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It seems that digital editing on the PC falls into two distinct camps. There is the consumer end and the high end. The consumer end features programs that fall mainly in the $100 range and offer for the most part the basics. For the user that simply wants to put together a video package and does not need advanced features, most programs in this class are actually decent. The problem comes when your video needs start to outstrip the capabilities of the programs. Once you get into digital editing on the PC it does not take long to see that the more professional higher priced applications offer more bang for the dollar.
If you feel that video editing is something you want to explore, and your needs are demanding a more full featured application, suddenly you will find yourself facing options that cost more than $100 per application.
As you start looking for more full featured applications, one starts to see that the market starts to narrow for most users. I have actually seen some high end programs not work on mainstream systems. This is where picking a video editing program becomes complex. Because of the nature of these applications, not every computer made can actually be able to handle the needs the software demands. Even if your system can technically take on the software, there are instances where certain combinations doe not work. I had one program that inexplicably would not even install due to the way Windows was installed on my test system. This was not an error, it was an issue. Naturally this narrows the field of likely software when you consider compatibility.
Currently such major names as Adobe, Pinnacle Systems, Sony and Avid have occupied the high end spectrum for some time. On the Mac side, Final Cut Pro remains the choice of professionals all the way around. While this option is not available for PC users, the choices again start to slim down a bit. However, one player in the game has managed to produce a high end application that for most end users offers sufficient power and sufficient flexibility for most users seeking a more robust video editing application.
Taking a “suite” approach to the issue of video editing, Media Studio is something of a bundled package that operates as part of a larger whole.
While Premiere Pro from Adobe has the virtue of a smoother more sophisticated interface, in order to truly appreciate the product, it is dependent on several other applications. When Premiere Pro, particularly in its latest incarnation, is matched with After Effects 6, Photoshop and Audition, you have not only a powerful editing suite, you have a program that will run on most machines without issue. The only downside is that you really need to have all of the suite in order to truly explore this much power. This is a point not lost on Ulead.
The parts that make up Media Studio Pro 7 include the Video Capture 7, Video Editor 7, CG infinity 7, Video Paint 7 and Ulead DVD Movie Factory LE.
Unlike many applications that include video capturing as part of the main application, Ulead separates it from the video editing application. This standalone application captures video from analog sources, VCR’s, Betacams, DV and DV 8 camcorders. The program can create a thumbnail index from your DV camcorder. Being that this a system intensive process, making capture separate from editing has its virtues. The major feature here is the ability to scan a DV tape at 10x speed and capture of log of scene thumbnails within a few moments. You can then chose which scenes you wish to batch capture from that point. From my experiences with capture from the program, the process was smooth.
Shipping with the program is Ulead DVD Movie Factory LE. This is a slimmed down version of a full version available as a separate program from Ulead. However, do not let the LE fool you into thinking that it is useless. The interface is easy to understand and for those that need detailed authoring, most editors already have full featured programs designed for that purpose. For those starting out and in need of something fast, simple and easy, this is a very efficient and practical solution.
The Audio Editor includes the usual, but for me, I had difficulty with the program and for the most part feel that there are better solutions for sound editing than this. But again, as an added feature, I can understand its inclusion. Most end users will have their particular sound application of choice. For me it has always been Sound Forge from Sony and/or the new Audition from Adobe. Everyone has their preference and I cannot fault Ulead for including their sound editor as part of a studio package. If you don’t have a solid sound editor, this is certainly better than nothing at all.
An unexpected surprise here is Video Painting. Video Paint 7 allows you to retouch, fix and adjust material across a range of frames as well as paint freehand over video. This is a feature not seen in packages like this, and one not seen at all in most consumer based video packages.
CG Infinity brings with it the ability to create graphics and animated titles. This is one feature notoriously weak in editing packages. Ulead has wisely included a truly full featured version that will allow a great deal of customization.
A big selling point with Ulead’s Media Studio Pro 7 is “real time” editing. What this means is that an effect can be applied to the video and the results can be viewed nearly instantly. With the advent of more powerful machines, software makers are now focusing on allowing effects to take place without having to wait for scenes to be rendered. The ability to do this depends largely on how powerful your systems is. If you are running a Pentium 4 with HyperThreading and 512 MB of Memory or more, then you will see the results much faster and with less delay than those running older models. The idea here is that there is no waiting. Just apply an effect, view it and like magic it happens. There are options that will allow this to happen on slower machines. My suggestion to anyone serious about movie editing and purchasing a program like this one, do consider a P4 unit with HyperThreading and at least 512 MB of RAM or more. The difference is appreciable and the software will run just that much smoother.
While the interface for the program lacks the polish of Adobe’s video program Premiere Pro, the application itself functions well enough and offers enough bang for the buck to make up for the much needed graphical user interface facelift. Even with that in mind, this is a potent suite that offers professional features within reasonable price points when compared to the competition.
Aimed at pro users and those that are very serious, Ulead has created yet another powerful but user friendly video editing package that is complete. For most die hard users and those that have already built up libraries of software, some of the added features may not be necessary. If you already have Sound Forge, After Effects, Photoshop, Audition or other software that normally accompanies video editing, some of the added software in the suite may not be enough of a draw.
On the other hand, if you are starting from the ground floor, this is a compelling package. Offering far more features than other applications in its class without requiring attendant programs to fill the gap, Ulead has created a full featured full bodied program that can offer professional results and is accessible enough for newcomers. When taken as a whole, the program becomes a compelling entry in a very narrow but competitive arena.
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