Video Factory 2 vs. Ulead Video Studio 5 (My Opinion)

discdude wrote on 8/4/2001, 5:23 PM
I recently compared VF 2 to Ulead Video Studio 5. Needless to say, I haven't defected to Ulead. However, I did find some nice features which I think VF should adopt. I outlined those things in a message I wrote in the Product Suggestion Form (which is copied below).

"I recently compared Video Factory 2 with Ulead Video Studio 5. While I still prefer Video Factory (VF) by a large margin, there were a few features in Video Studio that I really wish were in VF.

Those features are:
1) The Trim Bar. The trim bar allows you set the in and out points by moving sliders on a bar below the preview window. VF's current method of dragging the edges of clips (aka events) is intuitive but imprecise.

What's even better about the trim bar is that it automatically creates more room or gets rid of gaps created by changing the in/out points. Make a clip shorter and it performs an automatic ripple delete that eliminates the gap. VF requires too much manual repositioning of clips. Hence, editing is slower in VF.

Download the Ulead Trial and try it for yourself. Or check out a screen cap I made of the Video Studio interface @ http://discdude.vr9.com/ulead.jpg VF needs this stat!

I want this feature so bad that I created a fake screen cap of how this might be implemented in VF. See http://discdude.vr9.com/vf.jpg

Other features are less important but would still be nice to have.

2) The ability to use custom settings when saving Quicktime Files. Video Studio as well as the free Aist MovieXone let you do this, why not Video Factory?

3) Support for my ATI TV Wonder card in the VidCap program.

4) The ability to open and save Autodesk Animation Files (FLI, FLC). This is less of big deal to me since I have discovered Viscosity.

Video Studio doesn't have these features but I would still like to see them.

5) Change the default action of the arrow keys. Instead of a multi-frame advance, make them advance a single frame no matter how far zoomed out the Timeline is.

6) The ability to open WMV files.

While it might sound like I like Ulead Video Studio, I don't. I just really like the trim bar. Video Studio's interface is still pretty bad. Their button icons are still indecipherable although I'm glad to see that they finally discovered the right-click context menu.

I also took a look at their "comparison" page. I noticed that VF 2 really makes the feature gap between VF and Video Studio nonexistant."

I invite everyone to download trials of both programs and tell Sonic Foundry what you think. It will only make a better VF 3.

Comments

wvg wrote on 8/4/2001, 6:21 PM
I'll just comment on one thing you said... for now:
Those features are:

1) The Trim Bar. The trim bar allows you set the in and out points by moving sliders on a bar below the preview window. VF's current method of dragging the edges of clips (aka events) is intuitive but imprecise.

Imprecise? LOL! Nobody is more of a nitpicker than I am. What you apparently have not yet discovered is how to properly first increase the height of the timeline, (click on the view button on the video track you're working on, (see page 28 of your manual) and maximize, next work the up/down arrow keys with and without the Ctrl + Shift keys. With just a little practice you can zoom into a very tiny portion of the timeline, so if you want, your screen will contain several fractions of a second worth of your video or X number of frames. Now trim or cut VERY preciously. IMHO this method does circles around the old fashioned setting of in and out points which are far less precise in my experience and very difficult to get just right. :-)
discdude wrote on 8/4/2001, 7:28 PM
Trimming can be very precise, even without zooming in on the timeline. Just preview your project. Hit the space bar where you want to trim. Use Alt-Arrow key to move to the exact frame and hit "S" to split. Select and delete the parts you don't want.

However, extending a event that you previously trimmed is not as easy, especially if there is a event after it. You have to first create space (Insert Time), then drag the edge of the preceding event. If you know exactly how much time you need, it's not too bad.

Reflecting on what I said earlier, imprecise is the wrong word. If you take the time, VF can be precise. However, there are faster ways to edit. The trim bar is faster (less time zooming, selecting and shifting events around) and can be just as precise (Adobe Premiere's in/out points are frame accurate - how much more precise can you get? To be fair though, Ulead's implementation is not good since the "next" button jumps 4 frames instead of 1 making it hard to be frame accurate).

However, download Ulead Video Studio and try the following:

1) Add Three clips to the Timeline (Speed Advantage: VF)

2) Trim the beginning and end of the each clip an arbitrary amount. In VF just grab the edges of a clip and move them in. In VS, use the trim bar. (Speed Advantage: Ulead, since it automatically gets rid of gaps. However VF is more precise for reasons explained above.)

