convince me that vegas is worth it

theron3 wrote on 7/8/2001, 8:37 PM

I have Cubase 5.0 and so far after 4 months of failure, I have about half a song to show for it. I'm not a computer or recording pro. I'm getting the strong impression that I should be one or both of these to use the program. I'm tempted to try Vegas Pro (It was a hard decision to purchase Cubase over it in the first place) All I'm interested in right now is adding drums via loops and some effects to live guitar and vocals. I'm just a songwritter and wanna make a decent demo. Any thoughts from those of you who've worked with Vegas? I need input.

Comments

RixWare wrote on 7/9/2001, 12:23 AM

Vegas is great for video. And though it has lots of audio capabilities, it's really not an audio production tool.

If all you're trying to do is make audio demos, try Acid Music first (there's a free downloadable version available on this site which is quite good to start with). It's designed for the novice, and you can have a finished track in a very short period of time.

When you're ready to step up to videos, then Vegas is an amazing tool.

+

theron3 wrote on 7/9/2001, 1:05 AM

Thanks, but, why does Vegas push so hard on a marketing angle to grab semi-recording literate divers like me to use thier audio program to cut my hearts inspiration. Any other opinions?

Cheesehole wrote on 7/9/2001, 3:22 AM

Vegas Audio is a very easy to use multi-track audio recorder. Sounds like it's just what you need to me.

You said you want to work with drum loops, and you can do that in Vegas pretty easily. Obviously Acid is more geared for loop based stuff, but you can do basic looping in Vegas too. Just drop your drum loop on a track and stretch it out to cover as much time as you like. It'll loop.

As for laying down the guitar and vocal track... it's pretty basic stuff. It doesn't get much easier than that. You hit record and sing or play! Okay, well you have to arm a track for recording and set your levels... but it's easy.

Then you can add whatever DirectX effects you want to your tracks. You can't add effects to live input's if that's what you need. You have to record your track first then play with effects all you want.

There is no MIDI support for Vegas Audio. It's just digital audio.

I don't know anything about Vegas Pro... just Vegas Audio and that's my recommendation to you.

I believe you can download the demo and check out all the features.

miles wrote on 7/9/2001, 6:22 AM

Rixware syas Vegas is not so great for audio!]

Well, after producing the music for 8 albums, 4 chareted singles in Canada and Europe, 60 TV jingles, 7 TV shows. countless demos, and after winning 28 audio related awards in a studio with 3 rooms that use Vegas Audio, how can you say it isn't a great audio software.

We have Cubase, Protools, Sonar and all the rest.

Vegas does have it's limitations, but so do all the others. However Vegas Audio is the fastest, and easiest audio software currently on the market. It needs work, but software is an ongoing process.

Vegas is veru very good for audio. If you have the right computer configuration and youknow how to use it.

edna6284 wrote on 7/9/2001, 10:25 AM

Hi there,
I'd love to hear some of your singles done with Vegas...what have you done?

Thanks,
D

RobSoul wrote on 7/9/2001, 10:44 AM

I'd have to disagree...IMHO Vegas is a stellar audio production tool. It's hands down the best audio app for the PC, and even our freelance engineers admit it's quicker and more intuitive than Pro Tools. (My guess is that Vegas 3 is going to be the great Equializer if we get MMC and automatable FX.) We use Vegas in both of our studios here at Hypersound...and all we do is audio production.

Rob
www.hypersound.net

RixWare wrote on 7/9/2001, 2:56 PM

Note to Sonic Foundry:

Time to separate the Vegas boards into Vegas Video and Vegas Audio! I use VV and don't consider it much of an audio production tool (though it has some very fine audio capabilities). But apparently VA is great.

My error! (Separate boards would help.)

+

Cheesehole wrote on 7/9/2001, 8:42 PM

Just to clarify RixWare...

Vegas Video is an upgrade to Vegas Audio. It has every capability that Vegas Audio has, + unlimited video tracks, and... hey... what am I doing? Just check out the sonic foundry products page (Vegas Family Comparison). The point is, Vegas Video IS Vegas Audio with more stuff.

The only advantage I know of for getting Vegas Audio as opposed to Vegas Video is the price. Maybe the manual covers more audio stuff or something...

