I purchased Pinnacle Ver 8, should I open it?

[tkelman]

First, thanks to everyone who answered my very first question. I apologize for sounding so dumb at this. I am learning with alot of practice! Please be patient with me. I discovered that the software Pinnacle SE Ver 7 that I got with my PC didn't burn directly to CD or DVD....dah! No wonder the problems!!! Ha. Anyway, I went out and purchased Pinnacle Ver 8. The box reads that it will output to VCD, SVCD with optional CD-R or CDRW drive and DVD with optional DVD-R DVD-RW or DVD+RW drive. This means that I do not have to burn the CD or DVD through a 3rd party correct? What is all this +- stuff? My husband purchased DVD+R discs. Am I correct when I say that I can not burn DVD+R discs with this software? I did finally get to burn a CD and play it on my Samsung P421 but the quality was AWFUL!! When I burn it to DVD, will I get better quality?

Okay, stop laughing! Ha! Sorry for sounding so dumb! I need your help! You guys are such experts!
Thanks
Tina

[tygrus2000]

I use Studio 8 quite often and like it a lot. One thing to note that if you do open it, there are a ton of updates and upgrades on the Pinnacle website that should be installed to fix bugs and stuff, but all and all not a bad program.

I like it for the motion menu functionality since it seems to be one of the best out there for that, however, it will only burn DVD-R formats, not the + formats. (- is for video, + is for data/video.) I also dont think it will burn to DVDRW. Works fine to VCD/SVCD also but you will have to be careful not to let it encode your material, use another program for that like TMPGEnc or MainConcept. Of course DVD will be much better quality but I wouldnt let Studio 8 encode that content either.

Tygrus

[Solarjetman]

I like Studio 8 myself as well. I use it for video editing and capturing only though. I do not like the encoding part.

[Bob W]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=235#comments

[bobinga]

I like Studio 8 myself as well. I use it for video editing and capturing only though. I do not like the encoding part.

I have s7 and bought s8, had many conflicts on my computer and returned it. What are the differences in 7 and 8 if you take away the burning feature. Am currently experimenting with s7 and Movie Maker 2 to burn and Edit studio4 and MM2.

Actually did a direct burn onto a -RW yesterday with MM2 and was pretty quick.

God Bless
Bob

[g_shocker182]

I once trusted Studio 8 to burn my project to DVD. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. For reliable DVD burning I'd use (what I now do) Studio 8 to just create the disc content. I have ImgClassic to make an ISO file out of that and then I use EasyDVDCreater (OEM burning application) to burn the ISO.

[Will Hay]

I absolutely love it, love it!
Although I don't, and won't, use it for everything.
For instance, it's superb for capturing DV footage but horrendous at analogue.
I use it for editing and adding transitions this, for me, is where it really shines.
I don't use it for enocoding, not becuase I think it's crap but because I love TMPGEnc.
I also don't use it for authoring as I don't know how and I know how to use Ulead Movie Factory
A lot more steps in making my dvd from my camcorder than most people will think necessary, but I feel my final output is superb (thanks in the main to the awesome and simple-t-use- editing facility of Studio 8.
Will

.....one thing I would add is I read many people here have problems with it, but it was flawless for me (WinXP by the way).