Video Studio Pro X4 library lacks organizer

[Mike Warren]

Unlike Video Studio Pro X2 and Pro X3, it seems that the VS Pro X4 library will not allow us to list our media under sub-headings... only under major categories or folders, using some 30 or so folders given us. But, why give us folders if we cannot put sub-headings inside them. True, perhaps I'm overlooking something... for up to now I've been very happy with VS Pro X4. But try as I have, I find this new library "organizer" to be impossible when attempting to catagorize my photos, video clips, AND... MUSIC, NARRATION AND SOUND EFFECTS, under a limited list of categories, with no sub-headings. The organizer in Pro X2 and X3 gave us all the sub-headings we needed to categorize our photos, clips, and especially our music, separating it under its various types and forms where we could easily find what we needed. And... it was so easy to use. So I'm confused... why did they replace it with this, which is practically useless???

[Ron P.]

Sorry Mike, but I disagree with you. I think Corel is finally getting this part of the program right, and here's why.

When you work with the program you work on projects. The main ingredients of a project are video, photo, audio (music and narration). In VS X4 you create a folder that would most likely be named similar to the project you're working on. Then you import all the media files that you need to work on that project. If while working on your project you need to see only the photos, click the film and sound icons at the top to hide those types. The transitions, filter and other types of libraries are not mixed up in the menu to get to your media library. They are separate, accessing them by the icons along the left edge.

With the previous versions, you had to create a folder under each media type (video, audio, photo) for your project. Sure it kept them all separated, but you had to change to a different category when you needed that type of media. The navigation to those were intermixed with the effects, transitions, filters menus. So working on a project and you're in the Video library, and you want to add some photos. You click on the menu, and navigate to the Image (photo)>your sub category to bring up the photos for that same project. Then switch back to the video or audio or title, for the same project.

I like thinking of it as a construction worker or baker would. You gather all the materials in one place, where you can get to them easily. If you're project involves using boards of different sizes (2x4, 2x12, 4x4), fasteners (nails, screws, glue), you want those materials in the same place. A baker will look at a recipe for the ingredients needed. Then will get the eggs, milk, spices, ect., placing them on the table where they can be quickly had. I know watching my wife, she does just that, and not go get the eggs from the refrigerator break them in a bowl. Then go back to the frig, get the milk, and so on.

Finally I'll say that they might take it one step more, make it so you can add subfolders to your folders, not just one deep. But again, since all your media types are now under one roof, I really don't think the need for sub-categories is needed, since you just click the icons across the top to show or hide them. I realized this when I was working on a complex project. I had folders named for each part of the project, and could import all the media types for each part and have immediate access to all the photos, video, audio, titles, for each part right there. With the older versions, to do the same project would have been a nightmare to do.

[BrianCee]

As another long time VideoStudio user I have to say I agree with Ron 100% - I am finding the library arrangement in X4 so much better than previous. All my libraries are now categorised by project name and in each one is a thumbnail for everything used in that project. It is true that if used in a number of projects the same item may appear in multiple libraries - but so what - they are only little thumbnails and consume virtually no disk space at all. I like it.

[Mike Warren]

Okay, I take back what I said. For, as I also said, I really love Pro X4... its improvements, clean appearence, very useful changes, and yes, even the simplicity of its library organizer. So, please excuse my externalizing. It was the frustration of not having the same breakdown of categories as before. This was due to the massive size of my project and the huge diversity of its subject matter, from HIV/AIDS, the Mass Media, Drugs and suicide, to the emotional needs of today's children and youth, and the biology and chemestry of the Human Brain... and much more. But after reading your replies I went back to give it another shot. I realized then that I could place several subject-headings in the library listed under one category or folder. And because each sub-heading had a large number of thumbnails, I could keep them segregated by typing the name of each sub-heading at the base of each thumbnail (just before their filename), and then select the option of having them in the order of "names". So, it should work out after all... just as you said. Thank you gentlemen! I do have another question but will start a new thread. Regards, Mike