DELETED!

If there is an increase, I doubt we will get a break. Well, we will probley get an upgrade price, but for more then before. Of course there is still a plus for us. Companies like B&H Photo video sell Vegas for about 60-40% off the Sony price.

I'd like to see what Sony says about this. Who knows, maybe it will give Vegas a more "pro" look. After all, FCP isn't $600, and it's "pro" software!

I was afraid this would happen. Spot seems to support this from previous posts because it will make it appear more professional to companies that use NLE editors. I agree that will probably be true, but the majority are already switching thinking they are getting an equally capable editor for much less, and word is spreading fast. Similarly, there are many prosumers out there like myself. I do some editing jobs on the side and make up for the money I spent on this software, but if it jumps up a lot in price, I won't upgrade until Vegas 7 comes out! If FCP and Premier etc are the industry standards why buy and use vegas, even if it is faster, when your boss wants you to stick with the traditional so you can keep your options open more.

I think that there are four levels of vegas user:
1 - professional companies that do high quality work, but don't want to pay multi-thousand dollars for a program like Sony XPRI - this MIGHT make more of them look at vegas as a software option, but not all.
2 - Your lovable wedding video maker. Many of the people that want nice quality work, at a low price. They make thier living off of vegas, and don't want to spend more money on the software just for IMAGE.
3-Prosumer like me. I do a few odd jobs, but mostly I don't mind paying a couple hundred extra dollars for a nicer software package so that I can make my videos at top quality and ease of use.
4 - Big wallet, small brain average joe. These people just have lots of money and buy vegas because they heard its the best. They never really use it, kind of like your neighbor that paid 5 grand for his G5 Mac so that he can send email on it.

Anyway, large increase in price = bad idea, small increase due to the great quality = ok.

When I heard that Sony is buying Vegas company I had a bad feeling about.
Upgrade was a logo.No new fixes in a while.Last owners was listening to users and care-Sony look like do not give a crap so far- just price.
Sonic Foundry was good company.

<funny on>
Hmm... I wonder what will happen if I hit this (Ignore This User) link? Ahhh... that's better.... much quieter here now....
<funny mode off>

Seriously though.... I am quite prepared to wait a bit longer for the "grand canyon" style leap in functionality that has been hinted at by people I feel I can trust. If that pushes up the price... then I'll consider that in the context of other NLE's at that time.

I would like a Sony rep to come and explain to the user forum what can we can expect. It would a nice heads up to the current customers, who may need some extras licenses before the new year.

Me, I have still held off from buying DVD-A, so I am curious as to how that will work out. I am also curious if the version that is going up in price in Vegas 4.0e, or will they surprise us with 4.1 or 4.5 or ........

Everybody just take a deep breath. Smoke a cig., drink a beer. Let's see what happens, then make judgements. I generally think negative and don't have good feeling about Sony's purchase of Sonic Foundry. But, I am willing to wait and let them prove me wrong (Hopefully). Why? Because I love crow (and I can't afford a good Mac with FCP).

Hint to Sony: Vegas is good, but could be better and I would pay more for it.

What is the URL of the website the price increase was mentioned on? I went to the DV Expo today, and DSE couldn't really say anything, other than that some very good things are in store (and that Sony kept the engineering team together).

A link to the alleged web site stating such would have been appreciated.

J--

The only thing that bothers me if the price raises is that currently, a lot of users are switching to Vegas because it's cheaper, but if it goes up in price you might lose some of that. Also, the bigger the user base gets, the more room you have for comments and suggestions that will help the software improve.

That's my 2 cents anyways

Sony just made an acquisition that they need to justify. With all the good press Vegas's getting lately it only makes sense to raise the ante a little bit. I'm poor so I certainly don't want to pay more for upgrades than before but I will, anyways, cause I know there's nothing better out there anywhere near this or a slightly higher price point.

Some are probably thinking, "Thank's a lot! Why are you encouraging Sony in their price increase!" I don't think I am because I'm pretty certain they have savvy marketing people that know what they can get away with in the current market, and the decision is probably not even remotely in our hands. I'm just stating I won't be mad at Sony for raising it -- just don't overdo it, pleaase, Sony!