CakeHole wrote on 7/10/2001, 10:42 AM

Straight Forward simplicity has been the name of the game for me and
Vegas Audio, untill two years ago I used 3 DA-88's for most of my tracking.
Vegas has simply become my multi track. It is so much faster, storage is
cheap and backup is easy to cdr. I looked at other apps with all the bells
and wistles. Every thing else it has to offer is just iceing on the CAKE!!
my2cents

prezbass wrote on 7/10/2001, 5:43 PM

I'd have to concur that Vegas is an oustanding audio system. I've used them ALL- ProTools, VST, Cakewalk Pro Audio, Sonar, NTracks, sek-D, EMagic, Vision...you name it.

Is it perfect? No. I'd like to see a more mixer-oriented UI (like VST) and some MIDI capabilities (although VMR does work) and some kind of grouping (like NTracks 2.3 has) and WDM support, but short of that, it's easy, stable, intuitive and sounds good.

-Marc Miller
Cascade Hills Music

Sonic wrote on 7/11/2001, 1:00 PM

Just a reminder that all of our software can be downloaded for a time-limited trial run. Take it for a spin and see what _you_ think!

theron3 wrote on 7/12/2001, 11:25 PM

O.K.
So I got it.
And now, after trying to work with Cubase for months, I have the begining of a song recorded. That feels nice. Any tips or do's and don'ts from users that I should heed?
So far, Vegas is friendly and result oriented. That makes me a little parinoid.

12StringDreams wrote on 7/15/2001, 4:22 PM

I've been building a project studio over the last 6 months. I've held off till now to buy my software and I'm glad I did. I got my Vegas Video 2.0 at Best Buy for $149.. That's not a typo. They are clearing them out I guess.
My opinion. It's scary. If you can operate any Windows program. You can operate Vegas. Everything works like you would expect it to and the learning curve doesn't exisit. The effects that are included are great. All I've had to add is Antares Auto-Tune plug-in.
All I can say is Get it. I would have paid the $400 + for it, but I'm glad I didn't have to...

Tracy Simants
12StringDreams.com

pelvis wrote on 7/16/2001, 8:30 AM

Make sure you download the updates- 2.0g is the current release.

krlill wrote on 7/16/2001, 6:44 PM

Thanks Tracy!

Best Buy had it stickered at $399, so I asked a salesman to scan it. It scanned at $149. So I bought it. A steal!

Thanks again for the info.

Kevin

CakeHole wrote on 7/17/2001, 12:13 AM

WOW!! $149.00 for VV, I just orderd it online from bestbuy.com.
Thanks for the TIP!!
dp

Tonehenge wrote on 7/17/2001, 4:24 PM

I just ordered my Best Buy copy...
I have recorded great projects using this software. It is superb, intuitive, and has superior editing useability. Significantly better than most in this regard. It outputs rock solid mtc...we use it in conjunction with PowerTracks 7, a cheap and effective sequencer from PG music (about $30.00. There are some enhancements I'd like to see, but it's close to perfect.

FadeToBlack wrote on 7/17/2001, 9:45 PM

yirm wrote on 7/18/2001, 7:05 PM

I thought Vegas Video had the entire feature set of Vegas Audio, plus the video features.

-Jeremy

Caruso wrote on 7/19/2001, 6:09 AM

RIXWare:
In my opinion (and I have both), VA and VV are the same product. The difference lies in the fact that VV allows an unlimited number of video tracks, allows output to DV, etc.

In other words, the video capabilities of these programs is more thoroughly enabled in VV than in VA. Other than that, the programs are essentially the same.

If you own VV, then, you, by definition, own all the capabilities of VA. I am unaware of any capability in VA that is not present in VV.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Respectfully,
Caruso

Caruso wrote on 7/19/2001, 6:16 AM

I am jealous. I purchased back in January for $399. Then, again, I've had at least six months worth of fun with this product, so, let's see, that's around $40 per month for my bliss.

Well . . . I won't complain. It is what it is.

Caruso

Cheesehole wrote on 7/20/2001, 6:31 AM

HA! I wish I paid $399. HOw's $540 sound? $450 for Vegas Audio + $90 for the upgrade to Vegas Video. IT was actually cheaper to buy one and upgrade than it was to buy Vegas Video outright!

No regrets though. :)

tsalyards wrote on 7/20/2001, 9:43 AM

Acid Pro 3.0 might actually be more up your alley. Vegas and Acid are merging closer and closer with each release. Check out the demo, I hear that Acid 3.0 isn't that bad of a multitracker (2.0 was not a good multitracker)...

-Tad