I use Vegas for audio only... and I've now mixed two large projects and attempted to track another into the new beta of vegas.. however, I had to give up on the tracking halfway through because it wasn't stable enough.
Mixing fared much better however, when I was importing projects that were originally tracked into Vegas Audio 2.0.
Here's my system spec.
Commercial audio recording studio previously called Webpuppy Studios, now moved to bigger premises thanks to a lot of sucess, and now called Stakeout Studios based in Chobham, Surrey England. Fairly Modest set of outboard equipment. Good Mics, Reasonable 8-buss Mixing Desk. Good Rooms and Acoustics. Sample songs for Download available on request.
Computer Spec:
Custom Built (Locked in a cupboard to soundproof!)
AMD Duron 700 (overclocked to 927Mhz)
128MB PC133 SDRAM
IBM 60GXP EIDE 7200 RPM 40GB Hard Drive (audio drive only)
Maxtor 40GB DiamondMax+ 7200 RPM Hard Drive (System Drive)
Abit KT7-raid Motherboard.
Gadgetlabs Wave 8*24 (8 input 8 output analogue sound card with version 4.03 MME drivers)
Windows 98 revision 2. Formatted for use only with audio software.
Sound Blaster Live for use with Gigastudio only - not used in Vegas.
NVIDIA Geforce DDR based Graphics
Software: Vegas Video Beta 3.0 build 50, Vegas Audio 2.0H, Syntrillium Cool Edit Pro 1.2 as Sample editor, Cubase 3.7 hooked up to Gigastudio 160 for dance / sample based projects... not much these days!... and If there are, I export and mix in Vegas.
Plugins: Timeworks Mastering Compressor, Delay 6022, EQ, Mastering EQ, Compressor X, Waves Renaissance Compressor, TC Native Reverb, TC native EQ. Sonic Foundry Vegas based plugins, including ExpressFX. All of which are great!
----------------------
Initial Beta impressions....
Phase switches are very handy! thanks!
Master Buss is a stroke of genius, my mixes sound so much clearer now the multiple buss projects are not clipping.
The new pan types are great.
The Stereo / Mono recording input selection method is great, and definitely saves time!
The ability to make a metronome button visible is great. (But would also like Time signature and Tempo here! and a shortcut key!)
The new envelope types are great. Much smoother, less clicking on hard pans.. but how about being able to change ALL the evelope types at the same time on one track?
The new group slice is great... but how about also grouping the fades on the end of wave files as well... I frequently fade multiple tracks at the same point, very time consuming.
-----------------------
Firstly, I noticed that the beta is much more sensitive to overclocking / CPU temperature than Vegas Audo 2.0H
I slowed the CPU to it's stock speed and voltage and noticed a reasonable stability improvement. These tests are all based on this.
I've pused Vegas as hard as I can to try and see if it will fall over...
Most of the faults and crashes / freezes are intermittent, which is irritating.
The way I mix may have an influence... I group each set of instruments, so a typical project will have the following busses which I use to submix tracks to.....
plugins are listed on each buss....
Master Buss (Timeworks Mastering EQ, SF Track EQ x2, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
1. Drum Overheads (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
2. Kick (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
3. Snare (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
4. Toms (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
5. Bass Guitar (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
6. Clean Electrics 1 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
7. Clean Electrics 2 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
8. Distorted Guitars 1 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
9. Distorted Guitars 2 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
10. Percussion (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
11. Lead Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
12. Backing Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
13. Double Tracked Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
----------------------------------
busses used as Aux sends
14. Delay (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Delay 6022, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
15. Reverb (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, TC Native Reverb, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
I don't usually add plugins to tracks... maybe a SF ExpressFX Chorus on the vocals here and there... very nice, airy!
sometimes even more! This may seem like a lot... but the mixes sound stunning. I can push 40-45 tracks at the same time with this many plugins...
------------------------------------
Crashes, Freezes and other anomalies... also the odd suggestion.
