I didn't realize that the next Vegas is going to be 64 bit compatible. What do I need to do to get 64 bit compatible? Will my hardware have to change and will some of my software that is based on 32 bit not work?

Main Software that I use:
Adobe Photoshop CS2 (this includes bridge, illustrator, and flash)
Sony Vegas Movie Premium (obviously this would be replaced)
Internet Explorer
Nero 6 DVD writter software

Hardware:
GA-N680SLI-DQ6(rev. 1.0) Gigabyte motherboard
E6600 Dual Core CPU
8800 GTX 750MB Graphic card
Samsung Sata 20X DVD/CD writer
Cannon 960i printer
DCR-SR100 30 gb Hardrive Camcorder from Sony

You would need to upgrade your OS and I would recommend adding more RAM as well. 64bit OS can take advantage of more than 3GB of RAM as compared to a 32bit OS. I run XP 64bit with 4GB of RAM but apps are still 32bit so it is a compromise - but I never receive out of memory error messages either.

Cliff Etzel
bluprojekt

IMO, you should wait until 8 is about to come out and then get a clearance price on 7. You can always upgrade later. If I recall correctly, typical upgrade price is $199.

Not to detract from Vegas but if your only going to do home video, 7 will be more than enough. I too am a 'hobbyist' and, at this point in time, I don't see a need to upgrade to 8. YMMV.

Also, like others have said here many times, Vegas is just a tool in the toolbox. I can live with an older screwdriver...

For your system, bumping up just a GB of ram would help.

Last time in going from V6 to V7, they gave us all a window to purchase the upgrade for $149 I believe. If you buy V7 now, you're going to pay full price AND the upgrade price for V8 if it's this far off from the upgrade. I'm not sure if they give a deal like if you've bought the prior version within several months prior you'll get a free upgrade.

Cliff, If I buy Vista 64 when Vegas 8 comes out, can I run 32 bit software on a 64 bit OS?

"If I buy Vista 64 when Vegas 8 comes out, can I run 32 bit software on a 64 bit OS?"
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Yes... most if not all 32 bit software will work on a 64 bit OS. I have Vista 64 and have not had problems with any of my 32 bit stuff.

Fighting-

What's been talked around so far is whether you currently have the 64-bit version of Vista or the 32-bit version. If you have the 32-bit, then you'll either have to upgrade (not sure how that works) to 64-bit, or you won't be able to use the new version of Vegas.

About the only thing that's been announced about the next version of Vegas is that it will be 64-bit. None of the other improvements have been mentioned. Also not mentioned is if the next version will be ONLY 64-bit, or if they'll release a 32-bit version at the same time.

Since no other improvements for the next Vegas (it doesn't even have a name yet) have been announced, you'll have to make a personal decision on 1) how much money you have to throw around by buying 7 now and upgrading for (probably) $150 later, 2) how much you feel you need the full Vegas now vs. making due with Studio until December, 3) if your system isn't already 64-bit, whether you'll willing to make it so, and 4) how much you think you'll really want the new version if you commit to V7 now.

It'd be nice to have more info to go on, but Sony's always been pretty mum until they're ready to drop it on you. I suppose that's to keep the competition from knowing what you're working on and incorporating it into their product to nullify the advantage.

Sounds like the best thing for me to do is wait for Vegas 8 and limit the amount of video editing I do with Sony Vegas Movie Studio version 7.0 until then.

As for perparing for 64 bit Vista, do I have to upgrade my processor to be 64 bit to see any performance gains? If so, any recommendations on a new intel CPU?

"It'd be nice to have more info to go on, but Sony's always been pretty mum until they're ready to drop it on you. I suppose that's to keep the competition from knowing what you're working on and incorporating it into their product to nullify the advantage."

Judging by the latest releases from all NLE companies, one could say Sony hasnt been working on much. Furthermore, IMO the days secret features is moot especially since at some point all NLEs borrow from each other's feature sets. Sony should be more forthcoming about upcoming features so that people who may be on the fence have more information to arm themselves. Example that Adobe just put out Encore CS3 that can BD burning. Now Customer A might be an avid (no pun intended) Vegas fan and wish to stay with Vegas but is considering the acquisition of CS3 for this feature. But Cust A found out that Sony will be offering with its next version due in December. Then Cust A has a choice to either wait for V8 or move to a product that helps him now. Instead, Sony prefers its customers wait until the release date to see what features made it and in the mean time, all the time spent waiting on the product becomes a waste.

