Pinnacle Studio 20 Plus for Windows

User Reviews

• A Bait & Switch Ruse

  Bruce DunlopNovember 3, 2014

  Pros

  It works for low-end chincy looking video results

  Cons

  All Pinnacle Studio software, even the most expensive high-end Platinum version, is a dishonest Bait & Switch Scam that tries to nickel & dime you to death. In order to make any "high quality" videos the user will be confronted with a pop-up window stating that the version 'you have' does not allow for the high-quality feature. It just tries to drag the user to the Pinnacle website TO PURCHASE more features. This is a never-ending nickel & diming 'shakedown' of the user to constantly disgorge more money out of them.

  Summary

  I paid top-dollar for the Platinum version and it was plenty expensive. That should have given me access to all features and functions within that software -- BUT -- I was constantly prevented from using the high-quality features, including the HD features until I paid even more money to Pinnacle. Bottom-line -- this is an unscrupulous and dishonest practice and I will never buy another product from Pinnacle.

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• Pinnacle Studio 12 included 'Search Protect virus'.

  gthurmanFebruary 11, 2014

  Pros

  Much faster than previous versions.

  Cons

  Much more than needed to just transfer home video to DVD.

  Summary

  CNet and Pinnacle have been great providers in the past. I'm disappointed this got by Norton 360.

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• Don't like it at all

  raggedclawApril 18, 2013

  Pros

  None that I could find -- I was do busy deleting the garbage that was installed by the downloader.

  Cons

  It is a Pinnacle program.

  Summary

  Long, long ago (it seems so, after all the trouble I've experienced with this line of programs) I bought Studio 10 and the Dazzle hardware for importing analog video. Bought it at Circuit City in June 2008 and installed it on a new Vista Home Premium computer. Upgraded the video card, etc. It worked fine for importing analog, but I soon discovered that Windows Movie Maker was a superior program for my needs. (Let me emphasize -- the Movie Maker that came with Visat, not the Movie Maker that comes with Windows 7, which is worthless.) A year ago, I had a hard drive crash on the Vista 'puter, so I bought a new one with Windows 7. After discovering how bad MM is in 7, I bought and downloaded Studio 14. It was clumsy, non-intuitive, and wouldn't capture analog. Wanting to do a video of a recent 3-month trip to Europe, I had the old 'puter repaired and Vista re-installed. Stuck my Studio 10 CDs in and -- not compatible! So, here I am with $200 of Studio programs that don't function. I know, I know -- must be Windows, eh? Maybe. But you know what -- who in 'ell did Pinnacle write these program for? Take a guess. Yep -- Windows! So who is to blame here? Pinnacle is to blame, especially in light of their absolutely worthless support site. If you want to do fairly complex home videos, get a Vista 'puter with MM. If you want to upload old analog video, buy a digital video camera that has S-vido pluts and the pass-through function. That's what I did, and it works great. And it is a lot easier and cheaper than a Pinnacle program.

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• I can't redownload this program, I purchased earlier?

  peterdenaeldreMarch 7, 2013

  Pros

  Well, I have worked with this program for several years and I have never had any problems with it. It works just perfectly. My problem is that it is impossible to redownload and register it again. I have all the license keys, but it seems impossible to get any information about a reactivation of this program. I had (unfortunately) to change my computersoftware from WindowsXP to Windows7 and I have tried to communcate with Avid about the problem, but no solution was available. I am really frustrated about that, because I purchased this product and I am not interested in newer versions. I would even be ready to buy this trial version, but your system will not let me. It says that this product is not available - so why a trial version. Peter

  Cons

  I just wonder what 4.Cons: means?

  Summary

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• could not get it to right. Did better with version 11

  Gerald L RichyJanuary 26, 2013

  Pros

  Good program

  Cons

  having trouble with music & sounds

  Summary

  will have to pass for now

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• This software is the WORST.

