Pinnacle MovieBox Review

In the world of independent film makers, there are several different paintbrushes to be used before your masterpiece is complete.  The hard drive or film that goes in your camera has to be of the highest quality, the camera needs to have optimal performance with a quality lens, and when you are editing your video you need the best hardware and software to capture the video from your camera and edit it to perfection.  For the technically-minded film maker in us, Pinnacle has given us another paintbrush to make help make that masterpiece come to life.

Pinnacle Studio MovieBox Ultimate is your key to creating professional movies on a shoestring budget.  At $149 direct from Pinnacle, you can bring out your inner muse and develop quality video to share with friends and family, or even go all out and make a studio-quality movie.  Here are a few details about MovieBox to cram inside your brain and prepare you for the adventure in testing it.
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Fully compatible with Windows Vista, Pinnacle Studio MovieBox Ultimate combines a high-speed USB 2.0 capture device with the power of Pinnacle Studio Ultimate video editing software and a suite of highly-acclaimed pro audio and video tools for professional results. The extensive range of capabilities includes compatibility with the Windows Vista operating system, HD DVD and AVCHD format editing and disc authoring, Hi-Fi audio music generation, and automatic Web publishing. In addition to Pinnacle Studio Ultimate video editing software’s improved performance and speed, and a sleek new user interface, Pinnacle Studio MovieBox Ultimate includes BIAS Inc’s SoundSoap audio cleaning tools, professional level special effects from ProDAD VitaScene, precision Panning and Zooming with StageTool MovingPicture, and a Chroma Key green screen backdrop for easy-to-achieve professional results.

Specifications:

• Windows XP with SP2 or Windows Vista operating system (32-bit Windows Vista recommended)
• Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon 1.8 GHz or higher (2.4 GHz recommended)
• Intel Pentium HT or AMD Athlon 2.4 GHz or 1.6 GHz Dual core required for Windows Vista
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or higher required for AVCHD editing
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
• 1 GB required for HD and/or Windows Vista (2 GB recommended)
• 1.5 GB required for AVCHD (2 GB required on Windows Vista)
• DirectX 9 or higher compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB recommended)
• 128 MB required on Windows Vista (256 MB ATI Radeon 9600+ or NVIDIA GeForce 6 or higher recommended)
• 256 MB required for HD and AVCHD editing (ATI Radeon 9600+ or NVIDIA GeForce 6 or higher recommended)
• DirectX 9 or higher compatible sound card
• 1 GB of disk space to install software and 3+ GB to install bonus content (optional)
• 1 USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) port
• DVD-ROM drive to install software

Optional:

• CD burner for creating Video CDs or Super Video CDs (S-VCDs)
• DVD burner for creating DVD, HD DVD and AVCHD format discs
• Sound card with surround sound output required for preview of surround sound mixes

 

 

Capture Options	Capture from DV, HDV and Digital8 camcorders or VCRs Capture from analog camcorders, 8 mm, HI 8, VHS, SVHS, VHS-C, SVHS-C, or VCRs (NTSC/PAL/SECAM). Import from AVCHD camcorders (requires USB 2.0 and a UDF driver)
Output Options	Output to DV, HDV or Digital8 tape Output to analog videotape (requires DirectShow compatible videodevice or videocard with TV-output) Output to Apple® iPod® and Sony® PSP™ formats
Import Formats	Video: AVCHD, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®, MPEG-4, 3GP(MPEG-4), WMV, Non-encrypted DVD titles Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3 Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF
Export Formats	VideoCD (VCD) or S-VCD with optional CD burner (CD-R or CD-RW) AVCHD, Blu-ray BD, HD-DVD, DVD disc with optional disc burner (incl. dual layer) Apple iPod and Sony PSP compatible (MPEG-4) formats DV, HDV, AVI, DivX, RealVideo® 8, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Flash, 3GP, WAV, MP3 files Dolby® Digital 2 channel and 5.1 channel audio

 

 

Okay then, let’s crack this egg and see what’s cooking.  For this test drive I’m going to be using an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor, 1GB of system memory, a 256MB ATI Radeon video card, and a Western Digital 320GB HD.   Alrighty, now that you know what I’m rolling in, let’s open the box and see what comes in this fine set of videographer’s tools.

