Corel VideoStudio by Jerry Saperstein

The DVD reader on my primary computer is broken so I downloaded the files from the Corel site.

The total install is about 3.8GB and though the downloading was pretty quick, the very slow install process failed the first time, throwing up a message that I should call Corel Technical Support. No error codes, no explanation, no nothing that an experienced user would use for troubleshooting before getting involved with a probable wait for telephone support.

So I relied on instinct and tried to install a second time, which also took a very long time, but it installed without issue.

On an i7 based computer with an Nvida GPU, 16GB RAM and a 7200RPM drive, launching Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X9 invokes a static splash screen that cannot be minimized or sent to another layer. The VideoStudio splash screen takes over you machine, keeping you from doing anything else, for more than 3 minutes! Absolutely unbelievable. After taking my enforced nap, I checked in Preferences to see if the splash screen for an option to not have it launch. Nope.

The next time, I wil have a stop watch handy when I launch VideoStudio, but I think the three minutes plus is reasonably accurate.

Unreal.

I checked Windows 10 Task Manager and my system is relatively clean, no impediments to Corel executing quickly.

But everything about this program seems to be slow. Dragging clips from the media bin to a track is slow. There is a noticeable delay between clicking the lay start button and the video playing. Transitions take time. Everything takes time, way too much time.

I run Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe Premier Elements, Cyberlink PowerDirector, TrakAxPC, Magix Movie Edit Pro 2016 and other video programs on this computer and none run as slow as Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X9.

As a result of this sluggish performance, I have to give up testing it for today I just don’t have that much time. I will come back to it later when I can endure the long waits. I will say that the program was stable during all this: no crashes, just incredibly slow performance. And the idea of a static splash screen that you cant dismiss is pathetically archaic.

More later when I have the time and patience. If I can get the program faster, my rating will almost certainly increase.

Jerry