Thinking about buying Pinnacle Studio 8

[jjvb]

I have been trying to get Studio 8 to work properly for a couple of weeks now. It seems to be fine, but when I go to create a dvd, I get a "Failed to compile disc" error message with no explanation of why. I then try it again with exactly the same input and it works. It is about 50/50. Then I burn the dvd and chapter buttons don't go to the proper chapter and I have video/audio sync problems. I have given up on PS8.

That said, I downloaded the trial version of TMPGenc DVD Author and really like it. No problems creating the dvd structure and the dvd played flawlessly. Give it a try.

[Will Hay]

Don't mention it, and thanks for missing my point.
WH.

Ok, I'l call your bluff. What point?

I read it several times and all I can come up with is "I'm smarter than everyone else because when something doesn't work for me I don't complain I just move on".

This isn't the place, you know that and plus, I can't be bothered.
I'm not one for hijacking topics, you may well be but I made my point, I can't be responsible for every person on the planet interpreting it correctly.
Please, stop your bleating (j)
Although saying that, if it's keeping you up at night (j) then yes, okay, just for you, I'll help you in your personal development (j) and discuss it privately but I really don't want to.
Will Hay

I've added (j) each time I've made a stab at light-hearted humour.
Please, don't misunderstand that.
Will

[richardt]

Wait and get Studio 9, people are running it. There's a crack for it. Good reports I hear

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning.
/ Moderator BJ_M !! no cracks !!

[sheryl]

I've been using Pinnacle products for a few years now and think they've come a long way from my first version which was Studio 7.
I'm not an expert by any means and I've read where people have had many problems using Studio 7 and 8 but here's what I've learned on my own and here's what I'm using to capture video.
I think one of the most important things in making a video is what you're using to capture your video and what kind of video card you're using.
I myself have gotten excellent quality using Pinnacle DC10 Plus with the Studio 8 software. I recently bought a new computer with a DVD burner because I wanted to transfer all my VHS analog tapes to DVDs. I'm still in the learning process but I've transfered a 27 min. analog video to my computer, burned it using Nero 6 and the quality was excellent. You'd never know this was copied, in fact it's probably clearer then the VHS tape itself. No out of sync and no flaws.
I also experimented with making a short DVD by using the Studio 8 burn to disk option and again, the quality was perfect.
I have DC10 Plus connected to my VCR using RCA cables and my VCR is standing alone. In other words, I don't have it connected to a TV set since my computer isn't near any TV sets.

I also have Dazzle DV Creator 80 which I purchased before they merged with Pinnacle and found my videos would be out of sync, even if I used the Studio 8 software which is why I mentioned earlier that your capturing device is probably one of the most important features as far as getting good quality.

I think you have to remember, that just because something doesn't work well for one person, doesn't necessarily mean it won't work right for you. I think the software is excellent but unless you have the right components that make up capturing a video, editing a video, and burning a video, you probably won't have good luck with it.

[presto]

Will Hay,
You're pretty much bullet-proof aren't you? "You missed my point", "This isn't the place", "Don't have time".

I guess the next time I make a comment and the poster responds evasively I'll just let it go.

[Will Hay]

Will Hay,
You're pretty much bullet-proof aren't you? "You missed my point", "This isn't the place", "Don't have time".

I guess the next time I make a comment and the poster responds evasively I'll just let it go.

Please do, you're getting on my nerves.
Now either shut up or do what I suggested, whinge at me via PM.
WH.

[presto]

Will Hay,
I have as much interest in talking to you privately as you have in talking to me here.

I'll let my original comment on your post stand. Everything after that was a waste of time. (accept this one)

I think we're done.

