5 comments about Video Explosion Deluxe.

1. This video editing software is easy to use, feature rich, and doesn't have the annoying "skin" look that so many others have. It is incredibly good at applying filters on the fly and has a wide range of output formats. It is also very economical with your disk space. It uses the clips in-place without copying them into the project. The only blemish I have found so far is that it leaves files on your disk next to the imported media files. I am a programmer and my educated guess is that these are index files used to access the movies and audio files quickly during previews. Given the benefit they provide, I was unwilling to knock off even one star for this small annoyance. The files can safely be deleted and will be recreated the next time you open the project.



2. I am somewhat of a pro when it comes to digital video productions and have used several different software applications. I thought this one looked interesting due to the music files and included clips.
   I wish I would have tried a trial version first, because I wouldn't have wasted my money.
   First of all when you build a story line or save a project the imported files (if coming from the included CD's)do not stay with the project. You need to reload them each time. They don't load to the media pool upon import, so if you remove them from the story line, you have to load them over and over again. At least this is the trouble I have been having. The transition time is hard to adjust, and there is no option that I found to repeat the same transition, they have to be added one at a time. When transitions are added a screen pops each time up with some settings that are difficult to understand. All of the adjustments are tricky--and certainly would be even more difficult for the novice user. I have an older version of MGI video wave, which I would rate better than this program. However the one I like the best and seems to have a great interface is Arc-Soft, Show Biz- For the money, I would say that program is a much better value and a lot more fun than Video Explosion. I am giving this 3 stars because it is simple to clip the videos on the storyboard timeline, and you can accomplish a good production with work. I don't see an option to save the final recording in a DVD format however.



3. I typically use Adobe for this type of editing, but this program works well on the fly. You can add effects, graphics, and transistions in a small window then the software rewrites the file to burn onto disc, and it handles that also after you email them for the key. Anyway I really can't express how well the VE renders and outputs. Try it, and save big bucks not to mention excellent results. Totally worth the hundred bucks I spent, you might find it for less.



4. I purchased my copy of Video Explosion from Atomic Park in August. The product comes bundled with Sonic MyDVD 4.5. Unfortunately, on September 15, about one month after I purchased Video Explosion, Sonic stopped supporting MyDVD 4.5, and the version I bought does not work with my DVD burner (a Sony).
   
   I believe Sonic HAD a fix for my problem, but since Sonic no longer supports MyDVD 4.5, I can no longer get the update.
   
   Unfortunately, this has rendered Video Explosion 1.5 nearly useless for me.
   
   I understand it's far too late for any sort of adjustment for me. However, I think you should note on the description page for this software some sort of a disclaimer that states this limitation clearly.
   
   Had I known of this limitation, I never would have bought Video Explosion. Other than this issue, I'm happy with the software, but now I'm stuck, needing to by CyberLink MakeDVD for $50, when I could have purchased CyberLink's entire suite for $90.
   
   I also understand this situation is somewhat political in that Sonic bought Roxio, so naturally, Sonic will no longer try hard to work with Nova. So Nova won't be likely to advise me to purchase MyDVD 6.1; nor will they be likely to recommend CyberLink products. So I guess I'm just screwed.
   
   Be strongly aware of this limitation prior to ordering.



5. This program retails for less than $100. Don't expect it to be used by Steven Spielberg. I bought it several years ago in an Office Max because I was in a hurry to put together a crude edit of a home movie. However, from the day I started using it up until now, I continue to be impressed with its capabilities, ease of use, and reliability. I keep discovering new features, and am yet to outgrow it after creating about half a dozen pretty ambitious home movies.
   
   I am retired now, but when employed as a software engineer, my specialty was user interface. I am very critical of poor interfaces. Video Explosion got it right. The ability to introduce and edit transitions and special effects on the timeline is excellent. Menus are clear, and provide good clues to drilling down to extra features. The help facility is first rate. And, most importantly, the program seems to be bug free.
   
   I have not used any higher end video software, so my perspective is limited. I am not a pro, but I work very hard to make my home movies as professional looking as possible. For the price paid, this package continues to impress me, and certainly to fill my needs. In that sense, it is like my bicycle (a pro level Trek) - the tool is still much better than the user.

No comments about BLUE 1.1.

5 comments about eMEDIA Guitar Pro 5.0.

