So disappointed with this rubbish

[Crankcase]

I recently downloaded the trial version of Videostudio X3 - this being my first experience of VideoStudio - and I must say I'm rather appalled at the low quality of this product, which in no way lives up to the advertising hype. It beats me how Corel could even justify expecting people to pay so much for what is effectively only a ponced up version of Windows MovieMaker, the only difference being that MovieMaker is a whole lot easier to use, and there are a few more effects supplied with X3. It seems like the developers have adopted the appallingly geeky ethos of difficult = professional, but professional this product is not!

Why are various features so difficult to locate? Why isn't there a straightforward 'mute' button on the tracks? Why so few tracks? Why no easily accessible levelling and crossfading? Why no 'Help' facility, etc. etc? A clumsy, amateur package that deserves no higher status than 'freeware', or at best a retail cost of £15. But you charge £79.99. What a total rip-off! Thankfully I had the good sense to download the trial. The developers should try taking a look at 'Magix Movie Maker Pro', if they can manage not to sneer at the logical simplicity of it, that is. That product is so easy to use at high speed, but the trouble is it lags badly with lengthy clips, creating a memory hog. That's why I tested the download trial of Videostudio X3. I was expecting something so much better. It doesn't lag with the same 19 minute clip that I tested it with, but the layout design of Videostudio is so non-geek-user-unfriendly, and so base. I may try to persevere for another day or less, even though the stupidity of the design irritates me intensly, but failing that I'll just delete it and look elsewhere, maybe next stop, 'Sony Vegas'. Hopefully by the time X4 (or whatever the next new version number is) arrives Corel will have developed a grown-up mentality and will have entered the real world of making their product appeal to a mass market instead of making it appeal just to themselves and wasting everyone's time.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

First it's a matter of what you're accustom to. I happen to have Magix MEP 17+HD. I find that it is not user friendly, things that can be easily done in VS, is not done with it. However I don't go onto Magix forum and just trash their product. I understand that it takes a little time to learn a program. If you are wanting to assistance with VS, please post the specific problems you're having and we will be happy to help you. If you came here to just rant and vent, then perhaps Sony Vegas is your better option...

[BrianCee]

And just to address what appears to be your major problems - 'Mute' - what could be easier - right click over the timeline video - choose 'Mute' from the pop-up - job done. As for not enough tracks - Seven Video tracks, two title tracks (both able to accept multiple titles) , two sound tracks - how many more tracks do you need ?

All this is basic which any one on here will help you with - we have no affinity to Corel , we are all just users like you who try to help people like you - I personally am extremely happy with VideoStudio and have used it for many years. I think it knocks spots off MovieMaker since VS can do all that MM can and more. If you would like to explore the full potential of VS then just quietly ask on here and someone somewhere in the world will have an answer.

[Crankcase]

To Ron P:
I'm still awaiting a response on the Magix forum to my problem with Movie Edit Pro, and if none is forthcoming I shall be trashing their product there too, as I've already done with another of their products and the appalling quality of their Customer support. However, my general criticism is that VideoStudio is essentially nothing more than a slighly vamped up Microsoft Moviemaker that is, for what it is, way overpriced and overrated.

To BrianCee:
It is only possible to click on 'Mute' over the video timeline track, and this wipes the audio out for ALL tracks. There is no independent control over each track, and that is truly pathetic. I've performed projects in the past where I've needed more than two audio tracks for dubbing, eg. group and crowd effects using the full sound stage, and I imagine this would not be particularly abnormal, and actually a creative use of stereo. I've always had the knack of being able to quickly acclimatise myself to various software, but no matter how much I try to persevere with VideoStudio, its limitations continue to infuriate me. It's all very well for basic editing, but VideoStudio is too basic for anything more ambitious; when I produce I like to approach megalomania (something of a Phil Spector approach), and VideoStudio can't do it. The fact that I would even need to consult a forum to get going with it demonstrates the obvious flaw in its useability, and developers should be trying to overcome this issue, not persevere with it. For these reasons it is way overpriced and overrated.

[BrianCee]

NO - right clicking and choosing Mute silences the audio ONLY in the track you right clicked over it does not affect the audio in the other tracks at all - there is then independent control over the volume in all tracks including the ability to 'rubber band' the sound in a video . On the odd occasion when I want more than two sound tracks it is quite easy to make a video with the audio on and use one of the video tracks as an additional audio track - or pre-combine two audios in an external sound package and put that in the audio track.

I and several hundred others have found VideoStudio to be a very intuitive programme but if you are not prepared to be converted then that is not a problem - you go and use whatever you like and I'll stay with what I like - only thing is there is no point in you coming on these forums and complaining about the programme - we don't work for Corel - as you have only used the free trial you have not lost any money so all is even.

