best video editing software after VS11

[bmori]

I've been using VideoStudio 11 plus for the past few years. I remember lots of problems with 3rd party updating software which was installed as part of the VS suite.

The VS software itself I have found reasonably intuitive till it comes to rendering and burning, but once round the block and with the help of the good people here I made a simple procedure and it all falls into place.

I have bought a new laptop which had a Powerdirector 30 day trial - it looks reasonable and seems fairly fast.

My question/dilema is :

1. Is VideoStudio Pro X4 less buggy or more buggy than VS11? Are there any issues with 64bit windows 7?

How do you think VideoStudio Pro X4 compares with other similarly priced video editing software?

Most of my video recording is at 1080i usually played back on a standard PAL DVD player,


cheers
bill

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bill

Your best option is to download the Trial version of X4.

You will get a 30 days free period.

Although the trial is limited to its library and templates content it is a fully functioning program.

[bmori]

thanks Trevor, I will probably end up doing that.

I was just curious to what other peoples opinions on this forum were - reviews are quite mixed.

I also wondered if the new edition was prone to causing BSODs on windows 7.

cheers
Bill

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bill

I do not think the program itself will cause BSoD’s. although I don’t use W7
The only time I had problems with Blue screens was when updating my graphics driver.
I got it wrong but once I found the correct driver I have had no problems.
So the new LapTop should have no problems.

Problems with the program seem to be associated with the types of video files being used, particularly HD, there are so many different versions out there that its no wonder that editors have problems, and have to play catch-up with the camera manufacturers.

Your comment on using 1080i and a standard DVD player seems a little strange.
If you are playing your video on a normal DVD Player then it will use SD MPEG2 files not HD.
Your HD 1080i being converted during the burn stage.
Otherwise you would need a BluRay player.

Give the trial a go

[Black Lab]

How do you think VideoStudio Pro X4 compares with other similarly priced video editing software?

You do realize you are on the VideoStudio forum?

[bmori]

hi Jeff,

sorry if I violated forum rules, I have been using VS11 off and on for a few years now, and although I tend to shoot mostly digital images I have tried a couple of other video editors, but I still prefer VS . I just thought this would be the best place to ask.

cheers
Bill

[bmori]

Trevour - many thanks for your reply - you are correct about the graphics drivers in W7 - I had to update mine just after buying the pc. BSODs seem to be a feature of windows 7 - often due to out of date or flakey drivers but there are other causes and some software seems to upset W7 more than others.

I use a Panasonic TZ8 mostly now to capture vids of the granchildren - fits in the pocket easy and delivers 1280X720 at 30fps in quicktime format. My Nikon D90 captures HD in AVI format but you need to manually focus and is not really much good as a video cam - produces great images though. The camcorders remain in the cupboard!

cheers
Bill

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bill

I own a Panasonic TZ9, same features as the 8, great little camera produces excellent video.
I updated my camera after dropping my older TZ5, silly me……….
Generally I upload to youtube but recently used to record a little of a weddings evening disco so will compare quality with a standard Dv-Avi.

I’m a little concerned about rendering 30 fps to 25 for standard Pal, will see how it goes.
Have you noticed any quality issues when burning a dvd from TZ8 video files?

[Black Lab]

I wasn't inferring you violated any forum rule. But you are on a VideoStudio forum. Don't you think the majority of us here would say VS compares favorably to other software? That's why we are using it!

[bmori]

Hi Bill

I’m a little concerned about rendering 30 fps to 25 for standard Pal, will see how it goes.
Have you noticed any quality issues when burning a dvd from TZ8 video files?

As far as the TZ8 goes it delivers a high quality video, and when I used VS11 to render it - it seemed to convert with no problems.

One of reasons I got a D90 a few years back was because Nikon suggested it could take HD vids -what they omitted to say was it did not auto focus - and while it delivers high quality vids when used on a tripod - it is about as much use as a chocolate tea pot when trying to video kids running around. The TZ8 is great 'cause it just slips in your pocket and while the sensor isn't as big as a DSLR the Leica lens is pretty good. As I said the camcorder just stays in the cupboard now!

cheers
Bill

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, I have been using Win 7 Home Edition on 4 computers since the beta stage, and have never had one BSOD -- not one -- on any of them, and I have X4 on two of them. Then again, I don't think I have ever had a BSOD caused by any version of VS on any of my computers. Also FWIW, my main memory of BSODs was with OS which preceded XP, though I had the occasional problem with Vista -- though again, not because of the versions of VS I had loaded on my Vista computers...

[bmori]

I wasn't inferring you violated any forum rule. But you are on a VideoStudio forum. Don't you think the majority of us here would say VS compares favorably to other software? That's why we are using it!

put like that Jeff it does seem like a stupid question ! But hey I always ask stupid questions - sometimes the answers are surprising

Cheers
Bill

[bmori]

FWIW, I have been using Win 7 Home Edition on 4 computers since the beta stage, and have never had one BSOD -- not one -- on any of them, and I have X4 on two of them. Then again, I don't think I have ever had a BSOD caused by any version of VS on any of my computers. Also FWIW, my main memory of BSODs was with OS which preceded XP, though I had the occasional problem with Vista -- though again, not because of the versions of VS I had loaded on my Vista computers...

Thanks for that info Ken, that is real nice to know. That is probably the little gem of information I wanted to hear. Unfortunately I got two brand new lap tops from different manufacturers both gave BSODs. The first one was sent back and returned with no fault found only to repeat BSODs - it won't even produce a mini dmp file!
The second I fixed with a video driver update - seems to withstand a stress test OK and has been running fine for several weeks now. It's just I'd rather be taking pictures than fixing pc's!!!

cheers
Bill