If I were you and wanted more liscences, i'd buy them now. I was origionaly going to get VV3. I thought that when v4 came out they would still sell 3 for a while (at least a month). I was wrong. Ended up spedning $100 more then I bufgeted (wife not happy). It was worth it, but i could of used the extra $.

So, but them now.

Someone over there (in Sony land) is probley saying "Hey, this product rocks now. Let's up the price 5%. People will pay it beccause we'll make it worth it."

The problem with me is that I don't make $ doing videos (do mostly volentire work and hobby), and my boss hasn't handed out raises in about 1.5 years. So... If Sony makes a BIG upgrade for V5 (something that i couldn't live without, kinda like the wavefor in 4) then i'd consider paying up to $200 for an upgrade. But no more. And that would have to be in Jan-Feb when my tax return comes in. :)

Let me play the devils advocate--its December---Vegas 4.0 came out last February---So we should see version 5.0 pretty soon. Now it might be possible that 5.0 will represent a quantum leap---can you spell 4:2;2 support, real HD support with some kinf of hardware alligance, revamping of the media organizational module etc---My point being is that Vegas is underpriced now----if they add some of the above mentioned features then I would certainly be willing to pay a premium. I refuse to get involved in the guessing game only because 90% of all predictions usually end up to be false. I doubt very much that Sony would allienate their user base so early in the game. It just doesn't make any business sense. In my mind, Vegas is underpriced as is and if a new feature sets are introduced then I certainly would be willing to pay for them.

I think Rex might be right about a new version. The beta of Vegas 4 was released in mid January 2003.


As for the "alleged website," it's real. I just didn't feel like naming them in case the owner jumped the guy on releasing this info. I have not seen this info on competitor's websites yet.

I remember some past statements regarding the anticipated price of Vegas 4 + DVD such as............................

"I really don't care what the cost is as long as it isn't over $1000.00.
Just send it to me. "

"I think they should increase the price to be competitive in the editing apps marketplace. I've never heard anyone complain about the pricing for Final Cut. In fact the advertizing on it was such that it made the price appear to be a bargain.
Vegas is an excellent product and needs to be taken seriously. When an editing product is under the $400 range it is viewed as being and inferior product "not high end"."

" i really think Sofo should have increased the price to like 800+ for vegas 4. for the features it has and the additional FX. it is a PRO software and shouldnt be taken too lightly. i cant see the big guns like avid xdv and fcp going near this one. "

"in the prosumer price range there is VV, Premiere and ulead mediastudio pro etc... VV3 is better than any of those. and now theres VV4. FCP is like $1200 or less. id say VV4 would be looking good at 800+. but who the hell cares. as long as we all can have it. shell out your cash people! "


Some of these people should be foaming at the mouth with anticipation and joy by now regarding a possible Sony sky high price increase. In fact Vegas 4.0e was probably their favorite "upgrade". lol

John

If anybody waited till now to start saving for the next upgrades for sony products then its their own fault. Everyone knows that its under priced and everyone should feel great that they got in when they did for so little. Come on now...I just talked my friend into getting the academic version of V4 from safe harbor for $149...$149!!!! No wonder the people who bought FCP think they have something special. The freaking upgrade for them was $299!!!

I personally think that we should have gotten more per upgrade feature wise. Now that we have sony as a resource I can hardly wait to see what new features will be in V5...especially the AUDIO portion. Whatever the cost...hey thats what credit cards [and alot ot OT] are for.

Will it sway people away from Vegas??? Where? To what other apps??? Now that it comes with a SONY moniker...crap I can imagine it would be easier to sell it to somebody. Will a hobbyist seriously look at the price increase and go to Premiere Pro or max their card on a FCP suite. They would anyway even if you gave them vegas for free.

My $.02

Ed.

