Movie Studio vs Premier Elements

Lcymru wrote on 7/22/2006, 10:44 AM
I use Movie Studio + DVD 6 Platinum. I like it. I have been asked for a recommendation by a friend for software to convert digitally captured 8 mm analog tapes (typically 2 hours in length) to DVD. My first reaction was to recommend Movie Studio + DVD 6.

But Movie Studio + DVD 6 does not use VBR video encoding, nor does it use Dolby AC3 audio encoding. I understand that both these features would allow one to accommodate longer (timewise) projects at higher quality (versus CBR and LPCM) onto a DVD (without resorting to iffy double layer discs). From what I can tell, Adobe Premier Elements offers both features at about the same price as Movie Studio. But I have never used Premier Elements.

So, I am not sure which one I should recommend. Any opinions would be very much appreciated.

Comments

rustier wrote on 7/22/2006, 3:42 PM
Are you - or your friend going to be doing any editing or just converting straight to dvd? What seems to be tipping the scales (or at least bobbling them) has little to do with Movie studio. To be honest I haven't seen Premier Elements so I have no comment other than I would guess it is a response to Vegas Movie Studio - if they were smart they would at least try to match if not throw something "extra" in. Do they offer a trial version like Sony? I have been away from the software (on a daily basis) for a little while but I seem to recall options of variable bit rate or constant bit rate in the DVD portion of VMS so you may want to recheck that. As far as quality goes I am not sure where you are getting you information, but it has been my experience that what comes out is only as good as what goes in - no strike that - actually you can make it better in VMS - dont know about premier.

Personally I am sold on the quality, stability and the user friendly nature of Vegas Movie Studio and DVD. Everybody out there wrestles with getting 6 pounds of stuff in a five pound bag - I consider it part of the challenge and fun.

Perhaps you should go to the Premier elements forum web site and fish around for some feed back. I wonder if they offer a trial version and a forum like this where you can get help almost immediately on just about anything from newbies to guru's?
dibbkd wrote on 7/22/2006, 8:12 PM
I've never used Premier Elements, but they do have a trial version of the software:

Adobe Trials

I know how stable Vegas is, and that was my main reason for getting it. And all the other features are icing on the cake!
Lcymru wrote on 7/22/2006, 9:20 PM
Thank you for your input, though I would appreciate hearing from someone who has used both PE2 and Movie Studio.

@Rustier: I am not sure whether VBR video uses DVD space more efficiently, but I do know (because I have converted LPCM to AC3) that AC3 saves a *lot* of space. Not sure about this stated ratio, but www.kellyindustries.com says "The main reason for AC3 is that it makes the file size much smaller than that of PCM. There is about a 11:1 file size reduction. Clearly this is a major advantage over PCM especially with DVD-Video." Although my friend's intial effort will be to do a quick and dirty burn to DVD, I doubt that he would want to buy two programs, i.e., PE for the quick and dirty and Movie Studio for editing. So, I am trying to make an informed recommendation of one or the other.

@dibbkd: Stability is of course very important, and I have been to the Adobe Premier forum. A few issues with PE are noted, but without looking through every post it does not appear that PE is in the same bad league as Pinnacle Studio. Trying the trial version makes sense, but sometimes "fiddling with it" doesn't reveal the flaws that someone who has really put it through its paces might discover.

So, the tradeoff *may* be VBR and AC3 in PE versus the well recognized stability of Movie Studio, but I still hope to be educated on whether those who have used both see any other significant distinctions.

Thanks again for your input.
TLF wrote on 7/22/2006, 11:18 PM
I have both Premiere Elements 2 and Movie Studio Platinum (though I have just moved to the full Vegas 6).

As far as editing goes, it's swings and roundabouts. Elements has upto 99 tracks to work with, but Vegas has just 4+4 (A/V), and Elements has a better interface (OK, that's subjective, but I am used to Adobe proudct). There are also some video effects that VMM does not have - useful ones, at that, not silly ones (eg Color Pass). However, the effects are not nearly as customisable as in Vegas, and they are really very fiddly to use.

Vegas is definitely easier to work with when it comes to editing. It is so much more versatile. Easier keyframing, resizale tracks, wider rendering options, stability...

As far as DVD authoris is concerned, again VMS has the edge here for the ability to customise your menus. With VMS you can create some complex structures (copyright message, followed by company ident, then menus), in Premiere you can't.

Although AC3 may be an attraction, given all the other limitations, I don't think it is enough. I would stick with VMS.

Worley
Lcymru wrote on 7/23/2006, 7:59 AM
@Worley: Thanks - just what I was looking for.
simssk wrote on 7/27/2006, 10:06 AM
I agree wtih Worley 100%. I too have both programs and have used both programs. Sony VMS Platinum is much easier to work with when editing.

I have used both programs with analog video as well. I've been converting videos from the 8 mm Sony Handycam from the '80s. I have found VMS to be more stable, quicker learning curve, easier to work with, and better results.

Premier has some more options for titles and a few more options for transitions and effects. I've made some titles with Premier and imported that into VMS. That's been rare though. I actually bought Premier first before VMS Platinum. I previously had version 4. After working with Premier, I spent the money to update Movie Studio as it's just a better program.