MediaStudio Pro 6.0 VE vs MediaStudio Pro 8

[Jupek]

Hi!

I decided to post a question here because I want some userpoint of view opinions about MediaStudio Pro 8...and specially from those who have used maybe old MediaStudio Pro 6.0 VE. VE is a limited version of MediaStudio VideoEditor which came long ago with my Pyro Firewire card but it has been my main editing software since.

Now I have been wondering is there any point of upgrade that to version 8 (about 200$) or should I even try to look something else. Actually I can live even with my current version and it's functionality but I wonder how much more I'll get if I upgrade or change to for example Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum -edition.

What I have liked a lot is multiple tracks in video and audio and I can add effects between tracks. Also for me even with VE has given lot of opportunities and flexibility...not just straight clip after clip style like for example Microsoft Movie Maker does.

What I know for now is that new version will include tons of new transitions, video filters and it has improved audio functionality...but on the end I wonder is it enough. I'm about to evaluate this version (and maybe Sony Vegas) and see it myself, but still others opinions would be welcome.

Currently for what I'm using the MSP is for Machinima....that is capturing online game footage, editing it, put music, dialogs, transitions/effects and publish in DivX format in internet.

[dvd3500]

Heippa Jupek,
I upgraded from 6.0 VE to 7.3 and found it worthwhile. The 16:9 and Dolby Digital support alone made it worth it but it is faster and more stable.
I have been holding off on going to 8.0 because most of the changes, 5.1 Dolby etc can be filled with freeware.
I think it is worth upgrading but maybe to a cheap 7.3 than an 8.0.

[Jupek]

I think it is worth upgrading but maybe to a cheap 7.3 than an 8.0.

Is it still possible? Couldn't find how I could do that?

[Richard_G]

I started with version 5 as, at the time, it was the only software I could find capable of doing one particular thing I needed to do. I've since gone up and am currently using 7.5. I've looked at the extra features version 8 gives me and, quite honestly, can't see that I would use any of them. The other thing to bear in mind is that you will be working with an improved version of software you already know and not having to re-learn all the different terminology and methods. There's also been times I've seen people on here asking how to do a certain thing in Premiere, Vegas, etc that I've thought, but that is so easy in MSP! You could find that if you go to something different, a feature you regularly use is either very difficuit or not supported.

Might be worth a look on eBay and see if nyone has any old stock copies of version 7.5.

[Jupek]

I started with version 5 as, at the time, it was the only software I could find capable of doing one particular thing I needed to do. I've since gone up and am currently using 7.5.

Could you point out any good technical issues from version 6.0 -> 7.5 (or 8.0) which has been changed? I mean of course there is lot of new transitions and video filters specially when you compared to 6.0 VE but so far I have found out that 90% of the times I find myself using standard fade-in/fade-out or crossfade transition and all those other transitions just extra which I don't often use.

Is there 'killer' transition/videofilters on these new versions or can someone point out any other reason to upgrade? Still wondering...and testing trial.

[Richard_G]

It isn't so much the filters and transitions, as I tend to stick to the fairly standard ones too. It's more the increased speed and stability, the ability to do realtime preview through an external monitor, better DV support, 16:9 support, AC3 Dolby audio encoding, better audio handling, etc.

All nice little improvements that just make it easier to use and more flexible. Version 8 gives things like HD support (which I don't need), a move away from A-B roll so transitions can be put on any track (again, something that may make life slightly easier bt I've got so used to A-B roll that I'm unlikely to use it) and a few extras that I simply can't see me needing.

[Jupek]

It isn't so much the filters and transitions, as I tend to stick to the fairly standard ones too. It's more the increased speed and stability, the ability to do realtime preview through an external monitor, better DV support, 16:9 support, AC3 Dolby audio encoding, better audio handling, etc.

Thanks. That kind of feedback I looked for.

Altought it would be tempting to going forward and upgrade I'm wondering is that all worth of 200$...but that I'll have to decide myself I guess. :P If the price would be lower and I could upgrade to version 7.3 or 7.5 it would enough but it seems upgrade to version 8 is only possibility I guess.

Please keep on posting if anyone still have points to give.

[CheeseSteak]

I had been using MediaStudio Pro 7 before recently switching to Sony Vegas 7. It was a better value for me with the upgrade path offered at the time ($100 for version 6 + $150 for version 7 upgrade). One big difference between MSP7 and MSP8 is that MSP8 does not use A/B editing. It is more like Vegas or PPro. Some people had difficulty switching to this method. Also, the existing project files did not always import properly due to the timeline difference. I got a lot of use out of MSP7, it can do some things that Vegas cannot. The titler is very flexible, but extremely slow for large amounts of text though. I got Studio Quartet (MSP7, Photo Impact XL, DVD Workshop 2 & Cool 3D Production Studio) for $130 on ebay from a Mac user who didn't know what he had.

[solarfox]

For me, the change from MSP7 to MSP8 has been both good and bad.

The good part (at least, the one I use regularly) is the much improved encoding engine. You can now do 2-pass VBR encoding, and you have a lot more control over the encoder -- including the ability to make it output properly-closed GOPs so that DVD-Lab doesn't keep complaining about open GOPs in the file. It also doesn't lock up or crash when encoding to AC3 audio when the source audio is also AC3, like MSP7 always used to do.

The bad part is that the change from straightforward A-B roll editing, which I've gotten used to over the last two versions and several years, confuses and annoys me greatly. I suppose I'll get used to it eventually, but I can't help wishing they'd left well enough alone, or at least provided an option to go back to the "old-style" A-B roll timeline...