Corel VideoStudio Pro X4
by Corel
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: CorelBrand: Corel
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: CD-ROM
Platform: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: VSPRX4ENMB
Product features:
- Complete video-editing software for making HD movies
- Optimized for the latest hardware from Intel and AMD
- Stop Motion animation and Time-Lapse tools; Blue-Ray and DVD burning tools
- Fix common video problems; get creative with amazing effects, music, titles, transitions
- Share anywhere--on iPhone, mobile device, disc, favorite Web site or TV
Software Reviews of Corel VideoStudio Pro X4
Customer Review: Turn Your Blah Videos Into Something Worth Sharing
Summary: 4 Stars
VideoStudio Pro X4 is the latest release of Corel's consumer video editing software application. The previous version, X3, wasn't exactly well received by Amazon.com users. Indeed, I myself had a hard enough time with X3 that I uninstalled it within 30 minutes of installing it. When I found out that X4 was being released, I wanted to give it a more thorough look and Corel was kind enough to send me a review license. After using it for about a week, I'm happy to say that it's been fun and a pleasure to edit videos with VideoStudio Pro X4.
PROS:
- Performs well (even w/Core2 Duo processors)
- Short learning curve for basic functions
- Fair number of transition, title, filter, and media samples
- Easy to use and configurable layout
- Multi-monitor support
- Decent set of tutorials
- Great sharing options
CONS:
- More contextual help would make it even easier to learn
- A little sluggish at times
- Cumbersome previewing of media
The question I get asked the most by people who have home videos is, "How can I put my videos on a DVD so I can share it with others?" That's a good question. With the popularity of the pocket camcorder, like the Flip, people have made countless video clips. Unfortunately, most of those clips have been imprisoned on the camcorders themselves or if lucky, made their way to a computer. Getting those videos onto a DVD to send to grandparents or friends have been more challenging. VideoStudio Pro X4 (VSPX4) is one way to get those videos onto DVD, but why stop there? You can also use it to upload it to YouTube or Facebook. Before you do that though, how about sprucing up that video first by putting a title graphic on and adding a soundtrack? With VSPX4, it isn't as hard to do as you might think it is.
CAPTURE
VSPX4 is separated into three distinct functions-Capture, Edit, and Share. Capture is the first of those and allows you to easily import videos from a variety of sources. If you already have your videos on your computer, then you can actually skip this part. As a matter of fact, when you first launch VSPX4, it goes straight into Edit, the second and most robust function.
EDIT
If all you want to do is get your video clips onto a DVD or upload them to YouTube, you can pretty much just add them into the "Project" and then go to Share and have at it. However, if you wanted to be a little more creative, you can really spruce up that video collection here.
The default layout of the Edit step works well. It's broken down into three sections. On the top left, you have the video screen. On the top right, is your collection of media, filters, transitions, etc. The entire bottom half of the layout is the timeline (or storyboard view). This is where you insert all the videos, effects, and audio. It's pretty intuitive. The timeline reads from left to right and there are multiple rows of "Tracks." Tracks consist of the main video track, title tracks, overlay tracks, voice track and music tracks.
Adding elements to these tracks allow you to customize each track and then match them up to work with the entire project. It's amazingly easy to add your own music as a soundtrack or cool effects to express your creative side. While I appreciated having easy access to the media and samples, I found it very cumbersome to preview them to see or hear what they were. For example, VSPX4 comes with 25 sound effect clips named, S1 to S25. In order to hear what those sounds were, I had to select them on the top right side of the screen with my mouse, then go all the way back over to the video screen on the left and hit play. Doing that for every clip got annoying. It would have been better to allow the clips to be double-clicked for automatic preview, or right click on them to present a "preview" selection that would automatically play them.
In general however, I thought that manipulating videos was relatively easy and fun. There were some more advanced things that I wanted to do that weren't easy to figure out at first, like Multi-Trim but I eventually figured it out. I liked the voice over feature because when I do video reviews, I can just film the review, split the audio out of it, then plug in a mic and narrate the video while watching it. This is a huge time saver for me because rather than having to perform multiple takes to get the right one, I can just do it once and use VSPX4 to perfect it.
