Worth upgrading to Vegas Pro?

Dexcon wrote on 6/15/2021, 8:05 AM

... when you have good images and a good story, there is no need to use transitions/FX etc to attract the viewers attention.

Yes. Or maybe distract viewers attention. I think I mentioned in another post a while back, but a few years ago I was on a river cruise in France and at the last evening's get together, one of the other travellers presented to all his 3 to 4 minutes video of the voyage. If his NLE (probably not Vegas) had 20 transitions, he clearly felt the need to use all 20 transitions in that short video project - probably just for the sake of using all the transitions. The only motion sickness I experienced was not from the river cruise (which was super smooth), just from the video. To be fair, his photography was quite good.

IMO, there needs to be a logical reason to use an FX transition to help tell the story. The most obvious to me would be to indicate a change in time or day (but the clock wipe typical of the 1930/40s is probably a bit tired now).

Re VFX in everyday images, if the viewer consciously concludes that VFX have been added, then that/those VFX very likely haven't been done all that well. If the average viewer doesn't know that the image has been adjusted or enhanced, then that is a success.

As 3POINT notes, TV commercials and music videos may call for a different approach for creative design purposes.

studio-4 wrote on 6/16/2021, 1:13 AM

Key Vegas Pro 18 differences from prior version:

I learn something new every day! I just watched this guy's video below, "Differences between Vegas 17 and 18," a pretty good summary of the key differences between Vegas Pro 18 and its predecessor:

1. Vegas Pro 18's vectorscope and waveform monitors:

Excellent! I find WFMs in particular hugely useful both in the field and in post. I began in still photography and learned the Zone System and basic sensitometry in college. But as digital cinematography became all the rage with the introduction of the Ikegami EC35 (way back in 1982), I began to transfer those DlogE "exposure models" to the video IRE-scale. So as both a lighting director and camera operator, the waveform monitor became hugely important to my work. Long way of saying, I love the fact that Vegas 18 has a waveform monitor!

2. Vegas Pro 18 discards "Capture VIdeo" tool but keeps Vegas Capture:

Woah! This is huge . . . a huge disappointment! After dozens of hours trying to get my FireWire interface card to work with VMS 17 Platinum, I finally was successful—but only using Vegas' "Capture Video" tool! What am I to do? My VMS' Vegas Capture applet does not work—both of its screens are completely black. Also, didn't VEGASderek say that Vegas Capture doesn't work with AMD graphics adapters? (And by omission, I assume only works with NVIDIA boards?). Well, I'll be okay if I opt to buy that NVIDIA-equipped Asus laptop, but I'll be SOL with the new (used) AMD Sapphire card I just bought for my HP desktop machine. What will I do?

3. Layer-blending:

I've already said this is a must-have feature for me, so I am definitely down for Vegas Pro now, sooner than later. Right after I install Vegas Pro, I'll be buying Vegasaur's Particulas clip-media effects library. Very cool original debris-footage that's a billion times cheaper than ActionVFX' offerings.

I'm pretty much sold on upgrading to Vegas Pro 18 Edit very soon (possibly tomorrow!), but point number two has me extremely concerned. Especially since I still can't get WinDV to see my FireWire capture card either. If I could find another DV-capture app that worked, this wouldn't be an issue—but there are none! (And Blackmagic's Media Express app doesn't see it either.) Can anyone shed some light regarding the Capture Video-delete?

vkmast wrote on 6/16/2021, 4:45 AM

@studio-4 wrote

Vegas Pro 18 discards "Capture VIdeo" tool but keeps Vegas Capture

Please read the thread https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/capture-video-disappeared-on-vegas-18--126476/

studio-4 wrote on 6/16/2021, 6:36 PM

@studio-4 wrote

Vegas Pro 18 discards "Capture VIdeo" tool but keeps Vegas Capture

Please read the thread https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/capture-video-disappeared-on-vegas-18--126476/

So it is still there! Thanks again, VK! Whew! I am so relieved. For whatever reasons, this FireWire card has been very challenging to get it recognized by anything. I was hoping Blackmagic's Media Express app would see it so I would have a unified, do-it-all ingest-app, but unfortunately it doesn't. But having DV-ingest right there in Vegas' "Capture VIdeo" tool makes it even more convenient. Very excited to move to Vegas Pro 18 Edit now!

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/17/2021, 9:10 AM

@studio-4 wrote

Very excited to move to Vegas Pro 18 Edit now!

Oh heck. Does this mean I (we) will be losing you on the Vegas Movie studio side of the forum?

studio-4 wrote on 6/17/2021, 11:05 AM

Haha! Probably not until June 24th when Magix rotates the bundles. Will probably wait until then to upgrade to Pro18 Edit. Would prefer to upgrade to the suite to get all the bundled effects, but there doesn't seem to be any special offers for it, only the regular $299 upgrade price.

