ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 5.0.1.375 User Reviews
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"Wow. Bad."
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 5.0.1.375
Pros
Uhmm the program started up without crashing.
Cons
What a buggy mess. I opened up the file browser and found the video file (.ts h.264) that I wanted to edit. When I try to add it to my project, the thing animates like it is adding and then does nothing. Then I try the "import to library" function instead, and the program crashes (reproducible problem). So I can't add video. This thing is 100% useless.
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"A BAD unnatractive follower to ShowBiz DVD 2"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 5.0
Pros
Is capable of working with more file formats than DVD2 without crashing.
Cons
Black depressing background, practically all functions are invisible.
Crashes too easily [just click on the arcsoft logo and die].
Refuses to work with projects made with DVD2 !!!!!
Timeline is too 'diffuse', definition of 'objects' is poor.
Frame cropping merely adds a black border, the 'new' frame does not fill the window.Summary
Altogether a step backward from DVD2. Whilst DVD2 may not be the most versatile home movie editor, it does a very good job considering it's price and relative simplicity. DVD2 has certain disadvantages, such as it's tendency to get indigestion if you try and manipulate too many of the wrong file types [AVI mp4 MOV] at the same time, so long all files are WMV then you can string together as many as you want, and you can use DVD2 to convert the files [one at a time] to WMV so that you can the string them together. Further to this if you add effects to the time line before you are finished adding all the clips and fotos then things get out of sync.
In upgrading to version 5 one would expect these problems to have been adressed. Well as far as I can tell the file acceptance has been improved but further to this the product has been so badly revamped to the extent of unfriendliness that it's hard to know if other improvements have been made.
To start with it just looks bad, an almost black featurless background practically devoid of indications where to find [or go to look for] any of the usual tools.
After probing about [pressing the Arcsoft logo is a disastrous move] some recognisable features begin to appear, and things seem to be working, still against the uninspiring blackness. The timeline has been 'simplyfied' so that an effect 'object' is integrated into the clip body as it were, but then only into one clip [or foto] a fade for instance is at the end of one clip and does not extend into the beginning of the next, as one expects it to. This may all have solved the sync problem one can have with DVD2 but it's been done in such an unclear fashion as to make it unuseable, it simply lacks definition and clarity.
The added feature of frame cropping, which would seem to be a real good feature for solving thos situations where you want to get the subject 'closer in', is a joke. It is really a non starter. It works all right, one can crop the frame to contain just that what one wants, but what happens next is quiet laughable! The result is the same size, you've just added a black border!!!
This product may have 3D support on board but if Arcsoft thinks that the kind of home movie customer using this kind of product is going to need this yet then it has not done it's homework. Before the product is attractive in it's normal features no one is going to consider making the move to 3D!
The fact that one can not work with projects made previously with DVD2 is another example of the lack of attention to detail apparent in the whole of the product. As if Arcsoft hired in a team of young teenagers who knew nothing about previous products and [as usual] did no research before producing this monstrosity.
It is just not worth the price of the update. I wish now I had gone for the trial first and not just bought outright expecting the same quality as ShowBiz DVD2.
Waisted $20!! Waisted a lot of time !!
Now just using DVD2, quite contentedly thank you.
Do not waste your money, certainly if you are thinking of purchasing for the first time for the full price! -
"its veryyy nice i like it"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.2
Pros
i like everything in show bizz mostly the way it creats movies and photos
Cons
i dont really used it before and i just thought that its an awesome saftword
Summary
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"Stick with free Windows Movie Maker"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.2
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
Price , monster 400mb+ installation
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"The file may not be a trial version at all..."
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.0
Pros
It works similar and better than Windows Movie Maker. It's easy to use and have all the basic stuff you need to make your own homemade movies. It also works fast on a decent computer.
Cons
If you want more advance editing, this may not be for you. You probably want Adobe Premiere instead.
Summary
The file they have available to download may not be a trial version at all. I use it more than 15 days and the program still works. I already bought the program because I thought the trial was about to expire. If it is a trial program, it's probably a 30 day trial and not a 15 day trial.
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"the best video editing software"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.0
Pros
alll about it is the best
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"very good for the home movie buff"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.0
Pros
I like that the titles can have a quick clip of the movie, so you can better tell what is on the disk.
Cons
I find that the requirement to double process the disk files is a rather large waist of time especial when you have the necessart memory to store the entire disk in active memory.
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"professional dvd movie but too expensive"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.1
Pros
it's easy to use but just 15 day trial, I can't decide to buy it
Cons
the program is too big and cost much. I'd prefer some other program, like DVD Slideshow Builder, Photoshow Gold
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"A wonderful software to use!"
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.1
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"Easy to use application for picture slideshows and DVD home movies."
Version: ArcSoft ShowBiz 5 2.1
Pros
Ease of use. Just basing it from the trial version.
Cons
Just a suggestion: It should at least come with aCD label maker just so it has the complete package for the price.
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