to track#2, but SS would not allow it. The workaround would be to move the audio from track#1 down to track#2 or 3, then proceed with your second SS audio track.

Could you please clarify where you read the following and what you mean?

I though paying for a full version I would expect to have access to the 10 listed * multi-layer smart sound tracks.

I'm not finding on Corel's website concerning VS Pro X3, where they mention a certain number of multi-layer smart sound tracks, like 10. Are you perhaps meaning the Styles? If so these are even possible in the single-layer tracks. The number of styles possible are dependent upon the duration of the audio track. The longer the duration the more styles or variations you have to choose from. Uncheck the auto-trim and then set the duration to something over 30 secs. Now check to see how many styles you have to choose from.

People do feel conned into purchasing due to some wording used in advertising. However that's what it is intended to do, not so much con you, but persuade you into buying their product. That's marketing in a nutshell. In order to sell their products they must advertise it, using words and phrases that are going to get people to choose theirs over the competition. The word New and lots more seem to be very common. Since you did download the trial version and evaluated it before purchasing, there has to be something(s) about the program that really grabbed you, enough to convince you to buy it. If not, then did I tell you that I have a New and improved bridge? It's located in the Sahara desert, where there's sand beaches and lots more...

[Roberto]

Sahara desert bridge ???
Is there any hope that it will connect Sicily to Africa rather than the original project to connect to the rest of Italy ? ... ))

[Paul A Hodge]

Thanks for answering my email to the forum and for your support

I guess I was a little outspoken and critical of the advertising used by Corel and I will be very weary the next time Corel boasts about a new product.

In future I will research the internet and read forums like this one to make an informed decision on whether I should be conned again.

It is just that Corel VS Pro2 had made me a convert and a follower of their video editing software. To their credit VS Pro X2 has served me well. Thank you Corel!

Now I will turn to the problem at hand.

I will outline the steps I take when trying to use multi-layer SS tracks on VS Pro X3:

I am starting at the point when I have a video clip in the top video track/timeline.

I click on the music icon and then option.

I click on Auto Music > scope > Music Multi-layer > on Filter I click on Style >

What choices I have in the drop down window are *clear vision *feature presentation *future progress *global vibes *introspective *julie¡¦s place *pavane *rundown *super logo *wild chase

Let say I want to use wild chase ¡V I click on wild chase

The set mood is greyed out there is no variation icon visible.

I click on Play selected Music and I can hear the track.

I cannot set mood or add to timeline audio track #1 for the SS wild chase music track.

However, when I click on * Run Down I can have all options open to me. I can set mood change variation play selected music and then add to timeline.

I am asking if anyone else on this forum has experienced the same problem.

I have SonicFire Pro 5 on my other PC and I am competent in the workings of multi-layer music and I use SonicFire to produce soundtracks and then copy them in my VS Pro X2 with good results.

In closing, I am a lost to seeing why the number of styles possible in ProX3 are dependent upon the duration of the audio track.

I would appreciate your feedback.

Respectfully yours

Paul

[Ken Berry]

I am also just a little lost as to why this issue has assumed such a high profile with you since you have Sonic Fire Pro 5... Personally, I never use the QuickTracks module in any of my versions of VS, including now X3. And that is precisely because I use Sonic Fire Pro and the various multi-layer (and other) SS discs which I own for my VS productions. In addition, the small number of tracks available in VS -- whether in X3 or in previous versions -- is hardly conducive to much variety in your background music for any project...

I can understand that you might be concerned that other users who don't have Sonic Fire might be disappointed; or you are annoyed by what might appear to be deceptive advertising. But in terms of what you can do with X3 which you can't with X2, I am a little surprised. You can, of course, add any multi-layer discs you already own to the QuickTracks library in X3... Admittedly, though, the discs are rather expensive IMHO.