SHARE
The last function of VideoStudio Pro X4 is the share function. This allows you to create a video file, audio file, disc, export to a mobile device, export to a DV camcorder, or upload to Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, or Flickr. Sharing couldn't be easier. Ok, it could be a little bit easier. There are a lot of options for creating different types of video files and contextual help here would have been nice to help people figure out which type would work best for their needs. The process of creating a video file is called rendering. Rendering can take a long time, depending on how long and complex your video is and the type of file you've chosen to save it as. Knowing which type you should use is important before you render it because you could end up wasting a lot of time waiting for the render to complete, only to find out that the file you created isn't going to work for you. The integration of file sharing sites is a nice touch and very easy to use.
PERFORMANCE
My computer no longer qualifies as a high end system, but still ran VSPX4 very well most of the time. I have an Intel Core2 Duo 2.2GHz machine with 4GB or RAM, running Windows 7 64-bit. Though I comfortably met the minimum system requirements, there were times when I was working on more complex clips that made my preview video stutter. I'd guess if I had an Intel i7 processor with 6-8GB of RAM, I wouldn't encounter any stuttering at all, especially since VSPX4 is optimized for it.
MY PROJECT
Right before I began writing this review, I decided to create one more video project as a way for me to test VSPX4. I chose a 1min 30sec video of me throwing a plush Angry Bird doll at my sister, who was opening up a plush Angry Bird Pig as a gift. Here is what I did with VSPX4 to the clip:
1. I shortened the video to about a minute
2. Added an animated title at the beginning of the clip
3. Added the Angry Birds theme song as the soundtrack
4. Added an Old Film filter to the clip to give a unique look
5. Copied the moment of impact (Bird hitting the Pig/my sister's face) and added a slow motion clip to the end of the original clip
6. Took that same impact clip and added a funny sound effect to it and added it to the end of the original clip
7. Added a photo to the end
8. Added scrolling credits
9. Created an HD video of the entire project
10. Uploaded the clip to YouTube
11. Called my sister to tell her I'd uploaded this embarrassing video of her to YouTube
In case you're wondering, I deleted the video from YouTube after I let her watch it first; I'm a good brother after all!
CONCLUSION
Corel's VideoStudio Pro X4 is a strong video editing package. I wouldn't call it a simple program, but it doesn't take a great deal of time to get the hang of it. Up until a week ago, I had very little exposure to video editing software and now I feel very comfortable using it. VSPX4 has a good selection of tools that'll keep you entertained for hours at a time. I had a blast creating my last clip and I bet you will too.
*Review license provided by Corel Corporation
Description of Corel VideoStudio Pro X4
Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 is the powerful, creative and easy way to take video footage from shoot to show - fast!
Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 is the powerful, creative and easy way to take your video footage from shoot to show--fast. Quickly load, organize and trim SD or HD video clips. Fix common video problems and easily cut together your production using integrated movie templates. Get creative with amazing effects, music, titles, transitions, including new Stop Motion animation and Time-Lapse tools, then even export to 3D! And because VideoStudio Pro X4 is optimized for the latest hardware from Intel and AMD, you see the results on screen faster than ever. Share anywhere--on iPhone, mobile device, disc, your favorite website or your TV. Live life. Make movies. Corel VideoStudio Pro X4.
Create, edit, render and share faster than ever with VideoStudio Pro X4--your complete video-editing software for making HD movies. With dramatically enhanced speed and performance, it simplifies your entire workflow so you can focus on the creative aspects of movie making, without your software getting in the way.
Highlights
- NEW! Stop Motion Animation--create your own animated movie featuring people, toys or any object
- NEW! Flexible workspace--Maximize your work area--just drag to resize and position panels where you want them, even across two monitors
- NEW! Time-Lapse Effect--Make the sun set in seconds or show a day in the life of your neighborhood in minutes
- ENHANCED! Integrated HD authoring and burning--quickly author HD movies to DVD and Blu-ray Disc with new integrated burning tools
- NEW! 3D movies--glasses included!--Save your 2D movies in 3D or upload them to Youtube 3D, then watch them with your free 3D glasses (Glasses in box version only)
Key Features and Benefits
New! Stop Motion Animation--Create an animated movie featuring people, toys, or any object. VideoStudio Pro X4 is the ideal video and animation play-place for kids and adults alike!
New! Flexible workspace--Make more room to work and get better control over your tools--just drag to resize and position panels where you want them, even across two monitors.
New! Time-Lapse photography--With the new Time-Lapse effect, you can make the sun set in seconds or show a day in the life of your neighborhood in just minutes. Start with a video clip and speed it up or remove frames or use a series of photos and play them in sequence as a movie.
