Description:
MediaStudio Pro is a suite of four digital video applications (as well as a digital audio program) that work in concert with each other. There are separate applications for video capturing, video editing, frame-by-frame retouching (video painting), and text and title generation. Switching from one app to another is handled through the usual Windows Alt-Tab keyboard combo, or if the sister program isn't already running there is a "switch" menu on top that will launch the targeted program. When these applications work, they work well. The problem is that each application is a bit buggy, and the suite overall is not so easy to use. Although already up to version 6, the programs are not as mature as one would think they would be. The video painting module, for example, worked well with my mouse but refused to move the cursor when using a Wacom tablet. A painting program that doesn't recognize a drawing tablet handicaps the artist using it. The video capture module managed to work with the FireWire port on my Compaq and control my DV camera. Capturing footage on the fly (as the tape plays) was easy, but setting up a batch capture proved convoluted. The whole workflow of the capture module needs to be smoothed out and streamlined. The audio editing tool is fairly straightforward and interfaces nicely with the editor, which also works well. I especially liked the Explorer method of navigating media elements and the onscreen layout in general. The editor, in fact, is the best-working element in the suite. Overall, MediaStudio Pro has a lot to offer. Its execution and stability leave something to be desired, but then again, this is a point-zero release. Ulead surely will be addressing these issues in a 6.5 (or so) release soon. If so, MediaStudio Pro could be a tool to be reckoned with. --Mike Caputo
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