I should add in any case that, like you, I have all those tracks you listed in QuickTracks. I have not added any of my own SmartSound discs to the library. Yet all of those tracks show all the various instruments as active in Set Mood. For the sake of completeness, I have Scope set to Multi Layer Music, Filter set to Style, and Sub-filter set to All 7 Filters. And this seems to be the case regardless of which track I choose or which variation.

[Black Lab]

I feel as though I was conned into upgrading to Pro X3 after being impressed by Corel¡¦s advertising on the internet. This new product was going to be faster, better, have NEW! features and I must not forget the ¡§lots more!¡¨ statement Corel tags on at the end of their advertisement.

In reality, there are "lots more" and "new" features: new NewBluFX, new titles, new menus, additional audio track, etc. etc. They are numerous, and they weren't there before, hence the "lots more" and "new" advertising lingo.

What I don't understand is how you can be "conned" if you trialed the software before you bought it.

[Paul A Hodge]

Hi Ken,

Am I right to assume that the ProX3 trial version is a downsized version of the full and complete version. It is only after you pay and receive an activation key and/or serial number that all the features are accessible to the user. This was the case way back when I was introduced to Video Studio 12 and later to ProX2. So I am suggesting that a trial version is not the full version. Am I right or wrong in my assumption?

I have noticed that when I open the Corel Guide in Pro X3 and click on About Corel....I see that the serial number for the version I have is the same as the trial version (TV) and the serial number I purchased is different. I would expect after activiating the TV I would see the new purchased serial number to be displayed when I open the Corel Guide in Pro X3 and click on About Corel

So I am wondering why this could be the case and could the mismatch in serial numbers be the source of my problem? On the surface it appears I am still running the trial version ¡V what do you think?

Firstly, the reason I am making this issue important to me is that in my work I will be required to visit and operate in very remote locations and therefore use a laptop and not my standalone PC back in my office. So I will need to use all the auto music functions especially multi-layer music. My work does not involve the convenience of taking some video and then driving home to edit and the like. I could be days and weeks on the road and therefore would want to continue editing and building the project on the go. In some cases I will visit a location and complete the project for the client on the spot. Again I stress the importance of adding a customised musical soundtrack with similar features to Sonic Fire to my video. I have found that a good music soundtrack can make the completed video so more appealing, creative and professional.

I thought that if VS Prox3 had this feature to set mood and variation using multi-layer music I could avoid additional costs in duplicating Sonic Fire on my laptop.

Secondly, I am concerned that other users who don't have Sonic Fire might be disappointed.

Regards
Paul

[Ken Berry]

That could very well be the case, though I don't know for sure since I don't work for Corel. However, personally I rather doubt it. QuickTracks is in a sense a third party module and in effect subject to SmartSound rather than Corel as such. I would have thought it a rather unnecessarily complex thing to allow it to play only one track with full multi-layer support when all the other default tracks have the same properties. But as I say, I just don't know for sure.

Regarding Try Before You Buy versions, essentially these have always caused problems, and we have thus recommended as far as possible to people before they actually outlay any money for the product, to buy the full download version, rather than simply installing the TBYB version then activating it. That being said, you might want to look at the sticky on Activation of X3 towards the top of this forum: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?p=192541#192541

I also understand your concern about being mobile for long periods and thus reliant on the inbuilt QuickTracks... But I suppose my point was really that if you are relying only on the default tracks installed with X3, then your projects are quickly going to be repeating the background music since you only have 9 or 10 tracks to draw on. Of course, in your personal case, you may be able to actually load any multi-layer discs you have into your notebook's library -- though as you would be aware, they are fairly large and would fairly quickly start taking up valuable hard disk space...

I also take you point about other users potentially being disappointed. But I can only repeat that on my system at least, in the full download version of X3 my installed QuickTracks plays all the default tracks with full multi-layer support.

[Paul A Hodge]

Hi Ken,

I took it upon myself to uninstall Pro X3 and download a new trial version.

I ended up getting all the SS multi-layer styles.

I watched the download throughout especially the SS music updates and saw no errors.

So I will end this topic thread.

Thanks

Paul