Vegas 7 Release Announcement

[JRAnderson]

Upgrades and Enhancements to Top PC-Based Nonlinear Editing Software Include Advanced HDV and XDCAM Support

(Thursday, September 07, 2006--AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands) Sony Media Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio editing software applications, announced today the immediate availability of the Vegas™+DVD Production Suite, a significant upgrade to its award-winning professional video, audio, and DVD production software solution. The suite includes Vegas 7 and DVD Architect™ 4 software, as well as a Dolby Digital® AC-3 multi-channel encoder for 5.1 surround output.

The all-new Vegas 7 nonlinear editing software combines superior HDV and XDCAM support with innovative workflow enhancement tools that make the application more powerful and intuitive than ever before. Responding to industry-wide demand for new HDV-enabled technology, Vegas 7 software offers full frame rate playback of native HDV on the Vegas timeline and includes improved memory for handling HDV 1080i longform projects. In addition, Vegas 7 software provides all the tools needed to edit proxy and full resolution HD and SD XDCAM MXF files natively without requiring further transcoding.

"Not only does Vegas 7 respond to the current needs of content creators and producers, it provides a comprehensive tool-set that supports the latest formats, and future-proofs their workflows no matter how they're currently taking advantage of the platform. Reconfigured memory handling streamlines the editing of large HDV clips and we've also included improved support for Blackmagic Design Decklink and AJA hardware. The new multithreaded audio engine maximizes audio playback and performance, and the overall enhancements to workflow give unprecedented control over project development," said Dave Chaimson, vice president of marketing, Sony Media Software. "Individually, each of these elements would make Vegas 7 a compelling product, but the combination of these additions with many other new features make Vegas 7 a must-have for professional production in the studio or field."

New features in Vegas 7 software reinforce its position as one of the most intuitive nonlinear editing tools for all formats. New capabilities include improved snapping with enhanced visual clues across multiple tracks, and flexible window docking, which provides customized layouts for modifying the user interface preferences.

The Vegas+DVD Production Suite is also bundled with two free bonus applications: Boris® Graffiti Ltd and Magic Bullet Movie Looks™ HD65, an enhanced version of the Movie Looks program that shipped with earlier versions of the suite. The new Magic Bullet Movie Looks™ HD65 supports HD resolutions and provides 65 different presets that mimic popular television and movie looks.

New features in the Vegas+DVD Production Suite include:

Vegas 7 New Video Features:
Improved native HDV 1080i .m2t playback performance and improved memory handling for HDV 1080i longform projects
Comprehensive XDCAM support, including XDCAM viewer window, proxy support, FAM (i.LINK®) and network support, multichannel audio I/O, proxy conform and master to disc. All SD and HD XDCAM formats are supported
Improved DeckLink implementation includes support for current- generation DeckLink PCI-e and PCI-x cards, improved batch capture, multichannel audio I/O, insert edit to tape, mixed timecode handling, 1080i 24p I/O support, and 720p timeline monitoring
Support for AJA SDI cards (requires Xena LH, LHe, LS, or LSe card). Includes support for batch capture, multichannel audio I/O, insert edit to tape, mixed timecode handling, SD and HD I/O including 1080i 24p, and 720p timeline monitoring
High-quality H.264 AVC/AAC import and export. Includes templates for Sony PSP®, Apple iPod®, and HD (originally released with Vegas 6.0d)
I-frames insertion at marker positions when rendering MPEG-2 (works in conjunction with I-frame viewer in DVD Architect 4)
Export to PSP® (originally released as special upgrade in Vegas 6.0d)
5.1-channel audio extraction from DVD-based camcorders and home movies on DVD
Red-eye reduction for still images
Vegas 7 New Audio Features:

Multithreaded audio engine maximizes real-time audio playback and rendering performance — more tracks and effects with lower latency
Support for Sony Cinescore™ music-generation plug-in
Multichannel audio rendering, audio import and Broadcast Wave (BWF) audio import with arrange to timestamp
Improved VST plug-in support
Support for opening and rendering ATRAC3™, ATRAC3plus™, and ATRAC Advanced Lossless™ files, mono, stereo, and 5.1 surround
Gracenote® MusicID™ technology for extracted audio from CDs
Support for the Frontier TranzPort control surface
Vegas 7 New Workflow Features:

