upgrade? - hobbiests/amatuers?? Thoughts?

kraz wrote on 10/17/2007, 9:46 AM
I wanted to post this, and Sony just sent me mail that I have only 2 weeks left to decide .. so I figure I would open up the question.

Do you think there is good reason to upgrade?

Now It seems to me that Pros (who make their living on this) will pay $150 even for a small improvement since it translates into bucks for them. Also the improvements relate to high end things ...

I do this part time - and also for fun - I wanted to know from others like me what they think. - if there are things to be gained for someone like me.

A few indications of who I am - and I think there are probably quite a few like me

- for me at this point HD is Not an issue /reason to change
- still don't understand the whole fast render no re-encode (but I do know and like that womble can do it really fast on the fly - does Sony now)
- I played with the titler a bit but could not get to see its greatness yet.
- for me the color markers when things linedup was the kind of thing that helped me a lot from 6 to 7 and made it worth it ..

I would love to gets peoples input

Thanks
Allen

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/17/2007, 10:29 AM
check out this thread.

what are you upgrading from? every two versions is a huge change, no matter what.
kraz wrote on 10/17/2007, 11:17 AM
I have 7 now
Guy Bruner wrote on 10/17/2007, 2:12 PM
Just upgrade, then sell your old copy of Vegas. I just sold my Vegas 7 Suite for $120. So, the upgrade cost me $30.
FuTz wrote on 10/17/2007, 2:45 PM
Same for me kraz.
Not into HD yet.
No use of this new title thingy (I usually use Photoshop with transparency then move it - if needed- with Track Motion).
Not planning to do 3D/chrome-y/swishing/splish-splashing titling; I know one must never say never but today I'd even risk saying it , heehee.

So I'm waiting for V9. V7 already does more than I need ... : )
TomG wrote on 10/17/2007, 5:54 PM
I'm in the same boat. I'm strictly amatuer and have Vegas 7 now. I've been doing this hobby for about 5 years and have been using Vegas for my entire "career". I'm not much of a photographer but do love editing DVDs for myself and my friends. I love the Vegas products but can't see the value of this particular upgrade for the likes of me.

Not sure how to go about selling older versions of Vegas. I have 3/4/5/6 as well. Guy, were did your Vegas 7? Is there a market for earlier versions?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/17/2007, 6:25 PM
i'd say stick with 7 & get 9 in a year. I skip every other version, split the upgrade cost with my dad, he gets all the old stuff & I get the new stuff. Every two versions is a steal to upgrade at $150.
FuTz wrote on 10/17/2007, 8:16 PM
Being "stuck" into SD and doing more as a consumer than a pro, I could even have stopped at V5. I don't need more than a way to cut, stretch, move clips, play with slow-mo/accel here and there and be able to have a good sounding audio track at the end of everything. Since a long time, Vegas has done more than well at that.
I must admit that what made me move to V7 was this blue line appearing on the cut (from tracks up to down) when clips snapped together and the improved rendering time. So many guys here talked about this marvel (snapping behavior) and I couldn't help at that time but to have a peak... and I was sold.

Bottom line: it takes a good reason, *according to your needs*, to upgrade.
kraz wrote on 10/17/2007, 10:30 PM
guys - thanks for your input -

and it is also good to know that there are quite a few of "us" here.
Not Pro's not Newbie's - people who loved editing and maybe made part of their income from it but its not their life
. Like the technology, but probably don't use all the features.
(and I may get in trouble on this last part - aren't always interested in the final 5% to make it perfect)
It is good to see other Pro-sumers (who by the way LOVE this forum cause I can learn so much from the Pros who are really amazing with this stuff... and also eager to share.

leaning towards holding out unless I hear about a "gee wiz - you NEED this ..

kraz wrote on 10/17/2007, 10:41 PM
one new thing to be nervous about ...
you know how the upgrade is diff from studio - and from regular vegas.
Now vegas calls itself PRO

should I be concerned that when 9 comes out - the upgrade price from pro8 - 9 will be cheaper than from NONPRO 7 to 9?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/18/2007, 6:21 AM
it could be. nobody knows about the future, but all other version updates have been $150. Sony hasn't changed that (yet).
Guy Bruner wrote on 10/18/2007, 6:42 AM
TomG,
There is usually a market for the last version of Vegas. Older versions not so much, although I did sell VP4 and VP5 without problems when I upgraded to VP6. A lot of the VMS folk covet Vegas Pro's color correction, scripting, unlimited audio and video tracks, etc and will purchase last year's software for about the same price as a retail copy of VMS, even though they can't use it to upgrade. I sell my software through the classifieds on a couple of camcorder-related forum boards. It's not like buyers are beating down my door to buy. But, eventually, someone comes along who wants a good deal. I've already amortized the software, so it is pretty much a freebie. Plus, I often get to introduce new users to the software which broadens the community. Win-win.
kraz wrote on 10/18/2007, 11:39 AM
is this legal according to Sony ( given they can not upgrade from it?)
Guy Bruner wrote on 10/18/2007, 11:56 AM
Yes, this is legal and has been covered in this forum many times.
Coursedesign wrote on 10/18/2007, 12:36 PM
It is also a contender for the smartest marketing thing they ever did.

A really good way to introduce Vegas to new users.

Good thinking outside the box (and download :O)!

I tip my hat!

TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/18/2007, 6:09 PM
It {allowing resales} is also a contender for the smartest marketing thing they ever did.

isn't that how people get on crack? Sharing it with friends at a discount? :D
PapaGamer wrote on 10/18/2007, 6:58 PM
I'm not a pro; but, I do use Vegas for my job. I upgraded from Studio v7 primarily for the new multicamera editing; and, to a lesser extent, the unlimited tracks (I was pushing Studio on a few projects). On the downside, MPEG-2 import in Vegas 8 is broken (including the MPG2 files made by consumer HDD cameras). Sony is aware of the problem; but, doesn't know when it will be fixed. Overall, I like the upgrade. It peeves me to have to re-encode my video camera files first, but they still look good when I'm finished. (I use a freeware converter called SUPER.) I'm doing everything in 4:3 SD; HD isn't even on my horizon, though I may be doing an upcoming project in 16:9 SD.
hal9001 wrote on 10/24/2007, 12:37 AM
I am over the moon. I couldn't believe the upgrade price of $300 (£170GBP) when it dropped in my mailbox. I am your average amateur. I do the holiday videos and I also make videos of Flight Simulator (I know sad sad sad).

Vegas has always been my 'aspirational' software. I have used Vegas Studio for about 3 years with no complaints. But I always thought the full version would be so much better. It is. Ok so if you really want Vegas it is available as a dodgy download. But I believe in supporting the people who produce such excellent software.

The upgrade price I always felt was prohibitive. But at $300 I am so happy.

The main feature I love is multiple soundtracks. My wife likes music on our holiday DVDs. I prefer the original soundtrack or perhaps a mix of both. Now we can have all three!

So it’s a big thank you to everyone at Sonymedia for allowing an amateur like me to enjoy Vegas Pro!
TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/24/2007, 6:04 AM
the price is actually pretty cheap. Compared to other companies anyway. right now it's $150 if you upgrade from an existing vegas to 8 (not movie studio/le versions though).