Customer Reviews:
  Pinnacle Rocks! May 17, 2008
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
For the last couple of months I've been looking at getting a capture device which I can capture the old camcorder videos from yester-year, and after muching umming and ahhing, I decided to try this out. I've read various reviews across the internet, so I was looking for an adequate package, which wasn't going to cost an arm and a leg, which looked cool, and was via USB input. I used to have a capture card on my old PC, but since USB is the way forward, I thought I would join the USB band wagon.
Ok, I ordered it, and to be honest when it arrived I was awe struck. The box included a lot of stuff including:-
1) one green screen for your chroma key effects
2) a decent looking microphone (not a cheap nasty looking one!) and mini mic stand, oh and three pin cable to normal 3mm phone cable.
3) various cables
4) the 'pod' looking capture device
5) Studio Moviebox 11 (which I was very surprised with as I thought it was just version 10.5!)
So just from opening the box I was very impressed. Oh, and there is a separate function on the 'pod' to actually have video output, so gives you a chance to record from the computer to a VCR - very clever.
So I wired it up to my PC, installed Studio 11, and installed the drivers. Took about 10 minutes or so to install. Please note I had my concerns as it didn't really show on most websites whether it was Windows Vista compatiable, but the actual box says it's ready for Vista, and works extremely well.
Captuing videos:- initially I had problems with this. I wired up my DVD player, and plugged the phono leads it into the 'pod' and I had crystal clear DVD quality (it captures very crisp images), but no audio. Wasn't sure why, but didn't. Anyway found a different DVD player and it works fine (shoved it through a Sony PS2).
Editing videos:- WOW! Hmm, where do I start. Very good effects, and some effects which are more lined for TV professional editing. Very impressed. In the package it also installs a separate software called 'Easy FX editor' where you can make your own effects. And if you thought that was cool, there are add-on packs you can download off the internet for additional effects.
Make Movie:- Really easy and very good. You can add a DVD menu (and I think you can edit and make your own - but haven't dug that deep into the package yet!), and add chapters, and then add the file to DVD, or save as a AVI, MPEG file, PSP/I-POD compatiable, or even get them straight onto the Yahoo internet site - equally very clever!
Overall my opinion is very good of the practice. I had a couple of shaky starts with the package, the audio being one, but then after that the driver somehow crashed and I could capture audio but no video, but all I did was uninstall and reinstall it. Fortunately since then it's been fine. It's easy to use and navigate around.
The only really downside of the package (besides my initial driver problems) is that the downloadable stuff from the Pinnacle website. There is an extra charge for additional effects/styles/video effects/titling etc. Also please note that when you make your first video, you can only convert them to AVI, MPEG1 MPEG2, Real Media and Windows Media - even though there is more on the drop down menu.
For a first time video editor, transferring old camcorder tapes, it's a perfection solution.
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