Should I buy Vegas?

A

Angelshare1

Well-known member
Hi everyone, I was hoping someone could help me decide if Vegas is right for me. I’m looking to buy an HPX-170 for filming a feature length dramatic film in Hi Def 1080p. I’ve used FCP a little bit but I’m certainly not dead set on it and don’t mind switching to a different format. Also, I'm a PC user and I didn’t want to spend a lot on a new Mac and FCP. Is Vegas Pro sufficient for my needs? Are there major downsides to Vegas vs. FCP?

What are the differences between the $80-$115 Platinum addition and the Vegas Pro for $600? Would I even bother with Platinum for my needs? I’ve looked at the specs and features of each version but I’m looking for more of a top level “editing for dummies” answer as I’m pretty new to editing software.

Also the Sony site quotes the prices “from 599.95”. Does this mean there’s other options and components to buy or is that just their little way of not quoting an exact MSRP price? Here’s the site. http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/vegasfamily.asp

Thanks for the help!
 
Well, if you're going to be editing DVCPRO HD, you're going to need a 3rd-party program in addition to Vegas, such as Raylight, to handle those files. Also, if you're going to be editing a feature film, I wouldn't even think about getting any other version besides Vegas Pro. Vegas Platinum, Movie Studio, etc, are designed for consumers and lack features such as native 24p editing that you'd probably use.
 
To me, the BIGGEST question is are you planning to do the entire project yourself, are will you be collaborating with other folks? While Vegas 9.0 gives some interoperability things we've been asking for since way back, it has a LONG way to go in the sharing department. Programs like Avid, FCP, and even Premiere are built so that people can collaborate on projects. Vegas is not. It's end to end.

It's new DPX export and import got a long way toward helping, but it's not really sufficient if you need to trade EDLs and such with other folks.

I would do a feature on Vegas, but not unless I had a lot of time, and was willing to put up with some serious weaknesses in areas like titling, and scopes.
 
I think FCP is way over hyped. I find the integration of Premiere with the other Adobe products to be real good and useful. I am not a fan of the Vegas GUI but you may like it. I say try the demo versions before you buy.
 
One really nice aspect of the new Premiere is the ability to import FCP projects, and to import and export Avid projects.
 
I agree. The integration with other Adobe products is great but the integration with Avid and FCP put it over the edge. I used to use Edius but Premiere Pro has realy came along way. My FCP friend even admits PP CS4 is better. I think will will see Adobe get more market share in the film industry very soon.
 
The FCP project import is VERY hit-and-miss, and more miss, from what I've seen. The hits seem to be more on CS4 for the Mac. Haven't tried Avid.

That said, Adobe IS poised to be the undisputed champ, but only if they get rid of a few counterproductive mindsets (like wanting you to do things the Adobe way), and clean up Premiere's long-standing bugginess. Make Premiere as open, flexible, and stable as Vegas used to be, and it'll be the champ.
 
David Jimerson said:
The FCP project import is VERY hit-and-miss, and more miss, from what I've seen. The hits seem to be more on CS4 for the Mac. Haven't tried Avid.

That said, Adobe IS poised to be the undisputed champ, but only if they get rid of a few counterproductive mindsets (like wanting you to do things the Adobe way), and clean up Premiere's long-standing bugginess. Make Premiere as open, flexible, and stable as Vegas used to be, and it'll be the champ.
Click to expand...

I would not want to imply Premiere is perfect. I have not tried the FCP import myself but I have seen it demoed. I image there will be some things that will not transfer over 100%. The concept is a good idea but the implementation may not be all that great.

I can drop AVCHD into a P2 timeline or even a P2 file into an HDV timeline. My Mac friend is alway using the Apple Pro Res. The titler in Premire is better than FCP and FCP still can not out put to Blu Ray. Why use AVCHD to out put to DVD?

Premiere is not perfect but compared to what is currently on the markter I think it is the best solution from start to finish. Why FCP has such a hyped reputation over Vegas and Premiere is beyond me. In the end the user has to decide what GUI they like best and hope the GUI has all the features they need.
 
I've edited a feature with Vegas and I love it. I've used Vegas for six years and I won't switch to anything else. Yes, it does have a different UI than the rest, but since version 7, you've been able to customize it to look like the others. One of the things I really like is that it's so easy to do things in Vegas that most people have to use AE for. Effects like walking through a wall or getting hit by a car can all be comped in Vegas very easily. Seeing that you said you're doing a drama, I don't think you'll have a problem at all. The color correction tools are extraordinary, and the ability to preview effects in real time is priceless (compared to rendering each effect before I could preivew the last time I used premiere). Ultimately, it's whatever works best for you. Try the demos for Vegas and Premiere and see what you like.
 
Yeah, lack of collaboration tools would be my only concern with Vegas Pro, and that's only an issue if a whole team needs to work on post-production. As a one-man team myself, Vegas Pro does pretty much everything I need in editing and post-production, although admittedly I've never used it for a whole feature.

Don't bother with Vegas Platinum etc - they're fine for editing video of Johnny's birthday party, but are definitely too 'cut down' compared with Vegas Pro for 'serious' editing like a feature.
 
El Director said:
I've edited a feature with Vegas and I love it. I've used Vegas for six years and I won't switch to anything else. Yes, it does have a different UI than the rest, but since version 7, you've been able to customize it to look like the others. One of the things I really like is that it's so easy to do things in Vegas that most people have to use AE for. Effects like walking through a wall or getting hit by a car can all be comped in Vegas very easily. Seeing that you said you're doing a drama, I don't think you'll have a problem at all. The color correction tools are extraordinary, and the ability to preview effects in real time is priceless (compared to rendering each effect before I could preivew the last time I used premiere). Ultimately, it's whatever works best for you. Try the demos for Vegas and Premiere and see what you like.
Click to expand...

Below is a link that might sway your opinion of Premiere. I think your info about Premiere might be a tad bit out dated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhp4NsJFRpU


Did you use Premiere 5.0 or 6.0? Premire Pro 1.0 had more RT for me than Vegas using a Core 2 Dual. Not only did it have more real time but I could not get Vegas or even FCP to look as good as PP on the NTSC monitor. For some things Premiere actually looks better than Edius on the NTSC monitor using a cheap DV converter.

The GUI can not mimic Premiere or FCP that well. Vegas has you do the PIP in a funky way that does not use screen real estate as good as Premiere Pro and I don't think the titler of Vegas is a good as Premiere. In the end it is personal choice.
 
I think I used Premiere 6. The last time I used it was in high school six years ago, but it was enough to cause me to switch. As far as the preview on an external monitor, it won't look good unless you switch a setting in the preview window to best. It's harder on you processor and graphics card, so by default it's set at a lower quality. The one thing I did like about Premiere (last time I used it) was that since you had to prerender everything anyway, you could play the video live on the timeline and export directly to tape by passing through directly to the camera. So yeah, it had it's pluses, but for me, Vegas was a better option.
 
I tried all the settings in Vegas and Premiere Pro looks smooth as glass on an NTSC monitor while Vegas 8.0 still had a little jitter. Although Vegas was decent and more than addequate for RT previews for client aproval.

Premiere Pro is a total rewrite of the code so your info will not be accurate. I myself was not a fan of Premire 6.0 but it cam with my Canopus DV Storm card so I had to use it. Premiere Pro CS4 is indeed a much better program than the old Premiere 6.0.

Keep in mind Premiere 6.0 was out in 2001 and it is now 2009.
 
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