General Comment Emc8

[my7551]

No offense to you guys and gals staffing this Roxio owned site.

You are trying to help.

But, for a moment, sit back, quit looking at the trees, and see the forrest.

 

While there are those that bought/use EMC8 for audio and maybe the other included items, I think that most bought (or upgraded to EMC8) for the video/dvd functions.

 

Not everybody that bought EMC8 comes to this site, or even knows of it, so the problems expressed here MUST be the tip of the iceburg.

 

From what I'm reading from contributers, everybody seems to have reasonable computers and many seem to be overly good (or better than can be reasonably expected from the general public).

 

So why all the problems with the video/dvd functions?

 

If EMC8 were a Chevy, it would have been recalled and a General Motors dealer would be fixing it.

 

If EMC8 NEEDS special computers/video cards/or other stuff to make it work, then the developement team sure dropped the ball.

 

It looks like the video/dvd parts of the program MAY be made to work by "exceptional" people willing to tinker with their machines and/or add new and different video cards, etc..., but EMC8 is supposed (?) to cater to the novice/newcomers to digital; isn't it? The people that make their living in this field probably use the Adobe (expensive!) stuff.

 

So, again, no offense to the site's staff, but I do suggest that YOUR input to Sonic/Roxio could get "something" done to either repair EMC8 for general-public use or to get it marketed to tinkering experts.

[The Highlander]

my7551,

i may not agree with everything you say here and i Dont take any this personally in any way

I Dont think you are correct in your comment about " Not everybody that bought EMC8 comes to this site, or even knows of it, so the problems expressed here MUST be the tip of the iceberg" i think this is a bit of a silly comment, as everyone that gets this prod out from the web site here , and out of the box product (by the way the forum and support are listed in the documents in the boxed version)

so unless by some very slim way that the user doesn't have INTERNET, then your comment falls flat.

And again 7551, as said to you by many people here , that your issue is one of very few who in the over all picture is minimal, as there are over 2 million sales of this product, and i see only 4,000 users on this site, and of that many users there are only a few that are posters here, most have there issue sorted and we never see them again, so you are a very small percent.

I think you have no concept of other applications out there, as Nero has so many issues that they would not even dare to have a place like this, as there management would cringe at all the issues they have...

 

(my7551 said: If EMC8 NEEDS special computers/video cards/or other stuff to make it work, then the development team sure dropped the ball. )

Obviously you haven't upgraded you office version from office 98 yet , as EVERY software make (Microsoft??) made you upgrade every time they released an version of OS or office, so again this is a silly comment.

 

(my7551 said: So, again, no offense to the site's staff, but I do suggest that YOUR input to Sonic/Roxio could get "something" done to either repair EMC8 for general-public use or to get it marketed to tinkering experts.

) I DONT think there needs to be anything done to this product at all, and even to add to this comment i love the new Full Deluxe version better than the standard one.

These are my comments back, and as you have said "no offense to you" and as a last comment, If you post a letter like this then you must expect to have these sort of replies and i have to expect that there will comments from users like your self that agree with you.

I wish you luck and let the debate roll.

[my7551]

my7551,

i may not agree with everything you say here and i Dont take any this personally in any way

I Dont think you are correct in your comment about " Not everybody that bought EMC8 comes to this site, or even knows of it, so the problems expressed here MUST be the tip of the iceberg" i think this is a bit of a silly comment, as everyone that gets this prod out from the web site here , and out of the box product (by the way the forum and support are listed in the documents in the boxed version)

so unless by some very slim way that the user doesn't have INTERNET, then your comment falls flat.

And again 7551, as said to you by many people here , that your issue is one of very few who in the over all picture is minimal, as there are over 2 million sales of this product, and i see only 4,000 users on this site, and of that many users there are only a few that are posters here, most have there issue sorted and we never see them again, so you are a very small percent.

I think you have no concept of other applications out there, as Nero has so many issues that they would not even dare to have a place like this, as there management would cringe at all the issues they have...

