VP13 - Time To Make A Decision

A-Scott wrote on 5/27/2014, 5:53 PM

I've been using Vegas since the early days of Sonic Foundry and read this forum almost every day. I mostly use Vegas for audio with the occasional video project. I'm currently using version 9e. I haven't updated it because...

1. It seems everything went to hell with VP10 and subsequent releases.

2. I'm up to my neck in Cineform. VP10 required updating to a new version of NeoScene which meant a paid upgrade for a codec I was already happily using. Oh...and smart rendering to Cineform supposedly stopped working.

3. Version 9e still makes me happy.

Even still, I don't want to fall too far behind the curve. I got my email special upgrade offer which expires in a few days. What to do...what to do?

With the release of VP13 this forum seems much more upbeat lately. Certainly more than the last few releases. The folks here working it harder than I ever will (for video) so I have faith it will work for me. For those who are using Cineform I would like to confirm a couple things...

1. The free GoPro Studio app will install a Cineform encoder/decoder that can be used with Vegas (and VirtualDub if I understand correctly.) I can finally let go of my outdated NeoScene.

2. Vegas is still not smart rendering to Cineform. That sucks but I can live with it.

Finally, does it make sense to go ahead and buy the upgrade license even though I'm in the middle of a long project and don't intend to actually upgrade for quite some time?

Comments

john_dennis wrote on 5/27/2014, 6:29 PM

[Trivial software review follows:]

I have 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. I'm getting it all done in 12 at the moment. Been thinking about other things and not really spent much time with the 13 trial.

The thing that brings me the most joy in 12 (still there in 13) is the ability to ungroup video and audio by pressing the shift key. To me it's odd that little changes like that are the ones I remember first. At first I thought color match would be the killer app but it hasn't proven true for me.

One of my machines has 9-12 loaded and when I try 9, the first thing that annoys me is the lack of transport controls near the preview window. That's from someone who used 9 through most releases of 10.

Different people have different economic sense, but I might spend $150 for 13 just to have the buttons like Auto-Ripple nearer the timeline. (Yes, I know about CTRL+L). Or maybe windows that don't dock unless you want them to will be what seals the deal?

[End trivial software review:]

Maybe XAVC will be your new smart rendering intermediate?

videoITguy wrote on 5/27/2014, 7:24 PM

The ONLY way you can pull the trigger is when you do the following-

Evaluate whether features brought about in Version 13 Pro will be of value to you. SCS lists the new features...

Laurence wrote on 5/27/2014, 8:02 PM

I feel like V11 and V12 were a complete waste of time and money (at least for me). V11 never let me successfully complete even one single project, and V12 crashed multiple times every single day that I used it.

V13 is back to being the Vegas that I love. No it's not perfect, but none of the bugs stop me from being productive and for the most part, the bugs I see are the same ones that everyone else sees, and I am confident that they are issues that will be solved. I would really highly recommend buying and using V13. Avoiding the last couple of generations was understandable, but with this one Vegas is finally back on track.

24Peter wrote on 5/27/2014, 10:17 PM

FWIW I'm not a really big contributor here (more chiming in when I'm in trouble) and only recently getting back into video. I've been quite content with VP10 since it's release (went from 9e which I also liked to get better support for my Canon DSLR's).. But I gave VP13 a try and overall am quite happy. I have found one annoying bug with audio envelopes disappearing when I reopen a project, but the big + thing for me is HD mp4 renders on the same machine with the same source files are 25%-30% faster (at least until I use Titler Pro3. Speaking of Titler Pro3, a lot of potential there too.)

Try the VP13 trial and then decide for yourself. Also, if you have DVDA5.2 you can upgrade to DVDA6 for free and save $25 on the upgrade (I paid $124.95 + $99 for Titler Pro 3).

Laurence wrote on 5/27/2014, 11:14 PM

Keep in mind that some of the new camera formats don't work with older versions of Vegas. Ditto on some of the new plugins.

farss wrote on 5/27/2014, 11:27 PM

[I]"Finally, does it make sense to go ahead and buy the upgrade license even though I'm in the middle of a long project and don't intend to actually upgrade for quite some time?"[/I]

It'll never be cheaper that it is to buy it now.

Bob.

