THE biggest advantage, IMHO: Unlimited video/audio tracks.

> THE biggest advantage, IMHO:

Thanks.

I'm not surprised that's the first thing mentioned.

Frankly, I'm almost inclined to upgrade JUST FOR
that reason. But I might need more, to justify it to
myself (and to the wife!).

I see your point, but trust me on this one! I don't think there is a single project - regardless of size - where haven't taken advantage of being able to create tracks whenever I need them. You'll be amazed at the power this unleashes! Again, trust me! :-)

Just off the top of my head...

Unlimited tracks.
3D Track motion.
More Compositing Modes.

Depends on how serious you are, and if you have a plan.

If your plan is to make family videos, then no need to upgrade.

If your plan is to express yourself, and not have certain limitations, then go for the upgrade. Especially if you plan to make money off of your work.

> Just off the top of my head...

Thanks, AP.

You can customize your MPEG output to just about anything you want. In movie studio you're stuck with a non adjustable "one size fits all" mpeg encoder.

Not in any order:

Unlimited Tracks
Secondary Color Corrector
Scripting (the Render to Image Sequence is invaluable for me)
Compositing modes
Snap-to guides

Worley

I agree on all the previous postings on why to upgrade -- if you're going to go beyond "just home movies." In addition ---shop around, too -- you can get prices well below MSRP (at least on non-upgrades/full version).

But stay away from illegal to borderline illegal "CD only""OEM" copies--you'll pay for that dodge eventually, so not worth it). And also only buy only from places with good reputation.

For example, way too many so-called Photo & Camera online stores that also sell related software listed through PriceGrabber.com are often either really bad on service and/or scams to sleazy mob-run shops in N.J. or N.Y.

One way to spot them is that if a vendor doesn't have a legit snail mail address (like only some P.O. Box) and/or just an online form for sales or support but no toll free phone number, well....foget-aboudit, paesan. Run the other way.

Now, on version...

At least Vegas 6 for it took somewhat of quantum leap at that version from what I understand. I got 6, then less than 6 months later 7 came out. I considered 7.

But the improvements for someone like me who does not have an HD TV or HDV camcorder didn't justify going upgrading to 7 (most enhancements were for that format, and from what I hear, very good ones).

This decision simply because I am not a pro in the sense of making a daily living with my work. Serious to at times a bit obsessive and working towards making my own first "real" movie, yes. But no company with fat budget or army of computers :).

Last and while not wanting to sound redundant---but so true: unlimited tracks is a real blessing, not to mention all the other "Big Vegas" advantages.

My 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.

As someone who made that exact switch when 7.0 came out I went thourgh the same thing.
What is amazing is that now no matter how simple of a project I always have more than 3/3 tracks - I did not realize how muich work I was doing - to keep things in 3 tracks.

For me also (although did not realize till after - being able to save as an audio file is good for me.

I bought it for the fancy composting etc. but have not used it much.

I will be honest I was able to make the upgrade for $100 so it was worth it - not sure if I would have felt the same @ $500

Thanks, Blink3, Worley, Soniclight.

As per Soniclight's suggestion, amazon.com is selling
Vegas 7+DVD for $410 -- less than the upgrade price via Sony.

BTW: Is the TRIAL VERSION a limited-period but full-featured version?

I could do without all the features of "Big" Vegas except for one: scripting. The commercial scripts like Ultimate-S, Gearshift and many of the free ones I've downloaded are just invaluable to me. I use them all the time. Little scripts like the one J Meyer wrote that normalizes whatever audio you select, or the one that puts everything in the project aspect ratio, or the one that puts chapter markers at intervals, or the batch render... the list goes on. Not to mention the thought of doing a photo montage without Ultimate-S. It takes about five minutes with the script and a good day and a half without it. What a timesaver! Scripting not only keeps me on "big Vegas", it keeps me on Vegas rather that Premier or FCP. Scripting is just "da bomb" as far as I'm concerned.

Check out the Videoguys special ($399.95 after rebate) as well. Bonus software is included with this deal.

I believe (but stand to be corrected) that the trial version doesn't allow saving in mpeg-2 format (meaning no DVD creation capability).

Mike

B&H (bhphotovideo.com) is selling Vegas 6 (vegas only, no DVDA) for $99. Legit deal, reputable store. That was the only way I could afford to get into the full Vegas (I needed the unlimited tracks for a project).

I am just a home hobbiest user, and upgraded from VMS 6 Platinum to Vegas7+DVD when it was released. (Actually, I bought Vegas 6 from B&H for $99, then immediately upgraded to full Vegas for another $150 -- $250 total -- very sweet deal.)

But, since I got the full Vegas, I've had very, very little time to do anything with it. But here are the features that motivated me to make the jump:

- Unlimited tracks

- Velocity Envelope (seems pretty cool, but I've only played with it...)

- Nested projects -- I have a big project that I'd like to work on in smaller pieces, rather than have 90 minutes of stuff all on one timeline. This should let me work on it in sections, and then bring into one master timeline for titles and rendering, etc.

- Bezier masking in pan/crop -- kind of like the Cookie Cutter effect, but you can draw any shape you want (but doesn't have borders like cookie cutter would).

- Those colorful "snappy" things are cool. Not sure if VMS Plat 7 has them, or if thats full Vegas only.

