Corel Digital Studio 2010

CNET Editors' review

Those seeking a basic multimedia editing and production suite will find a solid, attractive studio in Corel Digital Studio 2010. The four main applications include the photo studio, video studio, DVD-burning app, and WinDVD 2010, Corel's video player. With these apps, you can open media from just about anywhere, edit videos and photos, and fashion a whole lot of photo and video projects, like collages, cards, calendars, and photo books. The video studio has a built-in movie maker that looks good and is approachable for novices looking to get their feet wet. There are a few templates (but a few more wouldn't hurt) for automatically creating videos out of video clips or photos, or both of them together--you'll have an opportunity to tweak transitions and other details later.

When you're done, you can save photos, movies, and other projects, burn them to a disk, e-mail them, copy them to any number of external devices--including your mobile phone--and upload them to Flickr, Facebook, or YouTube. The DVD player has some neat additions, like the ability to capture the screen, bookmark a spot on the timeline, and adjust audio and picture levels while the movie plays.

Since the suite is intended for home users and not for enthusiasts or professionals, the tools are, however, somewhat limited. Those looking to fine-tune video or work more closely with audio, for instance, should seek a more advanced suite. We'd like to see more templates and photo-editing effects, and the software speed could use a little kick in the seat. That said, Corel Digital Studio 2010 has been fashioned with some nice visual touches that make the tools practical and comfortable to work with. One last word to the wise: pay attention to those system requirements. Computers with lesser abilities many not be able to handle video.

Corel Digital Studio 2010:

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    1.9 stars

    out of 11 votes

    • 5 star: 0
    • 4 star: 2
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 2
    • 1 star: 6
  • Current version:

    1.9 stars

    out of 11 votes

    • 5 star: 0
    • 4 star: 2
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 2
    • 1 star: 6
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 11

  • 1.0 stars

    "Inflexible, limited, slow, low quality output, useless"

    October 8, 2011  |   By mattsefton

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Was $10 cheaper in the shop than the other options. Now I know why.

    Cons

    Where to start?
    Inflexible
    Limited
    Slow
    Incompatible
    Poor output quality

    Summary

    I honestly can't think what CNet reviewed to give this 4 stars. It can't be this software. Makes you wonder if Corel were big advertisers on this site at the time.
    For the cons above:
    Inflexible - you do it their way or not at all. You have to add complete folders rather than a single file. You have to add a file to the library to do anything with it - why? Would it be SO difficult to just load a file or be able to use it straight away?
    Limited - very few simple options for editing when you do get it to work. I know it's not a pro level application (not even close in fact), but still.
    Slow - both to install and use.
    Incompatible - I have a run of the mill video camera that outputs avi files playable on everything else - this s/w can't find them to add to the library, meaning you can't do anything
    Poor output quality - the Quicktime files are blurry, blocky, unuseable

    This s/w is $60 wasted. Do yourself a favour, spnd more and get something worthwhile.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Download crashed computer"

    June 28, 2010  |   By Freemarketer

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Nothing. I thought downloaing was horrible.

    Cons

    That Nosso crashed my computer first time I tried to download Corel. The second time it downloaded okay until Nosso started the install. Way way too slow. So, I don't trust it.

    Summary

    Program loader (Nosso) does a scary job of downloading the program. Too much for me to even try the thing.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "This package really stinks."

    January 27, 2010  |   By skeptic1st

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    If it has any good features, I wouldn't know--I labored through the setup process and then discovered that the program had placed one of those "extra" launching pads on my desktop. That was enough to tell me that I didn't want the program.

    Cons

    There isn't enough room here.

    Summary

    This is the latest, and probably most striking example of Corel's utter contempt for its end users. Their website has become an impenetrable wall in the same vein as Microsoft's has always been--finding as many ways as possible to AVOID having a customer actually reach your company through ANY means! (There isn't a single e-mail address or link where you can simply offer some feedback. If you try to call, you are subjected to a lengthy hold and repeated attempts to discourage you from continuing to do so.)

    Okay, this is a wretched program.

    Why? Because it?s a resource hog that doesn?t deliver any performance in return. It took more than 15 minutes just to install this stinker?and then it came with the mentioned launching pad, meaning Corel wants you to use the program THEIR way, and they?re going to put a ring through your nose to make sure you do. That tells me it?s a consumer-level joke, not a serious piece of software for a professional or even serious user, which is not what I?m looking for.

