Don't forget that DVD audio will be available to the public soon... in fact I think it is now (although not mainstream) So the sooner we get used to working with the idea of 5.1 audio mixes, the better!

The good news is that for people who can't afford the full 5.1 surround speaker setup, the unit will mix down according to what speakers you have.

Also, you can have different data rates for different channel outputs. (there are 6 I think)

It sounds like fun.

surely the easiest way to implement it would be to right click on the pan control, and select 5.1 surround. Then it get's complicated: How about a buss with 6 vu meters on it? the middle would indicate central, and on either side would indicate further round.

The pan contol itself would be a bit bizarre - that's where I could see a hardware controller being really useful!

Jason

If SF *really* wanted to increase revenues, they'd implement direct import/export of ProTools sessions!!! Just think...All Engineers could have a less expensive and viable option and still work within the ever-growing ring of ProTools users.

And...While I'm thinking about it, OMF compatibility for Vegas Video to allow interchange with Avid. Yet another *huge* revenue opportunity...

"Will there a year from now be a version of Vegas with 5.1 panning and remote control of all parameters option?"


Features for upcoming new versions of our products are not announced a year ahead of time for many reasons. The complete feature set of Vegas Video 3.0 was not revealed until the beta version was released, which was about six weeks before the final product was released.

Ted

the fact that there won't be a vegas audio 3 makes it pretty probable that there won't be further development for the now dead audio branch of vegas (someone from SF please correct me if I'm wrong).

-Markus

Just a question ... but who said the audio branch was dead? Sonic Foundry has publicly stated that they are still fully committed to audio development. They just aren't selling an audio-only version of Vegas anymore.

The audio branch of Vegas is not dead. Vegas Video 3.0 has many new audio features, and future versions will continue to add new audio features as well. The Video/Audio name has actually been confusing to a lot people. You would be surprised at how many people bought both Vegas Audio and Vegas Video thinking that one was video only and one was audio only. Many Vegas Audio users upgrade to Vegas Video eventually anyway, so now there is only one upgrade. There seems to be a misconception that we have abandoned our roots. Sonic Foundry is still dedicated to audio professionals, we've just taken a liking to video people as well!

Ted

Ted,

The whole point that many are trying to make in this forum is that we want SEPARATE programs. I love Vegas Audio but that's as far as I am ever willing to go. I do not need video for anything...ever. And the disappointing news that Vegas Audio 3 will not see the light of day leaves a lot of us wondering just what you guys were thinking.

Oddly enough - I would gladly spend 99.00 or 189.00 to get Vegas Audio 3 but not VV 3. Now before everyone here screams: "VV3 has all the audio features that you would get with a supposed release of VA3". That's not the point. I do not wish to pay for anything that I do not need, whether I use those features or not. Simply ignoring these video features via the interface is not my idea of not using them or installing them. All I am saying is that I would pay the upgrade price to bring my Vegas Audio 2 to Vegas Audio 3 for AUDIO only (no video features added in at all).

Hell - I would even buy VV3 if there was a checkbox option that said "Remove all video code and options from VV3 executables and interface. And make program splash screen say Vegas Audio 3" :)

Having said that - this is your program and you can do whatever you want to it...just don't expect the audio-only folks to be too happy about this decision.

Two other studios that I work with feel the same way...they are sticking with Vegas Audio 1 or 2. They can't be bothered with anything that includes any video features. I believe their logic is sound - more useless crap in the executables raises the chance of a problem occuring. These studios (and mine) cannot afford problems. Also -these guys decided this well before these forums became filled with the "Why not Vegas Audio 3" commentary that is so prevalent right now...

My 2 cents.

Cuzin B

If the program was just called "Vegas 3.0", would that change the way anybody thought of the it?

CuzinB - it seems that your major gripe is that you know that the video features are there. As a matter of fact, Vegas Audio 2.0 had every bit of code that Vegas Video 2.0 had, it just didn't expose all of the video features. Go to your "Help" menu in Vegas Audio 2.0 and choose "Instant Upgrade" and you can unlock the Vegas Video 2.0 demo without installing anything additional. So all of the video code that you don't like is there anyway, and it doesn't cause problems when recording audio.