[Crankcase]

I know clicking 'Mute' silences only the audio track, and I didn't indicate otherwise. If I have the original visual/audio clip and the other audio clip loaded, both will play together, which is normal. However, when I select 'Mute' in the drop-down menu both audio tracks go silent, and to hear the new track I have to click on it to highlight it. The trouble is that when this is done the picture is disabled! Furthermore, there is no 'Mute' control assigned to the second audio track.

What you are suggesting for mixing multiple audio tracks is hysterically muddled. Using one video track means there is now only three audio tracks - still insufficient; resorting to using another audio application to create a new multi-mixed audio track is ridiculous because it can't be produced to synchronise with the video, requiring hours of trial and error! For the amount of money that Corel are asking for, the option for more tracks could have at least been included. At least the cheaper Magix and Mixcraft 5 alternatives have these options and many more.

I know you and others on here don't work for Corel, which is why I referred to Corel in the second person. It's usually a waste of time sending emails directly to these companies because there's usually some snotty layabout who just looks and deletes them; Corel's Customer service has as bad a reputation as Magix. If I posted this on this forum at least it's there permanently for some more conscientious member of Corel's personnel to maybe stumble across it, or even for potential customers to become aware of VideoStudio's shortcomings and overpricing.

Now, as I type, for the second time since I downloaded it only two days ago, the program's controls have again completely frozen up, forcing me to either close it all down and lose any edits, or sit and wait for the clip to end. Truly hopeless!! A hopelessly amateur program and a complete rip-off.

[skier-hughes]

Can you tell me how you do that job with movie maker, with it's one video track and one audio track?

[Crankcase]

I don't use Movie Maker. I haven't for a long time.

[Black Lab]

Well, you're entitled to your opinion, but I quite frequently use multiple video and audio tracks at the same time, and I have no problems, even with my measly P4. Is this a "professional" product that has all the bells and whistles? No. But it is more than capable of producing professional videos, as I have been paid for some of my works.

Have you taken the time to read the manual or watch tutorial videos? Every video editing program has their own way of doing things, their own terminology, etc. It does take some time to get used to after using another product.

If you really want help with your project please start a new thread about each particular aspect you are needing help on and we will be glad to give you any insight we have. Furthermore, I suggest you discontinue your rants unless you want to be banned from this forum.

[skier-hughes]

I don't use Movie Maker. I haven't for a long time.

Sorry, your continual references to Movie maker made me think you were comparing VS to movie maker

[BrianCee]

- 'Mute' - what could be easier - right click over the timeline video - choose 'Mute' from the pop-up - job done.

It is only possible to click on 'Mute' over the video timeline track, and this wipes the audio out for ALL tracks.

NO - right clicking and choosing Mute silences the audio ONLY in the track you right clicked over it does not affect the audio in the other tracks at all

I know clicking 'Mute' silences only the audio track, and I didn't indicate otherwise.

Well one of us is confused !

[Crankcase]

Let me make this clear. Firstly, I'm talking specifically about VideoStudio X3 that I downloaded.

The video track is the only one in the timeline where the 'Mute' function is available. When this 'Mute' function is selected all audio tracks (including the one one the video track) are silenced. The only way to get the other audio tracks to work is to click on them, but by doing this the video track is disabled - no video. This makes synchronisation of the new track with the video impossible. If there were individual mute buttons on each track it would be simple and straightforward; this is how software is made simple. Look at music multitracking software that runs on similar lines - it's a general principle that provides total control, but the VideoStudio developers are either too lazy or don't have the intelligence to do this. However, what is even more bizarre is that you, the paying customers, are defending Corel in their failure to introduce such a simple development that would give you more control. It's as if you have learned to live with its limitations and don't want it changed for the better, and that is not only downright odd, but it's also masochistic.

Anyway, after experiencing my second freeze of the controls within two days I decided that I'd wasted enough time on this inadequate junk, and uninstalled it. Onwards and upwards, things can only get better.

[Black Lab]

Say what you will, but you are incorrect. And it seems it doesn't matter how many times we tell you, you are going to disagree.

So onwards and upwards indeed.

[Black Lab]

FWIW - these procedures mute the clip, and only the clip.

example.jpg (78.57 KiB) Viewed 916 times

[Crankcase]

Jeff
Your example demonstrates the clumsy, inefficient approach of VideoStudio to the simple task of track muting and fails to contradict my criticism in this respect. I really think you people have been spending too long with this retarded software and need to start checking out the available modern alternatives. The world has progressed while Videostudio continues to inhabit the era of Windows 95.