Improved video preview — now includes auto-fit to preview window, simultaneous internal / external preview, additional resolution modes and optimized scaling for previews
Enhanced window layout management offers ability to save, recall, and share custom window layouts
More flexible window docking lets timeline and tabs display on top of docked windows or below
Improved snapping includes color-coded visual snap indicator and the ability to snap to event edges on other tracks
User-definable default smoothness values for Pan/Crop and Track Motion keyframes
Freehand envelope drawing on the timeline
Improved project copy/trim with media includes support for uncompressed AVI, Sony YUV AVI, and CineForm AVI files, copy/trim of audio and video to a single .avi file, copy/trim support for media with velocity envelopes
Cut/copy/delete applies to grouped events
Display option for media marker names in events
Improved Media Manager performance
Enhanced keyboard customization
The Vegas+DVD Production Suite also includes an updated version of DVD Architect software, offering new capabilities in the design and production of DVDs. New scripting tools in the software enable custom navigation and interactivity in DVD menu design.

Additional updates available in DVD Architect 4 software include:

DVD Architect 4 New General Features:

Scripting support offers the ability to create simple games, custom kiosks automation, and locking passcodes
Random playlist playback
Parental Control
Support for Sony Cinescore™ music-generation plug-in
DVD-R DL Support
DVD Architect 4 New Editing and Layout Features

Keyframeable transformations
Keyframeable crop and effects
Additional marker types
Graphical subtitles
Title reordering
Snap to I-Frame — provides precise chapter layout
4:3 and 16:9 preview settings
Greater than 100% zoom
DVD Architect 4 New Audio and Video Features

Buttons on Video
Crop and adjust dialog
Slideshow animations
Picture slideshow duration
ATRAC support
DVD Architect 4 New Testing and Burning Features

Burn mastered folder
8cm to 12cm DVD copy
Button overlap indication
There will be Vegas+DVD demonstrations at various times throughout the IBC 2006 tradeshow, September 8-12. Visit the Sony Media Software booth (hall 7, 7.936) or the main Sony booth (hall 9, 9.410) for times and topics.

Price and Availability
The Vegas+DVD Production Suite provides professionals with the ultimate platform for scalable DV, HDV and HD production. With unparalleled image quality, robust media management and unrivaled audio support, it has become the new standard for tape and file-based workflow editing. It is now available from software retailers worldwide for $699 (MSRP). French, German, and Japanese versions of the software will be available through international retailers in October 2006. For more information on Vegas+DVD software or any of Sony Media Software's leading audio or video editing solutions, please visit http://www.sony.com/mediasoftware

About Sony Media Software
Sony Media Software inspires creative expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, music, DVD, and audio production. Sound Forge, ACID, and Vegas software have defined digital content creation for a generation of creative professionals, amateurs, and enthusiasts. These signature product lines continue to advance the art of providing powerful, accessible tools to unleash the imagination. Today, there is a Sony Media Software application for every level of expertise, including a full line of consumer software based on the company's professional applications. In addition, Sony Media Software produces the extensive Sony® Sound Series collection of royalty-free loops and production music, Sony Pictures Sound Effects Series exclusive sound effects, Vision Series video creation assets, as well as www.ACIDplanet.com, the internet's premier site for independent music and video artists. As a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the company also develops applications that enhance the experience for users of Sony hardware devices including the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and Sony Ericsson mobile phones. Sony Media Software customers span the globe and include seasoned professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, students and educators, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and young children exploring music creation.

[MisterCat]

Cool, thanks for the post. As I've mentioned before, I'm wanting to see the updates to DVDA. I've had several projects lately that I wanted to beef up the menus and transitions but DVDA didn't have the functionality. Hopefully this will solve some of those issues.

[GenJerDan]

(Thursday, September 07, 2006--AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands) Sony Media Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio editing software applications, announced today the immediate availability of the Vegas™+DVD Production Suite. . .

Immediate in what sense? Certainly not in the sense of "you can go to the Sony site and buy it right now".

