@vtxrocketeer,

Seeing your spec, you are using AMD Radeon R9 290X. How you feel with this card so far?
Do you have any other video card suggestion for Resolve ?
I'm still on Radeon 5750, but seems no newer driver supports it. I'm on System1, and just thinking if only replacing video card can help solving my crashes due to spec limitations.

(My reference for my country's product availability: http://enterkomputer.com/vga.php)

Set

@set:

My GPU, and it is my only one right now, allows me to do just about everything in Resolve without problem. I did not build my system with Resolve in mind, but I am pleasantly surprised that, for now, it is OK for Resolve.

For instance, I can add two or three grading nodes, and my GPU doesn't even hiccup. Still, according to BMD's published hardware recommendations, my GPU is underrated for 4k material, but it is more than adequate for HD. My typical source material is DNxHQ 4:2:2 full 4k, and I can edit and playback in Resolve at full frame rate. I realize that I'm operating at the limit of my GPU with 4k material, in part because of the limited memory.

What really brings my GPU to its knees is Noise Reduction (NR). If I try to render out of Resolve with a NR node, my GPU will be at 100% utilization and memory for a while, and then my system crashes. This is partially because the GPU is used also for my dual displays. Hence, for now, I do noise reduction with NeatVideo in Vegas. (That is not an ideal workflow because I have to render out intermediates. I would prefer to cut on HD proxies in Vegas and round trip only with XML's, then grade and do noise reduction all within Resolve.)

At the moment, I'm toying with the idea of installing a second GPU, which Resolve (I have the full version) can use in conjunction with the first GPU. Resolve's 12.5 beta release has a much-improved NR, but the spatial NR crashes instantly for me. It may be my problem, it may be Resolve's problem.

I recommend that you read BMD's system configuration guide -- download it from BMD's support section on their website -- and figure out what GPU's BMD recommends and that are also available in Indonesia.

I have been looking closely at the Resolve 12.5 beta for the last few days. I find it is really fast with my gh4 4k media - as long as I use the "optimized media" method (really just an automated proxy system). The colour control is excellent, but what really got me excited was the tracker - absolutely awesome. Much, much faster than mercalli Vegas plug-in, and the results are very smooth AND natural.

Timeline work is still frustrating compared to Vegas - it always seems to come down to that when comparing NLE's - I just wonder how hard it would be to implement mouse controlled timeline zooming, click-anywhere playhead movement, and auto fade on clip overlap. That for me is the basis of why Vegas works so well for timeline editing.

I'm making the jump to Resolve as well but I find myself still using Vegas. One very cool thing is that Resolve uses OFX and VST plugins, so the plugin part of the transition is easy.

I just wonder how hard it would be to implement mouse controlled timeline zooming...

It's there already. On a PC, press ALT and zoom in/out using a mouse wheel. If the wheel is a button, too, click it and mouse left or right to drag the timeline. Really, it's as fast as Vegas in this regard.

I wish cross dissolves worked in Resolve like they do in Vegas...

@vtxrocketeer

Thanks for that! Works great!

... also noted it mouse scrolls the timeline if you hover in the timeline header and hold down alt, plus you can insert-move clips by holding down ctrl +shift. Transitions can be drag-copied by holing down alt. Actually, lots of options here for "former" Vegas editors. Hmmm.

Interesting comparison:

Interesting note for several keyboard shortcut keys...
Thanks

As long as Vegas Pro runs in my workstation, I spend my time editing and making a little money whenever I can.
Worrying about something that hasn't happen yet takes away from the creative process .
With all the different NLEs available out there I don't understand why there is so much time worryingly about this and that, when if editing is being done and projects are being completed,why worry about alternatives...
Just " Get the job done".
It seems like every time I work with Vegas, I learn something new about it.. I could care less about an "alternative".

Yes, I had every intention to look at Resolve, but then thought why? Vegas is earning me money at the moment. It does everything I want it to (Albeit with a few annoying bugs). It makes far more sense for me to let others work out and test BETA versions of other software, and at a later date learn from them. Some folks are just more innovative than I am.

> "As long as Vegas Pro runs in my workstation, I spend my time editing and making a little money whenever I can."

+1

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Final Cut Pro 7 was discontinued 5 years ago. The Final Cut forum on the Creative COW still gets questions daily. Editors are still using it daily. No one seems to care that Apple discontinued it 5 years ago! It still has a strong following so just because a company no longer supports something doesn't mean that you have to stop using it.

IMHO, the correct time to look for an alternative for Vegas Pro is when it no longer does something that you need it to do. Short of that, moving to a new NLE has zero return on investment.

Think about it... you would invest an enormous amount of time learning a new NLE, you invest more money buying a new NLE, just so that you can cut the same video that you do today with Vegas Pro. Where is the business logic in that??? As many have said, Vegas Pro isn't going to stop working (unlike subscription software) so I don't see why anyone would want to find an alternative to a problem that you don't have yet.

...and before you say that Sony won't be updating it. Sony hasn't updated Vegas Pro 9 since 2011 yet many people here are still using it every day to make money. I just don't see the need to rush out and find an alternative if it's still working for you.

