Ulead VS8 or 9 users questions?

[MAXIMUS01CAN]

Howdy,

I've been using VS7 for quite some time now and like the ease of completing the capture/editing/authoring/dvd format, but I'm thinking of upgrading to 8 or 9. Just a couple questions.

1) Is there more flexibility in the authoring portion of VS8 or 9? I don't like the way you can't move around the menu's or text as they sometimes get in the road of each other?

2) Overall what have you found to be the best enhancements to these products and is it worth the $$$

3) Will VS8 or 9 convert the projects I've already created in 7 and if it does convert them if I uninstall the trial will VS7 read those same projects back to 7 from 8 or 9?

4) Off topic, but are there any good guides for using Cool3D. I'd like to be able to make some better opening video's for my dvd's, but havn't found any real good guides for making them.

Thanks much in advance,
Max

[FSCfilm]

The upgrade is pretty good. More capturing options, scene detection and whatnot. I couldnt go into full detail with the new features, Ill just say I recall being very content when i received the new version, but then again I didnt pay for it myself. Check consumer reveiws, thats probably a better bet for information

[thecoalman]

1) Is there more flexibility in the authoring portion of VS8 or 9? I don't like the way you can't move around the menu's or text as they sometimes get in the road of each other?

The menus are still pretty much template based which can be customised slightly.

2) Overall what have you found to be the best enhancements to these products and is it worth the $$$

I belive most of the enhancements are for the editing side giving you more editing options.

3) Will VS8 or 9 convert the projects I've already created in 7 and if it does convert them if I uninstall the trial will VS7 read those same projects back to 7 from 8 or 9?

According them you can go up, can't go down though.

[GeorgeW]

coming from VS7, some of the major improvements (imho) are:
-the automated Movie Making wizard -- can create a nice finished video with just a few clicks (complete with intro and outro)
-the ability to create soundtracks custom fit to your required length (using a version of Smartsound's Quicktracks)
-better video filters, more titling effects, and chroma keying
-I think the authoring is slightly enhanced, I don't really use it as I have other Authoring tools.

If you need to move thumbnails and text on your menus, then the new MovieFactory 4.0 DC was given that ability. But it's more of an Authoring package (with some basic editing functionality). To get way more Authoring control within the Ulead family, you would have to go to Ulead's DVD Workshop 2.x (Full or Express)