:)

[ovjamaica]

Yeah, what's up with that? I expected to see it on Sony's site when I used the link above. Grrr..... Well, I don't know that I'll be upgrading right away based on the new feature set. Just not enough to really draw me in yet. I wonder what the upgrade price will be though.

[JRAnderson]

That surprised me, too. You'd think they'd have synched things better. My big question is what the upgrade cost is going to be for existing users. Although, to be honest, I'm not even sure I want to upgrade... have to wait and see what's really under the hood.

[Pesie]

I spoke to the Sony MS guys at the IBC, they told me they start selling V7/DVDA4 from next week (Monday).

[GenJerDan]

Nope. On Tuesday.

Sony is in enough trouble already without releasing something on 9/11.

[Norm Sanders]

MisterCat, you can already do some pretty robust things with DVDA3. I just released our SPARROW film on DVD, and it's got transition videos, etc. So far everyone's been impressed with it, some even wondering how it was all done ... and it's all stock DVDA3.

The new feature of FREE HAND DRAWING in the timeline sounds cool for Vegas7!

For DVDA4, there are several things they're listing as new features, that I'm pretty sure can already be done in DVDA3, so I'm not sure what that's all about.

So when they're saying better support for long form 1080i, etc. ... does it boil down to that this can now fully support the HVX200 or not?

And lastly ... does David, Spot, or anyone know if the UlimateS2 scripting plug-in will work with Vegas7?

[Drew Ott]

I'm hoping the upgrade price isn't over $100.

[Pesie]

I've got Vegas 7 and DVDA4 trialversions on my pc, got a cd-rom at the IBC from Sony Mediasoftware. If you like, the Vegas 7 trialversion can be downloaded from www.orphicfilm.nl/v7 (download the ZIP file, extract the files from it and run the setup program).

My first impression with Vegas 7 is good. I'm not a XDCAM and HDV user so the new options for those systems are not interesting for me. But features like the better preview (scaleable window, more settings, dual preview on external monitor and computerscreen), the pencil drawing of the curves in the A/V envelopes (use the Shift button together with your mouse) and the snapping guidelines for better/faster editing feel realy welcome.

[Jive]

I'm hoping the upgrade price isn't over $100.

I'm guessing the upgrade price will be about the same as their current upgrade to Vegas 6 + DVD is ($250), though they usually have a promotional upgrade price of $200.

More info here: https://www.sonymediasoftware.com/shopping/item.asp?PID=335

[donkathon]

Upgrade price?

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=70610

Check THAT out.

[David Jimerson]

Not particularly impressed with this list of new features. Many of the features being touted as "new" were actually in 6.0d or earlier.

I find the claim of support for the "latest formats" specious at best, considering support for OP Atom MXF, DVCPRO, and AVC-HD are conspicuously absent.

Support for PSP, iPod, AC-3 from DVD camcorders (is this actually 5.1 this time, or just stereo?), and Cinescore smacks of consumer-orientation.

Unless there's something they're just not telling us yet (which is possible), this doesn't look like much of an upgrade.

However, DVDA 4 has some nice features I'd be happy to have.

[donkathon]

Support for PSP, iPod, AC-3 from DVD camcorders

PSP support is poop.
iPod support is poop.
The AC-3 from Sony cams is poop. The way I read it, it was stereo stretched across 5-6channels.

[David Jimerson]

I would strongly consider upgrading immediately if I could drop an AC-3 file onto the timeline and have my 5.1 discrete channels (with all panning information) right there to edit. THAT would be fantastic.

[Norm Sanders]

Support for PSP, iPod ... smacks of consumer-orientation.

I'd disagree, to a degree, on this one ... I've seen a big trend moving towards doing 'pod casts' and other similar portable devices. Being a professional editor, and being able to deliver to those formats, just gives you more options to offer & could be more attractive to folks wanting your services.

[Jive]

Upgrade price?

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=70610

Check THAT out.
Like I posted in that thread, I'd be very surprised if anyone buving Vegas 6 only will be getting Vegas+DVD for free (the B&H sale is only for Vegas 6, not Vegas+DVD).