Intermittant crash... no apparent reason, just sometimes when play is pressed 'Vegas 30 has caused an illegal operation and will be shut down'. Then it says that Vegas30 has caused an error in module 'Wave824.drv' which is clearly my soundcard driver.
There are occasionally some digital clicks when recording audio... never had that in previous versions.
Crashes sometimes when dropping in (pushing just 8-ish tracks but lots of plugins on multiple busses) Blue screen of death, and mouse disappears until you press CTRL-ALT-DEL.
Locks up occasionally when you press stop (have to press CTRL-ALT-DEL, and close Vegas)
Very rarely, there are a few graphic anomalies in the program... looks a bit like static, don't get that in any other programs. Only brief flashes though.. not a biggie.
Occasionally removing multiple plugins from a buss causes a crash, although generally speaking this is better than Vegas 2.0H. Problem usually solved by saving after removing each individual plugin.
Crashing occasionally when attempting to loop a few bars of a big multiple buss project.
Noticed that Busses and plugins cause more problems than Track based plugins... maybe copy that code.. to stabilise the busses when using them as submix?
Sanp to frames confused me for a while as I don't use video... maybe this could be disabled by default?
Spent about an hour frustrated, as it would crash either partly through playing a multitrack project, or the second time I pressed play... so I removed a lot of busses and plugins from them.. this seemed to stabilise it a lot, but still the odd crash.
How about the option to change how often it autosaves?
Autosave should automatically be directed to the project directory... it's irritating trying to find the folder... and time consuming.
I gave up tracking into Vegas 3.0 when I encountered a latency problem. I recorded the guide track, then the drums.. OK it crashed a lot, but at least it recorded in time! Then I went to record bass, using all the usual settings, and the bass wav files appeared either early, late or not together (two wavs, DI and Valve Mic.) Tryed experimenting with Vegas settings... to no avail. Gave up (Clients annoyed by now!) and exported individual files without FX to Vegas 2.0H, which reliably tracked the rest of the project.
To be fair, I've mixed down two projects recorded in Vegas 2.0H, and they sound great! on top of that, Vegas 3 was remarkably reliable, even when the machine was overclocked. Very few crashes. The real problems came when I was tracking into Vegas 3... but this seemed to be more when I was playing back then actually recording! I guess you guys could explain that better than me!
--------------------------------------
Serious new feature suggestions.
SIMPLE sequencer with BASIC piano roll... but you have to add it to a project rather than being there by default.... I'd love to be able to program Gigastudio or use new DX instruments alongside my audio projects without having to resort to Cubase! I'm sure if they managed to do it in Sonar, you guys can do it better, and make it intuitive and user friendly. What I don't want is something with TOO many MIDI features... I.E Scoring etc...
At least the option of putting the time signature and tempo of the project for all to see.
The ability to Show and Hide all the AUX envelopes is vital.. my mixes are getting way to confusing! especially cos I'm colourblind! I always have too many lines on each track, and the show/hide Volume and Pan Envelopes is great!
The new envelope types are GREAT but, I'd like to be able to change ALL of the envelopes on 1 track at the same time... instead of a line between two points. If you're doing lots of tiny subtle pan changes, this would save a LOT of time!
when you split a piece of audio, how about the option to right click and trim to the audio that's only showing on the screen. This would make some multiple track looping a lot easier.
When you record a track, you can fade out or in by dragging from the top corner of the track.... but shen you have multiple tracks grouped... these fades are not locked together.. this would save a lot of time... fading out double tracked guitars... drums, etc...!
The ability to control Vegas faders from a MIDI controller etc... but to me this really isn't all that important... it's just be nice - I'm lazy with the mouse!
----------------------
All in all, Vegas is definitely heading in the right direction! thanks to Sonic Foundry!
I'll put some of my Vegas 3 mixes online soon!
Jason
-------------
This post has already been sent to VegasBeta@SonicFoundry.com
I hope others do their best to route out the bugs too!