 

(my7551 said: If EMC8 NEEDS special computers/video cards/or other stuff to make it work, then the development team sure dropped the ball. )

Obviously you haven't upgraded you office version from office 98 yet , as EVERY software make (Microsoft??) made you upgrade every time they released an version of OS or office, so again this is a silly comment.

 

(my7551 said: So, again, no offense to the site's staff, but I do suggest that YOUR input to Sonic/Roxio could get "something" done to either repair EMC8 for general-public use or to get it marketed to tinkering experts.

) I DONT think there needs to be anything done to this product at all, and even to add to this comment i love the new Full Deluxe version better than the standard one.

These are my comments back, and as you have said "no offense to you" and as a last comment, If you post a letter like this then you must expect to have these sort of replies and i have to expect that there will comments from users like your self that agree with you.

I wish you luck and let the debate roll.

 

A reasonable response, considering...

Actually I do not have Office, of any vintage, on my machine. I am retired and Word Perfect 8 serves all my correspondence needs. Nor do I "game." The most violent activities consist of a move-the-pieces war game (Empire) made for Win95 and a Hoyle card game.

But I do "do" digital photography, videos, DVDs etc...

My machines (self-built) are filled with reasonably up-to-last-year's-date and perform very well.

As I mentioned in another post, I like Videowave. I only removed VW5 to clear the way for EMC8's install.

I have been using "Nero," with zero problems (I currently have Nero 6 active/reinstalled) but I did miss the very nice Videowave format, so, when PC Mag's review of EMC8 vs Nero 7 came out, I purchased EMC8.

Not that I needed or wanted anything in the suite other than the video functions, but the stand-alone price for VW was only a few bucks lower than the entire EMC8.

Well, I did realize that there would be "conflicts" with multiple video/dvd programs on a single machine, so I did a full job of eliminating ALL other programs and registry entries and did several reboots to insure nothing would conflict with EMC8's install on my XPpro machine.

EMC8 installed perfectly.

I did custom-install and was somewhat miffed that I HAD to have the CD lable function, but that is of no consequence.

I was/am severly disappointed when I attempted to use the video/dvd function and only got a machine shut-down reboot! Each time I tried; same result.

So, with searching, I got here.

Roxanne and Live Chat were not unlike talking to my German Shepherd, but HERE there are live and experienced people.

I read all the related posts prior to joining-in and, to me, there were a LOT of people experiencing REAL problems with what should have been an out-of-the-box working program.

Now I don't know the total amount of problems and, as you mention, a LOT of EMC8s were sold, but there is also no way to know how many people found the program "wanting" and just stuck it on their shelf, and saying nothing. Also there must be users that purchased the program for the Audio capabilities. They may be happy. I don't know since that area is of no interest to me.

I was also unaware (at purchase time, in-store, in-box) that there was a 114 MB update/fix on a very New program. You must admit that such a large update/fix so soon makes one wonder just how "ready" for distribution/sale EMC8 was? From comments here the download buyers got the update/fix included and, maybe, the now-in-store boxes MAY have the update/fix. IF this thing is needed to make EMC8 functional, then, IMO, it needs to be sent out to registered buyers. A 114MB download on dial-up is NOT an option.

There are LOTS of people just getting started with digital video and The "promise" of EMC8 is to give them a clean and pleasant entry into this new world. These people are NOT likely to have the latest wiz-bangs of computers and video cards, but they ARE likely to have a couple-of-year-old computers with "normal" components.

So, I am, again, most troubled that even experts/pros are here-expressing difficulties that just should not be, and hoped that the Roxio-affiliated pros on this site might have a more-direct input to the SOURCE.

[Not that it applies here (EMC8) but there seems to be universal difficulties in re-installs of OLD VW5, a problem that should have been a no-problem years ago].

I am attempting to be as inoffensive as I can, considering, but, golly, the darn thing SHOULD work; for me and everybody....

 

I do see that this site has resolved many/most of the in-individual-program difficulties reported by users. THAT, alone is a boon.