Ted

All I have to say is that Vegas Video 3 is the best program by Sonic Foundry. It does everything that Vegas Audio, Batch Convetor, Sound Forge can do. It may do some things differently, but it basically out-does every program out there.

Reading all the bitterness from "audio only" folks I really got to ask, where is all the hostility coming from? Like: "Hell - I would even buy VV3 if there was a checkbox option that said "Remove all video code and options from VV3 executables and interface. And make program splash screen say Vegas Audio 3"

So that means you won't upgrade simply because you want Vegas Audio 3 on the splash screen? ROTFLMAO! Talk about single minded pigheadedness. Say guy, what you smoking?

How dumb is that? That tells me some of idealistic "audio only" guys think they should have a seperate application just like they demand a seperate forum. Again, I ask why? Maybe some guys don't want to hear it but VV3 does contain a lot of audio support and upgrades. No it don't have all the features CDA had. The real point is there aren't too many "audio only" folks. They are a small market, compared to how many do video AND audio/video. Maybe a bitter pill, but time to swallow it. It would seem SF is moving towards multimeda and multimeda is BOTH audio and video. Learn to live with it. All this endless ranting over even the name Vegas Video just goes to show how worked up some can get over trivial things. What next, somebody going to complain about the color of the box Vegas Video comes in?

I completely agree with you, Chris. I own a pro studio with 2 Vegas workstations and all we do is audio, too. I really like Vegas but as we look to our future I am seriously considering switching over to Pro Tools. Not because it's necessarily a better platform, but because it's the industry standard and there are a few features that Vegas is missing to make it competitive. The ones you brought up are excellent: 5.1 and remote control surface options - but there is one biggie for us especially in the commercial side of things: and that's the ability to import .OMF files. SO many video houses use AVID and there is no way to import their sessions directly into Vegas.

We're at the early stages of moving our studios into the downtown area where we'll be going toe-to-toe with the "big boys". They all have PT systems and if we want to get a piece of the pie we'll either have to abandon Vegas, or Vegas will have to (hopefully) adapt to the pro community. It's my sincere desire that SF decides to beef up Vegas with the features I mentioned above. But I also understand that they may not be interested in trying to make a go of it in the high-end audio market. If they did I would certainly remain a Vegas user...even if their super high-end PRO version was much more expensive. But I imagine their decision flows from their long-term marketing plans for their products...to which I am not privy!

Rob Solberg
Hypersound Music & Audio Design
www.hypersound.net

Ted,

I tried real hard to stay out of this whole debate since the only logical answer is to simply not buy VV3 and be done with it. But, I am passionate about the tools that I choose and the work that I do with them. I like SF as a company and I think the tools that you make are superb. However, I just needed to let the powers that be know that I am feeling a little squeezed by the very limited options.

I don't want my Vegas Audio upgrade to turn into Vegas Video 3 because SF says so. I am well aware that the video features are locked away in Vegas Audio 2.0h and that I could demo them if I wanted to. I don't want to.

Furthermore, your company has created the divisions that exist today by offering 2 "flavours" of this product. Some of us are audio production only...some audio/video. I can't help it that Vegas Audio works great for me. I just don't understand why I can't give you some cash for only the upgraded audio features and that's it.

This VV3 marketing ploy is like telling everybody who owns Adobe Premiere that the next Premiere upgrade will contain Premiere plus a fully intergrated copy of ProTools all for one upgrade price whether you want it or not.

Some folks are Premiere experts and like their software exactly as it is. If an upgrade comes in and enhances their workflow,improves tools they already know and fixes bugs...they would be happy but if the latest upgrade path adds in a pile of stuff that our Premiere user has no use for and shouldn't have to pay for...that's just not right.

Cuzin B

I think what some of you guys are missing here, is the that it actually takes more work to disable the video features from the full Vegas program. So, in reality they should actually charge more for the convienience of turning off the video features. And really, the video features aren't terribly intrusive if all you ever use are the audio features. Maybe the best way to look at Vegas Video 3, is a great multitrack audio program with some advanced video capabilities. What that means is that if you ever want to try your hand at video editing, you'll have something to play with.

Now to Sonic Foundry, I think you should consider making the upgrade price the same for Vegas Video or Vegas Audio users. If you ARE planning to drop the audio only version, it might help some of the feelings if they didn't think they were paying extra money for stuff they didn't use. Plus, it would help convert everyone to the same code base, so tech support would be mildly simpler.

