Pinnacle Studio

Infobox_Software
name = Pinnacle Studio


caption = Pinnacle Studio 11 in Windows Vista
developer = Pinnacle Systems
latest_release_version = 12
latest_release_date = June 2, 2008
latest preview version = None
latest preview date = None
operating_system = Windows XP, Windows Vista
genre = Video editing software
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.pinnaclesys.com pinnaclesys.com]

Pinnacle Studio is a non-linear video editing software application manufactured by Pinnacle Systems, a division of Avid Technology. It is the consumer level counterpart to Pinnacle's former professional level software, Liquid Edition (now Avid Liquid). It also inherits from VOB Computersysteme's Instant CD/DVD. Studio allows users to author video content, create VCD/DVDs with menus and burn them without the need for any additional software.

Pinnacle Studio may be purchased separately, but is also included in bundled packages with various video capture hardware devices. These include analog and digital capture, either as PCI cards or connection via USB. In September 2007, Pinnacle released new versions of their Moviebox devices, including HDV and AVCHD support, shipped with their new Studio products.

In addition, a cut-down "SE" version entitled "Pinnacle Studio QuickStart" was included with the "Dazzle" (another USB capture device) and "Pinnacle PCTV" products, though since the release of Studio 12, the QuickStart version has been discontinued; Dazzle Video Creator Platinum now ships with the regular basic version of Studio, and the PCTV products ship with VideoSpin (see below).

Versions

Since version 9, Studio has been sold in two editions: "Studio" and "Studio Plus", with some additional functionality in the "Plus" edition, notably a second video track. This allowed Overlay and Picture-in-Picture.

Studio 10 and Studio 10 Plus were released on the 17 August 2005. While retaining the same user interface as Studio 9, the code base was taken from Liquid Edition, now called Avid Liquid. Real time preview at full resolution was introduced along with the ability to mix PAL, NTSC, 4:3 and 16:9 footage on the timeline. The standard version of Studio 10 has fewer features than the standard version of Studio 9, but Studio 10 Plus offers further enhancements including HD editing. Version 10.7 Plus allows users (after purchasing a premium feature) to burn High Definition video to standard DVD media that will then replay on the Toshiba HD-DVD players. Vista compatibility was added in version 10.8.

Pinnacle released Studio 11 in June 2007. It features three versions: Studio, Studio Plus, and Studio Ultimate. All three are designed to be compatible with Windows Vista and feature a new scalable interface and replace Smartsounds music generation with Scorefitter, a midi-based version written in-house.

Studio 11 Plus added native HDV and AVCHD editing, and HD DVD from standard discs. Keyframing became possible on most effects. Bluray AVCHD to standard DVDs was added in S11.1.1.

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate became the new top-of-the-line consumer video editing application. It included Soundsoap PE, an advanced sound-cleaning tool, Dolby 5.1 Surround encoding, proDAD VitaScene, and Moving Picture, a precision pan and zoom. A green-screen sheet to produce the chroma key effects with is also included in the full Ultimate version, or can be purchased separately.

Studio 12 was released in June 2008. Enhancements to the editing features include markers that can be placed on the timeline "on the fly", improved audio controls and the addition of Montage, which allows multi-layered video and still composites to be generated within pre-defined templates. MOD import and FLV output was added, as was direct upload to YouTube (similar to arch-competitors iMovie and Adobe Premiere Elements).

The Plus and Ultimate versions also add full Blu-ray disc burning with menus. Ultimate comes with Vitascene as in S11, but replaces Soundsoap and Moving Picture with Boris Graffiti 5.1 and Magic Bullet Looks SE. A new addition is the Content Transfer Window which should allow you to import any plug-ins or premium content purchased for Studio 10 or 11.

VideoSpin

In the second half of 2007, Pinnacle introduced VideoSpin, a freely downloadable non-linear video editor similar to Studio but with several features missing. Some of the missing features include the storyboard, the ability to capture digital and analogue video, the video and audio toolboxes, the SmartSound/Scorefitter music generator, SmartMovie capabilities and DVD burning. Projects created in VideoSpin may be opened and edited in Pinnacle Studio 11, though not vice-versa, and once a project has been loaded in Studio, it may not again be reloaded in VideoSpin.

An advanced codec pack can be purchased allowing users to use MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and DiVX codecs, all of which are available freely for the first 15 days after installation.

VideoSpin is also included with the Pinnacle PCTV products, replacing Studio QuickStart.

Criticism

Early releases were criticized for crashing and running slowly. [ [http://www.amazon.com/review/R1TQXMD0MUVJGS/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1TQXMD0MUVJGS Amazon.com: Nom de Plume's review of Pinnacle Studio 10.0 - Video Editing ] ] The software has regularly been the subject of harsh reviews and a disproportionate number of disgruntled users [http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/review/2007/05/24/Pinnacle-Studio-Plus-version-11/comments] , especially on Pinnacle's forums. Some of the older Pinnacle, and all the Dazzle, capture devices don't have 64-bit drivers available.

Studio 11.1 (now currently 11.1.2) has been more stable than many previous early releases of the product, but there are still a variety of outstanding bugs [http://www.studiobugs.net] [http://forums.pinnaclesys.com/forums/thread/165326.aspx] .

Personal Computer World in the UK gave 11 Ultimate the "Editor's Choice" award in a group test of Video editing software under £100 in the November 2007 edition.

Pinnacle has been criticised for cynical marketing practices because the company requires additional fees to "activate" numerous functions of the software. However, none of the bonus material is a "function", and without unlocking Studio 11 Plus and Ultimate still contain the features advertised, which are on par with its rivals.

References

External links

* [http://www.pinnaclesys.com Pinnacle Systems website]