Upgrade?

OhMyGosh wrote on 6/5/2007, 9:14 PM

I am using VMS6.0b, but I am really being limited by only 4 video tracks. I can buy Vegas 6 online for $99.95, or Vegas 7 for $274.95. Does Vegas 6 differ that much? Are there very many limitations by having 6 instead of 7? Thanks. Cin

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 6/5/2007, 9:59 PM

The major difference between versions 6 and 7 is HD editing. But, except for some additional file formats, most any HD work can already be done in version 6 anyway, you just have to set up the templates yourself.

I think you'll be amazed at what the full version has to offer. You should download the trial and see. Here's a link for it ... http://download.sonycreativesoftware.com/current/vegas60d.exe

Here's a comparison chart showing the features of the current versions:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?PID=408&PageID=17

OhMyGosh wrote on 6/6/2007, 7:17 AM

Thanks Kelly for the info and links :) I am downloading the demo version of Vegas 6 as I write. I will let you know how it goes. What you said about HD is the very thing I was worried about. I don't mind if 6 is missing a few bells and whistles, but when it comes to HD, I was planning on buying a new HD camera maybe as soon as this summer so I was hoping to have as many HD features as possible in Vegas. Having said that, do you feel 6 would still be ok? As a side, do you have a preference for a sub $2000.00 digicam? Also, I'm not a big fan of the idea of having one with the hard drive as I want to have some sort of backup for my video (such as tape). If my thinking is faulty, please don't hesitate to set it straight :) Thanks again for the help. Cin

Chienworks wrote on 6/6/2007, 9:49 AM

Well, considering that so far i own a 5 year old $600 Panasonic consumer-grade palmcorder ... i can't really help anyone out with camera decisions very well. ;)

You can play around with the HD features of Vegas 6 if you want to to see how well it handles. I may even have a few .m2t sample files available that you can try.

BrianStanding wrote on 6/7/2007, 7:18 AM

Lots of folks are raving about the Canon HV20. That would still leave $1000 left over for a good tripod.

OhMyGosh wrote on 6/7/2007, 9:02 AM

Thanks Brian for the post. Looked up many reviews online, and mostly great things to say about it :) Thanks again. Cin

OhMyGosh wrote on 6/7/2007, 9:08 AM

Thanks Kelly for the offer. I would love to have even a couple .m2t sample files to play with. How can I get them? Thanks. Cin

GBR wrote on 6/7/2007, 6:34 PM

I was planning to buy a Sony HC7 for similar reason to you - tape for backup etc. As it turned out there wasn't one in stock and I needed it then so I bought a Sony HDR-SR1E hard disk camera.
This is an absolutely brilliant unit. Touch screen with thumbnails mean no more rewinding and remembering where the particular footage is on the tape. Just touch the required thumbnail for a preview. And just press the record button to resume recording.
Only downside is the use of AVCHD format for HDV and the shortage of editing software for that format. I expect this to be resolved with the imminent release of VMS 8.
As for backup, external HDDs are a lot more reasonably priced and if you wanted you could just create a folder for each project and copy your raw files there. Quite quick via USB2.
Regards, GBR.

OhMyGosh wrote on 6/7/2007, 10:04 PM

Thanks GBR for the tip. It looks like a really good camera, for a good price, with lots of good reviews. My only concern, aside from the hard drive storage, is the AVCHD format. I don't know much about it, other than there doesn't seem to be much software out there right now to work with it. I'm a little afraid of even the realm of HD. I remember what my Grandmother used to tell me 'It's always the pioneers that get the arrows' ;) Thanks again. Cin