Integrated HD authoring and burning--Quickly author HD movies to DVD and Blu-ray Disc with the new integrated burning tools.
New! Enhanced Library and Timeline--Quickly organize and find your content--including video and audio clips, photos, filters, graphics and transitions--with the streamlined Navigation panel. Then use the enhanced Timeline to place titles on any track, apply settings and filters to multiple clips and batches of images.
Instant Projects--Create, import and export movie templates! Make a template of cool title sequences, effects or complete movies, then reuse or share with others.
Enhanced Speed and Performance--Why wait for results? VideoStudio Pro X4 is optimized for the new Intel 2nd generation Core processors, as well as new chips from AMD, to let you tap into the power of groundbreaking new processors.
New! 3D movies--glasses included!--Save your 2D movies in 3D or upload them to Youtube 3D, then watch them with your free 3D glasses! (Glasses in boxed version only.)
Advanced upscaling--Make regular video outstanding. Enhance the quality of standard definition video and upscale it to fit your HD display with new high-performance upscaling technology. Cutting-edge GPU acceleration takes standard definition video to near-HD quality in the blink of an eye.
New! Take it to go--Use Smart Package, now integrated with WinZip, to combine all the video, photos and audio related to a project in one package, so you can take it with you and work on any PC, anywhere!
Top 10 Reasons to Buy
1. Step-by-step video editing for great-looking movies, fast
A tabbed 1-2-3 interface guides you step-by-step as you import clips, make a movie and share in minutes. A new flexible workspace lets you resize user interface panels to work across two monitors. Plus, an enhanced library makes it easy and fast to organize your multimedia content.
2. Your vision--now on screen
Turn an idea into an impressive movie with a huge variety of video project options! Put a movie together in no time with new Instant Projects. Combine video, photos, music and graphics in a multimedia slideshow. Create your own animated movie featuring people, toys, clay figures or any object with new Stop Motion Animation. Show a day in the life of your neighborhood in just minutes with new Time-Lapse photography.
3. Amazing video results--fast!
Why wait for results? VideoStudio Pro X4 features optimization for the new 2nd generation Intel Core processors. Tap into the power of these, and other multi-core or GPU optimizations, to create highly intensive effects in real time. VideoStudio Pro X4 edits fast--even if you don't have the latest PC--thanks to Smart Proxy, which lets you edit in low resolution and output your finished project in HD.
4. Quick and simple ways to improve your video
VideoStudio Pro X4 makes it easy to cut your video down to the section you want to use or share. Make quick cuts with Single Clip Trim. Or use the Multi-trim tool to trim, split or cut several sections within the same video. Quickly reduce camera shake, remove camera noise, adjust white balance and fix other common problems.
5. 3D movies!
Amaze your audience by turning your 2D video into a 3D movie with just a click--glasses included! (Glasses in boxed version only.)
6. A complete video-editing toolset
Get the pro-quality tools you need to make amazing movies. Choose from a wide variety of Real-time effects and preview them as they're applied. Combine multiple effects to create new effects all your own. Use the enhanced Timeline to place titles on any track, add transitions, and apply settings and filters to multiple clips and batches of images. Plus, with Smart Package, now featuring WinZip technology, you can easily combine password-protected project files into one package, so you can take your project to go.
7. Easy HD and advanced upscaling
Easily import and edit video in leading HD formats, including AVCHD and HDV. Save time and use fewer system resources with Smart Proxy, which lets you edit HD content at a lower resolution, then render it in HD when you're done. When you're ready to share, you can quickly author HD movies to DVD and Blu-ray Disc with the new integrated burning tools. Plus, take advantage of cutting-edge GPU acceleration technology to upscale standard definition video up to near-HD quality in the blink of an eye. Enhance standard definition video or simply make standard definition video fit the format of your HD display.
8. Share everywhere
A broad range of output options makes it easy to export your movie to your TV or game system, disc or device. Upload directly to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook and other websites. Share your movies on popular devices like iPad, iPhone, PSP and more!
9. Integrated disc authoring and burning
Easily create pro-quality DVDs with menus, titles and transitions, and your own Blu-ray discs with sophisticated menus, from within VideoStudio Pro X4.
10. Learn as you go
The enhanced Corel Guide lets you learn, watch product tutorials, and download free add-ons and updates, giving you more of the tools and skills you need to make great movies. Connect with the Corel Video channel on Vimeo or consult the full User Manual included in the box to get the help you need anytime.
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