Not particularly impressed with this list of new features. Many of the features being touted as "new" were actually in 6.0d or earlier.

I find the claim of support for the "latest formats" specious at best, considering support for OP Atom MXF, DVCPRO, and AVC-HD are conspicuously absent.

Support for PSP, iPod, AC-3 from DVD camcorders (is this actually 5.1 this time, or just stereo?), and Cinescore smacks of consumer-orientation.
I agree with David on all points. Though the focus on more consumer-oriented features (with a definite focus on Sony's own products) is a trend that started with Vegas 5 and has been continuing since.

XDCam is a nice pro addition, but it only is good for those who adopt that format. Seems likes a limiting factor to NLE adoption IMHO.

Looks to me like they want Vegas to become the NLE that supports their other products (HDV, XDCam, PSP, etc.). Kinda sad that all the amazing workflow features of Vegas will only be useful to users of Sony's formats (not yet, but just wait a couple versions). I love Vegas' workflow and efficiency, but if it won't support the formats I use, then I'll have no other choice than to find a NLE that does.


Unless there's something they're just not telling us yet (which is possible), this doesn't look like much of an upgrade.
I was sincerely hoping that as well, but from what I can tell so far, there are no hidden features in Vegas 7. If anyone finds any, I'd be glad to hear about them though :)


However, DVDA 4 has some nice features I'd be happy to have.
If DVDA 4 really delivers the goods, then this would be the only reason I would upgrade my copy of Vegas+DVD.


I would strongly consider upgrading immediately if I could drop an AC-3 file onto the timeline and have my 5.1 discrete channels (with all panning information) right there to edit. THAT would be fantastic.
There doesn't seem to be any way to get an AC3 file on the timeline in V7. Importing, drag/drop, etc. does not work. I thought perhaps importing a MPEG-2 file with muxed AC3 audio would work (as it does in Vegas 6, even if it is downmixed to stereo), but V7 would hang whenever I selected an MPEG-2 file, so I never was able to get far enough to find out :(

[David Jimerson]

Demos usually have MPEG support disabled. Licensing.

[Jive]

Good point. I just did some small tests to check that out.

Small MPEG-2 files do import. V7 still hangs a bit before allowing me to drag the file from the explorer to the timeline (this does not happen in V6). Longer (i.e. feature-length) MPEGs cause V7 to hang indefinitely (resulting in me having to force Vegas to quit).

The V7 folder does contain the MainConcept MPEG codecs (for encoding/decoding), but maybe they are restricted since I am using the demo version.

[scharky]

wow, just checked out the trial Vegas7 and, well, just wow, is this an upgrade or a version revision? Sure there are some nice new features drawing out keyframes is cool, dual previews is nice and all, and the timeline (line) for precise cutting is appreciated, but WTF? I can truthfully see no difference between this and Vegas 5 or 6. Now I'm not talking just UI, although it would be nice if they delivered on what it sounded like they were talking about ie. automatically adjusting frames when they are moved around ala Ppro 2.0, but no, the UI is EXACTLY the same as vegas 6, I seriously cannot tell the difference whatsoever. maybe the V7 demo came out before they had done anything to the UI, who knows. Features, well, truthfully nothing usefull that wasn't already in V6. What the hell have they been working on exactly for over a year? and why on earth would I pay $200 bucks for a couple of tweaks? THis is honestly much more dissapointing than V5 to 6. Now granted there does seem to be a very slight boost in performance when previewing realtime, but only when using both and external monitor and regular monitor, meaning it can do both at the same time. But regular pre render speed has not changed, nor has realtime performance been boosted. There are no additions to the color correctors or other video plugins, havn't check the audio yet but I'm guessing nothing new there. Please sony, tell my what my incentive is to upgrade here? is it really PSP support? Wow, sony has really made a mockery of Sonic foundrys wonderful app, support and upgrades. I'm not saying V7 is bad, I'll still use Vegas 6 for most of my work, but honestly there isn't anything telling me that vegas 7 will do me much better.

[glenn chan]

Preview seems to be a lot faster for gaussian blur... and potentially other filters.

The clips now show you when you've snapped to something. Snapping also occurs between tracks. This is like FCP style snapping.

