VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE: Ulead MediaStudio Pro 7

[Specialist]

VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE just finished publishing a new review of MediaStudio Pro 7 here:

Title: LEAD ON

"Ulead has been around as long as anyone and consistently comes out with industry-first technology before the other guys, sometimes months in advance."

"MSP7 is a technologically advanced editor (with seventh generation stability) that has a number of killer features that we expect competitors will incorporate (if they want to remain competitive) sometime in the future.

http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/article.cfm?id=9509

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Redd]

Hey Jerry, your wouldn't be a little bias...would you

[Specialist]

The author of the VIDEOMAKER review did a nice job, but he left out one key strength of Ulead MediaStudio Pro:

DVD-VR support.

Ulead MediaStudio Pro is unique in its support for high quality MPEG recorded by DVD disc camcorders and the many player/recorders based on the DVD-RAM and DVD-RW formats.

The DVD-RAM format got a major boost with this news of an alliance between Thomson (GE/RCA) and Panasonic:

http://www.thomson.net/gb/06/c03/030828.htm

As the news release explains, DVD-RAM playback support will be featured in GE and RCA DVD players beginning in 2004.

As I mentioned earlier, GE and RCA are Thomson brands.

Thomson obtained licensing rights through the year 1997 to use the GE brand.

As explained on page 5 of this PDF document...

http://www.thomson.net/gb/01/doc/refdocgb99.pdf

"In 1987, Thomson S.A. entered the North American market by purchasing the consumer electronics businesses of the General Electric Co. ("GE"), which included activities GE had developed over the years as well as those of RCA Victor, the then-leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of consumer electronics products in the U.S. market, which GE had recently acquired."

"The 1987 agreements also covered the patents relating to these activities, as well as the corresponding licensing revenues, which were transferred at a later date."

"The 1987 sale also included an exclusive license to use the GE brand for consumer electronics products until 2007."

This is a big deal for the DVD-RAM format.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[vitualis]

Since this is mostly a link to an article, I will allow this. However, if I begin to get a sense that you are advertising for Ulead, you will get more than just this written warning.

We don't allow advertising without permission on this forum.

Regards.

[Tommyknocker]

I subscribe to Videomaker. That being said, has anyone besides me noticed that knowledge and expertise on this site seems deeper than that of the magazine? I saw an article written by the Editor-in-Chief about different video media (*Yawn*).

They do have deep pockets, though, and can get their hands on state of the art equipment, vis-a-vis this article. But I cannot help but get the feeling of "where the heck is Sefy?" when they try and describe how to burn a DVD? Or did they even try to recruit Tgpo when I read one of their corny cartoons? On the other hand, it does make me realize how fortunate I was to stumble across this site. And of course, since I do not have web access in the toilet, I am not giving up my subscription just yet.

[bugster]

And of course, since I do not have web access in the toilet, I am not giving up my subscription just yet.

Laptop and home wi-fi. With current prices why not?

[Sefy]

Well, if it helps anyone, i'm working with a friend of mine who is a programmer on making the guide into a program, so you won't need any kind of webaccess, and you will be able to use it and it will look exactly like it does on the web.

However, there is a little catch, although the web guide is and always will be a free access, i'm afraid (because of the programmer) that the program will only be send to those who donated. sorry

[JasonK]

The link didnt work for me.

I played around with MSP7 quite a bit. There are a few things I like about it, but I just don't like the old interface it uses, and am particularly unhappy with the rendering quality. I also have quite a background with Premiere, and some experience with Vegas 4. But when reevaluating different software most recently, I was most impressed with Edition 5.1 (soon to be Liquid Edition 5.5.) For some reason, the realtime previewing is really fantastic, even for complete 3D effects, and with background rendering, I no longer have to wait to render. It's brought pleasure back to editing. So while Media Studio Pro 7 is a nice program, feel they need to catch up on some of these key features and improve their interface in order to compete.

[BJ_M]

consistently comes out with industry-first technology before the other guys, sometimes months in advance

ussually because its full of bugs ...

[Specialist]

ussually because its full of bugs ...

Hmmmm.

As a communications consultant for the city of Boise during a SEVEN YEAR period, I routinely used MEDIASTUDIO to produce videos on VHS, CD, and DVD.

My projects were viewed by dozens of elected officials and scores of citizens during many public meetings and conventions.

I did not find that the program was "full of bugs" as you contend.

