Pinnacle Systems Studio 400

Rating:
Summary: Really good editing software with really bad accuracy
Review: I recently bought this editor and found it to be a major help. I could easily swap clips wherever need and I could add titles and audio clips from cd's, but the only MAJOR PROBLEM, which is really annoying and as a result I am in the process of returning this product, is that there is no accuracy whatsoever when it begins recording to a tape. The scene always starts about five seconds too late and stops after its already gone into the next shot. I am not an expert, but I know quite a bit about editing and tried many different options in correcting this problem until I said "enough is enough".

Rating:
Summary: Great Deal
Review: I think this is a great product for the price that you pay. I have been using it for a while and I am very happy with it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent software, TERRIBLE hardware
Review: Pinnacle Systems makes some of the best editing software in the industry, but this product is seriously lacking in hardware capabilities. The maximum capture resolution is 160x120, although you can resize it to 320x240 (but with no increase in resolution). Also, the process to create a tape is ridiculously hard. You can ONLY use a LANC, Panasonic 5-Pin, or Infrared Camcorder. Unlike most systems, Studio 400 doesn't even support a regular VCR. (You need a LANC or 5-Pin VCR, only common in Europe!) You need to hook up the source camcorder, a VCR, the Studio Mixer, your PC, and the SmartCable. Even with delay testing, the final tapes look [terrible]. They are choppy and often have mistakes. Also, it takes several hours to make a 20 minute tape on most camcorders. Even worse, this system worked on my old system (Win98 1st Edition), but failed to work on my new system (Win ME), an office computer (Win 98 2nd Edition, and a friend's computer (Win 2000). Finally, you don't even get everything you need in the box- I needed to purchase 2 RCA mini-patch cables, and if you have a Panasonic camcorder you need to mail-order for a converter. After spending hours working on my US History project, Studio 400 DIDN'T WORK! I ended up having to create a fuzzy 160x120 file and recording that fullscreen....

Rating:
Summary: Had this product for several years
Review: This is a good and bad product. My main problem is the same as that of the previous reviewer...namely that the sync capacity is awfully wonky. I had it working on my old computer, but when I reinstalled it on the new I can't get it to operate properly and have tried to get help, without success, from their help division. They made prompt suggestions, but it didn't fix the problem. What is frustrating is that they helped the same glitch on my old computer, but can't this time. So the transitions are very much off, so you don't want to use it for spot on editing.