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Rating: 
Summary: How Do I Hate Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...
Review: If you don't like to read scathing reviews, skip this one...I recently started producing my own television show on public access cable, and I wanted a video editing package that was easy-to-use and could support capture of analog video (VHS). After what I thought was careful research, I decided on Pinnacle's Studio Deluxe product. It has a capture card that runs a SCSI interface to a breakout box which allows you to import and export analog video. And, it is supposedly easy to use, and claims "broadcast quality editing features". Pefect, so I thought. Then, the nightmare began. After installing the card, then the software, I began working on my projects. It took a little while to figure out how to correctly capture analog video, but after a few tries, I was all set. The main complaint I had was that the audio levels on analog video capture were RIDICULOUSLY high, forcing you to manually adjust them (they are defaulted to the highest setting) or get distortion on your video. Once I had finished my project, it was time to output. Repeatedly, the audio and video fell out of sync, for no apparent reason. I have read numerous reviews of Studio wherein users complain about this very thing, and even Pinnacle's support website is littered with complaints. Apparently, you have to strip your system down to the barebones minimum to get correct output. Fine. After tinkering with these settings for HOURS, I finally got a good take. Several months later, I decided to use Studio again for video editing (I had switched to Adobe Premiere after realizing Pinnacle's limitations). The software indicated that an upgrade was available online - I fell for it. After downloading the upgrade, the system would not EVER run previous projects correctly, getting hung up loading audio files that had previously played fine. I also noticed a message about my audio/video drivers not being compatible with Microsoft Direct X (supposedly installed by Pinnacle initially). Suddenly, I found that I no longer could preview analog transfers, though they did in fact capture correctly. I figured the upgrade was bad, so I uninstalled and reinstalled the software. BIG mistake. Now, nothing works, the drivers for analog capture won't install, and the program is useless. I have been all over Pinnacle's website, tried all their suggestions to no avail, and tried everything I can think of on my own. Nothing works, and my posted request for help to Pinnacle has yet to be answered (I posted days ago). To summarize, this product has VERY limited capabilities for professional editing (can't separate audio and video, no support for color bars & tone, no count leader, no ability to add multiple video clips to the same point on the timeline, etc), very buggy hardware, and [disappointing] tech support. If you want to edit home movies on your PC, this is a good tool for you (though pricey for [price]). If you want professional, broadcast quality editing software, go with something like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro. This product [disappoints]!
Rating: 
Summary: no customer support
Review: Pinnacle express looks like a good program, however it would not recognize my burner. After trying several of Pinnacle's automated solutions, I tried e-mail requests. No reply. For personal service via telephone the hours available are only for those not working and they are not toll free. My Arcsoft program from Canon does recognize my burner, I still have not been able to use the software from this product. The hardware works, but forget the software and any tech support.
Rating:
Summary: no customer support
Review: Pinnacle express looks like a good program, however it would not recognize my burner. After trying several of Pinnacle's automated solutions, I tried e-mail requests. No reply. For personal service via telephone the hours available are only for those not working and they are not toll free. My Arcsoft program from Canon does recognize my burner, I still have not been able to use the software from this product. The hardware works, but forget the software and any tech support.
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