[Curtis_Rhoads]

Unless you guys are snagging it from a different link than the one listed under Trials and Demo's on Sony's site, the only Vegas 7 available there is the consumer version trial of Vegas Movie Studio + DVD Platinum Edition v7. Not Vegas+DVD v7 Production Suite. I'm not sure how much of the Vegas 7 updates actually made it into the Movie Studio version... Supposedly we'll see the actual Production trial version placed online tomorrow.

I remember that a while ago, the Movie Studio version was the previous Production version with some of the advanced features of the current Production version. I don't know if Sony is still using this formula for the Movie Studio bundle.

[Pesie]

Curtis, download the trial version of Vegas 7.

[David Jimerson]

What site is that? Is that an authorized download?

[MisterCat]

What site is that? Is that an authorized download?


Well if you click the link it sure doesn't look like anything authorized, does it?

[Pesie]

It's a link to a trialversion I obtained at the IBC, SMS gave away demo cd's with their software on it. So I just put up the demo installation files on my server.

[Michael_Bott]

There seem to have been some less than enthusiastic responses in the Vegas community out there to the new feature set in Vegas 7. Thanks to Peter I have had the chance to briefly evaluate what I consider the major upgrade in the software (and probably what has taken all the time), namely the HDV handling.

I have to tell you I am a very happy man. I am happy because I have a MAJOR (HDV) project to complete this year and I have been waiting, waiting for the NLE that was going to save my butt from endless proxy and intermediate rendering/swapping. I was hoping that it would be Vegas and (from MY experimenting so far) it seems my prayers have been answered. On a Pentium 4 hyperthreading 3.2 machine with 1Gb RAM, HDV is being handled very slick - slight jumping at BEST/FULL quality but reliably smooth at PREVIEW/HALF. So far I have encountered no handling or memory issues and Vegas seems just as stable as if it were handling good ol' DV. For me, this is perfectly workable as I won't be doing a vast amount of colour correction or compositing on the timeline - even so, my experience so far is that a bit of colour correction does not seem to slow things down too much. Don't know about layer handling yet.

I know there is a colour space issue working directly with HDV files as opposed to Cineform intermediate, but I have doen many experiments previously with renders out to MPEG2 for DVD and my conclusion is that renders from HDV are superior to those from an intermediate. To my eye, renders from HDV preserve colour saturation and resolution much better. Swings and roundabouts maybe, but any opinions?

Actually, for the record, my impression is that Vegas 7 (or is it my system?) is running HDV on the timeline better than Cineform intermediate files.

If you're not workin in HDV then I can see that these improvements may not ring your bell and the other enhancements may make the deal seem like a 6.5 upgrade rather than the full 7.0. However, while the design and handling may not have had much of a tweak - take a look under the bonnet (or hood, if you're in the USA!) ...

[George D]

Michael, I have the same the system specs as yours. Thanks to Peter's link, I've been able to try Vegas 7 for a couple of days now. I feel the same way that the quality is better (in my eyes) about rendering to Mpeg2 or wmvHD from straight m2t files instead of using an intermediate. As much as I've been very happy about using connectHD, the end result loses a little quality compared to native HDV editing which was so painful before but not anymore.

Another thing that I'm extremely happy about is the double window preview (timeline and external). That was a big deal for me before.

[Michael_Bott]

Another thing that I'm extremely happy about is the double window preview (timeline and external). That was a big deal for me before.

Yes, this enhancement really goes hand-in-hand with the improved HDV workflow - being able to see a calibrated monitor output at the same time may be overdue but very, very welcome. I was always dissapointed with the colour depth of proxies and intermediates. Now being able to see the real deal AND edit at the same time makes a huge difference. I anticipate more of a WYSIWYG confidence now when rendering to DVD.

[David Jimerson]

It's a link to a trialversion I obtained at the IBC, SMS gave away demo cd's with their software on it. So I just put up the demo installation files on my server.

OK. You mean well, but it's unauthorized and goes against board policy.

[Pesie]

Sorry, David, I really wasn't aware of that. I thought: SMS gave the demo versions away for free, so there could not be any harm. Just like buying a computer or video-editing magazine that contains a bonus cd with trialversions on it, or websites that have them for free download. Which board policy did I not know of? I'd like to know so that I understand it a little better and won't repeat myself.