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/17/2021, 1:15 PM

studio-4

You obtained VMS just after me. I have received an number of emails making the £74 offer

Gist of the email without photos is:-

*********************************************************************************************

VEGAS PRO 18 EDIT

75% OFF NOW!

ONLY £74.00

Available until June 23, 2021

Our best upgrade offer ever

This has never been done before – get VEGAS Pro 18 Edit for only £74.00! Not only will you save £225, you will feel right at home with VEGAS Pro. Hit the ground running on your projects you're editing with Movie Studio and take them to the next level cinematically with the latest features in VEGAS Pro.

£74.00
regularly £299.00

Upgrade now

****************************************************************************

Surely you have the same? If not why not? Is edit not the same as Pro?

Regards

Ross

vkmast wrote on 6/17/2021, 1:28 PM

Is edit not the same as Pro?

VEGAS Pro software comparison

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/17/2021, 1:52 PM

vkmast

Thank you

By looking at the comparisons, to me it looks as if it Pro and Edit are the same. Only the suite has the facility of add-ons

ActionVFX Action Pack, Boris FX Continuum Film Style Unit (v2020.5), Boris FX Continuum Image Restoration Unit (v2020.5), Boris FX Continuum Particles Unit (v2020.5), NewBlue Transitions 5 Ultimate, UNVEIL Zynaptiq VEGAS Edition, VEGAS Hub, 100 GB storage on Microsoft Azure Cloud, Multichannel audio editing, SOUND FORGE Pro 14SOUND FORGE Pro 365SOUND FORGE Pro 14

None of which are native to Vegas Pro. Most of which I have in some form from my purchase of Vegas Movie Studio.

Heck, 1 week left. .

Ross

vkmast wrote on 6/17/2021, 1:56 PM

The core VEGAS Pro is the same in all versions.

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/17/2021, 2:26 PM

vkmast

I know from your signature that you don't work for Magix. But you should. Making it so hard to last the week out.

Ross

studio-4 wrote on 6/17/2021, 7:13 PM

@Ross-Jackson

Yes, Ross, I get the same $99 upgrade offers to Pro18 Edit as you. It's the suite which gives you the pile of extra FX. The normal price for the suite is $399. The normal upgrade price for the suite is $299. Still bit steep, so I was hoping Magix would email a similar offer for the full suite, but I guess they have to make their money somewhere (also, I already own the Platinum Suite).

So it's between the $99 Pro Edit and the $299 Pro Suite. If a cool bundle comes up after the 23rd, I may just go for the $99 Edit. Note that I'm no longer interested in Vegas Post Suite since I don't really need a complex After Effects-like app like Vegas Effects (a specialized 2D/3D-animation program, not to be confused with normal plug-in effects). Nor would I need Vegas Image since I'm pretty comfortable with Pixelmator for macOS (though it is on a different system altogether).

Also, keep in mind that Magix releases a new version every August according to others here. So there may be a small window where when you buy Pro 18, you'll have a free upgrade-path to Pro 19. It'll cost more, but that may be worth the wait to maximize your Vegas-dollar.

studio-4 wrote on 6/17/2021, 7:14 PM

vkmast

I know from your signature that you don't work for Magix. But you should. Making it so hard to last the week out.

Ross

Agreed! VK has saved my bacon a number of times here already—very helpful and informed!

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/18/2021, 4:08 AM

studio-4

Gosh, you really do look into what you need. As a complete beginner of 1 month, I have no knowledge or understanding of what you talking about when you mention effects and add-ons. However, you and others, have made things so helpful for me. It seems a shame not to take advantage of the offer. Notice with my wording that I'm getting closer? 5 days left for me before the offer runs out. Aaaaagh!.

3POINT wrote on 6/18/2021, 1:39 PM

@Ross-Jackson

As a complete beginner of 1 month, I have no knowledge or understanding of what you talking about when you mention effects and add-ons. However, you and others, have made things so helpful for me. It seems a shame not to take advantage of the offer. Notice with my wording that I'm getting closer? 5 days left for me before the offer runs out. Aaaaagh!.

What kind of video productions are you intend to make? What makes you think that after 1 month of editing experience that you need Vegaspro instead of VMS? Do not stare at values of add-on bundles you probably never will need or use. Just put your time and energy in learning all possibilities and features VMS offers, which will probably already take a long time, even when using VMS daily. When there comes a day that you might think that VMS cannot do what you want to create, it's maybe time to look at Vegaspro. At that time there will be also good offers to upgrade and Vegaspro will probably be already at version 20 or 21.

