Kimberly,

The project files are just data files, so they can be opened in either version. The catch, however, is that you need the same set of plugins in both. Some older plugins only come in 32 bits.

The benefits of 64 bits are not supposed, they are real. For one, 32-bit applications only have 2 GB of memory available (or 4 if you use a patch, though then they have to share the 4 GB with the system, so they still do not get the full 4 GB). 64-bit applications have no such restriction. 64-bit applications have more registers available, so software does not have to access the memory as much, as it can store more values directly inside the microprocessor, and that makes them faster and more efficient. 64-bit applications are less likely to crash the system (blue screen of death), so if the application crashes, the rest of the system is usually unaffected. 64-bit applications can do floating point math directly with the registers and with the microprocessor, while 32-bit applications have to pass those values from the memory to the math coprocessor (though 64-bit applications can do that as well if they so choose). Again, that makes them faster and more efficient. The 64-bit applications use the 64-bit bus, so they can move 64-bit values directly between the memory and the registers (again, faster and more efficient). And there is more, but it is too hot for me to think about the rest.

Yes, 32-bit applications can run on a 64-bit system, though they keep all their limitations.

There is a bit of a trick here. While all of the advantages speak of numbers in the computer- the REAL answer must MUST lie in whether you can create a situation with software and a project that will be enhanced by 64bit today. The part of the trick is the word today. You have to consider access to all the tools, plug-ins, codecs, TODAY. Maybe tommorrow, who can say?

Thanks everyone. Your information help!

One more question. I want to set-up my system to have program files on one logical (VHD?) drive and data files on another.

C:\ = is the obvious choice for the Operating System.
H:\ = is my choice for my data files.
J:\ = Can I install my user programs here and will they execute properly?

Will this work? Or is there a best practices way to approach this for standalone users such as I? Thanks again.

C:\ Should hold the operating system and installed programs. ie Vegas etc.

My Toshiba laptop has a partioned drive D:\. Whilst I can capture video to this drive it is not an ideal situation as the disc heads have a lot of physical work to do covering the C; & D: partions. I have had greater speed using an external esata drive to hold my video files and work. These external drives can exceed 2Tb. You can also store an image of your C:\ drive here just in case of a failure.
I now use my D:\ partion to hold a backup of current projects.

Geoff

Please, please, no logical drives in this day....they do not work to any advantage for OS/data partitions-in fact impose more overheard than necessary. Logical partitions are used to separate categories - like storage of video files in one group and audio files in another group -if you should choose for whatever reason to do that.

Don't partition your 64bit machine drives - especially the C:/drive.

Instead use I/O technology like USB3 or Thunderbolt to get to external drives for your video capture/edit area.

@videoitguy - while i agree entirely about capturing to external, i still partition my single laptop drives into c: and d: where c: is os and progs, and d: data. i can therefore reinstall os/progs in a fraction of the time it would take to reinstall them AND gb's of data.

To ushere: Yes, I share your point, I was more focused on the OP's question of access to speed and integrity of a separate physical volume.

In the modern Windows OS registry it is nearly impossible to separate program installs from the OS executable - so I would not bother separating logical partitions for that purpose alone,----however it is a great idea to keep documents apart from the OS ---and Windows now gives you more tools than ever to do that -even without drive partitions.

>@videoitguy - while i agree entirely about capturing to external, i still partition my single laptop drives into c: and d: where c: is os and progs, and d: data. i can therefore reinstall os/progs in a fraction of the time it would take to reinstall them AND gb's of data.

And partitioned this way you can regularly image the c: partion which makes a bare metal restore much easier.

/jerry

VideoT
Fully agree with you.
Unfortunately my system drive wsa partioned by Toshiba. I've left as is because there is an origonal backup pre-installed there.
My esata is based on icybox and I can use spare sata as plug ins. Seems to work well and allows me to move work between main pc & laptop.

Geoff

Kimberly,

"Can 32-bit Vegas open projects created in 64-bit Vegas? (Keeping my old 32-bit laptop as a backup)."

The answer to this (and also the reverse situation) is generally Yes. The exception that comes into play is if you're using a third party Plug-in that's only available in a 32 or 64 bit version. In that case you couldn't use the other version of Vegas.

"What are the supposed benefits of Vegas 64-bit over 32-bit? (ignoring the much-discussed instability of 64-bit Vegas)."

As stated, 64 bit programs can access all of the memory that's available in your PC. 32 bit programs run in something called Windows On Windows (WOW64) that limits them to a 4 gig address space. But in reality the actual memory they can use is less. Also, 64 bit programs generally run faster than the equivalent 32 bit program.

Gary ...

Now that I have installed programs and plug ins over the last several months, I don't want to go through the pain again. I want to make a disc image so that either 1) I restore from that image or 2) just switch the image drive and viola.

NOw I haven't done it before and am wondering if it is possible. Can anyone suggest a way to achieve, the idea being no down time. Thanks a lot

RZ

To RZ:

There should be no problem to establish a disk image.
1) Are you on Windows7 ?
2) Is your system setup as one single partition?

If the above is true - you only need goto Windows Help and
search for backup - it will explain techniques - look for those that call out creating system image and recovery.

Thanks Video guy:

I am on windows 7, but the disk is partitioned (off the shelf computer). I am hoping to have 2 SSD alternating as boot drive and a backup system image.

RZ

I encourage you to do some serious research - particularly if you are going to want to image a hardrive and hope to restore on an SSD with the built source to recovery method that is part of WINDOWS 7 OS.

This is truly serious bargaining with "risk" - do your research and get authoritative anaylyis.