Videostudio X7 - My initial impressions

[Mist001]

Like a few others, I've downloaded the trial version of X7 and have been giving it a few run throughs and to be honest, I'm completely underwhelmed by it, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it.

Ok, it opens/starts faster than X6 but that's about all. The rendering times are atrocious, they're not any faster than X6. I find that the coloured layout of the video and audio tracks is off putting and confusing and when it comes time to render your project, it's a completely different layout and different options. It'll take a bit of time to get used to. All the features from X6 are there, they've just been rearranged and hidden behind big buttons. As far as I can tell, despite this being a 64 bit version, the changes and improvements are mostly cosmetic. There's nothing innovative or earth shattering to be found and I don't think anyone will be missing anything by not downloading it.

A big thing I noticed was in the quality of Mpeg files. The ones I create with X7 using the exact same setting as I use in X6 are nowhere near as good quality. They have a sort of 'softness' about them, the picture certainly isn't as sharp as ones created with X6 and that's a real problem for me and may be a real problem for Corel if other people experience the same as I have.

For me, I'm looking for new video software and I was really looking forward to this but not now, I'm not going to buy this. My X6 does everything just as well and in some cases better, than X7. It's a major disappointment and there's no real reason to buy it other than to brag that you have the latest version. My suggestion is give the free trial a go if you're curious but if you have X6, stick with that and save money.

Michael.

[Ken Berry]

If you use high definition, particularly AVCHD, the improvement in the bitrate for outputting new AVCHD is IMHO almost worth upgrading in its own right. Added to that the fact that Corel finally, after many years, have upgraded Project Properties to allow for all high def settings, as well as the traditional standard def ones, is another important advance. This allows us at long last to choose 'Same As Project Settings' for output, which is handy.

I for one have not noticed any diminution in output quality, and I have already used X7 for 4 separate projects... All in high def, both HDV and mp4/AVCHD, and they play back crisply and with great clarity on my HDTV, with the added benefit of now using higher bitrates than were readily available in X6, let alone earlier versions.

[Terfyn]

I have used "Same as First Video Clip" for a video shot in 1920x1080/50p and the results are clear and sharp. X7 is a great step forward.
But if you are happy with X6, stay with it. I, for example, am going to stay with Windows 7 for as long as I can. I do not need the extras that Windows 8 gives nor the hassle that people seem to have with VS running under 8.

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, so far I have had no problems at all running either X6 or X7 on Win 8.1 (but that computer has never had Win 8 on it -- I bought 8.1 Pro as a stand-alone product).

[Cypherdude]

Like a few others, I've downloaded the trial version of X7 and have been giving it a few run throughs and to be honest, I'm completely underwhelmed by it, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it.

Ok, it opens/starts faster than X6 but that's about all. The rendering times are atrocious, they're not any faster than X6. I find that the coloured layout of the video and audio tracks is off putting and confusing and when it comes time to render your project, it's a completely different layout and different options. It'll take a bit of time to get used to. All the features from X6 are there, they've just been rearranged and hidden behind big buttons. As far as I can tell, despite this being a 64 bit version, the changes and improvements are mostly cosmetic. There's nothing innovative or earth shattering to be found and I don't think anyone will be missing anything by not downloading it.

A big thing I noticed was in the quality of Mpeg files. The ones I create with X7 using the exact same setting as I use in X6 are nowhere near as good quality. They have a sort of 'softness' about them, the picture certainly isn't as sharp as ones created with X6 and that's a real problem for me and may be a real problem for Corel if other people experience the same as I have.

For me, I'm looking for new video software and I was really looking forward to this but not now, I'm not going to buy this. My X6 does everything just as well and in some cases better, than X7. It's a major disappointment and there's no real reason to buy it other than to brag that you have the latest version. My suggestion is give the free trial a go if you're curious but if you have X6, stick with that and save money.

Michael.

For any Corel product, I always wait until the SP1 patch arrives. Usually the best day to buy on the Corel website is Cyber Monday.

Thanks for your review though.