  SJCTALLSDecember 13, 2012

  Pros

  Cannot think of any. The good reviews posted must be employees of Pinnacle.

  Cons

  Crashes: Crashes all the time when you try to create the DVD. Titles: Weak. Simple. Inconsistant drop-downs - drop-down selections change. Will not memorize settings used to make disks or files. Help files are weak.

  Summary

  This software is the WORST. Crashes all the time when you try to create the DVD. Adding titles? They offer only the very basic of titles. Nothing like what you can create in Apple Movie Maker. In fact this software is years, no decades, behind Apple Movie Maker. I do not even own an Apple product, but I watched my brother-in-law create movies... WOW. I will be purchasing an Apple notebook soon. DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE. There must be somthing better for PC users.

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• Pinnacle Studio is a DISASTER and NOT recommended

  westchaserMay 20, 2012

  Pros

  The Pinnacle Dazzle DVC 100 hardware allows for easy connection of old video devices using Composite (RCA) Red, White, Yellow cables.

  Cons

  Even as of 2012, the product's user interface has numerous easily-replicated bugs, is extremely SLOW, CPU-intensive and very limited in regard to video editing effects and features; even for someone at an amateur / beginner level.

  Summary

  Pinnacle Dazzle STUDIO HD DVD is an extremely resource-intensive application. On my Core-i5 with 6GB RAM, the CPU stays peaked between 60% and 94% of CPU while rendering videos that are a mere 500MB. That's a resource pig. Also, the user interface where media is chosen and the video timeline is assembled is very sluggish; the context menus and option property windows are VERY slow to open. The #1 complaint I have, however, is that the rendering process HALTS if the screen-saver launches and/or you manually lock (WINDOWS KEY+L) the computer. That is absolutely the biggest oversight yet; no one wants to wiggle the mouse or disable screen-saver preferences just to suit one application. Also, despite have purchased a license, in-app nag advertisements are STILL presented and nearly 90% of features are considered PAY-FOR add-ons which are displayed as links that take you to their storefront. Lame and pathetic. Additionally, there are significant bugs in the Pinnacle Dazzle STUDIO HD DVD Version 14 release, as of May 2012, and they are easily replicated. Amongst the list is a GREEN SCREEN that suddenly appears in the Preview window, while working in the Edit pane, instead of the photo or video that is otherwise shown in the timeline at that location. The only way I was able to get rid of the green screen was to click FILE then DELETE AUXILLARY FILES (ALL). And, no, I didn't have Chroma Key enabled. The other consistent issue I have experienced is, again; while editing, the Preview window will only show the photo or video that is at the currently-selected location in the timeline when Play was clicked. I am forever in wonder if companies like Pinnacle have a QA quality assurance department at all. If it weren't for needing the Dazzle hardware, I would certainly be returning this product for a FULL refund. In summary, I would not recommend this sluggish, limited product to anyone. I've used PROSHOW GOLD in the past and felt that it out-performed Pinnacle's product, hands down.

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• Pretty good.

  btakMarch 9, 2012

  Pros

  - some nice transitions and other effects.

  Cons

  - very slow - CPU hungry - lousy user interface

  Summary

  I don't have much to compare it with other than 'Movie Maker'.

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• Slow, awkward, not user friendly, freezes for no reason

  Bobbie_AOctober 28, 2011

  Pros

  Good graphics

  Cons

  Terrible response and space utilisation, freezes constantly for no, apparent reason, pathetic customer support(except when trying to sell you something). Overall overpriced and under peformed

  Summary

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• Didn't work as advertised

  glenmodomAugust 15, 2011

  Pros

  Loved the appearance and user interface.

  Cons

  I guess I'm just stuped-38 years as a systems analyst didn't help me to get this stuff working as advertised. I tried it with the highest hopes, having over 100 VHS tape and almost as many rrecords to rescue.

  Summary

  Never did get this stuff to work as advertised. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!

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