Yeah I get that keep close wraps on major features to keep competition at bay. Other than XDCam support, what was the last MAJOR feature that Vegas had that other NLE's didnt offer or close to offering?

Under the SF banner, the product grew leaps and bounds. It was innovative and creative. Under Sony, it has grown just a tad compared to previous versions. Is it possible that we have started to hit the ceiling with features that we have a hard time coming up with new ones? If so, then where is the benefit to anyone to withhold upcoming features?

Avid is very forthcoming about upcoming features. Even though your software may not do something specific today or next month, at least you can be assured that it is being developed and worked on. This where Sony, not SF, has always suffered and most probably continue the trend.

Just a curious question, actually two ..

Has there been any official mention that the next version of Vegas will be 64 bit? I don't count anything that users say in here as official, so don't bother quoting user posts.

Has there been ANY indication at all that, if the next version is 64 bit, it will be 64 bit only or will there be 64 bit and 32 bit versions available?

I've seen lots of posts lately that seem to indicate that various users think that the primary reason for the next version of Vegas is that it will be 64 bit. I just don't see anything to back up that idea. I don't see anything against it either. I'm just wondering where these folks have gotten that idea.

Kelly:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/news/ShowRelease.asp?ReleaseID=660&CatID=0

64 bit by end of 2007 was announced at NAB, but no details on whether that will be a separate, high end version of Vegas, or simply the next version, or whether we'll still have 32-bit + 64-bit.

Tim L

Edit: a related thread from that time: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=522379

Thanks Tim!

"If you have the 32-bit, then you'll either have to upgrade (not sure how that works) to 64-bit, or you won't be able to use the new version of Vegas."
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You can't "upgrade" from a 32 to a 64 system. You have to buy the full 64 bit version.

p@t,

I think one major thing to realize is that more or less, the only way to improve on an existing version is to flat out move to native 64bit. And SONY has stated they will be 64bit before the end of the year. Form what I can tell, neither of the AAA apps plan on doing that for sometime. I don't know about you, but having a native 64bit NLE is going to do wonders with render times. Having access to more than 2GB of RAM is going allow dynamic RAM previews to be more useful. Even though I run XP 64bit with 4GB of RAM, I still only have access to half that amount at maximum with the current version of Vegas.

When I read Mike Jone's take on the forward thinking aspect of Vegas versus the AAA competition, I dumped my Adobe Production Suite. The case he presented made sense. Why work in a backward thinking work flow when Vegas does what PPro and Audition does - without ever leaving the application. My take on Bridge is that it's still a kludge and the new features of CS3 are minor - most of the development costs were put into porting back to the MAC. Vegas is more resource efficient than Adobe's products. For my specific needs, Vegas finally made sense. I no longer have to do 5 steps in PPro that takes only 2 steps in Vegas.

Vegas is a forward thinking application - it's more than just an NLE when you get right down to it. And it's integration seems pretty straight forward when used in conjunction with Sound Forge and Cinescore. Sure - you don't get blu-ray dvd authoring or direct Flash video (the former I bet will be addressed in the next release, the latter I use Brightcove as my Flash video publishing tool).

SONY's apps are lean, Adobe's apps are bloated.

PPro uses 3-5 times as much system memory as Vegas does when rendering out identical projects (I have done the testing myself and the results astounded me).

Each company provides tools to get the same thing done - IMO, SONY apps do it more efficiently.

Cliff Etzel
bluprojekt

Cliff,

I understand what you are saying. Heres what I had happen this week. I was contracted locally to do a video for a company and for their web site. Everything was shot and as I began to edit in PP CS3, I sent my project to AE to composite. Sent off a clip notes to the client which normally would have had to be rendered to a temp dvd or me taking my equipment to show him in person. He came back with a ton of changes they wanted to make with colors and subjects. Normally at least a 2-3 day delay in Vegas. Simple clip replacement and adjustments made in AE linked back to PP CS3. Done. Provided client with DVD and Flash DVD along with flash content for their site. The kicker, $500 bonus for the extra work that took me 1 hour as opposed to 72 hours. Dynamic link made that all possible. Without it, I never would have hit my deadline.

