Steve,
the price for the Suite will be the price for the Suite even though DVDAS is not upgraded.

Really? When I upgraded from the version 10 to version 11 platinum bundle, it recognized that I already had DVD Architect Studio 5 and I was only charged for the Vegas Movie Studio upgrade. I guess I assumed it would be the same with the suite.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Steve,
I've never had that happen. Upgrading VMSPS 10 to VMSP 11 I paid for the DVDAS 5.0 again, upgrading VMSP 11 to MSPS 12 I paid for the DVDAS 5.0 again. My first and only install of DVDAS 5.0 was with VMSPS 10. The 11 and 12 upgrades were bought as downloads from SCS online store.

That was what I would expect, vkmast - thanks for the info.

But that gets to the heart of my question... seems like you tried to do what I was thinking of doing - you upgraded the Suite 10 with just the VMSP 11, but you basically got the Suite upgrade and associated pricing based on your license - did I read that right? I was hoping I could skirt paying twice for DVDA and SoundForge.

- Sean

However, if you upgrade to the studio, not suite, you will have no access to NB FXs, at least in the 64-bit version. That's my experience, and I don't like it all.

SBR,
no, I did get the basic Platinum upgrade and the corresponding pricing. The Suite upgrade was and is a bit pricier. It's just that DVDAS is always included in both, SFAS is only in the Suite.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiopp/compare

Ninan,
that's true, unfortunately.

Thanks everyone...

So it sounds like my best bet is getting the VMSP upgrade and at least avoiding Soundforge...

The benefit (for me) to moving to 64-bit across the board outweighs missing out on NB effects. I really am just turning my camcorder, photos (slideshows), camera videos, etc. into Home BluRay discs to watch and save. I'm not really using the NB stuff except for fooling around. But I need to have all my videos watchable (as well as backed up) on BluRay. I need 64-bit for non-video items.

You've all been a big help... thanks

- Sean

Sean
Somebody will probably tell me I'm wrong about this but in my short experience with VMS12 64bit you get no benefit from having the 64bit version. I tried converting a short (6 minute) AVCHD project to MP4 (iPad rendering profile) and the rendering time was no shorter than using the same project in VMS11. Moreover, when I checked with Task Manager - Performance, all 4 CPU cores where maxed out and the memory usage was just over 2 Gig (I have an i5 with 8G RAM running Windows 7 64 bit). Admittedly, I haven't a CUDA enabled graphics card but I wrongly thought that having the 64 bit version would help. However, as someone stated in a thread, if all your cores are maxed out at 100% it doesn't matter how much memory you have. Thank goodness I didn't buy before I tried the trial version.

As Sony makes something of 64-bit possibilities, an improvement is what I'd expect, since the earlier 32-bit software will run on 64-bit PC, because the PC adjusts for the software (and cuts the RAM to avoid conflicts).
Certainly if the only benefit was in using the Graphics card (as specified short-list), then there would be no need to mention the 64-bit oher than confirming 32-bit software will work . . SOny actually says about using the extra memory, but I didn't see if that was a lot, all, or just another Gig....depending on the task.

As no-one else has confirmed this, I suppose you've accepted it as is....and maybe it's not a problem elsewhere.
Finally, is it possible that a short vid is kept in 32-bit mode and it's only when there are lots of transitions and audio channels* to play with - only then does the 64-bit spring into action . . . . perhaps not be being 64-bit processed, but by usng the 64-bit memory management....because yr vid wasn't "complicated" it never used the extra memory. It would be nice if Sony could put us straight on this, maybe havinmg awinking light on the screen showing when it's working 64-bit (that would be cool....if it gave you the time-saved after completing the Renders...).

* more likely in v12, now that tracks are 20+20 - er, why? My screen is cluttered with less than 10+10 . . . I lose nearly 1" at the top and a little less at the bottom....that's microsoft but there is some fat in the Vegas Screen which could go. Also I think the Default Layout should pit the Audio meters to the Left of the Preview screen - so when I Render, I can see more of the Preview as it grinds along.