    I didn?t get to the point of actually running anything in the package. I was too p***ed off with the install?it throws crap into every corner and wants to run multiple routines on startup, meaning it?s another resource drain even when it?s idle. During the uninstall process, I was notified that three or four different ?background? routines wouldn?t be starting any more (oh, no!).

    This, unfortunately, has become typical of Corel. Their software is overloaded but inefficient. They stopped caring about their end users a long time ago.

    (I?d love to tell them about some technical issues that are associated with Paint Shop Pro Photo XI, but they don?t provide anywhere to do that except on some lame FAQ board. Well, they can shove that! For what their software still costs, they can f***ing well hire a few live bodies, or at least open up an e-mail line for feedback, whatever.)

    When a company treats you like a tool, don?t buy their products. The experience won?t ever get any better, and you?ll become a pawn in their long-term marketing strategy.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Thanks for trial version"

    December 2, 2009  |   By jomueller

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    may be good for for the uninitiated

    Cons

    Horrible interface and lack of functions

    Summary

    As a user of Corel software since the late 80s I expected better. My short term goal was to produce a nice slide show. I had already investigated about 10 different programs (commercial and free) and found some to be good. But for whatever reason the developers always overlook a few details.

    Not so this program! It was getting me into all kinds of guesswork and I found the developers either wanted a very basic program or did not know what they were doing. I resent all the graphical gimmicks as I have a job to do and I am not there to watch animations of controls. Controls have been abused by Microsoft and others to "create new applications".

    I ended up not having my slide show and deleting the program from my computer. Thanks for trial ware I did not lose valuable money like I did by buying "shelfware". That is the software I had to "shelf" because it did not work as promised.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Do Not buy this software."

    October 8, 2009  |   By janetmweber

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Good interface is jat about the only good thing I have to say about this product.

    Cons

    Take forever to load images on your disk to it's library. Does not come close to the feature list in PhotoImpact. And the features is does have are limited to offline an print usage.

    Summary

    I downloaded this piece of software thinking that it might replace PhotoImpact, but this software is so slow and feature less you are better off sticking to the older software. Corel should upgrade PhotoImpact with some the these features and scrap this piece of junk..

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Cryptic program with a Mac-like interface that's HUGE."

    September 23, 2009  |   By illiniwatcher

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    This program is pretty. It has beautiful visual effects (menus, dialogs, etc.) a-la Mac. It can work with a variety of image and video formats. And the price is right.

    Cons

    Nosso decompression processing is slower than a statue; XP users may have to suffer through an additional download from Microsoft. Installation takes a while. Hard-to-find features, functions, and Help. Must mouse around to find what you want.

    Summary

    I am a long-time user of Ulead products, which Corel bought out within the last couple of years. I have used VideoStudio Versions 7, 8, 9, 11, 11.5, as well as DVD Movie Factory 4, Paint Shop Pro X2, and Corel DRAW Versions 4 and 7. I have always appreciated the simplicity and value that Ulead ? and now Corel ? products have always provided.

    I installed Windows 7 (the final RTM build) on my notebook system recently and was waiting until this release to purchase the next version of VideoStudio when it became available. So when, through a bit of serendipity, I heard Corel was rolling out Windows 7-certified Corel Digital Studio 2010, I was delighted. With everything I?d observed in VideoStudio X2, I figured 2010 would be a major step forward.

    That has not been my experience.

    The download/installation process is is a long, cumbersome, spirit-killing process. I don?t know what the sales reps told Corel at Nosso, but if Corel can break that contract, it would be great. I have never observed a download/installation process go so slowly. The decompression process was like watching grass grow, and this was on a decently appointed HP notebook system (3 GB of RAM, AMD Turion 64 X2 CPU). I think it would be better to use a conventional zipped file process ?one in which Windows users can right-click on the file ? than using any sort of fancy compression technology. When Ulead was an independent company, that?s how they did their TBYB trials. A straight download would go MUCH faster than the slow process of watching Nosso software decompress the cab files. I can see why the Nosso progress window has percentages in hundredths ? if they didn?t have that, it would look like the installation had stalled!

    I would like to see Corel get that installation process shorter ? no longer than, say, 5 to 7 minutes. I could get Microsoft Office 2007 Professional installed quicker than Digital Studio 2010. Seriously. And that?s a package with six applications!