You may also be correct on Nero problems. I wouldn't know since, other than InCD, Nero performes (for me) perfectly. Yes, there have been downloads/updates/fixes, but they have all been dial-up manageable, and they "fixed" problem that I didn't know I had (I saw no change).

 

I don't see this all as a matter for "debate."

Either EMC8 works out-of-the-box or it doesn't.

For me, it doesn't and since I burnt the box at install, and software is unreturnable, and more than 30-days have passed, I have a shelf-decoration.

I REALY hope that VW will come back someday (VW12?) as I WOULD like to use it...

[ggrussell]

Either EMC8 works out-of-the-box or it doesn't.

That I can agree with and it did for me as it did/does for alot of other users. You just won't see them here extolling the virtues of EMC8. After all, most people visit here only if they have a problem.

[bimicher]

A reasonable response, considering...

 

I REALY hope that VW will come back someday (VW12?) as I WOULD like to use it...

 

Your signature seems to indicate that you have a on-board video card. Could you list some specifics on that card. I also have a on-board Intel card on my system and Videowave would not work with it and the system would shut down as soon as I started any video-related program. I replaced the card with one that is DirectX 9c compatible and everything worked fine.

[my7551]

myguggi,

MB = Intel D845GBV w/a 82845G/GL graphics adapter.

(I had to "dig" to find the MB number and the graphics # is off Device Manager).

 

On one of my attempts, I swapped-in a ATI All in Wonder AGP card, to no avail.

 

System Tools and Norton tell me my Direct X(9) is just fine.

 

From the shop manual (pg 29:

"To take FULL advantage of all the features of EMC8, your coumputer must meet...

...lots...

DirectX 9 or higher compatible graphics card...."

 

So, yes, I did read the book.

Ok. I don't have a CARD, but I do have a board that works with (compatible with) DirectX 9. Yes, I did instal the Intel updates.

So, if a CARD is vital, then the fine print "got" me and I have no beef. My fault for assuming ease and simplicity. LET THE BUYER BEWARE worked for the Romans and it's still valid.

 

I am uninterested in the FULL feature-set of EMC8; only the basic Videowave functions (maybe some blends). I'm not even worried if EMC8 will burn. Nero can do that for me, even in my Pentium 2 & 3 machines running Win98 and WinMe.

If BASIC Videowave would have functioned, I wouldn't be typing here.

 

So, you bought a new video card and all was well?

Will you share the VC name and price?

>>>>Remember I'm a cheapskate!!!!<<<<<

 

Did you also NEED that 114 MB download (update/fix) to make it work?

Short of getting a high speed internet connection, which "She Who Must Be Obeyed" says I can't have, I'm stuck with dial up and the store-purchased box of EMC8. I am unable to find any way I can BUY an Update/ fix-CD from Roxio/Sonic.

 

Thanks...

[The Highlander]

Did you also NEED that 114 MB download (update/fix) to make it work?

Short of getting a high speed internet connection, which "She Who Must Be Obeyed" says I can't have, I'm stuck with dial up and the store-purchased box of EMC8. I am unable to find any way I can BUY an Update/ fix-CD from Roxio/Sonic.

Thanks...

 

Just a silly question my7551, where in the world are you located, England?, australia, USA????

[bimicher]

myguggi,

MB = Intel D845GBV w/a 82845G/GL graphics adapter.

(I had to "dig" to find the MB number and the graphics # is off Device Manager).

 

 

On one of my attempts, I swapped-in a ATI All in Wonder AGP card, to no avail.

 

System Tools and Norton tell me my Direct X(9) is just fine.

 

From the shop manual (pg 29:

"To take FULL advantage of all the features of EMC8, your coumputer must meet...

...lots...

DirectX 9 or higher compatible graphics card...."

 

So, yes, I did read the book.

Ok. I don't have a CARD, but I do have a board that works with (compatible with) DirectX 9. Yes, I did instal the Intel updates.

