I am confused. We now have Topaz Video AI and the new version, which is called Video Studio in one instance, or Topaz Video in another. Topaz Video AI and Topaz Video?
Why are these separate programs? Topaz Video is just the old one with a new Starlight model added. Can I delete the old one now? What’s going on here?
I guess the UI of the new program is again completely different to the previous version. But is it better? Not really. Some things are better, some things are worse.
You no longer see the output resolution and frame rate when you have no enhancements selected. This makes it much harder to figure out which video you have currently selected.
Now when I am working with any video, I get asked every five seconds to run a system check for Starlight, even if I don’t even have an enhancement selected. At this point, I think I have downloaded Starlight over a dozen times now. I don’t have enough VRAM for the new Starlight Sharp model, but I can still use the cloud export option. However, that doesn’t keep the program from prompting me TWO TIMES to do the system check for Starlight before I can get there.
The trim window for the cloud export is still buggy and frustrating to use and I don’t even know why it exists since we already have a perfectly working trim feature in the base program.
The preset window should be collapsed when launching the program.
My biggest problem with the new UI still persists. Why is the video darkened when you open the Sources tab? It makes frame-by-frame comparison of two output videos impossible. Please just remove it.
This is just getting too frustrating. I’ll be sticking with the old version for now.
They are separate programs, and you’d better understand the differences between them before deleting Topaz Video AI - the ‘old’ one. Depending upon what you’ve done with respect to the transition to Studio and Topaz Video, you could wind up with nothing!
If you accepted the transfer to Topaz Studio and its subscription rate, you will be able to run Topaz Video as long as your subscription does not expire. If you had an active license for Topaz Video AI at the time of the subscription/transfer, you will still be able to run it separately from Topaz Video. You have two separate programs with similar features. Topaz Video is the only one that will receive full support and updates into the future. Topaz Video AI is ‘frozen in time’ and still usable, but only until it stops working due to an OS or driver update, etc. You can uninstall it, but if you let your subscription to Studio/Topaz Video lapse, you’re left without any Topaz video functionality.
The question will be where the Studio version will develop. I don’t need new gadgets, what we want are better models, especially as Topaz “improve project starlight” is on the banner, or does that only apply to the cloud?
Currently I see no progress of Starlight Studio compared to e.g. TVAI 7.0.2, I don’t have a 3x upscale into Studio version (and 4x is partly buggy can do 2x) and as far as the quality of the rendering is concerned not better (some reported worser?!) Today there is simply no reason for me to switch to Studio.
So, we’re now moving to the ol’ “you don’t own what you buy” business model and the new program was solely created so that they can’t be sued for false advertisement when saying that you keep access to all the updates until your subscription expires when you purchase Video AI.
The nonsensical UI changes are just there to make it seem like a new program and make it less obvious that that is what they’re doing.
I think that’s unfortunately the case, although it’s almost normal today with buy and own nothing.
Ongoing costs are only ok for me if I see progress being made on the models and not being fobbed off with new UI designs and gadgets, then it no longer fits for me. We’ll see what they do with Topaz Studio, Starlight is supposed to be improved…
I think this first subscription period is crucial for them. It came at a time when Starlight local processing was relatively new and showed great promise, despite being slow. I wanted to be around for improvements, so I’m sticking it out for one year when I have to renew. (January)
But I’m seeing Starlight (Mini) going backwards since first introduced in 7, with unwanted “updates” forced in my ‘perpetual’ Studio AI, and that has me irritated. If there is not significant improvement in Topaz Video, it’ll be One (year) and Done for me with Studio.
And the web-based stuff is half-baked, at best. They make it difficult to manage the images that you upload. You shouldn’t have to come to an online forum and ask out how to delete test files from your account. Or search around to download one that’s been processed.
I have multiple copies of the same picture clogging my page and can’t see much difference in any of them. Each of these apps should have a consistent management scheme that allows you to select images for download or deletion. You shouldn’t have to stumble around not knowing how to perform basic functions like this…
