Vegas 4 or Vegas 4+DVD?

Chris H wrote on 8/5/2003, 9:59 AM

I am an ex Pinnacle Studio 7 user who recently switched to Video Factory. I really enjoy using Video Factory and am ready to make the leap to Vegas. I currently use Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2 to make my DVDs. I am trying to decide whether to buy Vegas 4 or Vegas 4+DVD. I have downloaded the demo of DVD Architect and like the features (especially the motion menus that are lacking in MF2) even if it doesn't have the "end action" features of MF2. I am mostly using my setup for home movies but I have also done a couple of weddings and look to do more in the future.

I am leaning toward Vegas 4+DVD but I just need a few of you out there to convince me to spend the extra dollars. If anyone out there is using DVD Architect (especially ex-MF2 users) please tell me why I should buy Vegas 4+DVD instead of Vegas 4.

Thanks

Comments

JumboTech wrote on 8/5/2003, 10:15 AM

Chris

I have DVDA and DVDMF2 and find DVDA a bit limp right now. I have confidence that it will be greatly improved though in its next version, so for that reason, I would say go for it and buy the Vegas + DVDA. There is no reason why you can't still use MF2 if you have to (for quick test DVDs it's great) but with regard to DVDA, you'll be on the upgrade trail for when it gets a few more features. Also, since right now, you can't get DVDA as a standalone, it makes sense to get it at the same time as Vegas. The AC3 feature does, of course, add something to the price but a little research will show that it really represents very good value for money.

Hope this helps...

Al

BillyBoy wrote on 8/5/2003, 11:05 AM

I have DVD Movie Factory One. I highly recommended it in this forum many times. I didn't bother upgrading to DMF Two since DVD-A came out about the same time. The motion menu capibility is a nice feature...but something that can get over used. The lack of end actions to me, and many others was a MAJOR oversight on SoFo's part, something in my opinion they really dropped the ball on.

In DMF One it was very clumsy to add text to the Menu and you had next to no control over type/size or the size of the thumbnails or how much text you could add to captions. In DVD-A you do. Other nice things in DVD-A in the ability to more easily modify the menu structure and even if you're presently forced to adjust by hand, to align and size thumnails that was something very limited in DMF One. If or not those things got fixed in version two I don't know.

If you read the FAQ about the Sony takeover, you probably noticed that VF soon will be a dead duck with a upgrade path to what Sony had previously licensed under their brand which was VF with a few extra features. What kind of any deal you'll get to upgrade to either Vegas package is still up in the air.

The nice thing to know of course would be when will there be Vegas 5 and a DVD-A 2?

Also I think Sony is light years beyond what SoFo ever could be marketing wise. One mistake (in my opinion) was SoFo bundling DVD-A with Vegas instread of offering it as a free standing application. They probably did it in some desperate last ditch bid being cashed starved., but now that's no longer a problem, so if I were to bet I would think at some point especailly if DVD-A gets more features and fixes some of the glaring oversites it can be and SHOULD be sold as a seperate product and not force end users to also buy Vegas. That again in my opinion is pennywise and pound foolish.