My Vegas Pro 8 trial...

[KSC]

...ends in 1 day and I am in no way able to afford the full version at this time. Before I ask my question, I'll tell you what I'm doing at the moment.

I just got my cam a month ago and basically just starting out with video as well as NLE's. My past editing experience was reel to reel on Super 8 and 16, so it's all new to me. I'm filming soley in 24pa Squeeze mode and editing on a 24p timeline. I'd like to keep it that way. I'm not recording audio at the moment as I'd like to wait until I'm totally proficient on the video end before I even bother investing in good audio gear. Basically, I'm in the experimental stage right now and just want something to practice on in the interim.

So my question this, will the "Studio" version I can pick up off the shelf at Bestbuy for $90 suffice until I'm able to upgrade to Pro again? Like I said, other than some background music tracks and maybe a few sound FX, I don't think I'll need more than 4 audio tracks. Also, I'm just shooting things for myself at the moment and sharing with a few friends online via Vimeo, so DVD Arch. is also unecesary.

[PerroneFord]

Studio would do nicely for you, BUT, I have something even better for you:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/536041-REG/Sony_VP8Q_Vegas_Pro_8_Video.html

[KSC]

Well I'll be damned. How is that different than what comes in the box for $500-600? Just the lack of Architect and fancy packaging?

[David Jimerson]

You will not be able to edit your 24pA footage on a 24p timeline in Studio.

You can set up a 24p timeline manually, but Studio will not remove the pulldown from the footage.

DVD Architect, of course, gives you the Dolby Digital encoder.

Don't know if this helps at all, but . . .

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/products/Sony+Creative+Software/Vegas/840035

[KSC]

Ah, I figured there was some catch about Studio. Well, $129 and even $300 are much better than I had expected the price to be. Eventually I will want Architect and DDE, so maybe I can swing the extra expense now rather than just getting the single disc and having to pay again when I want the other parts of the package.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

[David Jimerson]

You can't buy DVD Architect separately, keep in mind.

[Aroon_Narayanan]

Well I'll be damned. How is that different than what comes in the box for $500-600? Just the lack of Architect and fancy packaging?
Yup, pretty much. I have the "cheap" version, and all that B&H gives you is a paper CD sleeve containing the Vegas disc, and a sheet with the Serial number on it. That said, I think it's a great value, because I can get a professional NLE for the same price as a consumer one, and if I want to burn to DVD, I can just output my project as an MPEG-2 file and burn it with cheap DVD-burning software (Nero, or any other consumer NLE I may have).

[KSC]

You can't buy DVD Architect separately, keep in mind.

Yeah, I figured as much. Exactly why I may just go for the $300 rather than $129 then $300 more down the line. I'll look at my expenses after bills for the month and decide then. Even the single disc, as long as I'm able to continue to edit in the fashion I've been getting accustumed to over the past 29 days, I'll be happy. Of course I'd rather the full package, but that extra $170 is gonna cut into my tripod fund. Ugh, so much gear, so little money!

Aroon: I have Nero and Alchohol and DVD Encrypter and something else I can't even remember right now. I never tried to burn MPEG-2 with them though, good to know it's an option. Thanks.

[PerroneFord]

Being perfectly honest, DVDA isn't that great anyway. There's a LOT better software out there for burning disks. Get the $129 version and edit to your hearts content and burn DVD's with what you have now.

[David Jimerson]

Can you elaborate on that? Are you just talking about simple, no-frills burns? Sure, there's a lot of cheap software which will do that just fine.

But if you're talking about authoring a DVD -- setting up menus, creating special features, taking advantage of multiple camera angles, multiple sound tracks, adding functional buttons to your video, etc., etc., all that advanced stuff you find on commercial DVDs, DVDA's workflow is to DVD authoring what Vegas is to video editing.

And if you want a 5.1 surround track, you need it, because Vegas can't export AC-3 without it -- or without the Dolby Digital encoder (https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/checkout/cart) for $200 (so you might as well get DVDA).

[PerroneFord]

David, I wasn't talking about cheap software. I meant other programs like Encore, etc., that allow for more flexibility in menu's and other things than I've seen from DVDA.

Yes, the multi-camera, multi-soundtrack stuff is nice, but I don't think that's solely the domain of DVDA.

Your point about Exporting AC-3 for 5.1 is a good one though.

[David Jimerson]

Well, like what? I'm not saying you're wrong, necessarily, but I have Encore CS3 and DVD Studio Pro, and other than integration with the other programs in their suites, I don't immediately see what they do better.

What do you have in mind?

[PerroneFord]

I had understood that menus, templates, and so forth were stronger in Encore. Perhaps my information is faulty. Seemed like the comparisons favored Encore back when I was choosing software.

[David Jimerson]

Comparing earlier versions, it might have been true.

[Bobble Head]

Does anybody with with vegas 8 Pro experience have an opinion about Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack, and it's features and limitations.

Thanks - Bobble Head

[ShaneEnderle]

would this be worth it without dvd architect if im not going to be doing doing any fancy dvd stuff?

[David Jimerson]

would this be worth it without dvd architect if im not going to be doing doing any fancy dvd stuff?

Are you saying that because you're really not going to be doing it, or are you saying that because you want to justify buying it at the lower price?

It might seem like a snarky question, but it's not meant to be. Don't short yourself in the long run just for an immediate benefit.

[David Jimerson]

Does anybody with with vegas 8 Pro experience have an opinion about Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack, and it's features and limitations.

Thanks - Bobble Head

Movie Studio is probably 50% slower than the pro version, has limited tracks, doesn't do 24p, etc., etc., etc..

If you want to do serious work, it's not the environment you want.

[Ducatimark]

I was in the same position less than two years ago and had bought Platinum. I upgraded to Vegas 7 when I bought the HVX (and then quickly bought Raylight). Upgraded to 8Pro as soon as it came out.

When I was with Patinum, I kept reading that it would do almost everything that you need, and few people knew how to use the extra features. Well, thank goodness I made the switch because I've been using all those features ever since I bought it. Just in the last three months I've done my first broadcast commercials and had to figure out how to include both bars and tone. Well, I'd seen the bars, but figured I had to buy a package that offered just tones. Guess what, Vegas Pro8 had the tones already there in its audio package (saving me about $50 buying it separately like I almost did). And that's one small example. The other great feature is the integration with other Sony products like Soundforge and Cinescore, two more that I added that speed up and improve the quality that much more. You may not need them right away, but nice to know they can be integrated later. I also use Boris Red 4.3 as both a plug-in and stand alone. It's another great product that elevates your work even higher. But in the end, for the money, Vegas Pro does as much as you could ask for a $500 program. And for an NLE, there's nothing else close unless you went for the full Adobe package (about $2200?) which seems like a good deal if you get the full studio/design package; but I've neve edited with Premiere so I won't comment. I only know about my experience with Macromedia Studio 8 (Flash Pro, Fireworks, Dreamweaver) that dealing with Adobe support will sometimes make you crazy.

As far as DVD Architect, if you're making DVD's that require more than what that program can provide you're probably farming it out to a design/replication/package house.

My recommendation is simple. If you want to be a professional, bite the bullet and get the right version of the one tool you will use almost every single day in this business. Skip buying a wideangleanamorphic35mmcinezoomshouldermountmatteb ox and spend the few extra hundred bucks on something that will pay great dividends for a long time. My fancy hardware often sits in its case for days or sometimes weeks, but Vegas Pro is like a great mattress. You say "ahhhhhh" everytime you get into it.