-------------
Jason Wilcock
Stakeout Studios UK
Studio +44 (0) 1276 857733
Mobile +44 (0) 7773 083212
Mixing fared much better however, when I was importing projects that were originally tracked into Vegas Audio 2.0.
Here's my system spec.
Commercial audio recording studio previously called Webpuppy Studios, now moved to bigger premises thanks to a lot of sucess, and now called Stakeout Studios based in Chobham, Surrey England. Fairly Modest set of outboard equipment. Good Mics, Reasonable 8-buss Mixing Desk. Good Rooms and Acoustics. Sample songs for Download available on request.
Computer Spec:
Custom Built (Locked in a cupboard to soundproof!)
AMD Duron 700 (overclocked to 927Mhz)
128MB PC133 SDRAM
IBM 60GXP EIDE 7200 RPM 40GB Hard Drive (audio drive only)
Maxtor 40GB DiamondMax+ 7200 RPM Hard Drive (System Drive)
Abit KT7-raid Motherboard.
Gadgetlabs Wave 8*24 (8 input 8 output analogue sound card with version 4.03 MME drivers)
Windows 98 revision 2. Formatted for use only with audio software.
Sound Blaster Live for use with Gigastudio only - not used in Vegas.
NVIDIA Geforce DDR based Graphics
Software: Vegas Video Beta 3.0 build 50, Vegas Audio 2.0H, Syntrillium Cool Edit Pro 1.2 as Sample editor, Cubase 3.7 hooked up to Gigastudio 160 for dance / sample based projects... not much these days!... and If there are, I export and mix in Vegas.
Plugins: Timeworks Mastering Compressor, Delay 6022, EQ, Mastering EQ, Compressor X, Waves Renaissance Compressor, TC Native Reverb, TC native EQ. Sonic Foundry Vegas based plugins, including ExpressFX. All of which are great!
----------------------
Initial Beta impressions....
Phase switches are very handy! thanks!
Master Buss is a stroke of genius, my mixes sound so much clearer now the multiple buss projects are not clipping.
The new pan types are great.
The Stereo / Mono recording input selection method is great, and definitely saves time!
The ability to make a metronome button visible is great. (But would also like Time signature and Tempo here! and a shortcut key!)
The new envelope types are great. Much smoother, less clicking on hard pans.. but how about being able to change ALL the evelope types at the same time on one track?
The new group slice is great... but how about also grouping the fades on the end of wave files as well... I frequently fade multiple tracks at the same point, very time consuming.
-----------------------
Firstly, I noticed that the beta is much more sensitive to overclocking / CPU temperature than Vegas Audo 2.0H
I slowed the CPU to it's stock speed and voltage and noticed a reasonable stability improvement. These tests are all based on this.
I've pused Vegas as hard as I can to try and see if it will fall over...
Most of the faults and crashes / freezes are intermittent, which is irritating.
The way I mix may have an influence... I group each set of instruments, so a typical project will have the following busses which I use to submix tracks to.....
plugins are listed on each buss....
Master Buss (Timeworks Mastering EQ, SF Track EQ x2, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
1. Drum Overheads (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
2. Kick (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
3. Snare (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
4. Toms (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
5. Bass Guitar (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
6. Clean Electrics 1 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
7. Clean Electrics 2 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
8. Distorted Guitars 1 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
9. Distorted Guitars 2 (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
10. Percussion (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
11. Lead Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
12. Backing Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
13. Double Tracked Vox (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
----------------------------------
busses used as Aux sends
14. Delay (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, Timeworks Delay 6022, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
15. Reverb (SF Track Gate, Track EQ x2, Track Compressor, TC Native Reverb, Timeworks Mastering Compressor)
I don't usually add plugins to tracks... maybe a SF ExpressFX Chorus on the vocals here and there... very nice, airy!
sometimes even more! This may seem like a lot... but the mixes sound stunning. I can push 40-45 tracks at the same time with this many plugins...
------------------------------------
Crashes, Freezes and other anomalies... also the odd suggestion.