What’s  included:

• Video Input/Output Hardware to convert your movies to digital
• Chroma Key Green Screen Backdrop
• IEEE 1394 Firewire cable
• USB cable
• Two DVDs full of software
• A whole package of installation, quick start, and warranty papers
• A 315-page User Guide, which is damned near a novella.
• Inspiration

When I was younger, back when I was writing my first screenplays and short stories, I became intrigued with Chroma Key Green Screen.  Back then it wasn’t in as widespread use as it is today, mostly because of the cost.  Some films that use more advanced techniques, such as “Polar Express”, used green screen rooms and full body suits that tracked every movement, and cost about one million dollars per minute to make.  Now, you’re not going to get that kind of quality out of this product, but you can make some pretty interesting things happen.

What I decided to do with this review is shoot video in my in-home studio, but make it appear as though I am somewhere a little more exotic.  Maybe a Thai bordello?  You could fool your friends into thinking you were actually there, but the real proof is in the V.D. Tests, so if you don’t have the papers there’s probably no point in faking it.  Okay, enough screwing around.  Let’s get started.

I put the Green Screen up on the wall, and set one of my cameras up on a tripod.  A little arranged lighting, and we have the makings of a masterpiece.  I shot a little video in front of the Green Screen to show you that even with mediocre lighting in your living room you can create very nice footage with just your video camera and MovieBox.

Next I installed the included copy of Pinnacle Studio 12, which I reviewed a few months ago (read the review).  I suggest that you check out that review if you want information on the software, its performance, and how it works.  I also installed the included Plug-Ins that come on a separate CD.  You know you’re getting all kinds of goodies when there are so many add-ons that they have to shove them onto another disc.

With everything installed, I proceeded to hook up the included hardware and transfer my video over to my hard drive.  On the front of the converter box there is a place where you can plug in Firewire and use this to transport your video to your hard drive via USB.  Personally, I’m not a big fan of USB when it comes to video capture.  The video loses quality and is slower to transfer.  USB 2.0 is rated at a higher speed than Firewire, but that is its speed limit, not a guaranteed speed.  USB still tends to go at its own pace, depending on what hardware and software you are using.

If you have a Firewire card installed on your PC, I would recommend that you just plug your camera in directly, and transport your pure digital video that way.  If you only have the USB option, then by all means go for it.  If all you have is analog, please join us in the new millennium.  We have auto-mo-biles now.  Either way, the main objective is to get your video onto the computer.  If you want to opt for more hardware, a good piece of machinery to go along with your Pinnacle collection is the Pinnacle MovieBoard.  You can transfer analog directly to your PC via this card.  I have hopes of reviewing this soon as well.  You hear that Pinnacle?  Hook a reviewer up!

My video is on my hard drive, the software is ready to go, so now let’s add some effects to this shiznit!  I used pictures to demonstrate the effects and background imposition.  Video can get a little messy, but if you want to use it go ahead and be my guest.  I personally love video in the background, but for the sake of time, I decided to just go with still images.

There is a little effort, along with some reading of the User’s Manual, to get full control of the software’s Picture In Picture and Chroma Key controls.  Once you are in there, however, the results can be fantastic.  I was very impressed with the overall craftsmanship that Pinnacle put into the software and green screen tools.  There are very few products out there at this price that can offer such usability and easiness to learn and control.  The Green Screen cloth, while not the very best that you can get, is more than enough to get the job done even for the most experienced film crafter.

I found the product lacking in very few places, with only the most minor of details invoking any notice whatsoever.  My conclusion is that if you are looking for a great way to improve your home studio or are interested in using green screen for your business website or commercials, then this is a very cost-effective way to go.  The price is right, and the materials are top notch.  Just don’t get caught with those Thai hookers.

	REPORT CARD : Pinnacle movieBox Ultimate category rating comments Quality 5 Great software, high quality green screen Innovation 5 Putting all the essentials for chroma key in one box with all those plugins is a work of art Usability 4 Just about anyone can use this, from novice to the artisan, and get good use out of it. Performance 5 The included software covers it all, and then some.  And it didn’t crash even once. Value 4 For the price, this is a beautiful deadl.  Sound is as important as video, yet no microphone was included, and software not great when editing sound. FINAL VERDICT: 5 out of 5 stars