Vegas 6 upgrade

wwaag wrote on 9/21/2006, 12:27 PM

I did a couple of months ago when it was $149, which was still a good deal. Yes, it is the full version 6.0d. Just a CD with the serial#--no manual's. You'll have to download them online. Although I haven't tried, I don't see any reason you couldn't use DVDA Studio.

If you get the full version of 6.0, you then might consider the upgrade to vegas 7 which includes the full version of DVDA 4. Through Oct 31, the download upgrade is $134. I did.

Nice thing about the full version of Vegas is that it is an easy transition from VMS since the commands are the same. No steep learning curve. Good luck.

wwaag

Tim L wrote on 9/21/2006, 2:11 PM

I ordered the $99 deal from B&H as well. Got it and installed it earlier this week. Played a little bit -- it will open your VMS projects just fine (though it would probably save as a .VEG file rather than the .VF file VMS uses.) Like wwaag says, its just like VMS 6, only with more features. Very comfortable to slip into.

I also ordered the upgrade to VMS 7 -- $149.95 + $5 shipping for the boxed version. UPS tracking says I'll get it tomorrow.

$250 is more than I planned to spend for home hobby use -- I was figuring I'd just to the upgrade to VMS 7 -- but now I have the full, pro package -- what more could I need?

You should be able to upgrade just to Vegas 6 for $99 and continue to use your DVD Studio 3 to burn DVD's (but I haven't actually tried it).

From within Vegas 6, you will be able to select an MPEG bit rate to render to. Also with Vegas 6, you can do AC3 audio (and 5.1 surround, I believe), but you won't be able to burn DVD's with this using DVD Architect Studio 3 (which doesn't support AC3).

Vegas 6 will give you unlimited audio and video tracks, velocity envelope, AC3 audio, select MPEG bit rate from within Vegas, Bezier (hand drawn) masks for pan/crop. Lots of cool things.

Tim L

wwaag wrote on 9/21/2006, 2:18 PM

Tim L

Question. Can you now "un-register" your version 6.0 with Sony and then sell it, e.g. on Ebay? Don't know the licensing agreement restrictions.

wwaag

Rv6tc wrote on 9/21/2006, 5:46 PM

wwaag,

I sold a previous version on VMS to my neighbor. As far as I'm concerned, Sony has the best policy on re-selling their software. I sent them an email telling them that I sold the software, (I included my registration number) and then they issued him a new registration number. Simple. The only limitation is that he can't use that software to upgrade to any newer products, but he is still eligible for any patches to the old VMS.

Keith

G8R_J wrote on 9/21/2006, 5:55 PM

How about this:
If you already have VMS 6 + DVDAS 3, upgrade to VMS 7 + DVDAS 4 for $34.95 (to accomodate ac3 audio) AND buy Vegas 6 for $99. That way you get the full Vegas and the ability to create DVD's with ac3 audio for under $135.

Tim L wrote on 9/21/2006, 6:01 PM

Yeah, like Rv6tc says, this is official Sony / Madison Media Software policy. (I even sent a message to their customer support about this last week, just to make sure it was still true.)

I haven't done this myself, yet, but I'm about to give my old VMS 4 to a friend at work -- trying to hook another customer on this fantastic editing software we all know and love. As Keith mentioned, any particular piece of software can only be used once to upgrade to another version. My friend won't be able to use this VMS 4 to upgrade, because I used it to upgrade to VMS 6 Plat.. So if he wants to get VMS 6 or 7, he'll have to buy the full package (or find a used copy somewhere).

It's a great policy! Hey Madison - we love you guys (and gals)!

Tim L

dibbkd wrote on 9/23/2006, 1:28 AM

If you get the $99 Vegas 6 from B&H, you can upgrade to Vegas 7 + DVD4 for free.

Can't beat it.

Chienworks wrote on 9/23/2006, 6:52 AM

dibbkd, are you sure about that? The $99 version at B&H is only Vegas and doesn't include DVDA. SONY has a note in the knowledge base saying the free upgrade to 7+4 only applies to owners of 6+3 and isn't valid for those who own only 6.