As others here have pointed out, if you really want a great alternative, Final Cut Pro X would probably appeal to Vegas Pro editors more than anything else because Apple has done what Sonic Foundry did many years ago... they threw out the rule book, got rid of the bins and other "film" artifacts from a by-gone era, (although for some strange reason they kept the razor blade) and re-invented what video editing should be in the digital 21st century. I found it extremely easy to learn FCP X having come from Vegas Pro but I moved to the Mac for reasons other than video editing and I realize that moving to the Mac isn't an option for everyone.

~jr

I have tried and used almost ALL professional NLE available, and I can say with confidence that the closest one to Vegas Pro is Resolve (I am on version 12.5) .. so if the time comes, I will for sure switch to Resolve.

I do however use resolve for its amazing color correction, grading, and tracking abilities .. and I am loving it. The tracking is just amazing and so fast.

I will keep using Vegas Pro 13 until it dose not function anymore, and I hope SCS dose not abandon this amazingly powerful and easy to use editor .. it is the best editor I have used. Looking forward for version 14.

@Pawel Janaszkiewicz .. Many thanks for the links...

"IMHO, the correct time to look for an alternative for Vegas Pro is when it no longer does something that you need it to do."

So be it. I have been thinking about this while working on projects and have decided not to worry about this anymore and just stick to Vegas Pro. If a new file format or whatever comes along that does not work with Vegas 13, I am sure it can be converted to something I can use.

I am still catching up on videos since my system re-build. So I will sign-off a bit here and enjoy using Vegas Pro 13 and any new build/version if and when it comes along.

I am now reasonably proficient in using Vegas Pro. I do not want to get further behind trying to learn another NLE. And once I am caught up, I do not want to waste time with another NLE either.

Thanks much JohnnyRoy.

I have a been experimenting for a bit with Resolve and have to say the color pane is nothing less than incredible. The auto tracking, masking and color tools make this software a must have. I haven't done a lot in the editing pane yet, other than basic stuff. It appears that it will do most of what Vegas does. Even if your not Looking for a Vegas alternative, this software is worth a try.

+1 for resolve

Hitfilm4 Express (or Pro) has drop support for Sony Vegas Pro link feature where you can just right click on Vegas' timeline > Add HitFilm Effect.

I just update HitFilm4 Express and the link still goes to HitFilm3 Express.
Also, on other forum, someone mentioned:
"Sony Vegas Pro 13 and HitFilm Express 4"

The future of Vegas Pro seems very dark... :(

On the other side, Resolve 12.5 has integration with BMD Fusion although Node-based compositing workflow is far-far more complex than Layer-based one like Vegas or HitFilm.

You have to buy Vegas Pro 13 Suite to get Hitfilm 3 Pro which is pretty pricey. Other option is buy Hitfilm Ignite for $200. Again a pretty pricey combo.

Personally I'm more interested in animating mask than special effects. And Davinci Resolve does a great job at that. I also use Fusion which integrates pretty good with my Mocha Pro and I hear Imagineer is improving their compatibility with Fusion in Mocha 5.

The Fusion node based approach is actually not bad at all. But it's more like AE than Vegas. I can't wait to see how BMD improves the integration between Resolve and Fusion over the next few years. And both are free.

nice example

There are ways to make the HitFilm linking for version 4 work again in Vegas Pro 13 and Movie Studio 13. See here.

> 99% of my footage is in XDCAM EX format, which Resolve still does not support

Nick, I know a workaround for this. All you do is smart-render your XDCAM EX to XDCAM MFX (which works excellently in Vegas). Since it is a smart-render it is almost as quick as a file copy and there is obviously no degradation. You could set up a batch conversion and be done in no time.

The only current issue would be that Resolve is having trouble rendering from Sony to Sony formats, but I believe that that might already be fixed in the 12.5 beta (I just haven't tried it out).

I had also a closer look to resolve 12.5 during the last days - and I also can confirm that it works great with my R9 390X with 8GB. What does not work so great is the quadro K4200 with 4GB only (what seems to be new since with Resolve 12.3 the K4200 was fine too).

I edit UHD/4K footage from my GH4 shoot with the Shogun in ProRes 10bit 422 - that works really great. I have only started by now to explore the interlinked workflow with Vegas using the XML Export, but I think that this will work great. The Cineform codec that allows to edit 4K 10bit 422 in Vegas is available in Resolve too (after the Installation of the free GoPro Studio), so that is fine too.

The new Resolve 12.5 is a public beta up to now - and it takes more ressouces in Terms of GPU power compared to the older 12.3. So that can force one to inverst in another GPU.

Overall, the Features are similar to the Catalyst Prepare - what would offer also to render to XAVC. However, the Major drawback for me is that the ProRes Import is not suppored in the Windows world by Prepare - what is no issue for Resolve. And yes, I have to state that I use the free version of Resolve only.

Overall that can become a great workflow, also if one wishes to invest in Blackmagic cameras (what is not such a great idea at the moment maybe, since they have to solve the magenta issue first).