What???- DVD & Blu-Ray Authoring cost Extra in X8!

[edrizz]

I was about to upgrade from VideoStudio X7 to X8 then noticed that "DVD and Blu-Ray Disc Authoring requires an additional paid plugin that can be purchased within VideoStudio". No thanks Corel, I think I will pass on the upgrade!

[BrianCee]

Well to me it is a little strange the way Corel are marketing it

but put it another way - and theses are made up prices as I don't know the prices in your area

If Corel offered X8 at $80 complete but as a special for users who do not use Bluray they can buy VS without blu-ray for $70 - would you be happy to buy with Blu-ray then ??

[edrizz]

If the additional cost is nominal for Blu-Ray, then I guess what they are doing might be somewhat understandable. My issue is that I had to read the entire Version-to-Version Comparison document very closely to notice that disc authoring capability now costs extra. Had I purchased the upgrade before noticing this, I would have not been very happy.

One question... the comparison document seems to indicate that the extra cost is for both DVD and Blu-Ray authoring. Does DVD authoring even come standard?

[Ken Berry]

Yes, DVD authoring is still included, as is AVCHD hybrid disc burning. The plug-in is only for Blu-Ray burning, and the single plug-in works in both the 32 and 64 bit versions. The price is indeed nominal (US$7 or $8) but as I have said elsewhere, I think it is simply bad marketing to have had something included in several versions, and then suddenly take it away and offer it as an extra for a fee, regardless of how low the fee might be.

[Kenneth Evans]

I just upgraded to VS X8 and got bit by this. There was no longer any Blu-ray option on Share | Disc. On top of that it was also now gone from VS X7.

I read this post and decided to just order the plug-in.

The plug-in fixed VS X8 so there is a Blu-ray option now, but there is just one menu template. The online page says there are 20 templates included. (I believe I downloaded these separately for VS X7 but it was a long time ago.)

My questions are:

1. How do I get the extra menu templates?

2. Can I get Blu-ray capability back in VS X7 and how?

[BrianCee]

If you purchased the standard 'pro' version did you download and install a total of 3 downloads (including the Blu-ray option)

If you purchased the 'Pro Ultimate' version did you download and install a total 4 downloads (including the Blu-ray option)

As far as I am aware you are the first person to say that they lost blu-ray in X7 after installing the blu-ray pack - lets hope someone knows the solution - but it may be that most people do not go back to X7 after installing X8

[Kenneth Evans]

If you purchased the standard 'pro' version did you download and install a total of 3 downloads (including the Blu-ray option)

If you purchased the 'Pro Ultimate' version did you download and install a total 4 downloads (including the Blu-ray option)

As far as I am aware you are the first person to say that they lost blu-ray in X7 after installing the blu-ray pack - lets hope someone knows the solution - but it may be that most people do not go back to X7 after installing X8

I only installed VS8 Pro and later the Blu-ray plug-in. What is the other download?

I did solve the menu templates problem by downloading the menu packs in "Get extra content" (after recalling that is probably what I did with VS7).

I am still interested in how to get Blu-ray back in VS7.

[Ken Berry]

The VS8 installer installed both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. (You can choose one or the other or both.) Is that the other download?

Edited: I got three more installers (KPT, Script Guide, and Creative Content) when I registered. I forgot those.

By the sounds of this, you bought VS as part of a VS/PSP dual pack. KPT and the Script Guide are for PSP, not VS. And VS most definitely does NOT install both the 32 and 64 bit versions. That is again PSP where you can choose one or the other or both. VS installs its setup files for some reason in the Program Files (x86) folder, but if you install the 64 bit version it goes into the Program Files folder with other 64 bit programs. You can't install both the 32 and 64 bit versions of VS on the same computer. If one is installed and you go to install the other, it first uninstalls the original version.

I also agree with Brian Cee about you being the first to report losing the Blu-Ray burning module from X7. That certainly didn't happen to me after I installed the X8 BD module -- I just checked to be sure! And I certainly don't recall anyone else reporting it. The only way I can think of which might get it back is to reinstall X7. You don't need to uninstall X8 -- the two are independent of each other (or at least they should be!)