I dont think anyone is saying that Vegas isnt a fine NLE. It definitely is. It just play well with others including Sony apps. There is no integration to increase work flow and benefits. Sure 64bit is the future but unless Sony comes up with some new features or licenses a way to play with competitor's apps, render times are nothing. faster processors solve render times.

I remember when Sony took over SF, we all wondered what would happen. We wondered if Sony would dump us on the back burner or would they continue to be the leader in innovation. Sony started out strong but then seemed to have fizzled which is reflected in the lower upgrade price from 6 to 7.

Trust me when I say I wanted Sony to be more successful than Adobe. I wanted Sony to license/acquire SM and DVRack long before Adobe even considered it. Ultra as well. But Sony is just fine being a consumer solution. Im not ok with that. What exactly has Cinescore provided since it was released? It wasnt until recently that announcements of new scores will be released but how long has that been?

From a marketing stand point, Sony fails each and every time. They choose to keep mum about what they are offering until release day. That does nothing to get anticipation going. Look what Adobe did. They announced 3-4 months ahead of time and had live working demos for the world to consume and salivate over until it shipped. Adobe was innovative this time around. From capture to edit to composite to authoring to web to design. As much as I love Vegas, to say Vegas can do everything that Adobe's suite offers is a bit blind and naive. I wish it could. It would have saved me $1699.

Nonetheless, Sony could have taken th video from NAB and posted allowing others to begin to anticipate and salivate. Dont tell me in some canned press release why it will be beneficial. Show me some real world working examples. Entice me with the ever evading 10 bit color space. Throw in a native multicam feature. Develop something similar to Motion or Color. But I dont see that happening. I see it as Sony acquired and absorbed Sonic Foundry and the vision they had. SF had to be innovative and cutting edge. They couldnt afford not to. They needed every sale they got to stay afloat. Once Sony acquired it, the same vision wasnt as apparent. If SF lost 10 sales it would have hurt the company more than if Sony had lost 100 sales. That says current users are expendable.

64 bit is the future and other NLEs will have to move that way but 64bit Vista is only good if you have driver support which is improving but still very lackluster. But Sony has any hopes to increase any market share or get users to move to their 64bit app, features need to start being leaked in a controlled way otherwise for the next 6-8 months, all users will hear is what they can do with Adobe apps.

"64 bit is the future and other NLEs will have to move that way but 64bit Vista is only good if you have driver support which is improving but still very lackluster"
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I'm not having ANY driver problems at all!

I went to a lot of trouble to set up a dual boot XP/VISTA64 because I figured I would be for the most part still using xp as the workhorse.

I think in the last month I have booted XP maybe 3 times... and that was just to run liquid which refuses to run under vista.

Vista64 has become the workhorse... driver issues were and are almost non existent. I think Sony is right on time with Vegas64

"I'm not having ANY driver problems at all!"

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Not everyone is as lucky thus far. It will get better as time goes on and perhaps when Vegas 8 ships, maybe not a problem at all. Who knows. Sony will still have to offer up more than 64 bit to justify an upgrade.

Fightin',

Looks like the "E6600" is a Core 2 Duo, which is already 64-bit, so no worries there. The question then becomes do you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista, and I haven't a clue how to figure that out (I'm an XP user).

When I bought my XP professional, I got a free version of Vista business and microsoft only shipped me the 32 bit version. Microsofts website says if you bought the retail version of Vista that they will send you the 64 bit version for a small fee. I tried to apply for this on their website but it doesn't find my license key.

They're customer service is open on Monday so I'm going to call and find out if I still qualify for the 64 bit and if not how much will the upgrade be. If it's less than 200 and I'll see a big performance boost in Vegas, then I'll do it.

The only thing that scares me is on tom's hardware website a comparison was done between 32bit and 64 bit versions of Vista. The outcome was there was not a big performance increase.

This may have been becuase the software that was being bench marked was all 32 bit (don't know). As long as I can upgrage to 64 bit fairly cheap, I'll give it a try since I dual boot with XP and Vista for compatibility reasons.