Just a thought.
JBJones

What I find hilariously funny is some seem really pissed the upgrade path is to Vegas Video. Many in the past have whined about the name. One said he would upgrade if he could change the splash screen to Vegas Audio.

Well, Vegas Video uses blank tracks, so if you object to the video elements, just go to View on the Menu Bar and disable the video options you don't want to see. Then you'll have you're Vegas Audio. Geez... how inmature some of these audio only guys really are. By the way for the guy that objects to the splash screen you can disable that also.

"If the program was just called "Vegas 3.0", would that change the way anybody thought of the it?"

Well, Yes. You thought it was confusing before? Now you're in for a treat. You're going to lose sales because of this name change... audio-only customers will automatically think Vegas Audio is dead and they'll buy Sonar instead.

Watch out SF... you'll fall behind in the audio field. I don't want to see that happen.

I think what SF and the Video Mafia ;-) don't get is that the Vegas Video name implies to audio only people that the primary emphasis, now and in the future, will be on video development. If you buy Pro Tools, you know that the enhancements and bug fixes in the future are going to be focused ON AUDIO, NOT VIDEO! Same thing if you buy Samplitude or Nuendo. The R&D emphasis and development is going to be on developing better SOUND, not better video. So, if you have no interest whatsoever in video, you've got to wonder if you wouldn't be better off with one of those other companies' software products.

The thing that I see in all this is that they are moving into the realm of building the all around most versatile "media editor". I agree that the name has got to drop the "video" portion from it. I can't sell a audio guy a product that boasts the word VIDEO on it no more than any of these video jackoffs can sell it with AUDIO on it either. I feel that we all have to relax because Vegas is in a transitional period and making irrational judgements of its future is a mistake. The video side won this round but the audio side will come back. Keep asking for the advancements at the product suggestion page and in the forums, this way they know that we still exist.

Look at the route many of the other audio software companies have taken...Its all headed in this direction whether we all like it to or not[and they know that].And I'm sure Premier is kicking themselves for not developing audio more too. If you told me a year ago that I'd be scoring for a indie film as well as producing artists I would have laughed...then one day I got the call and the rest is history. My attitude has changed in that now I see the forward thinking of it all to have such a complete editor in my hands. If any artist/director/etc...called me tomorrow and needed blah blah blah...as long as the request was in within reason I could handle it. And if not there are many places where you could rent out protools,etc, to get the job done[just pass the cost on to the clients].

My brief list still stands with:
1.DX Automation
2. 5.1 mixing [audio/video]
3.DXI's
4.FULL WDM support!
5.Hardware support[Mackies H.U.I. is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!]
6. 24bit 32bit floating point 192khz support[or 48bit...64bit floating point :) ]
7.Buss envelopes [by that I mean a track would appear with the title Buss A{for example} in the work area and you could apply a volume/pan envelope to whatever is routed through it.]
8. "Rewire" type support so that you can have Vegas open with Acid, have them both in sync, and be able to route the outputs from one[acid] to another[vegas]virtually. This way it will save time to have to close a session in vegas to go back and reopen one in acid to make a small adjustment/render/import into vegas. This way you can maximize each ones development potential.[Break out those dual processors for that one!] Or just combine the abilities into vegas like sonar does.
9.Better uses for the metronome ie: tapping a key in time with a song gives you a tempo map.[Beatmapper function preferable]At least a pop-up incremental buttons to help set the tempo in real time and not have to guess.
10. Better support for the dual processor standard [audio].
11.Give a choice of 1 or 2 envelope points to be added.[I can drop the audio much quicker then plus be able to move 2 points that are parallel {vertical/on top}with each other and not just horizontal]
12.When saving track properties the option for saving the input route is added.[ie: I would like an audio track to have the left{mono}layla 1 input to record and not have to select it all the time...defaults to stereo always]
13.A option to stop the locking function from greying out my waves/video. Makes a project depressing to look at and incredibly hard to edit because the wave files become too highlighted to work with.
14.To be able to choose a individual[single/soloed] audio file to scrub as well.
15.Reversable audio...ya do it with video so why not audio...I'll have fun time stretching that!

