Why is VideoStudio 2019 so Unstable/Unusable?!!

[joeltbay]

I purchased VideoStudio 2019 Ultimate in early September. It’s been a long time since I have used such an unstable piece of software. I am unable to complete the most basic video editing tasks. I am a few days now beyond the 30 days, so I guess I’ve lost my money.

It’s installed on a new PC with high end specs. It’s the only piece of software that crashes. Yet I really like the software (user interface and workflow). However, dropping a few video clips on the timeline, setting in and outs, and trying to render fails most times. The software just disappears mid render. The few times it completed a render, it corrupted the video at the start of each new clip in the final render. Looks awful.

This is video editing 101. No transitions, no effects... just incapable, unstable software.

I dropped the exact same video clips into several other consumer video editing software programs - zero crashes and perfect renders.

I am working with support, but they want me to reinstall. Really? Grasping at straws.

Shame on Corel for the terrible quality of this software. So promising, but such a failure. I want my money back, but those requests are ignored. Fantastic.

Any one know if a patch is coming for this “unable to do even the basics” piece of software?

[asik1]

I don't have 2019 but there is a patch, you should check what version you have.
Was it a download buy? then I think you do have the latest cr*p.

[joeltbay]

I did download the software. Check for updates every day. Says I have the latest version of the software.

[joeltbay]

Oh and I should mention everything on the PC is up to date from Windows Updates to bios, chipset drivers, video card driver, etc. I’ve had this PC for just over a couple of months now and VideoStudio is the only software I’ve experienced crashing.

[joeltbay]

I should also mention I have tried with and without smart rendering, hardware acceleration, multiple hardware acceleration options (Nvidia vs Intel) and support even had me turn on Smart Proxy which should have nothing to do with the final render (just the preview window if I understand it correctly). I will try the reinstall when I get a chance, but am not hopeful.

[tletter]

I purchased VideoStudio 2019 Ultimate in early September. It’s been a long time since I have used such an unstable piece of software.

Since at least X10, VS is notorious for silent crashes both during editing and whilst rendering (see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=62625). The causes are many and varied. In my case, I save the VSP to an older version of VS and then use that version to render. The problem is that some filters are not supported in older version of VS.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[Clive Taylor]

I agree, it’s shocking. I can’t output to DVD without it crashing after about 10 mins, Dolby sound has been removed and it just keeps crashing when editing. The loss of Dolby is a show stopper for me so I am requesting a refund although this is outside the 30 day window (I didn’t discover the issue until I returned from a trip abroad). I think it is reasonable to expect an ‘upgrade’ to at least have the capabilities of the previous version. I am reinstalling v18.

[joeltbay]

Followed the steps tonight to remove VideoStudio with Corel's clean up tool and to reinstall with Antivirus and Firewall disabled. No improvement.

First attempt to render did finish, but once again video is messed up at the beginning of each video clip (choppy, skipped frames, corrupted frames, awful quality).

Second attempt, once again VideoStudio crashed.

What a mess. Clearly this bug-ridden software cannot complete the most basic tasks. What an embarrassment.

How about a refund Corel?

If that's a "no" (I mean it has been a few days more than 30), then how about a serial number for a non-beta version of your software? You know, a version that doesn't crash. Hello Corel? Anyone?

[canuck]

This is not Corel, we are just a users here

I have not experienced any of the problems you are claiming, not with very simple projects nor with more complex ones. You have not given much information on your projects so it is impossible to offer many suggestions.

[tletter]

First attempt to render did finish, but once again video is messed up at the beginning of each video clip (choppy, skipped frames, corrupted frames, awful quality).

This sounds like you may have Smart Proxy enabled whilst rendering. If that's the case, VS may render using the lo-res proxy files instead of the source video files.

Clearly this bug-ridden software cannot complete the most basic tasks.

Yes it has issues but it can certainly "complete the most basic task". Share a Smart Package of your problematic project and we can test it.

How about a refund Corel?

No one from Corel here so you'll have to contact Corel directly.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[joeltbay]

Yes, I do realize this is a user forum. I am in contact with Corel directly, however just a support tech at the moment.

No, Smart Proxy is not enabled. Corel support had me turn it on, but that did not help. After the reinstall, it was off (default setting) and I left it off. No idea why they would recommend I turn it on. I never complained about the preview window not working which is my understanding of what Smart Proxy does.

My experience is VideoStudio cannot complete the most basic task. What I am trying to do is the most basic thing a video editor does. Drop clips on a timeline, trim said clips, and render. Not a single effect, transition, title - as basic as it gets.

I am not familiar with sharing a Smart Package. How would I go about doing that?

It is a single project. 4 mins 46 seconds long. 27 MTS video clips from a Panasonic Lumix T5S. 1920x1080, 59.94 frames/second. Previously, an older version of Pinnacle Studio (on my old PC) had zero problems with these same video clips from the same trip. Flawless renders.

In the past few days on my current PC (same one VideoStudio is installed on), I tried the same video clips in Adobe Premiere Elements 2018 as well as their 2020 Trial. Both rendered flawlessly without a single crash or a single flawed frame of video. VideoStudio fails each and every time to accomplish this simple task regardless of Smart Proxy settings, every possible hardware acceleration option (on, off, Intel, Nvidia), and various choices in output quality settings (MPEG, custom, various frame rates from 59.94 to 60, 30, 24). Nothing has worked for me yet.

[gewb]

joeltbay -

Can you upload that video clip to a server so we can play with it?

[tletter]

I am not familiar with sharing a Smart Package. How would I go about doing that?

See following image.

In the past few days on my current PC (same one VideoStudio is installed on), I tried the same video clips in Adobe Premiere Elements 2018 as well as their 2020 Trial. Both rendered flawlessly without a single crash or a single flawed frame of video.

VS can certainly render good looking videos up to 4K so there is something wrong. Try the following:

• disable Smart Proxy
• enable the 'Show message when inserting first video clip' option
• drop a single MTS video clip on the timeline and let VS change the project setting to match the video's properties
• render using those properties.

How does the rendered output look?

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[joeltbay]

Thank you for the steps to try.

Hope to give it a try this evening.

[joeltbay]

I did not try the Smart Package yet.

Followed your instructions. Project properties set by clip as follows:

MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 59.94 fps
Frame-based
(HDMV-NTSC), 16:9
H.264 Video
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 26491 kbps)
Audio data rate: 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

Rendered using "Custom" to the same settings. Worked with 1 clip and worked with 2 clips.

Tried my project again with the 27 or so clips. Again, project settings and render settings the same (was prompted when this project's 1st clip was dropped in as well). Got to about 9% rendered and VideoStudio crashed.