Intermittant crash... no apparent reason, just sometimes when play is pressed 'Vegas 30 has caused an illegal operation and will be shut down'. Then it says that Vegas30 has caused an error in module 'Wave824.drv' which is clearly my soundcard driver.
There are occasionally some digital clicks when recording audio... never had that in previous versions.
Crashes sometimes when dropping in (pushing just 8-ish tracks but lots of plugins on multiple busses) Blue screen of death, and mouse disappears until you press CTRL-ALT-DEL.
Locks up occasionally when you press stop (have to press CTRL-ALT-DEL, and close Vegas)
Very rarely, there are a few graphic anomalies in the program... looks a bit like static, don't get that in any other programs. Only brief flashes though.. not a biggie.
Occasionally removing multiple plugins from a buss causes a crash, although generally speaking this is better than Vegas 2.0H. Problem usually solved by saving after removing each individual plugin.
Crashing occasionally when attempting to loop a few bars of a big multiple buss project.
Noticed that Busses and plugins cause more problems than Track based plugins... maybe copy that code.. to stabilise the busses when using them as submix?
Sanp to frames confused me for a while as I don't use video... maybe this could be disabled by default?
Spent about an hour frustrated, as it would crash either partly through playing a multitrack project, or the second time I pressed play... so I removed a lot of busses and plugins from them.. this seemed to stabilise it a lot, but still the odd crash.
How about the option to change how often it autosaves?
Autosave should automatically be directed to the project directory... it's irritating trying to find the folder... and time consuming.
I gave up tracking into Vegas 3.0 when I encountered a latency problem. I recorded the guide track, then the drums.. OK it crashed a lot, but at least it recorded in time! Then I went to record bass, using all the usual settings, and the bass wav files appeared either early, late or not together (two wavs, DI and Valve Mic.) Tryed experimenting with Vegas settings... to no avail. Gave up (Clients annoyed by now!) and exported individual files without FX to Vegas 2.0H, which reliably tracked the rest of the project.
To be fair, I've mixed down two projects recorded in Vegas 2.0H, and they sound great! on top of that, Vegas 3 was remarkably reliable, even when the machine was overclocked. Very few crashes. The real problems came when I was tracking into Vegas 3... but this seemed to be more when I was playing back then actually recording! I guess you guys could explain that better than me!
--------------------------------------
Serious new feature suggestions.
SIMPLE sequencer with BASIC piano roll... but you have to add it to a project rather than being there by default.... I'd love to be able to program Gigastudio or use new DX instruments alongside my audio projects without having to resort to Cubase! I'm sure if they managed to do it in Sonar, you guys can do it better, and make it intuitive and user friendly. What I don't want is something with TOO many MIDI features... I.E Scoring etc...
At least the option of putting the time signature and tempo of the project for all to see.
The ability to Show and Hide all the AUX envelopes is vital.. my mixes are getting way to confusing! especially cos I'm colourblind! I always have too many lines on each track, and the show/hide Volume and Pan Envelopes is great!
The new envelope types are GREAT but, I'd like to be able to change ALL of the envelopes on 1 track at the same time... instead of a line between two points. If you're doing lots of tiny subtle pan changes, this would save a LOT of time!
when you split a piece of audio, how about the option to right click and trim to the audio that's only showing on the screen. This would make some multiple track looping a lot easier.
When you record a track, you can fade out or in by dragging from the top corner of the track.... but shen you have multiple tracks grouped... these fades are not locked together.. this would save a lot of time... fading out double tracked guitars... drums, etc...!
The ability to control Vegas faders from a MIDI controller etc... but to me this really isn't all that important... it's just be nice - I'm lazy with the mouse!
----------------------
All in all, Vegas is definitely heading in the right direction! thanks to Sonic Foundry!
I'll put some of my Vegas 3 mixes online soon!
Jason
-------------
This post has already been sent to VegasBeta@SonicFoundry.com
I hope others do their best to route out the bugs too!
-------------
Jason Wilcock
Stakeout Studios UK
Studio +44 (0) 1276 857733
Mobile +44 (0) 7773 083212