Btw...My bet it will be [and I'm only guessing so don't hold me to it]:

Vegas 5 upgrade...$199
Vegas+DVD...$299

Gang,
It's not my place to comment one way or another on the pricing issue that several of the posts mention, but I'll say this in response to those that 'don't have a good feeling about Sony.'
First, I understand that fear, as many instances of a large corporation acquiring a small company has resulted in less than stellar performance. And I could be wrong about Sony and the desktop tools. But I don't think I am.
Last night, I was in the presence of nearly all of the top corporate leadership of Sony's Electronics, Broadcast, and Pictures divisions. The enthusiasm from the top down is genuine, the excitement prevalent. It was exciting to be at a press event held at the Sony Pictures lot and see/hear the engineers there who don't give a damn about the product they use for big films, they want results. They were all excited about the product too.
4 months ago, everyone was complaining that they were afraid Sony would kill Vegas in favor of the consumer apps. Now folks are screaming that the price is going up, and there are few comments made about what Vegas brings to the table.
Then there are those that say that Vegas is the same as every other tool out there for a lower or equal price.
To the former, I'd say....if you were wrong about one thing 4 months ago, maybe you are wrong now....Sony didn't buy these tools without a business plan in mind. I'd certainly not argue with their success.... would you?
To the latter, if you are too blind to see what Vegas brings to the NLE market that NO ONE else brings, then maybe you shouldn't be using it right now. Go use these other tools and then come back to Vegas.
Any time there is a change in the wind, regardless of whether we are discussing politics, religion, or the engine in the Mustang, people are gonna gripe, naysay, and cry "DOOM." This is normal. And things generally always shake out one way or another. I for one, was excited at seeing Sony acquire these tools and keep the engineering and marketing teams intact.
After spening 4 days in tight, close, and personal contact with the people that will be nurturing, managing, and developing Vegas and the other tools in the marketplace, I feel strongly that my enthusiasm was warranted and justified. They are real people, are are highly capable and knowledgeable about facets of this industry that you'd be surprised at. Sony is definitely not ignorant to the userbase of Vegas or any of the other tools.
While I surely can't ask you to trust my personal experience, all I can say from my small corner of the Vegas world is, "trust my personal experience" with these guys. It's an exciting time to be in this industry, whether a full time editor/shooter, or a weekend warrior.

Spot, I really value your input on this thread. Come to that, the same holds for what you've written elsewhere on all things multimedia. I honestly did pick up your candour and transparent evaluation on the points above.

So, in essence, what we have here is a major global player in the multimedia industry not only being excited with the opportunities of what the future will hold, but in someway get much of their impetus from a user base - us - feeding back to them what we want and how we use their products - Vegas.

Now you tell me to relax!?!? - I can't, it all sounds quite breathtaking. Hmmmm... much to think on here. Do you have anyway of truly knowing, for example, the impact of this Forum has on those relevant decision makers at Sony? How do they register our input? I ask this as I'm not aware of any questionnaire or have been invited to fill out even a simple: "So, what do YOU use Vegas for?" type of Customer Feedback form. Just an observation from someone who has been involved in Customer/User feedback and Focus Group facilitation over the years.

Thanks for your input,

Grazie

ps: Just did a web search. Also looking for where this "price increase" might have been mentioned. Didn't find it, but came up with this at Safe Harbour. Is it a good bundled price? - Just a thought . . .

" It's an exciting time to be in this industry, whether a full time editor/shooter, or a weekend warrior."

Amen.

Ed.

Grazie, the folks that read these forums, (and they really do, I was challenged about one of my recent posts by a VP of the company yesterday) don't need a form. They can search, view, research, and understand the tambre and attitudes of this and other forums. These folks are bright. One guy in particular simply blew me away with his knowledge. This is also their first professional audio tool too, and believe me, their audio guy was like a child at Christmas at some of the things VEgas can do. I trained him. I was equally ecstatic.
I promise you, Sony is going to do great things with these tools.
Let the change happen, and the 'Incredible Hulk' you fear will turn out to be a brilliant scientist.....

Ed - Couldn't agree more . . G