Tim L wrote on 9/24/2006, 6:58 AM

Just to backup Kelly's post, the knowledgebase item specifically states:

"One exception being that if you purchased the Vegas 6.0 stand alone software (not Vegas 6.0+DVD), you are eligible for a free upgrade to the Vegas 7.0 stand alone download not Vegas 7.0 that includes DVD Architect 4.0,..."

(At the top of your screen, click Support, then select Knowledgbase, then click on the "New - Qualifications for Free Upgrades" link.)

Note also that if you DO buy a full Vegas+DVD 6, and want to get the free upgrade to Vegas+DVD 7, you can only do so if you purchased from an official Sony reseller. They have a link somewhere in that post where you can find out who the official resellers are.

Tim L

jimmyz wrote on 9/24/2006, 8:33 AM

I haven't checked for sure if an upgrade to 7.0 is possible, but B&H isn't on the official resellers list.

Tim L wrote on 9/24/2006, 10:03 AM

B&H is in there somewhere. I think on the actual "stores" list, in NY, rather than in the "web resellers" category.

Here's the link:
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/partners/dealers.asp?state=NY

Tim L

dibbkd wrote on 9/24/2006, 1:43 PM

dibbkd, are you sure about that? The $99 version at B&H is only Vegas and doesn't include DVDA. SONY has a note in the knowledge base saying the free upgrade to 7+4 only applies to owners of 6+3 and isn't valid for those who own only 6.

Yup, I'm positive, because that's what I did.

I wasn't sure if it would work at first, in fact I had posted earlier asking if there was going to be a Vegas-only (without DVD) version, because I hadn't seen anything about it.

Well, the B&H $99 price to good to pass up anyway, so I bought my copy September 4th, it arrived Sept. 8th.

I installed and registered it, and when Sept. 12th rolled around I called Sony support at 10am EST and told them I had just bought Vegas 6 and they asked me if I wanted a free Vegas 7 download or pay $5.00 to get the books and stuff.

I told them I'd pay the $5.00 shipping.

Well, about a week later Vegas 7 + DVD 4 with both SN#'s showed up on my door.

I couldn't believe it at first when I saw the box, so opened it up and sure enough the install disk was for both.

Last I saw BH still had the $99 price, and I bet Sony will still upgrade customers who buy it now.

EDIT: I just read Tim L's post, and yeah, I bet if I opted for the free download I would have only gotten Vegas 7. But, I'm thinking since they aren't selling it boxed that way that the only thing they have is Vegas + DVD.

Just a theory, but regardless, I got my full copy of Vegas 7 + DVD 4 for $99.

jimmyz wrote on 9/24/2006, 4:42 PM

i just e mailed sony for the upgrade from the 99.00 vegas 6. The knowledgebase does say I'm only eligible for a download 7.0 no dvd. We'll see. Thanks for pointing out b&h
in the licensed retailers.

dibbkd wrote on 9/24/2006, 4:45 PM

Make sure you opt for the $5.00 shipping fee and don't get the download version.

They shipped me everything, my download page said I was only eligible for Vegas 7.0 as well.

Edit: and don't be mad at me if you don't get DVDA4, maybe I got lucky or something, but to me, getting Vegas 7.0 for $99 was worth it anyway, even without DVDA, and I had the Studio version of DVDA3 anyway, and didn't need all the extra features of the full DVDA4 anyway.

jimmyz wrote on 9/26/2006, 6:55 PM

Sony did update my 6.0 to 7.0 but said only download. No dvd4.
Awesome !

dibbkd wrote on 9/27/2006, 5:41 AM

So you called them for an upgrade and they only let you download? They didn't offer to ship you everything for an additional $5.00?

I guess I got lucky, but still, you getting Vegas 7.0 for $99 is still a great deal.

And you can still use your old Studio DVDA to burn.

