Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 Review
Please note that as of 27th Jan 2010 Corel released VideoStudio Pro X3 to the market as the successor to X2.
The link to that latest review is here:
Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 Review
The link to that latest review is here:
Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 Review
I will leave the remains of the X2 review on the site in the meantime because many of the features and functionality remain the same.
It is important to note that the main problems with VS X2 and AVCHD files have been handled in VS Pro X3.
It is important to note that the main problems with VS X2 and AVCHD files have been handled in VS Pro X3.
VideoStudio X2 has been given a more pleasing graphical interface in modern slate grey tones, greater controls over effects with enlarged effects configuration windows, the ability to overlap video's on the timeline so they crossfade automatically and finally the ability to apply transitions to clips in the overlay tracks.
Launching VideoStudio Pro X2 presents you with three choices: VideoStudio Editor, Movie Wizard, and DV-to-DVD Wizard.
The Movie Wizard and the DV-to-DVD Wizards do exactly as they suggest by guiding you through a simple point and click automated process for creating your movie or DVD.
The Movie Wizard and the DV-to-DVD Wizards do exactly as they suggest by guiding you through a simple point and click automated process for creating your movie or DVD.
It's a very intuitive layout that walks you through your project but is flexible in that switching from tab to tab or function to function is seamless.
As an added benefit the preview screen in VideoStudio X2 is still one of the biggest in the business and is a godsend when doing finicky work without having to squint for hours at a computer screen.
As an added benefit the preview screen in VideoStudio X2 is still one of the biggest in the business and is a godsend when doing finicky work without having to squint for hours at a computer screen.
Video Editor Interface
If for any reason your computer is underpowered then this feature alone is a life saver. Once VideoStudio has made the set of copies (proxy files) it uses those proxy files for reference and playback while you are editing.
This vastly reduces the workload on the computer and makes editing smooth and effortless. When you are finally ready to output your video VideoStudio Pro X2 uses the original full resolution files to make it so.
Now after having said all that I must also point out that VideoStudio is not the best video editing program around for AVCHD even though the smart proxy helps. My honest advice for this version is that if you are using AVCHD files then choose another software.
This vastly reduces the workload on the computer and makes editing smooth and effortless. When you are finally ready to output your video VideoStudio Pro X2 uses the original full resolution files to make it so.
Now after having said all that I must also point out that VideoStudio is not the best video editing program around for AVCHD even though the smart proxy helps. My honest advice for this version is that if you are using AVCHD files then choose another software.
There is also second title track if you need it. VideoStudio X2 has an easily configurable folder system connected to each section of the editing screens so that you can organise you clips and assets.
It has a handy multi-trim tool that lets you quickly cut out out sections from a larger clip or you can use the new single-clip trim window that simplifies just cutting the tops'n'tails off an individual clip. You can also trim on the timeline by dragging the end points of the file selected either longer or shorter.
A new aspect of Corel VideoStudio X2 is the ability to overlap video files on the timeline.
This is one of the features that came from MediaStudio Pro. Just select the clip on the timeline and you can drag the clip on to the adjoining clip. This will result in the two clips automatically crossfading and is a real time saver and "click-saver" on large projects.
This is one of the features that came from MediaStudio Pro. Just select the clip on the timeline and you can drag the clip on to the adjoining clip. This will result in the two clips automatically crossfading and is a real time saver and "click-saver" on large projects.
Video Capture and Editing
VideoStudio's Capture capabilities are generally at the top of the class for consumer-level products.
Like Power Director 7 it is one of the few applications that can scan a DV tape for scenes at 8X speed then create thumbnails shots for you to choose from for later real-time capture. As would be expected from such a long established format, DV capture is handled easily.
Like Power Director 7 it is one of the few applications that can scan a DV tape for scenes at 8X speed then create thumbnails shots for you to choose from for later real-time capture. As would be expected from such a long established format, DV capture is handled easily.
Having said that this would be my first black mark against the program. Scene detection on MPEG2 files these days is not rocket science and can be done quite easily by a free program called HDV Split. Why Corel have not included this feature I do not know.
For every computer that easily handles AVCHD well I can show you another that does not and this has VERY LITTLE to do with the program you choose.
The AVCHD format is, like MPEG2 in it's day, designed primarily as a distribution format, a playback format. It is not designed with editing in mind and ALL the video editing software developers are playing catch up on this one.
The AVCHD format is, like MPEG2 in it's day, designed primarily as a distribution format, a playback format. It is not designed with editing in mind and ALL the video editing software developers are playing catch up on this one.
They offer a good range of themes and templates and is a simple solution for those who have no great interest in the tedium that is video editing!
In the VideoStudio Editor you can choose between four different layouts and can resize each component of the layout as you choose.
In the VideoStudio Editor you can choose between four different layouts and can resize each component of the layout as you choose.
There are seven tabs lined up across the top of the interface in the approximate order you would follow in a normal editing process.
1.Capture
2.Edit
3.Effect
4.Overlay
5.Title
6.Audio
7.Share
1.Capture
2.Edit
3.Effect
4.Overlay
5.Title
6.Audio
7.Share
The program captures HDV very well with good control over the camera but does not offer scene detection during capture.
This is due to HDV being an MPEG2 format and unlike DV does not have a continuous time-code running through the tape.
This is due to HDV being an MPEG2 format and unlike DV does not have a continuous time-code running through the tape.
AVCHD clips can be previewed and trimmed before import which is nice feature but be warned. AVCHD is in its infancy as video format. It is hellishly dependant on computer resources, especially processor power and speed.
This brings me to one of the key and compelling arguments in favor of VideoStudio X2 if you are working in High Definition and lack computer power.
Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 is the only program on the market that offers proxy editing to deal with this exact problem with HDV and AVCHD files.
VideoStudio X2 can make low resolution copies of your High Definition files whether they are HDV or AVCHD.
VideoStudio X2 can make low resolution copies of your High Definition files whether they are HDV or AVCHD.
The editing timeline by default opens with three video tracks showing, the main video track, an overlay track and a title track.
Also showing are two audio tracks, voice and music, which are in addition to the audio of the video and overlay tracks. There are five more overlay tracks available each with its own audio and they can be simply viewed or hidden at the click of a button.
Also showing are two audio tracks, voice and music, which are in addition to the audio of the video and overlay tracks. There are five more overlay tracks available each with its own audio and they can be simply viewed or hidden at the click of a button.
When you drag video into the timeline, VideoStudio offers a number of alternate trimming options, including the ability to scan an imported DV file for scene changes and have it automatically split the file into those scenes.
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