Corel VideoStudio Pro X4

Pros: This application has stop motion animation and time-lapse effects.

Cons: It takes lots of time to learn how to use this application to the fullest extent.

The Verdict: This application has great features and gives you a lot of freedom when using it.

With the release of Corel VideoStudio Pro X4, we are pleased to see another batch of improvements in an already great video editing software application. Now included in this application is a flexible workspace, enhanced timelines, stop motion animation, time-lapse animation, DVD authoring and 3D capabilities. As we tested this application we noticed how easy it was to find what we were lucking for, especially since you determine how everything looks. You no longer have to search through countless menus and dialog boxes to get the result you want. You won't be disappointed with this application and everything it has to offer.

Video Capture/Playback: 

Video playback is smooth and utilizes VideoStudio’s Smart Proxy technology. You can enjoy the high-performance video editing workstation benefits even if you don’t have a high-end machine. Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 requires fewer system resources, which results in faster, smoother playback and video editing. This is especially helpful when editing standard definition video, not to mention the beneficial effects on editing HD video, which is much more resource intensive. Corel implemented NVIDIA CUDA and GPU acceleration and second-generation Intel Core optimization to ensure this video editing software application ran quicker and smoother.

Ease of Use: 

It's easy right from the get-go to start using Corel VideoStudio Pro X4. Corel changed the interface for this video editing software application to ensure it never is an obstacle in the process. Not only are common editing tools easily accessible but the workspace is flexible. We were especially pleased to see we were able to utilize dual monitors so you can rearrange all the windows how you want. This streamlined interface simplifies the workflow during the editing process. The library and the timeline are both enhanced for this version. Not only is everything neatly organized but it is simple to find the information you are looking for. The timeline makes it that much easier to apply transitions, titles and filters to the various tracks.

Editing Tools: 

There are a lot of different options for viewing your files such as timeline or storyboard mode, which are useful for adding video, picture, text, audio, and music tracks. You can also trim or split your video into sections for better continuity, adding transitions and enhancing with effects with this video editing software.

Once you have uploaded your video you will want to trim and divide the video segment into clips. Trimming is marking the beginning and end of an entire clip, while multi-trimming is useful to divide one segment into multiple clips. Multi-trimming is extremely useful when you need to remove a scene or mark it for inclusion in a blooper reel. We found Corel VideoStudio Pro X4's trim and multi-trim tools both powerful and easy to use. It’s important to note that the video editing software application utilizes non-destructive editing, so no matter what you do to a video segment, the original is never cut or overwritten. When the application was finished trimming, the results were impressive; many of what we termed “non productive” segments were trimmed down and made individual scenes that we could move or delete.

Now you can make quick edits or combine video clips, photos, music and voiceover clips to create the perfect project. If you need to finish a project in a short amount of time, this option is one we recommend. Smart Proxy editing allows you to edit HD content just as easily as standard-def because the video editing software application uses fewer resources to focus on the editing process. This application has batch editing, which makes modifying a group of files easy.

Export/Production: 

Once your edits are complete, you can export your work to a number of formats. Standard formats include FLV files for YouTube, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, AVCHD, WMV HD, RealMedia, Windows Media and QuickTime. The newest version of this video editing software gives you the option of exporting 2D into 3D. This features is a great way to make your videos even more eye-popping. You also have the option to upload your work to Vimeo, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

Editing Effects/Transitions: 

New to this version are the stop motion animation and time-lapse effects. With stop motion, you can make animated movies of toys or objects with just a series of photographs. This is a great way to bring memories to life even if you didn’t have a video camera. The time-lapse effect creates a unique effect from footage. All the application does is removes a few of the frames and speeds up the video. This is a useful effect if you have video and want to show progression, such as a flower growing or the stars moving.

Disc Creation: 

When you create a disc you choose whether or not to include menus. These menus include selecting from a list of videos and selecting chapters within the videos. Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 comes with several different menu templates, and if you don’t like any of them you can create your own. If you don’t want to manually select chapters, VideoStudio will automatically detect scenes and make them into chapters for you. Creating a final disc is easy with the amount of options this video editing software application gives the video enthusiast. You can burn onto a DVD, Video CD or Blu-ray Disc.

Audio and Photo Editing: 

You can add audio files to your projects in Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 a number of different ways. This includes adding audio files to the library from your hard drive, ripping music from a CD, recording a voiceover clip or using SmartSound Quicktracks. You can add audio files to the library by clicking on the folder icon in the library panel. This video editing software application allows you to record voiceovers with a single click.

You can insert background music into your project with this video editing software from your hard drive or an audio CD. SmartSound Quicktracks allows you to create high-quality soundtracks from royalty-free music. Once you’ve determined which audio clips you want, you can adjust their volume, trim and cut their lengths, stretch their duration, make them fade in or out, use the surround sound mixer, adjust their stereo channels or apply audio filters to them.

Not only is it easy to tweak the music but with Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 you can import photos from a number of different formats to create a photo slideshow or customized menus. You can add a text overlay to any image and extract them from a number of different videos.

Help & Support: 

Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 comes with solid customer service options. They have a thorough knowledgebase and telephone support until 7 p.m. EST. This application also comes with a printed manual. There are multiple tutorials available for those who need a little more help getting started. Overall, we didn’t have any problems when using Corel VideoStudio Pro X4.

Summary:

Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 has everything you could want in video editing software. Not only does it provide great options for editing videos but also the pictures and music that will make your final movie stellar. There’s always a learning curve with video editing software, but Corel makes it less of a headache for first-time users thanks to a flexible workspace.