Edit: I re-read your post where you said you emailed them... I would give them a call and talk to someone, you might get a different answer. Never hurts to ask!

volzjr wrote on 9/27/2006, 6:25 AM

Yep, I called them and they said I had to fax the B&H receipt, and then call back to complete the deal. I called back and arranged to pay for the delivered package. When I arrived home that night, I had an e-mail telling me to download V7. I called the next day and told them I wanted to get the delivered package, not the download. He pulled up the details on his screen, and then put me on hold for about five minutes. When he came back he said that I had bought V6 Standalone and was only entitled to the download version of V7 Standalone. So I guess you got lucky.... ;-)

dibbkd wrote on 9/27/2006, 6:37 AM

I had to fax them my B&H receipt as well, but I did all this literally within an hour of the official release, so maybe whoever handled my call wasn't sure what to do, or maybe this policy wasn't in place.

Regardless, you can't beat Vegas 7 standalone for $99.

Rv6tc wrote on 9/27/2006, 5:15 PM

Thanks all. I did it. I ordered the B&H deal. With or without the upgrade to Vegas 7 +/- DVDA, it is still a great deal. Hopefully I'll figure out how to use it! I guess I'm graduating to the Vegas Forum.

By the way, Thanks to Sony Media for the terrific upgrade deals.

Keith

Clarke wrote on 10/3/2006, 7:13 AM

Just a question.
I ordered the US $99 offer from B&H too.

The CD comes with an installer for Boris Graffiti LTD 3.0
Do any of you who got the same offer have a serial number for Boris during installation?
Mine does not have one. I checked the VEGAS forums for postings and there are some feedback that those who upgraded to V7 did not have the the Boris serial number too.

I wrote to Sony Mediasoftware customer service and have not obtained any reply yet. Just curious and eager to learn V6 with Boris. Hopefully I would get the same free upgrade from V6 to V7. Customer service also did not get back to me yet.

Cheers

volzjr wrote on 10/3/2006, 10:54 AM

I've been down this road w/ Sony already. They consider the $99 deal from B&H to be an OEM disc, and as such you are only entitled to Vegas 6.0. Therefore they will not issue the S/N to those who got the $99 deal from B&H. When I got the free upgrade to 7.0, the personalized download page had a section called "Downloadable Products" which included a download for Boris Graffiti. Since it was included in my order I contacted Sony again and inquired about the S/N for my Boris program. Their reply was that I was not entitled to the Boris S/N since I was upgrading from the B&H deal. I replied that since Boris was offered in their e-mail to me as a downloadable product, that implied I was entitled to the program. It seems silly to "offer" me the chance to download the installation file, but not actually get to use the program. Their reply was that only a "minority" of customers fell into the gray area of being eligible to download Vegas 6.0 standalone, and this was just an oversight. But she said that she "personally" contacted the Webmaster to alert them to the problem. Bottom line... No Boris For You! or me either!

jimmyz wrote on 10/3/2006, 7:05 PM

I did email Sony and I got the boris number. For what it's worth.

first email from sony
I don't see that here on your account. Please provide your proof of purchase for Vegas. If you have received your Vegas as an OEM with your camera or from B & H photo video as a bundle pack, Boris is not included.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have follow up questions or need further assistance with this issue, please update this incident.

on another note I don't think I'll be using the Boris, as it's standalone and the media library it comes with is quite small.

dibbkd wrote on 10/4/2006, 3:36 AM

The $99 version from B&H isn't an OEM version, it is the full retail version.

Tim L wrote on 10/4/2006, 4:45 AM

Kevin,

It's not really the full retail version because it doesn't include a box, manuals, or any of the extras, like the Boris Graffiti 3.0 LTD. But the editing program itself is identical to the retail version, of course.

Sony it just saying that the B&H deal is essentially an OEM type deal, like if a video card manufacturer wanted to bundle Vegas 6 with their new video card. In such a deal, the video card mfr wouldn't be paying hundreds of dollars for each Vegas disc they include with a video card -- they likely pay a negotiated fee to Sony for each Vegas "license" they ship (and they might even mfr the discs themselves, rather than get them from Sony).

It *might* be that Sony has to pay some amount of money to Boris for including the Graffiti LTD package in the Sony Vegas product. The stripped down B&H version probably doesn't include a license for Boris, strictly as a cost-savings in order to offer the $99 deal.

Tim L