So, if a CARD is vital, then the fine print "got" me and I have no beef. My fault for assuming ease and simplicity. LET THE BUYER BEWARE worked for the Romans and it's still valid.

 

I am uninterested in the FULL feature-set of EMC8; only the basic Videowave functions (maybe some blends). I'm not even worried if EMC8 will burn. Nero can do that for me, even in my Pentium 2 & 3 machines running Win98 and WinMe.

If BASIC Videowave would have functioned, I wouldn't be typing here.

 

So, you bought a new video card and all was well?

Will you share the VC name and price?

>>>>Remember I'm a cheapskate!!!!<<<<<

 

Did you also NEED that 114 MB download (update/fix) to make it work?

Short of getting a high speed internet connection, which "She Who Must Be Obeyed" says I can't have, I'm stuck with dial up and the store-purchased box of EMC8. I am unable to find any way I can BUY an Update/ fix-CD from Roxio/Sonic.

 

Thanks...

 

 

I have attached a screenshot (taken from Device mamanger) of my video card setup. As you can see I also "had" the same card as you and replaced it with a Nvidia GeForce card over a year ago. Even though you may have DirectX 9 (actually version 9c is required) installed, the Intel card is only partially compatible with DirectX 9 and cannot handle many its features, especially the 3D functions. That information is from the Intel website. The information from System Tools and Norton is essentially useless.

To get more information on your video card and your version of DirectX run the Dxdiag diagnostic program:

 

click Start on the taskbar , then type dxdiag in the Run command. You can then test your card for compatibility.

[d_deweywright]

So, you bought a new video card and all was well?

Will you share the VC name and price?

>>>>Remember I'm a cheapskate!!!!<<<<<

No problem being a cheapskate... I am too, working with more like the year-before-last technology. I needed to get a better graphics card when I got a DVD drive for my machine. I hit up eBay and picked up an ATI Radeon 7500, 64MB AGP graphics card for about $30 (including shipping). Fully DirectX 9.c compatible, and works fine with Videowave. Oh yeah, it was used, and the fan was noisy, so I wound up spending another $15 to get a new fan for it. Like I say, it's probably a couple years old, but far outranks the 5 or 6 year old, 8MB card I was using.

[my7551]

A conglometate reply:

 

daiwe & brendon t; "You've got mail."

 

I WILL give DXDIAG a shot when I get back to my XP machine (right now I'm typing into my good-old-reliable Pentium 3).

 

My dial-up is AT&T. It is tied to my home's regular phone service so I get dial-up AND phone for $15 per month.

 

Recently a $15 per month HS was offered (short time offer). The "norm" now is $29 per month for the first 3 months. After that, the price is undisclosed. The spouse sees only the bigger dollars. Making a change would result in a payment to a HS providor AND a basic phone service bill. Anyway, most of you are probably working and the price may seem trivial. Consider it in the light of percentage of my Social Security check...

 

My location is Sebastopol, California (50 miles north of the Golden Gate.

 

I will do some looking for a new (cheap) videocard, but, other than making Videowave work at its most basic level (no, I don't want 3D, etc...), I find it hard to justify.

The video card I swapped-in trying to get it working is a brand new (sat on my shelf) ATI "All-In-Wonder VE." 64MB DDR memory,Supports DirectX and OpenGL, and came with (unused) Pinnacle 8 ATI version. I don't think this is a too-shabby card?

 

All I have to compare EMC8 with is Nero and I realize that the "other guy" isn't supposed to be mentioned here

but

I find it MOST strange that Nero works on ALL; Win98 and up, Pentium One and up, with everything in the way of hardware I throw at it....while EMC8 seems to require a very-specific array of hardware.

Yes, EMC8's specs DO forewarn, so I rate no sympathy there. "Caveat Emptor."

Even though Nero works, I still LIKE the VW format. The old Function/Form thing.

 

Anyhow, I'm still plugging along on this thing AND trying to get rid of the "please register" on my re-install (older machine) of VW5.