More later...got to get back to work...Later.

Ted- I Just bought Vagas Audio 2.0 and Video 3.0 not knowing that all the same audio was included in Video 3.0. That caused me to waste some well earned money. I think just going to Vegas 3.0 is a great idea. I would be currantly an owner of Vegas 3.0 and Acid Pro. INSTEAD I'M THE OWNER OF VEGAS VIDEO 3.0 AND VEGAS AUDIO 2.0. SAVING AGAIN TO GET ACID PRO!! I love the products but you did make it a bit confusing.

Steve.

Hi!
i agree with implementing 5.1 , DXi, DX, automation,...
it is really necessarry.
Concerning PT - it is the standart, but in most produktions I do (Klassical Music, Diaolgs + Music+FX for Theaters and Videos, Pop, Rock, Jazz,...) I say that I am about 3!!! times faster in editing with Vegas than PT or Nuendo.
I am using also PT, Nuendo and Samplitude since 2 years - so i can compare,
and every Programm has its advantage I would be glad use less Programms,
so SF keep on workin!!!!!
greetings to all Vegas user from lovely Vienna in Europe
walterius

just a suggestion Steve, customer service has always been very understanding and more importantly helpful in situations like that (in my experience).

BUT at the same time, i do believe it was made clear in the product literature that Vegas Video includes everything Vegas Audio does. maybe I didn't see the literature that you saw though. good luck.

and on the topic of the unification of VV and VA... sounds fine to me. the only advantage to VA is price, and the price of VV is so low that the difference is insignificant. I believe any Vegas owner of any version can now upgrade for $150 if they get the special promotion this month.

First let me say this ... if you aren't comfortable screwing with things technical then don't do it. Furthermore, I'm not sure what legal issues might arise from doing this ... so it's between you and SF. I take no responsibility for any consequences should you choose to follow these instructions which are here for educational purposes only. I just want to show you how easy it is, and why all the arguing about video or audio should cease.

1) Search for and download a tool called RESHACKER and PE Explorer; then install them according to instructions.

2) Launch RESHACKER and open vegas30.exe with it. You will see a tree list in the left column.

3) Expand the branch called BITMAP, and scroll to 934 or 935. One of these is the Vegas Audio splash screen, expand them and you should see a resource called 1033, click it and you will see the splash screen on the right. Right click and copy it to the clipboard.

5) Launch PE Explorer and open vegas30.exe; on the VIEW menu select RESOURCE. You should see the same tree that you saw in RESHACKER. Expand BINARY and right click 236. Select save Resource As ... save it as BINARY_236.RES put it somewhere where you can find it. Close PE Explorer.

6) Rename BINARY_236.RES to BINARY_236.PNG and open it using a photo editor that allows you to save as .PNG files (Microsoft Photo Editor).

7) When it's open, paste the contents of the clipboard (the Vegas Audio bitmap) onto it and clean it up as you see fit. Save the file (as BINARY_236.PNG).

8) Go back to RESHACKER, expand the BINARY branch. Expand the 236 branch. Click on the 1033 resource. You should see a bunch of numbers and stuff on the right. Now right-click the 1033 and select replace resource. A dialog box opens with a button "Open file with new resource". Click this and browse to where you saved BINARY_236.PNG, in the "resource type" field put BINARY and in the "resource name" field put 236 and click the REPLACE icon at the bottom.

9) Select File - Save and then exit RESHACKER.

10) Launch Vegas and you should now see Vegas Audio instead of Vegas Video 3.0

AGAIN, PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS. I DO NOT ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THIS. I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO SEE THE SEMANTICS OF IT ALL. MOST OF YOUR ARGUMENTS ARE ABOUT APPEARANCE, THE BIG QUESTION IS DOES THE SOFTWARE STILL DO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO?

I contacted Sonic Foundry and they are taking care of me. I'm sending Vegas Audio 2.0 back to them and they are replacing it with Acid Pro. I was never argueing over the name. I'm using the Video and Audio in VV3. And now that there there putting both in one package I bet it becomes just Vegas on the next releases anyway. Thanks(cheesehole) for the idea of aproaching Sonic Foundry to step up to the plate and correct an unfortunate situation, Which they did. Gotta love it!

Steve.