1. Guitar Pro is great, Yes I agree it needs a manual to do it justic but the capability of the software gives you a wide range of abilities that are on the mark. My problem is finding music that has been converted to the GP5 format. I found a site that was selling a learning method that has of all things a stack of gp3, gp4 format music that I can run on the gp5 format and save as gp5. It is great. Once you remove alot of the distoration guitars and use the clear sounds it gives you great music to learn from. You can slow down and step through the notes or the kord positons. Tabs are wonderful and easy to watch. If you have Guitar Pro give it another try. If you are looking for a great package then here it is. What we need to do is pool our talent in using the sofware and write a user's manual for the software. It has lots of hidden features that make it worth the effort. Remember music is to enjoy and is not something easy to learn. It takes work and lots of practice. This product gives you the edge to learn and concentrate on the music.



2. I bought it mostly to slowdown and pick apart some hard/fast tab. Man oh man, this thing does so much more. I've since started going through all my little skits of original songs and putting them on this program, adding multiple tracks and what-not along the way. It's also pretty easy to write music while using the program. Measures turn red if you're time is off, giving you a heads up. I've enjoyed toying with using dotted quarter notes, fermatas, and codas, though it isn't a necessity to do such (just easier to write.) RSE is a must. Sounds much better and you can tweek the "equilizer" and amp settings. There are even dirty, clean, distorted, overdriven sounds for STRAT and LES PAUL. Most effects such as string bends, string slides, and vibratos can be manipulated to get the sound your looking for (especially string bends; the possibilities there are AMAZING!!) A manual would be better than having to navigate through the help index.
   
   Pros:
   RSE
   numerous tools and effects
   user friendly
   MUSICIAN friendly
   
   Cons:
   No manual so you have to search through Help, though that isn't TOO bad.
   Probably frustrating for guitarist who want to write but don't read music.



3. This product is great. I use it for guitar instruction. The mix board feature allows you to isolate individual tracks for close inspection. I have one question, though, which may be addressed in the manual which, as noted by others, is not included. Does anyone know if you can have the written tabs brought up for each individual track on a song. I'm attempting to learn a song with Guitar Pro, but the sheet music that appears on screen is for the rhythmn only, not for the lead guitar, which I'm trying to learn. Thanks
   
   Otherwise, great product.



4. On the whole, it's great. You can have lots of different tracks with lots of different instruments, and unlike powertab you can add drums to it.
   
   The only problems are:
   1. the "Realistic Sound Engine." As the name implies, it's supposed to make the instruments sound like real ones when you play back the tab you've made. The drums sound pretty good, the clean guitars and bass sound ok, but the distorted/overdriven electric guitars sound like total crap, especially with tremelo picking. Fortunately, the "Realistic Sound Engine" can be turned off.
   2. Importing tabs. On the plus side, you can import tabs from Powertab and some other software instead of having to retype them into Guitar Pro, but it's a bit glitchy and the different tracks will occasionally end up out of synch.
   
   It's also just the slightest bit complicated, but with time most non-retards should be able to figure it out.
   
   bottom line: i recommend it, unless one of the above caveats is a deal breaker for you. You can download an evaluation version (without the realistic sound engine) from their website. Do that. if you like it, buy it.



5. I am enjoying how this program breaks down the different tracts of music, it helps in working with the rhythm guitarist in my band. However, there are a few drawbacks in that some of the sounds are a little flaky, and once you slow down a riff you cannot return it to normal speed. It would be a little better if the data base was a little larger to select from but all in all I am impressed. The only other problem I encountered was trying to upgrade to 5.2 via the internet. I get an error message and I never know for sure if the upgrade loaded or not.

No comments about Slick Transitions & Effects for iMovie, Vol. 10, Universal Binary.

No comments about Burn & Go X.

3 comments about Microsoft Expression Studio [OLD VERSION].

1. Disappointed in overall product. The Web portion is improvement over FP (overall) The rest is still lacking. I see updat ($) to stay competative with the Adobe Design Suites which are , unfortunenly, vastly superior. and 2-3 times the price. MS, you let me down with this and Vista



2. Microsoft Expression Studio
   
   I am familiar with Visual Studio and .Net, have used it in several languages and different projects. And I also used Frontpage for a while, though I must admit I abandoned it quite a long time ago. So I was reintroduced to Expression Studio by way of being given a copy of Expression Web first Microsoft Expression Web Professional Design Tool. And while I think there is a much steeper learning curve with this product, I am very happy I stepped up to Expression Studio.
   
   First of all, this type of product is going to have a somewhat limited audience. If you just want to create webpages, you should be looking to Expression Web or one of the competing products by Adobe, Macromedia and the like. I can honestly say that Expression Web has enough extras included in it to even create some light apps and easily achieve CSS type functionality.
   
