Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 Review

Corel has successfully achieved the launch of a complete HD solution with their VideoStudio Pro X2. A great improvement from the last version, VideoStudio Pro X2 greatly impressed me with its usability.

Introduction

VideoStudio Pro X2 is a user-friendly video editing and disc authoring program that comes with a quality range of editing and output options. Having used the previous version, I didn’t plan on the Pro X2 to be as easy to navigate and use as it turned out to be.

With VideoStudio Pro X2, you can:

· Use the relatively easy editing tools and Movie Wizard to create entire movies

· Use the wide range of output options to share your creations

· Capture videos and photos from cameras, camcorders or from a TV tuner

· Add special effects like titles and music quickly and easily

· Create slideshows of your pictures or movie files

I found that creating high-quality HD movies is a snap using the VideoStudio Pro X2 all-in-one video-editing software. Not only has the features from the last installment transferred over, but new ones were added and packaged around a well thought-out interface that made me completely comfortable about using and writing a review about. Everyone will get something out of this program; diehard technology enthusiasts will love its dynamic functionality while novices will not be intimidated to just jump in and start using it.

Features

· Video Studio Editor – for powerful editing and disc authoring

· Movie Wizard – with just a few clicks you can create a complete movie using the amazing helpful Movie Wizard.

· DV-to-DVD Wizard – record from tape to disk in the fastest way possible

· Corel WinDVD 8 – an added bonus application that allows DVD and video playback.

· NewBlue File Effects – videos get the appearance of “old file” with 5 filters and 81 presets.

· Extensive library of templates, overlay clips, title animations, menus and effects

New Features

· New Blu-Ray Import and Output – one of the first to offer Blu-Ray support, VideoStudio Pro XP makes it easy t o import and output in the BDMV format. Users will enjoy the highest picture quality available. Plus, the encoding time is relatively shorter.

· Enhanced Smart Proxy Editing – Editing HD video is now as simple as editing standard definition videos using the Smart Proxy technology. The speed has increased by 300 percent because VideoStudio Pro X2 uses less of your system resources, but is still able to output in full HD quality.

· Custom H.264 HD Encoding – H.264 is the new codec that provides advanced quality and fast encoding. It also provides support for 1440 x 1080 and 1920 x 1080 output frame sizes.

Creativity and Sharing

Video Pro X2 comes with a variety of options to allow further development of creativity and sharing. Options include:

· Painting Creator – a painting creator that allows users to personalize their videos by painting, drawing and writing on their videos.

· Creative Content – VideoStudio Pro X2 added tons of Flash animations, frames, HD templates and overlays to visually enhance your video projects.

· NewBlue Film Effects – Remember the look of old films from the ‘Silent Film’ era? Well, now you can apply that same effect to your own projects with the NewBlue Film Effects that comes with the program. Five filter and 81 presets provides the ability to have the look of dirty projectors, dusty film and hand-cranked cameras for your HD videos.

· Mobile Device Support – Importing Apple iPhone and iPod Touch videos are now fully supported.

· Upload to YouTube – Users can now upload video directly to YouTube with great ease with the new uploader.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Excellent capture features
Impressive range of output options
Wonderful slideshow effects
Easy upload to YouTube
New drawing tools
Templates for DVD menu options
AVCHD proxy editing
HDV

Cons

Audio mixer not that great
DVD menu navigation is very limited
No solution for fixing red-ey in still images
Inadequent noise reduction options

Conclusion

Overall, I would highly recommend VideoStudio Pro X2. If you tried and failed to use the previous version, you will impressed with the addition and improvement that the Corel Corporation made with the upgrade.For only $99.00, it is a great deal especially with the free installation and continual email support offered by the company. The program is definitely my new favorite over the CyberLink PowerDirector.

2 Comments

Sep 19, 2009 5:21 PM

Charlotte Cowe

computer crashing

I used ulead video 10 very satisfactorily and have upgraded to Video studio Prox2. The programme is always crashing. Can you offer some advice as to how to prevent this as I am very disappointed?

Thanks

Charlotte

Aug 20, 2009 6:15 PM

Richard Melvin

VFT files....

If you previously owned Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus and purchased Corel's Video Studio12 x2 Pro you may have problems with some of the video filters if you have an old computer. (But there is a trick to making it work.)

I have an old 2003 HP desktop and Ulead VST 11+ worked perfactly but 7 filters from the new Corel software did not work and would crash the program when clicked on. How did I make it work? First of all you need both Ulead VS 11+ and Corel VS 12 pro x2 installed on your computer. Then double click on the desktop computer icon, double click on C file, then double click on Program files and double click on the Corel file. Once open click on the file called vft_plug and remove the corresponding files that do not work...if your Comic filter does not work remove the Comic file...till all are removed. Go through the exact process for Ulead VS 11+ and copy the duplicate vft_plug files (Comic+) and place them in a separate folder. Once organized paste the Ulead files in the vft_plug file for Corel VS12 x2 pro and guess what? It works perfactly with no crashing. By using older files you tricked the computer with older technology.

I went through HP and they wanted to sell me a 600$ computer and Corel said my video card was out of date and too slow for the program. Wrong on both counts!

It is a good program that is vastly superior than the prior Ulead program and as I have always said, it is not the editing tool but the editor that makes a good program. And if you have an imagination using C VS12 x2 pro, you can make some fine videos.

Rich