[Kenneth Evans]

By the sounds of this, you bought VS as part of a VS/PSP dual pack. KPT and the Script Guide are for PSP, not VS. And VS most definitely does NOT install both the 32 and 64 bit versions. That is again PSP where you can choose one or the other or both. VS installs its setup files for some reason in the Program Files (x86) folder, but if you install the 64 bit version it goes into the Program Files folder with other 64 bit programs. You can't install both the 32 and 64 bit versions of VS on the same computer. If one is installed and you go to install the other, it first uninstalls the original version.

I also agree with Brian Cee about you being the first to report losing the Blu-Ray burning module from X7. That certainly didn't happen to me after I installed the X8 BD module -- I just checked to be sure! And I certainly don't recall anyone else reporting it. The only way I can think of which might get it back is to reinstall X7. You don't need to uninstall X8 -- the two are independent of each other (or at least they should be!)

You are right. I have edited the post to correct it (again). Sorry for getting them mixed up. It's been a long day with many problems with the purchase and both applications. So what is the third download?

As to charging for Blu-ray, I don't think it is simply bad marketing to not mention it, it is unethical. It's in fact good marketing if your goal is to manipulate people out of extra money. In addition, my comparison sheet of the two products did not mention that.

I don't have Blu-ray in VS7 and I did last week. I don't want to reinstall it. I've submitted an issue, but you know how that goes.

[Kenneth Evans]

After searching this site, I see the second file should have been VideoStudioX8_2Contents.exe. I have rechecked, and I did not get a link to that on my invoice.

So what does it install?

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

VideoStudioX8_2Contents.exe ---863 mb this file completes the installation of the program you should contact Corel for that file, I would also be concerned with the removal of X7 Bluray when installing X8.

The contents file contains a lot of samples updating the library especially the Graphics section.
It also updates the DVD menu gallery to 12 Smart Menu, 19 Thumbnails, and 8 text menus, to be honest same as X7

But you have purchased the program, I assume the bundled VS & PSP does contain a full Video Studio program?

[Kenneth Evans]

Hi Kenneth

VideoStudioX8_2Contents.exe ---863 mb this file completes the installation of the program you should contact Corel for that file, I would also be concerned with the removal of X7 Bluray when installing X8.

The contents file contains a lot of samples updating the library especially the Graphics section.
It also updates the DVD menu gallery to 12 Smart Menu, 19 Thumbnails, and 8 text menus, to be honest same as X7

But you have purchased the program, I assume the bundled VS & PSP does contain a full Video Studio program?

Trevor,

Thanks for the information. I ordered the Photo Video Suite Pro and got one invoice for the downloads. There was not one for VideoStudioX8_2Contents.exe. I did not have much in samples (and only one Blu-ray menu item after I got the Blu-ray plug-in). Possibly it is a problem with getting the suite.

I will contact support again. I did on Monday about the Blu-ray's disappearing from Export in VS7, but I have got no reply or even an affirmation. (Except I did get get a survey link asking about my satisfaction.)

I solved the menu problem (I think) by downloading 2 menu items from "Get more content". I also manually copied content from the Samples directory in the VS7 installation folder to the Library, so I have most of what I had in VS7.

Again, thanks for your interest. As usual this forum is far more useful than Corel support, and I appreciate your time.

[Kenneth Evans]

It took 2 weeks and 3 support incidents (trying to get another person that might be more helpful) before they gave me a link to VideoStudioX8_2Contents.exe. They did not fix the problem of losing Blu-ray in VS7 after installing VS8. See http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 57#p317217 and the following post.

I notice after installing it that there is much more added (in Program Files) than I was able to manually copy from VS7.

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

Did you ever try to re-install Video Studio X7 to see if that installs the Bluray option.

[Kenneth Evans]

Hi Kenneth

Did you even try to re-install Video Studio X7 to see if that installs the Bluray option.

I am afraid that would cause more problems than it solves, such as losing various content I got at one time or another.

I believe this might have happened when I tried to run VS7 while VS8 was already running shortly after I installed VS8. It didn't start VS7 but attached to the running VS8. However, in the process the two configurations may have got mixed up.

I might also note that I checked the current directory in Program Files against a backup, and it was unchanged. I also replaced the VS7 directory in AppData with the backup, and that did not fix the problem. I did not mess with the registry.