3) Make the middle clip longer by changing both the in and out points (Speed Advantage: Ulead, since it automatically creates more space. However VF is more precise for reasons explained above.)

Ulead edits faster than VF (although its interface is decidedly more sluggish). It could be just as precise if the "next" and "previous" buttons weren't foobar (4 frames!?? WHY? WHY? WHY?). A trim bar properly implemented can be a wonderful time saver, especially in large projects.

BTW: I edit with Adobe Premiere and Video Factory. I can edit much faster in Premiere (which uses an in/out point system) although I lose most of the speed advantage in Premiere's numerous crashes.

Let me be clear. I think Ulead blows and I would never spend a $100 on it. However, I think the trim bar and in/out points are the way to go. Effiecient is a better word to describe the trim bar.


wvg wrote on 8/4/2001, 8:52 PM
Why should we download other product trials? Geez, people here ALREADY purchased Video Factory. Reading the comments, most seem very pleased with it as I am. Especially for the modest price.

To be serious for a minute I don't come to this forum to see others sing praises of or point out warts on competing products. I assure you I and I'll wager most people are perfectly capable of finding the "other" product sites if they so desire without your help. I don't want them shoved in my face. Get it?

I must admit I now understand why Roxio (Easy CD Creator) uses a moderated newsgroup approach complete with a uptight moderator from the UK who even though he denies it, employs heavy censoring. I applaud Sonic Foundry for even allowing mention of competing products, (maybe they won't soon, HINT) but I think things have gone top far in the last couple day in what you and another guy posted. Heck, I'm all for free speech and expression, but THIS forum is for SONIC FOUNDRY products, not for some amateurs taking pot shots from the side lines with some half-ass "testing", far from objective. Excuse me for being blunt, but that's how I see it and that's how I am.

Let me be clear. Software engineers (sounds better than programmers) are in a better position to judge what is or isn't efficient. The proof of that is how you've seen things evolve in version two which has mostly received rave reviews for the many improvements and additions. Yes, a couple things have changed and/or were dropped in favor of an easier to use and more effective interface. Of course there's always a couple guys you can never please not matter what you do.
patrickm wrote on 8/4/2001, 11:02 PM
i really don't see a problem with telling people to compare products to show them the clear advantage that SF has but demonstrate the one or two features that could be done better. i do actually think it's helpful feedback as long as it's done in a constructive manner and doesn't turn into SF bashing or hailing Ulead as the best thing since sliced bread. I got both VF1 and Ulead free (one via rebate, one with my ATI card). and you know what? after seeing the difference between the interfaces of the two, i've never installed Ulead again. i hate its clumsy interface, it looks like it was made by bozo the clown. VF is a very good product. in my opinion, the only thing holding it back from really being a great product is a top-notch MPEG encoder. the other feature i'd like to see is to not re-encode MPEG clips that weren't edited. a simple "remux-up-to-the-endpoint" approach takes care of cuts/joins. the only encoding that might need to be done it a GOP at the beginning or end, to that it starts on an I frame, etc.

i also think the VCD option is great, i just wish it had a little more functionality, in terms of making menus or SVCD compatibility. if they could put all that together, it'd really be something. but keep up the good work, and don't censor the board except in extreme cases.
ScottMenzies wrote on 8/5/2001, 5:21 AM
Excuse me, wvg, and sorry to be blunt, but, are you insecure about your purchase? Worried that someone talking about a competing product may make you second guess what you bought? I'm secure in my purchase (barring the audio bug I hope will be remedied soon). I read the posts. I found them interesting. I don't want to go to another website to check competing products if they can be talked about here with the hopes of improving an already good product as a result of the talk. Basically, what was the point of your tirade? If I don't want to hear about competing products, I'll go read another topic. I'm a big boy. You don't need to tell other people what to write for my or anybody else's sake. Heck, you just don't need to tell other people what to write. It's not your place. If you don't want to read it, don't. Go to another topic. If you like "censored" web forums, go to another website. I don't mind...
wvg wrote on 8/5/2001, 8:37 AM
Excuse me Scott, I thought you were capable of having an adult discussion. Guess I expected too much of you.