[sigpop]

trying to steer this thread back on topic...

i had the same requirements--converting my 8 mm to dvd. my vid cam had only the rca jack outputs. i ended up buying a winfast leadtek 2000 xp deluxe card. its a tv tuner card that accepts analog inputs. i use the software that came with it to capture my home movies as raw uncompressed .avis.

then i use tmpenc to convert to mpeg2 format.

i am still evaluating different dvd authoring packages. i really liked the pinnacle 8 interface as it easily allowed me to do everything i wanted. however it was unable to ultimately burn my dvd even after patching the software.

i did try a dazzle usb capture device. it worked poorly as i found myself with many of the problems others had posted in their forums.

[aero]

what kind of idiot would make such a statement when Pinnacle is bundled with many products?

Windows is bundled with every computer, too. Seriously, being bundled isn't a barometer of quality; it simply means that Company X was able to get a more favorable discount for Product A than it could for Product B.

Pinnacle Studio 8 is notorious for being an all-or-nothing product. When it works, it works very well. When it doesn't, it's a nightmare. IMHO, Pinnacle bit off way more than they could chew with Studio 8, and it's cost them in both reputation and sales. Studio 9 had better be one step below God if Pinnacle wants to get them back.

I agree. My point had to do with someone calling someone else an idiot for using several pinnacle products, implying they kept buying them even though they were constantly problematic. My point was I have gotten several different pinnacle products bundled with hardware purchases as have many people.

Again one just has to look to pinnacles own support forums to understand how flawed studio 8 was. sure there were the expected questions from people who didn't know much. But there were many many questions over the life of the product by clearly expert users with advanced pc's whjo were having synch problems that were never, ever seriously answered.

I made several postings and sent several emails to support about OOS specifying that the source file was already in perfect synch and EVERY answer I got had to do with something allegedly wrong with my source and not studio 8.

[northcat_8]

IMHO, Pinnacle bit off way more than they could chew with Studio 8

I agree with that. I think the studio 8 software was created trying to be the "end all" or "do it all" software and that has lead to problems.

I also agree with the "all or nothing" comment. While I cannot get it to render a DVD for me. It will do everything else. Now there are several little annoying bugs in it that get tiresome for me....but that's not saying they would be there for you.

Like I said, I like it, it does what I need it to do....capture. I also have never had any problem with audio sync which has been a major issue for several users...guess it skipped me

I pretty much just use mine to capture and render. I crop the clips and transition them in S8, but any special effects or special transitions (my creations) I use adobe photoshop, premiere and after effects. Then bring those into S8 and render them into the video. And then I use DVDWS or Vegas Video to make the DVD.

My favorite thing about S8 is the ability to render and output to almost any video type. AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, RM, WMV. If it would just output DivX that would be it.

I really suggest if you are thinking of buying it, check out:

www.mikeshaw.co.uk and www.videoguys.com

and when it comes time to make the choice...get the AV/DV card, so you get all the possible hook ups. Better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

Pinnacle's support does suck. Do not go there and bad mouth their products, they will delete the thread. Their Bulletin Boards are flooded with people with issues and it seems the only advise they give is to uninstall, reg delete and reinstall. Which never works by the way.......

[MJPollard]

Pinnacle's support does suck. Do not go there and bad mouth their products, they will delete the thread. Their Bulletin Boards are flooded with people with issues and it seems the only advise they give is to uninstall, reg delete and reinstall. Which never works by the way.......

And, more to the point, shouldn't be necessary. I don't know of any other major software product that is so touchy as to require this level of "cure"... well, except for Windows, of course. When a product requires so many work-arounds from some people (and we aren't talking just one or two, mind you) in order to get it to work... well, I could ramble on and on, but you get the point.

[Redd]

I need capturing software

I've been using Studio for a year now with very little problems. In the beginning I did have some OSS issues that I resolved by using Scenalyzer for capture. All OOS issues resolved when I swithched to Sceanalyzer for capture both analog and DV.
I've already pre-ordered Studio 9 upgrade and looking forward to it. I have no problems recommending Studio.

Studio 9 is supposed to ship in the U.S. on Feb 15th 2004.

[Redd]

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