Judging by the large number of 3rd party plug-ins written by non-Ulead companies, the MEDIASTUDIO product obviously has a large following:

1. BorisFX

http://borisfx.com/company/ulead.php

2. Boris RED

http://www.borisfx.com/products/RED/

3. Boris Factory

http://www.ulead.com/partner/app/boris/factory.htm

4. Boris Graffiti

http://www.borisfx.com/products/GRAFFITI/

5. StageTools Moving Picture and Moving Chart

http://www.stagetools.com/tutor/UleadTutorial.htm

6. Profound Effects UseFul Things LE Starter Pak

http://www.ulead.com/partner/app/profound/profound_SP.htm

7. Profound Effects Useful Things LE Expansion Pak

http://www.ulead.com/partner/app/profound/profound_EP1.htm

8. SpiceMaster 2

http://www.pixelan.com/products/all.htm

9. Vixen Video Enhancer

http://www.xentrik.demon.co.uk/ViXen/vixen.html

10. Video Tools Server

http://www.videotools.net/index.php?rub=guides&htm=announceuleadvideoserverplugin.htm

11. VFXFlash-Factory

http://www.ulead.com/partner/app/vfxflash/vfxflash.htm

12. VFXMask

http://www.ulead.com/partner/app/vfx/vfx.htm

13. Stefan Burger Transitions

http://www.burgers-transition-site.de/

14. Doc Mordrid's Picture-in-Picture Setups

http://digitalvideo.8m.net/24pip.zip

Obviously, these non-Ulead 3rd-party software companies would be crazy to develop so many plug-ins for a program that would be "full of bugs" as you have contended.

If you can actually point to a specific list or study or article that would support your "full of bugs" contention, then I would be most interested to read that material.

Otherwise, I must suspect you typed your comment without significant experience actually using the program.

Regards,

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[BJ_M]

yes i have used the program -- and yes i found it to be as not as stable as some other programs ... or as many others have reported (here and elsewhere - go to any ulead forum or even here http://download.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=ulead&tg=dl-2001&search=+Go%21+

There are some good points about many of the ulead products - but in my company -- it just doesnt cut the cake, so to speak ..

3rd party developers have developed plug-ins for many apps which don't work 100% -- that is no measure of success.. (often the plug-ins don't work either) ..

Its great that it works for Boise -- it just doesnt work for for commercial duty for what I do (i.e major motion picture and large format screen and themed attraction based entertainment for such companies as Disney, Warner bros, Imax , Iwerks, Universal, 6 flags (incl. sea world) and many many others ...

If a product stands on its own -- there is no need to defend it ...

As i stated many times (and even recommened) - ulead has a good product for people getting into editing ...

[troyvcd1]

so bjm. can we assume your a premier user. If yes what version.

[Specialist]

Its great that it works for Boise -- it just doesnt work for for commercial duty for what I do (i.e major motion picture and large format screen and themed attraction based entertainment for such companies as Disney, Warner bros, Imax , Iwerks, Universal, 6 flags (incl. sea world) and many many others ... If a product stands on its own -- there is no need to defend it ...

Since you've decided to share your credentials, I'll return the favor and mention some of the professional experience I have beyond city government consulting.

I spent more than a decade working *directly* in television news.

I worked "on-air" as a television anchor/reporter - five days a week - here...

http://www.ktvb.com

...where I became one of the most visible journalists in Idaho.

Some of my reports were also aired on CNN.

I can assure you that had Ulead MediaStudio Pro existed during the 80s and 90s - when I worked at KTVB - the program could have easily been integrated into that station's edit bays instead of the Avids that are used there now.

In fact, Ulead MediaStudio Pro could today be integrated into virtually any newsroom or commercial production division of a local television station.

During my first two years in television, I worked for the former ABC affiliate KPVI Channel 6, which broadcasts to viewers in eastern Idaho, western Wyoming and southern Montana.

At that time, KPVI was owned by United States Senator William Armstrong who gave me an amazing opportunity to gain experience at a relatively young age in virtually every facet of local television - writing, editing, and producing.

I routinely shot and edited pieces for the evening news.

I routinely produced newscasts.

I routinely delivered news, weather, and sports.

Later I moved to Boise - home of NBC affiliate KTVB Channel 7, which is the dominant broadcast news organization in Idaho.

During my career at KTVB, I won my fair share of awards from the Idaho Press Club, the Idaho Associated Press Broadcasters Association.

I covered major news stories here in Idaho.

I also routinely completed assignments outside of Idaho - in foreign nations and in large urban centers such as Washington, D.C. where I covered Senate Hearings, etc.

