Summary: Vegas Pro 8 is now Windows Vista-ready, 32-bit capable and includes new title animation and multi-camera tools. This latest version brings improvements that are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but it’s a must if you’re upgrading your OS to Vista.
Target Apps Video editing for any project on a PC, from prosumer to broadcast and film projects, short or long-form; precision audio editing with or without external hardware
What It Costs You $699.95 MSRP ($400, street), includes Vegas Pro 8, DVD Architect Pro 4.5, and Dolby Digital AC-3 encoding software (PC only)
What's Cool Vegas eases closer to the familiar editing software workflow and lets you edit projects using 32-bit floating point processing, if you don’t mind waiting six times longer rendering times.Vegas eases closer to the familiar editing software workflow and lets you edit projects using 32-bit floating point processing, if you don’t mind waiting six times longer rendering times.
What's Missing No printed manual, no keyboard control of text kerning; animating type is awkward and marginally useful
Specs
Windows only Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista
1 GHz processor (2.8 GHz recommended for HDV)
200 MB hard-disk space for program installation
600 MB hard-disk space for optional Sony Sound Series Loops & Samples reference library installation
1 GB RAM
OHCI-compatible i.LINK connector/IEEE-1394DV card (for DV and HDV capture and print-to-tape)
Windows-compatible sound card
DVD-ROM drive (for installation from a DVD only)
Supported CD-recordable drive (for CD burning)
Supported DVD-recordable drive (for DVD burning only)
Supported Blu-ray recordable drive (for Blu-ray burning only)
Microsoft.NET Framework 3.0
QuickTime 7.1.6 or later
Sony takes Vegas up a notch with Vegas Pro 8. This first-rate video and audio editing software package has been revamped to run on Windows Vista, a feat that its Vegas 7 predecessor couldn’t quite accomplish effectively. Vegas coders enhance the interface, making new users more comfortable. Sony has also created a new title animation tool, beefed up the innards with 32-bit floating point processing and added even better audio controls.
Leaps in Layout Ease
The first thing you notice when launching Vegas Pro 8 is that its layout more closely resembles that of its competitors with a timeline on the bottom and a preview window, effects controls and file management up top. You could set it up like this independently before, but Sony has made the application easier from start-up with a more familiar layout as default.
Vegas’ preview window now continues showing the timeline output while you work in the trimmer window, which makes it easier to match the shot you’re trimming to one on the timeline. That makes it simpler to create three-point edits just like you can in most other editing software packages, such as Bravo. Another subtle but important improvement is the program’s ability to enable a full-screen preview of your work even on a laptop screen, with no second monitor required.
More Flexible with Footage
Sony has streamlined the compression scheme for long-GOP HDV and XDCAM footage, making it even more native than before; any untouched footage imported into Vegas can be exported after editing without any rendering necessary. Sony has also improved Vegas’ AVCHD import, edit and export support. Even though the initial shipping version of Vegas Pro 8 only worked with Sony’s AVCHD camcorders, the company just released an update that will also allow it to handle virtually any manufacturer’s AVCHD footage. It’s about time. That alone might justify its $100 upgrade cost.
Charlie White is a television producer/director with 33 years experience, and writes for NBC technology and consumer electronics site DVICE.com, as well as Wired, Popular Science and Maximum PC.
Notice the new Vista look of the ProType Titler that lets you separately animate each character or word and make your own effects or choose from the included canned effects. It does share certain weaknesses of Vegas’ original text tool, such as a lack of keyboard kerning controls and no direct visual feedback over the video.
Vegas’ new 32-bit processing gives you smooth, color and light gradients that are free of that pesky banding. Sony calls this capability "optically correct compositing." Even with garden-variety DV files, notice the smoother light flare on the 32-bit version on the right. The downside? Processing was slow.
Multicamera editing’s smooth workflow makes it quick and easy to sync up to 32 cameras, create a multicamera track, and then call your shots with keyboard or mouse on the fly. It’s easy to edit your results, too.
Comments (1) for "Sony Vegas Pro 8"
1.
This is really a question and not a comment and would therefore appreciate it a great deal if someone, with experience, would care to comment on it. I am a filmmaker and have just edited my first feature-length documentary on Vegas 5 and indeed I finished the whole thing on it. As a result I would like to stick with Vegas and get actually my own system, also in order to maintain access to my feature documentary file. Right now, I am preparing a short film to be shot potentially on a DVC Pro HD Panasonic and I am wondering about issues that may arise in the postproduction starting in fact with importing the footage into Vegas. Will there be problems? How can I prepare for them?
Thank you.
Posted by Behzad Sedghi on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 @ 10:32 PM
Comments (1) for "Sony Vegas Pro 8"