    Once I finally got Digital Studio 2010 installed, I began poking around. I have to say ? Corel's graphic designers did an amazing job of making the application gorgeous! It reminded me of what Apple might do if they did an application like this (and I don?t even own a Mac!). Lots of ?swooping? visual effects, bright & colorful icons, and so on. Digital Studio 2010 is certainly pretty.

    But when I actually tried using the VideoStudio portion of the Studio, I was disappointed. The departure from the VideoStudio X2 look and feel was too great. There was no menu bar anymore; users must now mouse over lots of things to figure out what they want to do. The Help rollover is buried in the upper right corner. The Settings rollover is off to the right of the screen, and only seems to have context-dependent options shown. Everything I would have expected to see when pressing F6 in VideoStudio X2 to get Preferences, I did not see when I moused over Settings.

    One of the reasons I have Windows machines is that I?m not a fan of Macs. Macs are very pretty machines with amazing graphics. But I like the Windows model ? menu bar, function keys, and so on. I think with Digital Studio 2010, Corel is trying too hard to make their application look "Mac" like. I would like to see the return of a menu bar of some kind. I had a hard time finding things in Digital Studio.

    The process where Digital Studio looked through my PC to find media (photos, videos, etc.) was long. I would like to suggest some kind of dialog window to let users choose just how much they want to import. With so many users carrying photos, music and other digital media files, that is a process that could take a good half-hour. That?s too long for an enthusiastic user who wants to get rolling ASAP.

    On the plus side, I do like the video thumbnails. I have never seen another application where the thumbnail can be played in place; that?s slick. I would, however, still like to see some kind of full-screen review option, perhaps if a user double-clicks on a video or photo.

    I also was impressed with how quickly the channel scanner found channels with the HDTV video card in my system. It found the channels faster than the software with the card itself!

    But for all of this, after about 20 minutes of use, I realized that Digital Studio 2010 was just not for me, at least in its current state. I expect I?ll stick with VideoStudio X2 for my video editing needs, and Paint Shop Pro X2 for my photo editing needs.

    (Much of the text of this review is being sent to Corel Digital Studio 2010's project manager, who made his e-mail address available in another reply.)

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Great suite Editing Preview Win dvd"

    September 14, 2009  |   By EBIKER007

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Creates a edited video for playback on win dvd, I have a Canon HG10 HD camcorder with hard drive.Video Studio handles the SVCHD format for my system. A bonus for me is it includes Paintshop my favourite picture editor, Download time was 7 minutes.

    Cons

    This version of Win DVD 2010 does not play my M2TS files from my hard drive.

    Summary

    Learn one program you will know the basics of all of them. Should help with the learning curve. I have been using the trial for a week. My old videos are getting better the longer I use it. I am using Vista 64 and a quad core with 4 gb of ram and speed is not a issue with my system, Gadget gave me a error so I have not used it yet. Corel gives you a 30 day return on its software but so far I have not had to return anything. I wish everyone did that.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Very very slow reponse even on dual core computer"

    September 12, 2009  |   By Doctor Keo

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    I wanted so much to find some for a program from Corel, but could not get the program run.

    Cons

    Poorly designed program. Tech support was useless.

    Summary

    Download the Trial before (Huge download) could save yourself loads of $. My computer is a dual core with 4 gig ram running Vista 32 bit, the program ran so slow even the OS reported "Not responding". Tech supports only answer was "That is a bit unusual. Do you have a lot of processes going on in your computer background? It is best if you could turn off most of these services. Even though you have enough RAM, certain processes takes up CPU power leaving other applications with minimal resources."

    Also, make sure that you have already restarted your computer after the installation."

    Very disappointing Corel!

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Would not install"

    September 10, 2009  |   By gorman.nick

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Screen shots look nice

    Cons

    Failed each time to install on a clean install of XP

    Summary

    Would love to try the program but can't :(

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Took a little while to down load but totally worth it!!"

    September 5, 2009  |   By fbUK

    Version: Corel Digital Studio 2010 1.0

    Pros

    Installation time similar to other apps but found with this one particularly able to easily and quickly locate all photos and videos.

    Cons

    time to download, but for four apps seems reasonable.

    Summary

    looking forwards to playing with the features of this apps - especially photo book.

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Results 1-10 of 11

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Corel Digital Studio 2010