   Now, what if you need to build some front ends for web applications that require more in depth methods and detailed integration of components? Then THIS is the program for you. I am just getting my feet wet with it but they've brought a lot of cool components together here.
   
   In addition to Expression Web, this also includes Blend, Design and Media.
   Web - Design web pages and light apps
   Blend - Integrate your web pages with web tools and parts
   Design - Design graphic pieces easily to use on your pages / apps
   Media - Catalog and retrieve your web applets for easy use on different projects
   
   The Design tool is not an Adobe Photoshop level tool, but like all of the Expression Studio pieces it has some time-saving methods included to help you design common elements. Even though I use both Photoshop and Corel for different graphics stuff, this tool is still useful only for the speed of use it provides when it comes to those common picture and button elements.
   
   Of course the Silverlight aspect is still just in its early stages, but so far I have seen a lot of cool stuff made with it. As far as the integration stuff, easier to do basic stuff than Flash. And what's also cool is that you can drill down to the code level and change things very easily. So those who are not hardcore programmers will no longer need to also get Visual Studio to make web apps.
   
   The main con is really the [...] issue. This is about [...] more than the Expression Web product, which is the meatiest of the 4 included tools. There are lots of cool templates included with it. Unless you really want to create completely new templates, you will probably think the Studio product is overkill. Truthfully, many people will get most of what the need with Expression Web. There's no real way to know without trying them out. For me, I wanted to have the full Studio because I saw a cool demo of how to use it and I knew I could save some time with the Blend and Design components.
   
   Like I said, still getting into this but so far I'm glad I did. I loved my Expression Web and now I'm loving this. Hopefully whatever kinks are there will be ironed out in short order.
   
   If you want to try this before you decide on one or the other, you can download an evaluation copy from Microsoft. Just take my advice and work on it for at least 1 or 2 weeks befoe you decide. There's a lot of stuff in here that you should test out.
   
   Enjoy!



3. I purchased Microsoft Expression Studio specifically to design a website addressing the essentially total lack of accessibility in essentially all software ( and everything else from products to websites ).
   
   This website in particular addresses accessibility for people with photosensitive and pattern sensitive epilepsy who have seizures triggered by blinking / flashing / scrolling / etc. content.
   
   I purchased Adobe CS3 but I had accessibility problems that Adobe would not even respond to. ( this is after downloading all of the product manuals and looking at them carefully to see if the product was accessible before I purchased it ). So, over $1800 down the drain.
   
   I then purchased MS Expression Studio. I was able to disable some of the more obnoxious features.
   
   Unfortunately, it uses those particularly obnoxious progress bars ( the determinate ones that flash across the screen when you do something non-trivial ). These cause such bad seizures ( complex or simple partial ) that I am totally miserable using the product.
   
   Microsoft is totally incompetent in this area. I have the identical problem with Visual Studio. As software projects evolve in size, I reached a point where these progress bars were appearing regularly and I had to give up on the project about 22,000 lines as I was overwhelmed by the seizures.
   
   From what I am now seeing, I will have the same problem with Microsoft Expression - I will get to a point where the project gets too large and I can no longer maintain it.
   
   You shouldn't use these progress bars unless a significant amount of processing time is required
   1) There needs to be a user specified threshhold only after which a progress bar occurs ( I could set it to, say, 1 billion years ). ( One program, Bibleworks, has a similar implementation which makes it accessible )
   2) Obviously, you like to know what is going on, if anything. A non-animated hourglass that appears, say, after one second ( this time could be user specified as well ) and a progress bar after, say, 10 seconds
   3) A progress bar that only appears after a specified period of time and only updates at specified intervals ( say after 10 seconds and then every 10 seconds )
   
   Microsoft: Accessibility is the LAW.
   
   Try making all your products accessible ( currently none of them are ). Your software makes people sick, it disables them, it destroys their lives ( try Vista for lack of accessibility )
   
   Additionally, there is a bug in the software that prevents ANY products from being unlocked ( it will not accept the product key for the rest of the studio )
   
   So $500 down the drain. The rick get rich and the disabled get looted.
   
   Accessibility is the law. It was until the Republicans came along ...
   

No comments about Turbocad Deluxe V 11.0.

No comments about Photostudio Expressions Deluxe Version 3.0.

No comments about Watch And Learn Introduction to Electric Guitar (DVD).

No comments about Adobe After Effects Professional 6.0.