Overambitious and too complicated for the average user

POSITIVE:
- Huge range of functions
- Running on my new computer (Intel Core i5 4210U to 2.7GHz, Windows 8.1 64 bit, 8GB of memory, Nvidia GeForce 840M with 2GB DDR3 VRAM) really stable
- Powerful
- Clean render quality
- Also supports loading and saving via the local network

NEGATIVE:
- No printed manual
- Ill-considered use, too complicated for normal users and thus in many cases probably unusable
- Annoying quirks during installation

For a detailed review:

I have often stated in my reviews on video editing programs that I am not a novice in the field of video editing. It started the whole of about 16 years with the manufacturer PINNACLE, then both still be installed PCI add-on cards for analog sources as well as FireWire ports with me.

What I had learned in the years that followed to this manufacturer programs was highly appreciated the clear structure and simple, intuitive operation - albeit one made occasionally to create before the bitches and crashes. Nevertheless, the result was in the end always worth seeing and made later in the DVD version always for astonishment and admiration. All without having any occupied Film Academy courses to edit to have. Why did I make the manufacturers then turned his back from Studio version 12? There were more and more error-prone program versions and the absolutely necessary purchse of additional functions which were a matter of course here before.

So now I was hoping with Studio 18 again apply an "old friend" who gives me to re-enter the PINNACLE World. Unfortunately, that hope was disappointed from scratch. Studio 18 has nothing, absolutely nothing in common with the earlier versions. It is a completely new post-program under a familiar name comes because.

Here I had bought in preparation for this test specially a new computer, which is not yet lifted the specifications of Studio 18 with respect to full HD editing overachieved principle. The usual existing program ballast I had previously removed. As for stability, I can not complain too, only: Here remembers nothing of what I had estimated namely to the earlier versions, the most simple, intuitive easy to use. What use to me the most amazing features and options, if the access to it is complicated, strange and sometimes even really illogical?

Example? An actually quite simple thing like trimming a clip to cut superfluous or even failed Make a video recording out. This went earlier and is also now much simpler in other programs by double clicking on the clip to open a window with two small pictures that show the first and last frame me. Two markers (start and end) below it can be placed anywhere, if desired frame by frame the whole thing. A click on the play arrow will start playback and allows for testing whether the clip is now properly cut.

Exactly does not work for Studio 18. The electronic User Guide (a printed has, in contrast to earlier obviously no longer enough even with the Ultimate version) chatters itself as on the role of meaning from, but is no sensible and useful indication of how this is supposed to work in Studio 18 , Thus, the program rushes actually in the lump by me. That I forgive at all three stars is located at the periphery of the possibilities of the program, its stable running and the otherwise very good FullHD render quality. I will grind out again four more weeks with it, perhaps we shall yet again friends ...

In addition, only briefly on the installation:
Before you start you should take to install from the supplied disc rather download the latest version (18.1.0 patch of 13 February 2015) of the Pinnacle page. It saves one the trouble I had with the disc version. Here the installation begins namely in German to be continued only in English suddenly after entering the serial number. Then it hooked, accompanied by vague error messages Once the installation has completed currrent component .. Please wait until the ... Failed to install ... File: AVID.VFEditing.manifest ...
After another attempt to start it was at this point on. All in all, lasted on my computer about an hour. That should go really simple.