Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Corel VideoStudio 2018 aims for simpler, faster video edits

Corel’s budget video editor series VideoStudio is designed to mix quality and speed — and the new VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 improves on both. On Tuesday, February 13, Corel VideoStudio Ultimate launched with workflow improvements and new tools designed for non-professionals.

Previous VideoStudio users will recognize the user interface but that same layout now offers more controls and tools for speeding up those video edits. While the layout may look familiar, portions of the interface can now be detached from the usual view, allowing for a more custom view when working with two monitors. A new dual-window view displays both the video and that video’s properties at once.

The video timeline, the visual representation of all the clips, audio and effects, now has new options to change the height and transparency to make the text easier to read. A new keyboard shortcut allows users to mark the spots in the video to easily go back and find the right moment in the clip later.

Along with enhancements to the user interface, VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 also gains two new tools. A new split-screen template allows video editors to display multiple clips at once. The split screen editor allows users to start with a template or design their own, then mix videos with a drag-and-drop interface. The software also introduces a 3D video title editor that allows users to change the position of the text on a keyframe basis, which allows for custom motion effects.

The latest reiteration of VideoStudio also sees several smaller enhancements across the program’s list of features. The existing pan and zoom controls have more options for setting a start and end point to create a pan or zoom effect. Lens correction tools are now easier to use with manual adjustments or by choosing the lens that shot the video from a drop-down menu for camera-specific calibration. The 360 compatibility introduced in 2017 gains support for more formats, including equirectangular, along with playback options and direct exporting to YouTube and Vimeo. Additional premium effects and plugins are also available with the update.

Despite the new list of features, the program is around 5 to 15 percent faster at tasks like previewing and rendering video, while users with the best graphics cards could see up to a 20 percent performance boost compared to the earlier version.

VideoStudio Ultimate 2018 joins Corel’s Pinnacle Studio line designed for advanced users as a simpler interface for non-pros. After a pre-launch to current customers, the new VideoStudio Ultimate is now available, retailing for about $100.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Corel VideoStudio adds tools for customizing color in simple video edits
corel videostudio ultimate 2019 launch  color grading

Previous

Next

Read more
PowerDirector, PhotoDirector aim to balance advanced tools with easy editing
cyberlink photodirector powerdirector 2018 announced auto keystone copy

Cyberlink’s photo- and video-editing software packages have gained new features that help create high-end results minus the steep learning curve.
In September, Cyberlink launched updates
 to the suite of Director-series multimedia editing software, including PhotoDirector 10, PowerDirector 17, ColorDirector 7, and AudioDirector 9. Now, the company has added a subscription option for PhotoDirector 10.

The update, the company says, aims to give users more advanced tools while maintaining the simple user interface. After launching with a subscription option for all four programs or for PowerDirector only, users now have a subscription option for PhotoDirector -- though users will still have the one-and-done payment option.

Read more
Best Camera Deals: Save on Canon, Panasonic, Nikon, and GoPro
fujifilm x t4 review set 2 dm 1

Whether you're looking for the best digital cameras or the best travel cameras, there are a ton of options out there, sometimes too many options, especially for those who aren't familiar with the photography world. Luckily, we've done a lot of legwork for you and collected a range of great camera deals across the spectrum, so even if you want something more sports-oriented, like a GoPro, there are a couple of deals for those too. So, let's jump right into it.
Today's Best Camera Deals
One of our favorite deals is the Canon EOS Rebel T7 going for $400, as it's one of the better DSLR cameras on the market, and it has a reasonably budget-friendly price on it, making it a great starter camera. Of course, if you've been in the game for a while and are looking for a powerful upgrade, the Sony Alpha 7R IV is one of the best full-frame cameras on the market, and while it still costs a hefty $3,200, that's still $300 off the usual $3,500 price tag. That said, if you're looking for something more portable and action-oriented, you can't go wrong with the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini, although if you're a professional content creator, the GoPro HERO9 Black 5K is probably the one to go for instead.

Do I Need a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera?
Like most things, this really depends on what you're trying to do. Mirrorless cameras have fewer internal moving parts, which generally means they can capture images quicker, so if you're taking pictures of action-packed stuff like sports or animals in the wilderness, a mirrorless camera is a great option. On the other hand, DSLR cameras are great for low-light conditions and are great for anything from portraits to landscapes. DSLRs are also cheaper and have much better battery life, as well as having a decade or two worth of lenses to choose from.

Read more