Ulead MediaStudio Pro - when used by *trained* individuals who have spent sufficient time to truly learn it - is rock solid stable just as the VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE article confirmed.

Is it going to be as recognized and widely used as Avid in the commercial TV arena?

No.

Can it be used to produce the same quality?

Yes.

Moreover, Ulead's product manager has already announced that the program will be the first in its price category to offer support for the new prosumer HDTV MPEG formats.

I'm not sure which "major motion pictures" with which you've been associated as you didn't mention any details.

But Ulead MediaStudio Pro is routinely used by aspiring filmmakers.

One of the individuals that comes to mind is Clay Kronke.

Clay is renowned for his ability to use Ulead's Video Paint program to rotoscope spectacular light saber duels that look every bit as authentic as the light saber effects used in the actual Star Wars films.

If you have a high speed connection, spend the time and download Kronke's BRAINS AND STEEL fan film:

http://www.theforce.net/theater/shortfilms/brains/

All of the light saber rotoscope work was done in Ulead MediaStudio Pro.

I also am aware of at least one established film director who has used Ulead MediaStudio Pro - quietly - for several years to assemble rough cuts for feature films.

I'll have to ask for his permission to use his name, however.

I'm sorry your experience wasn't more positive.

Frankly, I'm also disappointed that your experience was somehow so negative that you felt it necessary to describe the product as being "full of bugs."

It isn't.

I've surveyed many other NLEs on the market.

From Avid to Speed Razor to Silver to Discreet.

All of them have strengths and weaknesses.

I don't think I have ever felt the need - after reading a positive review of the ones that I don't personally care for - to bash them in a forum thread such as this.

I'm not sure I understand why you felt that was necessary.

Regards,

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

Speaking of theme parks, Ulead MediaStudio Pro is used to produce videos in one of America's largest aquarium complexes - the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration in Mystic, Connecticut.

[Gees]

It's the nature of your posts and this one in particular.

Even I, as an avid Ulead user fan, find them excrutiatingly irritating. They are, as has been said before by others, "biased".

As forum members we're happy to provide info on the programs we use, but we almost always also include it's shortcomings, whether it's price, ease of use, support facilities, whatever.

Ulead software is already conveniently linked in the software section, and readily available for any site visitor to explore and yet nearly every one of your posts includes numerous links to various sections on the Ulead site. And now, links to all the plug-ins.

Enough already.

[vitualis]

It was perhaps necessary to provide counterpoint to your unbalanced praise.

It has been noted by several members that you seem to be advertising for Ulead on several occasions, rather than simply providing personal experience. I continue to get a strong sense of this.

If you post one more post where I feel that you are advertising for Ulead, I will give you a formal warning.

Regards.

[Specialist]

It was perhaps necessary to provide counterpoint to your unbalanced praise.

I would point out it was actually VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE's D. Eric Franks who wrote the "praise" that I quoted at the beginning of this thread.

(The pointer to the article by Mr. Franks has expired.)

Mr. Frank's review in VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE was simply one of many 3rd-party, positive magazine reviews that have been referenced by other individuals who have made similar posts about competing products to this forum.

For that reason, I didn't feel I had done anything not in accordance with past tradition on this forum.

My post - as you noted earlier - included only the link and two sentences quoting review author D. Eric Franks.

Mr. Franks has written numerous positive reviews for numerous competing products - all of which have their merits - and I feel all of these magazine reviews make a positive contribution to the body of knowledge accumulated in this forum.

So when BJ_M went out of his way to dismiss Mr. Franks' published article attesting to the stability of the MediaStudio Pro product - I was curious to know the motivation that would explain why a DVDRHelp.com moderator would go out of his way to single out a product that way when we all know that other individuals have posted positive links to reviews about other products and BJ_M left them alone.

I wondered...

Was BJ_M aware of an article somewhere detailing an exhaustive study offering a contrasting conclusion that might add to the body of knowledge concerning this NLE?

Or did your moderator simply express a personal viewpoint?

(Which seems to be the case.)

By the way, could you be so kind as to advise:

Do you own this forum?

If so, could you e-mail me privately?

I have some questions that I wish to direct - privately - to the individual responsible for this forum.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[yongkuk]

After visiting your link it is obvious that you are in someway connected to Ulead. This is in direct breach of the forum rules.

[BJ_M]

just to set the record straight -
i don't use premiere .. it is a an ok editor , but i was never crazy about it ..(do own some lic. for various versions though) . (the new premiere pro has many great features and looks to be a winner)

I use an avid system, shake, fusionHD, various sgi apps , dps/leitch and Vegas and speedrazor HD and other apps ...

and tried many other applications ..

