Yes, $200 is hard to justify, but I really want the MPEG encoder and keyframeable events.

Craig

I agree. I use Vegas for converting my old 8mm and VHS tapes to DVD (complete w/ transitions, background music, voice overs, etc) and it works great. I've tried Pinnacle Studio 8, Videostudio 6, and many other video editing suites. None come close to Vegas. I'm drooling for the Vegas 4 + DVD package which has V4, DVD Architect, and AC-3 Encoder. I've got a feeling even the upgrade to that package will exceed $400 (considering the AC-3 plugin for Acid is $279 by itself). We can always hope that SF will give us upgraders a BIG break!

If your price guestimate is even remotely close, I'll have to pass on the +DVD package. I'm very satisfied with BeSweet for AC3 and DVD Workshop SE for authoring. I just want to skip the TMPGEnc encoding step and encode directly from the timeline. Oh yeah, did I mention keyframeable events? :D

I currently use DVD Workshop as well, but have had issues with BeSweet AC3 files and my Pioneer DV-C503 DVD changer. Others have posted problems at vcdhelp's forums:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=129419

Plus BeSweet only does 2.0DD, right? (If input is wav)

And you are right, the keyframeable events are difficult to live without!

I haven't had AC3 issues with the players I've tried. I'll keep an eye out for issues.

BTW, anyone from SonicFoundry out there? Please, if you can answer my questions wihout leaking anything, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!

Craig

I really doubt that they can answer. From history, their upgrade paths have been reasonable. The $400 mark for +DVD sounds like a good guess to me, but who knows. BTW it would be a good price. I think it may be a bit higher actually. If it is what we think it is (those who know can't say) the package would be worth $1000-$1500 street price.

My personal opinion (remember that advice is worth what you pay for it and this is free) is that upgrading to V3 right now is a good move. V4 will be more expensive of an upgrade path from VF for sure. Even if you can't afford to upgrade from V3 to v4, then you are still working on about the best DV NLE packages out. Sure V4 promises lots of good stuff, but V3 is a solid workhorse and will do what you need. I assume (there's that word again) that the upgrade from V3 to V4 will not be that expensive without the +DVD add ons. SoFo has always been kind there.

K

Well, I hope the upgrade from VF to V4 isn't more than the current upgrade. As I mentioned, I can barely justify $199. I definitely can't justify $350 (VF to VV3 + VV3 to V4, assuming the $149 upgrade price is retained).

If only SF would shed some light...They want my money, so why not help me spend it?

Craig

Well, I think you have to agree that SoFo has always had excellent upgrade deals. Whether or not we can afford them is another story.
I think your best bet to finding out "inside info" as to what you should do, maybe you should call customer service via their 800 number.
I would be surprised to see a rep posting on a public forum what your asking, which is basically, how much will the upgrade costs for V4 be. You might get a target figure more easily if it's a one on one conversation that you will keep to yourself.
They might not give you a specific price, but MAYBE they'll tell you which option is cheaper.

M

MYST, Thanks for the post, and I had the same thoughts. I'll call SoFo within the next day or two.

Craig

I´m very satisfied with vv3 and not so interested in AC3
but a plug in (to vv3) with authoring and burning possibilities would be great.
Aje

If you do any kind of DVD authoring, you need Dolby Digital. The DVD spec for NTSC requires either a PCM (uncompressed .wav file) or Dolby Digital soundtrack. The PCM option eats away at those bits that could be used for video. What is really needed is a simple Dolby Digital Stereo encoder for a couple of bucks. This would allow the hobbist access to compressed audio for DVD discs while leaving the additional features and costs of a complete 5.1 (or whatever) encoder to the professionals.

Except that virtually all current players will hand mpeg audio, so the hobbyist should be fine without AC3.

I would like an authoring plug-in that would let me set chapter points on the timeline, though, instead of jotting down the times and manually entering them in a separate authoring program like I do now.

I would not agree with that. All PAL DVD players support MPEG-1 Layer 2 encoded audio. But that is not true of NTSC DVD players. Taking a quick look at www.dvdrhelp.com shows that of about 1800 different DVD players only 900 say they support MPEG audio. AND, this is the big one, the DVD spec requires that an NTSC DVD-Video disc contain either a PCM, or Dolby Digital sound track. MPEG audio is an option that can be included in addition to one of these. So without a PCM or DD sound track, you really don't have DVD-Video disc - just a DVD-ROM that happens to contain some files that are formated in way that may play on a set top DVD box. A huge problem right now for the DVD recordable format is playabality in set top boxes. We relly don't need software that burns discs that don't follow the DVD-Video specification. This would just add to the confusion. What we really need is for Dolby Labs to reduce the price of encoder licenses for hobbists.

:>) Just my 2 cents.

True, mpeg audio is not NTSC spec. My point is that almost all CURRENT players handle it. BTW, mpeg layer 2 audio is not the same as MP3, which I think is what you're seeing on vcdhelp.com.

If I were selling my stuff, I would make sure it was NTSC spec, and I wouldn't be burning on PrimeDisk either. But as a hobbyist, who cares, it works in my player . . . .

They have a check box to search for MPEG audio. I assumed that this was not mp3.