Pinnacle Studio HD 15 Ultimate

When a chunk of software program reaches its 15th model, you’d count on it to be a fairly finely honed expertise. But, like Star Trek motion pictures, there have been Pinnacle Studio updates of better or lesser excellence alongside the way in which. Taking a scan down the function checklist, Pinnacle Studio HD 15 isn’t an enormous enchancment over its predecessor. However, it does have nearly sufficient new options to warrant the quantity revision.

Pinnacle was bought by Avid a number of years in the past, and the corporate’s semi-professional Liquid software program was discontinued after version 7. Although Studio persists, it too now has a questionable future since Avid launched its own-branded Studio software program.

However, there are clear interface distinctions between the 2. Although each share the identical underlying code base, their interfaces are slightly completely different, and Pinnacle Studio nonetheless holds the higher hand for ease of use. This was the primary mainstream consumer-grade video modifying app to take a tabbed strategy to the phases of the method, and it’s nonetheless the simplest app for novices to become familiar with in its class.

The most main function enhancement with Studio HD 15 is its capability to archive initiatives. This is far more subtle than merely saving your modifying selections, as transferring simply the file containing these to a brand new system will depart all of the media they seek advice from behind. Even for those who do copy over your media listing, it’s nonetheless simple to overlook the odd file. The new archive facility gathers each file referenced within the mission timeline and places these with an archive reference file in a single folder you’ll be able to copy to detachable storage.

This can then be imported into any system working Studio HD 15, though
it can additionally want any plug-ins was once put in and activated.
Since solely the information included on the timeline are saved within the archive,
the latter’s measurement could be deceptively small, though you might be advised this
proper initially of the method so you’ll be able to select storage with
ample remaining capability.

You then transport this archive to a brand new system working Pinnacle Studio HD 15 and import it. The software program will immediate you for a brand new location to place the media information, which have to be on a drive quick sufficient for video modifying. So when you’ve got used a Flash reminiscence key for transportation, you received’t be modifying the mission on that. Instead, it will likely be transferred to the native disk of your selection first.

The archive instrument is undoubtedly a helpful function, however we’re not completely positive what number of Pinnacle Studio customers can be shifting initiatives between a number of machines, or working collaboratively. It’s undoubtedly nice for mothballing your work able to be reloaded sooner or later if wants be, although.

Most of the remaining new options revolve round preserving format help as contemporary as potential. You can now import MKVs, and Studio HD 15 will even search them for scenes. With the rising recognition of MKVs because the format of selection for Internet video sharing, this can be a welcome addition, though we’ve to confess that not all MKVs are authorized in provenance.

The improved importing is surpassed by the extra export codecs. QuickTime can now be exported at as much as Full HD, as can DivX Plus HD, which is the official identify for DivX’s MKV-based H.264 HD video format. The MPEG-2 TS export class now gives an AVCHD Lite possibility, in addition to normal AVCHD and Sony PS3-compatible HD. The YouTube presets now embody presets all the way in which as much as Full HD, too. So the entire presently hottest methods to observe video are coated.

Pinnacle can also be claiming appreciable efficiency enhancements over the past model. However, that is nonetheless a 32-bit app, when half the competitors has now moved over to 64-bit, notably Adobe Premiere Elements 10 and CyberLink PowerDirector.

Another notable absence is help for any type of 3D. Whilst the jury remains to be out whether or not 3D will actually turn out to be common, significantly as a client video capturing format, not having the choice does place Pinnacle Studio HD behind a few of its opponents for those who do wish to check out the newest traits. CyberLink’s PowerDirector 10 Ultra significantly stands out right here.

So there aren’t that many options to entice customers of model 14 to improve, however for those who’re nonetheless utilizing an earlier model, then you’ll be able to make the most of model 14’s enhancements. These embody a cease movement seize utility, and within the case of the Ultimate model on check right here a few succesful results plug-ins from Red Giant.

As the identify suggests, Red Giant’s ToonIt transforms your footage right into a quasi-cartoon look, and Knoll Light Factory provides issues like lens flares to your footage, with a very prime quality finish end result.

Both Scorefitter and GoodSound SonicFire Pro background music technology plug-ins are actually included with Pinnacle Studio HD 15. Whilst Scorefitter is considerably restricted, the GoodSound software program requires activation, costing £24.95. So while it’s nice to see the return of this highly effective loop-based music creation instrument, Pinnacle has performed its common trick of tantalising you with choices that can price you additional to activate.

In reality, Pinnacle’s behavior of creating you pay additional for results packs and different add-ons, most of which are actually bundled with the Avid-branded Studio, is finally the downfall of the Ultimate variations, which don’t offer you a lot out of the field.

Verdict

Pinnacle Studio has been a daily favorite for newcomers to video modifying, with version 12 incomes a Recommended award. However, the message isn’t fairly so clear for model 15. This remains to be an amazing sub-£100 video modifying app, however the Ultimate and Ultimate Collection variations have been overshadowed by their very own Avid Studio stablemate. The latter could also be extra advanced to make use of for the newcomer, but it surely bundles a complete lot extra for the cash. Only the fundamental Studio HD 15 makes apparent sense, as a starter video modifying app. Its £45 worth means it stays wonderful worth for the newbie.