For me there a basically 3 governing factors; How fast the project need s to get done, Type of project, and the accuracy required in a given project.

Basically, if it's my own project, it's Vegas. If I need to exchange files or projects with other post houses, I generally use Avid Media Composer and sometimes Premiere. If it's an FCP project, I pass. I just can't bring myself to go the whole Mac route to run FCP.

John

Hmm. That sounds like "if it's just me I drive the Miata. If I have to bring all my friends I drive the crew cab."

Just an analogy.

Rob Mack

"if it's just me I drive the Miata. If I have to bring all my friends I drive the crew cab that I attempted to 'pimp out' to act, look & complain it's not exactly like the Miata."

couldn't resist. :)

It appears that the only "qualified" answer so far has been John Cline's. Otherwise, it's merely a matter of personal choice.

And Jay's response is exactly what or are you among us you deem not qualified?

I have always used Vegas for DV footage (I still get requests for my footage from many years of shooting DV).

Still, even with DV, if I need to "pimp the footage," I have to go to FCP to get the high-bit support, unless it is something that can just be done in After Effects Pro.

I tried and gave up on editing in Vegas when working with outside filmmakers who use FCP. No fun at all, just a ton of hacks and then you still have unexpected problems.

I don't use PP 2, because I don't have it and I don't really want to learn three NLEs.

Media Composer has some wonderful features that can speed up script-based post especially, but I won't consider that until the next repricing to less than $2K.

Many are beginning to sound like the rest of the advocates of your respective choice in apps - religious zealots.

John's answer is to the point and FMPOV - accurate. He states it matter of factly - if it is personal work or is staying under one roof for all post production, use Vegas. If he will be sharing files, he defers to Avid Composer - makes sense to me. If you have to use AE, than it makes sense to go with Adobe's apps merely because of integration, but I find the workflow methodology cumbersome and slow - and since the kind of work I shoot and edit doesn't require AE, I'm not missing anything as far as I can see. Of course one then has to look at upgrading their computer(s) to run the memory hog that is CS3. I prefer utilizing my finances for other things like travel for projects, etc. also, there is the archaic work flow methodology that the triple A apps force you to work by as compared to Vegas.

So hypothetically - if SONY does make some massive improvements in the next version of Vegas, how many deserters will be coming back because Vegas is supposedly better???

Cliff Etzel
bluprojekt

Cliff, we are not so much deserters as I still use Vegas but no where near the level I once did. For me to come back full time to Vegas they would have to offer something that makes we willing to leave the integration of CS3. Either way, Vegas will always have a place my tool box for specific tasks (photo montages which are a major pain in the ass in PPro.)

we use vegas when i have a dv or hdv edit,, we use fcp when someone wants something edited on fcp or its beta or digibeta, which we dont have the ability to get into vegas ,use avid when someone wants to rent an avid suite and pay me plus the suite for an avid edit ( have not done one in over 2 years , not sure i still could) ,

LOL!

-R

Good catch, Cliff.