Corel actually offers two different video editing apps - Video Studio and Pinnacle Studio. This is somewhat confusing since the features offered by both often overlap. Generally speaking, the latter, though actually not that much more expensive, seems geared more for professional users and accordingly has a steeper learning curve. In my opinion, unless one is planning to produce a full-length feature film, Video Studio should be more than adequate for most users. Notably, PC Mag in its review named it an Editor's Choice, an honor not awarded Pinnacle. In any event, I had no choice between the two when purchasing since my own copy of Video Studio 2020 came bundled with Paintshop Pro. I've since upgraded to the 2022 version only recently released.
In comparison to a bare-bones app such as Adobe Premiere Elements, Video Studio is a full fledged editor that contains all the features one could ever realistically expect to use and then some. There are many features - e.g., animated AR stickers, stop motion animation, and 360 editing capabilities - for which I have no immediate use but for whose inclusion I am nevertheless grateful since it's always difficult to anticipate one's future needs. More importantly, the app includes all the tools needed to crop, trim and split video as well as the ability to change the aspect ratio. Correction tools enable the user to adjust color tones and white balance and to apply lens corrections. Motion speed adjustments, motion tracking, and panning & zooming capabilities are also available as well as support for webcams and multiple cameras. There is also an impressive array of features for recording, editing and mixing audio.
New and noteworthy features in the 2022 version include face effects, a speech to text converter, and a GIF creator. Adding to the huge library of transitions previously available, the app now also offers camera movement transitions. I was also pleased to see there is now enhanced support for LUT profiles.
One thing that surprised me in the 2022 version of Video Studio is that much less emphasis is placed on templates than in previous versions. They are still there, as are graphics and overlays and filters and effects, but they are given much less attention. Perhaps Corel feels these are no longer appropriate for an app that aspires to be of use to professionals.
Before leaving the discussion of Corel products it might be well to mention that unless one is in dire immediate need of a particular app it is almost never necessary to pay full price. While nearly all software developers periodically run sales, no other seems to offer as many seasonal, holiday, flash, and customer reward sales as does Corel. As the discounts are often substantial, a prospective customer would do well to periodically check prices on a given app's website before making any purchase.
As I was writing this article I received from Corel notification of a free "service pack" upgrade to the app. I downloaded and installed the update without problem but the app crashed the first time I tried to launch it after having completed the installation. On the second try, however, it opened without problem and now appears to be working fine.
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