- MPEG2 configuration from within Vegas (though I eventually had decided that the fixed, non-specified settings in VMS do a pretty good job anyway)

- The instant prestige of having a Vegas 7+DVD box sitting on top of my computer desk.

Tim L

(Now if only I could find the time to use all this stuff!)

> I will be honest I was able to make

Dang, I missed that opportunity...
--

> Not to mention the thought of doing a

Looking better all the time...
--

> Nested projects -- I have a big project that

I think I would really like that, too. Did a wedding
video for an old friend (15 years after the fact!), and
REALLY could have used this feature, I think.

"BTW: Is the TRIAL VERSION a limited-period but full-featured version?"

You will be able to produce good quality wok with the trial... but there are a few little axtras that are missing.... things like AC3 (dd5.1 sound) for example. You will be able to play with it but it will not export.

JeffD,

Someone mentioned the $100 deal, and in this this case, I'll be addressing the one for v.6. (Having looked at your system specs, that's an issue to address too). But let's start with the "deal"...

I know where one can get one at a very reputable company I and many others use, but please read what follows before you go there:

--- When I first saw their too-good-to-be-true full Vegas 6 version a few months ago right after v.7 came out. I was a bit disappointed for it is one of those "CD only" deals. B&H going into the "gray sales areas..."?

So I called them and had a long discussion with their sales/purchasing department. Sony is one of their main product lines in all things film, so they promised me they would look into the legality of it all since they have no intention to "go gray."

These guys have been around a long time. Kind of like Sears & Roebuck :)

Fast forward...

I totally forgot about this until I decided to see if B&H's price for you would beat what you have so far found. Well, lo and behold...

That $100 ($99) deal is still up there all these months later. So it must be up-and-up. All that said, I would suggest you call B&H and make sure that:

--- The lack of box or manuals still entitle you to full tech support period.
--- It has a valid serial number that Sony Corps will honor.
--- There are no limitations whatsoever = exactly the same as boxed version.

The reason this deal is what it is may very well be due to the fact that v.7 supplanted 6 and so they can't sell 6 at MSRP anymore (Sony may require them to only sell v.7 at MSRP). I'm no purchasing agent so don't know, but the deal is still there.

...........................

Now, before I supply you with the page link...

I looked at your system specs and you're going to probably need some more RAM for sure -- and prices have gone down, Butt that is something you can deal with after you purchase, or call Sony sales before buying..

Here are the Sony Vegas 6.0 -- Minimum -- System Requirements:
___________________________

* Microsoft Windows 2000, XP Home, or XP Professional
* 800 MHz processor (2.8 GHz recommended for HDV)
* 200 MB hard-disk space for program installation
* 600 MB hard-disk space for optional Sony Sound Series Loops & Samples reference library installation
* 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended for HDV)
* OHCI compatible i.LINK connector/IEEE-1394DV card (for DV capture and print-to-tape)
* Windows-compatible sound card
* CD-ROM drive (for installation from a CD only)
* Supported CD-Recordable drive (for CD burning only)
* Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or later (included on CD-ROM)
* Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 SP1 (included on CD-ROM)
* Internet Explorer 5.1 or later (included on CD-ROM)

___________________________

OK, now that you've read the post -- I know where you want to go next. Be wise, ask them the test questions. If this deal passes all of them, then my gentle suggestion would be....

For freakin' sakes, brother JeffD -- GO for it! :)

A "Wow" Deal?

I got my $99 V6 from B&H, so it's very legit. All you get is a CD in a big box. If you get Spot's book Vegas 6 Editing Workshop, you're all set.

I probably learned 80% of what I know just by trying different effects & buttons & keyframes to see what does what.

Just be aware that the $99 B&H deal is for Vegas 6 (editing) ONLY -- does not include DVD Arch. Does not include a license for Boris.

It IS elegible to use as an upgrade path to Vegas+DVD 7. You could buy Vegas 6 for $99, upgrade to Vegas+DVD 7 for $250, then sell or give away your Vegas 6. (But whoever you sell Vegas 6 to cannot use it to upgrade.) $350 to own Vegas+DVD 7 is still a great deal -- and its a full, unrestricted version (ie not Academic license, not a stripped down version, etc.)

But, if you're not doing any HD, you might find that just the $99 Vegas 6 adds the functionality that you're looking for (compared to VMS), and you might not need to spend the bucks on Vegas 7. (But you won't have the colorful snappy things....)

Tim L

I have to confess after I wrote that long spiel on "The Wow..v.6 Deal" that...

I was a bit !@@%??!! off seeing that price only a few couple of months or so after I had bought my full Vegas 6 at B&H. Sure, I got Architect, too and still not at at a bad price: $400 USD. But I could have saved some major dough (75%)..

Haven't touched the hardcopy manuals since the first couple of weeks after getting it, and the box is long gone.

As to the Boris thing: for the little I've looked at it in Vegas, it's thin -- and I seem to remember that when I tried something I wanted, pop goes the "you must upgrade to full version to access full potential" type thing. I haven't used it at all.

Does the $99 version include the other stuff like Magic Bullet etc.?

Wow, I'm surprised they still have the $99 deal.

I took advantage of it last fall, and bumped up to V7 for free. V7 is nice if you're dealing with HDV files because it eliminates the "80 files on the timeline" limit that V6 had; otherwise, V6 is plenty good.

Certainly you can play with the trial in order to see if you have a use for the additional tracks and other features, but I think you'll like the flexibility.