VidMus wrote on 5/28/2014, 2:05 AM

"It'll never be cheaper that it is to buy it now."

For VP13 AND the valuable extras you can get with it.

For some, that can be a huge savings!

i am erikd wrote on 5/28/2014, 2:30 AM

I just want to say that a single new feature makes the upgrade completely worth it for me.

Loudness meters!! Very happy to have this option...especially with the logging option.

Erik

NickHope wrote on 5/28/2014, 4:43 AM

It's decision time for me too. I have a licence for VP12 which I've never installed because I'm still a dinosaur on ancient Windows XP x64 (I'm running a hacked install of VP10 on it). I've been on the verge of an OS upgrade literally for years but have just kept putting it back, because I can get my work done with what I have. But now that I've just bought a 4K GH4, it really is soon time for me to get a new computer.

I did tell myself that I wouldn't pull the trigger on VP13 before the end-May deadline until Debugmode Frameserver supports it. That still hasn't happened, but it sounds like Satish is close.

Loudness meters is a plus, but I already have a nicely-functioning 3rd party plugin for that.

While the final version of VP12 may be OK for me, I think I'm still going to go for the VP13 upgrade. This is because my feeling is that VP13 is probably more or less as stable as VP12 already, and will very probably be a more stable platform, especially for 4k editing, when future bugfix builds come along.

A LOT of that confidence has come from Chris Dolan and other SCS developers' presence on the forum, and their enthusiasm to improve the product.

If I'm wrong then it's only $150. Not a lot really.

set wrote on 5/28/2014, 5:31 AM

For me...,
Since I don't have NewBlueFX Video Essential VI, that's what I targeted most for the 13th upgrade :)
The most important one is Selective Touch Up FX, especially for those who prefer seeing their skin 'smooth' :). At least I prepared for it when 4K era comes.... (http://instagram.com/p/nwPdIlqKkL/)

iPad connectivity is I like to know as well, only I need to upgrade the iOS first.

+1 also as Nick Hope stated above: SCS developers' presence here. Thanks guys!

Grazie wrote on 5/28/2014, 5:36 AM

Good to read Nick's professional approach to scoping the rational behind his decision.

Grazie

Len Kaufman wrote on 5/28/2014, 7:41 AM

I already have NewBlueFX Vid Essential VI. Does anyone know if the license to the copy that comes with the upgrade can be sold or swapped for VII?

jetdv wrote on 5/28/2014, 9:24 AM

Len, the answer is no. It cannot be sold or swapped.

A-Scott wrote on 5/28/2014, 4:58 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I went ahead and purchased the upgrade.

The iZotope add-on looks like it might be fun. Hopefully I'll have some time soon to take a look.

wwjd wrote on 5/29/2014, 9:21 AM

Additions I got that I didn't know I got when I bought the SUITE upgrade just last night:

- iZotope Mastering and Repair Suite (separate from Necter). I installed it, but have not found it yet. :D
- a 2nd set of SOUNDFX from the sound company. An email came with a link to a 2nd download of 1.2gig of sound FX. This is in addition to the initial 900 meg of sound effects you get to download.
- sound forge 11 or whatever seems to have SONY NOISE REDUCTION 2.0 built in to it (dont have to buy it seperately now I guess)
- some additional sound and video plugins built in that looked interested, but I haven't tested yet

Also, FEELS to me like they improved the preview playback. I was able to playback GH4 4K footage at BEST FULL full 24fps. VP12 chocked and stuttered a bit on it.

And, per tradition, VP13 crashed while scanning my VSTs :D
But seem to run fine after restarting. I hope to edit 4K all the time in 13, so we'll see how it goes.

Curt wrote on 5/29/2014, 12:18 PM

Dumb question:

Is the upgrade a full self-contained copy of the software, or an "upgrade" version that requires me to install an older version first?

VMP wrote on 5/29/2014, 12:31 PM

Are you referring to Vegas?

Update / upgrade / trial / download and packaged version are all the same install file. The full program.

Which can be downloaded here: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/updates

The only difference is the license and the purchase price.
If you have purchased the previous version of the program then the following version will be cheaper to purchase.

VMP

Curt wrote on 5/29/2014, 12:39 PM

That answers my question. Thanks!