Anyway, Vegas 7 is out now, so it can be downloaded from the official site.

[filmmaker58]

Where's the headline? NOW SUPPORTING PANASONIC HVX200 FORMATS!!! It was a sad day when Sony bought Sonic Foundry.

[miamivideo]

You can download the trial now from sony

[JRAnderson]

Just got this from Sony...

Announcing new Sony Vegas+DVD software, featuring Vegas 7, DVD Architect 4 and Dolby Digital AC-3 encoding software. Newly upgraded with an expanded feature set, it's the most powerful and comprehensive video, audio, and DVD production suite available. Take advantage of three promotions:
Through October 31, upgrade from any version of Vegas (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001&url=/shopping/item.asp?PID=416) or the Vegas+DVD Production Suite to the new Vegas+DVD for only $149.95, a savings of $100.
Ready to step up to Vegas+DVD? Upgrade from Vegas Movie Studio or Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001&url=/shopping/item.asp?PID=417) for only $299.95, a savings of $141.
If you're not currently using Vegas, try it now for only $499.95 (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001), a savings of $200.Vegas+DVD is now faster, more efficient and supports more formats than prior versions. It's the application of choice for working with high-definition video, mixing surround soundtracks in 5.1, and creating dual-layer DVDs. Its extensive audio tool set also makes it a complete multitrack recording studio. Vegas+DVD offers a full range of state-of-the-art professional video and audio editing technology; it's the best solution available for capturing and editing video, producing audio, creating soundtracks and authoring DVDs.
New in Vegas+DVD:
XDCAM SD and HD import and export: Vegas+DVD is exclusively optimized to work with the latest in camera technology.
Improved HDV, SD/HD-SDI support: Vegas+DVD is the leader in handling all format definitions.
Improved multi-processor support: work faster, with more tracks available.
Cinescore plug-in support: create soundtracks automatically with Cinescore, directly in Vegas.
Save and recall window layouts, flexible window docking: work the way you want to work.
Envelope brush painting: create effect envelopes immediately, in real-time.
Import from DVD Camcorder disc: no intermediate steps required!
And much more.Vegas+DVD featuring new Vegas 7 and DVD Architect 4 includes many new professional-level features and enhancements; visit our website (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001) learn more about what's new in this comprehensive upgrade.
Upgrade from any version of Vegas or the Vegas+DVD Production Suite for only $149.95 (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001&url=/shopping/item.asp?PID=416) through October 31! That's a savings of $100. Upgrade from Vegas Movie Studio for only $299.95!
Ready to experience a new, powerful, and efficient way to produce video, audio, and author DVDs? Try Vegas+DVD today. Only $499.95 (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001). Save $200. Act today!
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/images/-.gif
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/images/-.gif

(http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/promo.asp?keycode=63001)

[drdobs]

I got it too. I recently also just purchased Sony Vegas 6 from BH Photo & Video for $99.00. I'm comfortable with a $149.95 "upgrade" price from Sony to get both 7 and the DVD suite, but am hoping that I won't be forced to install version 6 just to be able to install version 7.

Jon

[JRAnderson]

What I think is interesting is that new users could buy a legit version of, say, Vegas 4 on e-bay for nothing and then use this upgrade to get into v.7

[dippytwitty]

it seems my prayers have been answered. On a Pentium 4 hyperthreading 3.2 machine with 1Gb RAM, HDV is being handled very slick - slight jumping at BEST/FULL quality but reliably smooth at PREVIEW/HALF ... a bit of colour correction does not seem to slow things down too much.

Well, this finally puts some concrete numbers to the performance issue. I was underwhelmed by Vegas 6 with HD material, so I have high(er) hopes for V7.

While I'm concerned that it still can't quite do best/full on your machine, there's hope I guess, since that's only a P4/3.2. On my machine (dual-core 3.6) pinnacle and canopus had no trouble with full-res playback including minor filtering, so hopefully neither will V7

Thanks HEAPS for the heads-up, happy shootin'

Dip