Our several studios currently use maya and softimage for film work and render on renderman ..

[holistic]

Help - The web has been hit by the JJ_virus

http://www.matthawkins.co.uk/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1104
http://www.abcdv.com/forum/message/429/
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=172#comments
http://www.3dfaq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=498&c=1
http://www.ulead.com/userstory/msp/jerryJ.htm
http://www.slashcam.de/dv-l/DV-L-1585.html
http://mailgate.supereva.it/comp/comp.graphics.apps.ulead/

...The City of Boise Public Works Department provides a wide array of environmental services such as wastewater treatment...,

I think we are getting that treatment here now.

[yongkuk]

I know let's rename this site www.dvdr_ulead_help.com

[Deisel Weisel]

Help - The web has been hit by the JJ_virus

http://www.matthawkins.co.uk/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1104
http://www.abcdv.com/forum/message/429/
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=172#comments
http://www.3dfaq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=498&c=1
http://www.ulead.com/userstory/msp/jerryJ.htm
http://www.slashcam.de/dv-l/DV-L-1585.html
http://mailgate.supereva.it/comp/comp.graphics.apps.ulead/

...The City of Boise Public Works Department provides a wide array of environmental services such as wastewater treatment...,

I think we are getting that treatment here now.

LOL!! Nice one Holistic! You missed out the Computer Video forums though. He's just as prolific over there... http://www.dvdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002857.html

Someone asking specifically just for a burning program.. http://www.dvdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002802.html ..and JJ recommends Ulead DVD Workshop!

To spend so much time spamming Ulead, he can only be a part timer at the Public Works Dept.

[Gees]

JJ. The Undisputed King of Cut & Paste!

[housepig]

Jerry -

I won't presume to speak for anyone else, but for me, the tone of your posts, not just this thread but most of them, makes you seem less like an enthusiastic user of Ulead's products, and more like a compensated PR flack.

the relentless touting of Ulead products, the incessant linking & cut 'n' pasting, and most specifically the times I've seen you post 3 paragraphs of press release when one line of actual instruction would answer a question, all conspire to taint your posts with a strong odor of Infomercial.

[fourthquark]

Specialist (Jerry),

I see you have brought your "unbiased" opinions on Ulead to this forum from the MediaStudio forum at www.wwug.com. I used to find your postings there annoying and I see that nothing has changed.

And what's with the credentials missive - are we feeling a little insecure today?

I truly hope that you are connected to Ulead in some way. Otherwise your relentlessly obsessive and unquestioning support, promotion and proselytizing of a particular software company comes across as religious fanaticism, or perhaps borderline neurosis.

Get a grip guy. Your technical expertise on using Ulead products can be a valuable contribution to the forum (e.g., your posting on hidden settings in MF2). But stop trying to "convert" us. Ulead products can stand on their own merits.

[JasonK]

Ulead DV editing is still based on the Microsoft DV codec. While other applications have moved on to include their own codec, Ulead sticks with this low quality codec. Jerry has posted time and time again that this doesn't matter, but you see Ulead users always talking about the MainConcept DV codec workarounds to avoid rendering with the MS DV codec when at all possible. Jerry also mentioned the frame server plugin that is available, but he failed to mention that people requested it primarilly to avoid having to do any rendering/encoding with the codecs/encoder used by Ulead.

Ulead software is already conveniently linked in the software section, and readily available for any site visitor to explore and yet nearly every one of your posts includes numerous links to various sections on the Ulead site. And now, links to all the plug-ins.

Enough already

Now just NOW, but Jerry has been posting these lists of plugins as well as his credentials for several years that I'm aware of. A simple search of google will verify that.

At one point, he was linking to "sales" of Ulead products directly off his websight (possibly a kickback?), some of his comments in the past suggest he is probably a beta tester and has inside information from Ulead (which I think means "free" software from Ulead to him). It looks like he's got a vested interest, and I would almost bet he owns Ulead stock. hehe Yes, it's pretty clear that his completely one-sided biased and excessive posts about Ulead products on nearly every webboard I go to show there is something more to this than a little friendly experience "sharing." I could be wrong though.

In the mean time, I will continue to use Pinnacle Edition (soon to be Liquid Edition 5.5) as the rest of the Ulead MSP7 users who are "leaving" Media Studio in droves to find the promise land with Pinnacle Liquid products.