Sony Movie Studio Platinum stands apart
from other consumer video-editing software. Despite dropping the Vegas brand in
this latest update, it closely resembles the professional Sony Vegas Pro rather
than other low-cost editors. There are no themed templates that edit your
footage automatically for you. It also rejects the tabbed interface used by
most rivals to guide users from start to finish.
Sony
Movie Studio Platinum – Version 12
Instead, you get a business-like set of
editing tools that make core editing tasks as efficient as possible. Arranging
video, audio, photo and text objects on the timeline is extremely fluid.
Functions such as fading clips in and out, dissolving from one to another or
changing their playback speed can be performed directly on the timeline rather
than having to visit a menu or pop-up window.
Sony
Movie Studio Platinum 12 - Preview Window and interface
close-up
Other features demonstrate Movie Studio's
close links to Vegas Pro. It's possible to adjust the volume of individual
clips, audio tracks or the whole mix, and to gradually adjust the volume so it
changes over time. Video effects settings can have gradual changes applied to
them, too. The controls have been overhauled in this version so it's possible
to tweak these gradual adjustments very precisely. The effects themselves don't
offer much in the way of eye-catching spectacles but they excel for precise
color correction.
Sony
Movie Studio Platinum 12 - Bezier curves
Creating DVD and Blu-ray movie discs is
extremely sophisticated, with the ability to design menus and disc navigation
structures from scratch. These features may be beyond the needs of most home
users, but it's reassuring to know that there's room to grow with this
software.
The biggest change in version 12 is the
smoothness of its video previews. Editing HD video is hard work for a PC, but
it's crucial that the software can play the contents of the timeline back
without too many glitches. This latest version can harness the power of the
graphics card to apply effects and play video, taking the load off the main
processor. It also receives a significant boost when running on 64-bit versions
of Windows Vista or 7. Export times are faster, too. You'll still need a
powerful PC to edit HD video, but you'll be able to create complex chains of
effects and overlay clips without running into problems.
Sony
Movie Studio Platinum 12 - panning and cropping
The sombre appearance and lack of themed
templates might intimidate novices, but Sony helps new users find their feet
with an excellent set of Show Me How tutorials, which literally point at the
buttons needed to complete a range of common tasks.
Movie Studio Platinum is an example of
quality over quantity, with core editing functions that are polished, precise
and extremely responsive. The lack of fancy effects puts the attention on the
video footage and that usually results in better quality videos.
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Key Points
§ Short
on thrills and fripperies, but this video editor is elegant, efficient and
has plenty of power where it counts
More Information
§ Website:
www.sonycreative.software.com
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