GRIPPS review of VideoStudio X8

[BrianCee]

That well known VideoStudio Tutorial maker 'Gripps' has compiled a quite comprehensive video review of VideoStudio X8 - see it for yourself here :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgN0LQ- ... e=youtu.be

[RobertOZ]

Another great toot from Gripps, thought the way he handled the Blu-ray plugin extra was masterful, paying extra for something that was previously free

[Ken Berry]

Hmmm... yes, even for some of us oldies there are some interesting explanations of new ("cool") features. I was particularly struck by his explanation of the alpha stuff which changes some aspects of how alpha channel/chroma key functions were handled in the past.

Not sure I agree about the Blu-Ray authoring module because he makes it sound as though he was not aware the authoring module was previously available free... rather than it being a "cool" new feature as he implied.

[BrianCee]

Gripps has tutorials for X4, X5 , X6 , X7 and X8 on his youtube channel - so must be well aware of the previous Blu-ray situation.

[Ken Berry]

Yes, but that's my point. Of course he knew, but he was making it sound as though its transformation into a paid module was something new (which it is) and "cool" (which it isn't)... In other words, he's covering Corel's tracks!

[tanguero]

Another great toot from Gripps, thought the way he handled the Blu-ray plugin extra was masterful, paying extra for something that was previously free

Hardly "masterful" IMHO. Comes across as clueless at best (on the Blu-ray plugin subject anyway) and disingenuous at worst. Damages his credibility either way, though if he's volunteering his time to create free videos, I shouldn't really be looking the gift horse in the mouth, should I?

[Terfyn]

It was good to see Gripps's effort after the recent pages of Corel bashing. Fifteen minutes packed with interest. I wonder why Corel dropped Gripps and promoted VSL? Perhaps it was the training for Pinnacle Studio that made them promote the VSL site. I am just relieved that Gripps is proposing more training videos.
There may be a logic in selling the Blu-Ray authoring as an add on. Not everybody has a Blu-Ray burner and, if I was coming to VS for the first time, I would not buy it. Anyway the price is "peanuts" so it will not be a money spinner for Corel.

[asik1]

There is one major omission in Gripps video.
He is reviewing VSX8 Ultimate not the Pro, but he never mention this.
One that will follow his review and will buy VSX8Pro will not find some of the things he sees in Gripps screen.

I think Gripps must clearly state it in the title and description.

**there is also a polish review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGsqEDy12Fs

[BrianCee]

The odd thing is Terfyn I received the notification about the Gripps tutorial from Corels Facebook page - they are happy to promote his tutorials - but no reference at all on the Facebook page to Studio Backlot

[Terfyn]

The odd thing is Terfyn I received the notification about the Gripps tutorial from Corels Facebook page - they are happy to promote his tutorials - but no reference at all on the Facebook page to Studio Backlot

It's a weird mixture. I can understand the Studio Backlot being used for Pinnacle but Gripps is "relegated" to YT. From what I have seen of VSL, Gripps is well ahead in presentation. (I do accept that VSL has hardly got started yet on X8) Corel has used Gripps for some of their own tutorials for X7, why not for X8?

There was some unfair comment about Gripps concentrating on Ultimate. I thought the mix was right but he is trying to promote VideoStudio X8 and, like TopGear never used the standard model but the super sports, Gripps has gone for the setup that will give most interest. The video covered a lot of Pro as well.

[Ken Berry]

Terfyn wrote:
There may be a logic in selling the Blu-Ray authoring as an add on. Not everybody has a Blu-Ray burner and, if I was coming to VS for the first time, I would not buy it. Anyway the price is "peanuts" so it will not be a money spinner for Corel.

I grant all those points. But my own point remains that it has been included in previous versions, subsumed within the price. To suddenly stop that and to now offer it as an added extra, even at a nominal price, is hardly an economically sensible decision, especially if -- as you say probably correctly -- the numbers interested in buying a Blu-Ray authoring module are limited. But it is not a good look...

[lata]

Hi Ken

I wonder if you actually need the Bluray Add-On

If you burned an AVCHD Folder, that is Bluray compliant.
We should be able to use ImgBurn to burn that folder to BlurayDisc.

Just a thought.

[Ken Berry]

Sure. Equally you could simply produce a Blu-Ray compliant AVCHD or mpeg-2, then use other third party software to build a menu and burn a disc. But again, that is not really the point. We can do that in previous versions, but the point is that in earlier versions we were presented with a complete all in one package capable of editing video and authoring Blu-Ray discs, and now we have to pay extra for that...

Believe me, it doesn't worry me in a practical sense as I have any amount of third party software which will do the job. Moreover, I rarely burn Blu-Ray discs these days despite having all the necessary equipment and BD blanks. But I just think Corel has shot itself in the foot commercially with this decision.

[lata]

Hi Ken

Yes I do agree with you that Corel have made the wrong decision regarding the Bluray options.
I was simply thinking of a way to burn those discs without purchasing the plugin.
The Avchd folder approach would use the same menu templates, then its just a matter of getting the folder onto disc ImgBurn, I use that approach anyway.

I had thought Corel were trying to widen the gap between Pro and Ultimate.
They could of course provide one version with additional Add-On software that would include the ProDad packages, Bluray authoring etc. all at additional cost.

[TonyP]

I would think that the Ultimate package would come with Bluray burning. But from a financial point, Corel has to pay for each product shipped or downloaded that has the bluray plugin. I don't know the sales figures or how many people actually burn to bluray, but the "bean counters" have an idea and figure if you want it, here it now is, at a cost. Nominal, but I would think Ultimate would be just that, Ultimate. They removed Smartsound and bluray. Saving money where they can.
In Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate, Bluray is included, but you have to activate it. I think Pinnacle knows how many people activate it vs how many do not along with how many Ultimate versions were/are being wold.. Pinnacle has to pay each time it is activated, instead of paying whether it's used or not. The retail price of PS18U is more than X8U.

I've always enjoyed Gripps tutorials. The choice to go with Studio Backlot is anyone's guess. The tutorial styles are different. I like them both along with others out there that invest their time into putting them online.