Just a well meant tip from a long time VMS and Vegaspro User. 👍

ian-b wrote on 6/18/2021, 2:12 PM

I've used Vegas Pro since about version 8, just completed a project on version 17, and decided to give 18 a whirl at its new price. I can see a few bells and whistles, so decided to do a quick check. I rendered my latest project identically in 17 and 18 on the same machine.

Result? Vegas Pro 17 took 30mins 50 sec; Vegas Pro 18 took 33 mins.

Why do I continue to waste my money.....?

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/18/2021, 5:24 PM

3POINT. ian-b

Taking note of what you have both said. After 1 month, I think you are right. Been thinking about my process all evening. My bride has asked me a few direct questions. Will I use the extras of Vegas Pro 18, and if so, when? I can't see any difference between VMS and Vegas Pro 18. UI looks and feels the same. The tutorials I have match either. It took 10 month of savings to get the new computer, so can I really justify another 3 month expenditure?. Head and heart comes to mind.

Really enjoying the learning of VMS. Beginning to understand a little.

Thanks again

Ross

3POINT wrote on 6/18/2021, 11:13 PM

And not to forget, with VegasPro you cannot make better videos than with VMS. The picturequality of the final video is exactly the same. They use the same titler, rendertemplates, filters and transitions. VegasPro has only some additional codecs, filters, options, the possibility to streamline the workflow by scripting and makes more efficient use of recent GPU hardware. On the other hand VMS has/had some features that VegasPro doesn't/didn't have like the render wizard and a slideshow creator.

Also when you decide to upgrade to VegasPro in future, you can always open and continue your VMS projects in VegasPro. (but not reversed)

studio-4 wrote on 6/19/2021, 12:19 AM

@Ross-Jackson

Well, permit me to make the counter-argument. I think new effects and filters are fun! The Vegas "looks" are great. All the pre-graded looks are fun to experiment for those who don't wish to grade their own footage (like me). And with Pro 18 Suite you get a lot more of those looks with the included BorisFx Film Style Unit (and tons more looks in the pricey Cinematographers' Toolkit, included in the full version of BorisFX Continuum,).

If your goal is to have fun post-processing your footage, the more add-ons the better. Now I'm not condoning those kinds of videos which use every cheesy transition in the box, I'm just saying that the plug-ins offer a lot of creative opportunities for those wanting to experiment. If you've viewed any of my sample edits, you see that my stuff is kind of effects-heavy for effects' sake. I'm having a blast with my small collection of bundled effects!

Also two big other reasons for upgrading to just Pro 18 (not the Suite) is the layer-blending capability, which can lead to some really interesting palettes of color and form. For more abstract, artsy stuff, the BorisFX and NewBlue plug-ins can add a lot interesting new elements to your videos. Oh, and that other cool thing that Vegas Pro does (I forgot what that was at the moment).

Also, I wouldn't be too concerned about the offer-deadline. It's likely they'll either extend the offer or create some new discount-bundles of some kind. Or if you're the patient type, wait for that "upgrade to 18, get 19 for free" window sometime in perhaps July (though, there's no guarantee they'll actually make such an offer).

@3POINT

Of course, as you point out, you don't need any of this stuff to cut a traditional narrative or documentary film—you have everything (and more) you need to edit an entire feature film or long-form documentary in just Vegas Movie Studio 17 Platinum. And in fact, many of the effects have very limited-uses, and as I mentioned, their over-use can quickly become a tiresome trope. But for less conventional genres (e.g., ambient, abstract, musically-reactive, or art-piece approaches), I think they're great!

3POINT wrote on 6/19/2021, 1:34 AM

@studio-4 That's why my first question to @Ross-Jackson was: What kind of video productions are you intend to make?

I understood that @Ross-Jackson is a retired beginning filmmaker, not having a big wallet (for buying tons of plugins). He probably will never make any commercial, music video clip or other weird videos, like you do. Probably he will just make videos of his vacations, trips, local events or from his grand-kids. For this purpose VMS offers all he needs.

3POINT wrote on 6/19/2021, 1:43 AM

I've used Vegas Pro since about version 8, just completed a project on version 17, and decided to give 18 a whirl at its new price. I can see a few bells and whistles, so decided to do a quick check. I rendered my latest project identically in 17 and 18 on the same machine.

Result? Vegas Pro 17 took 30mins 50 sec; Vegas Pro 18 took 33 mins.

Why do I continue to waste my money.....?

Probably you're doing something wrong (setting wrong) or your hardware doesn't meet the requirements.

The same small testproject with different 2k, 4k footage (AVC and HEVC coded) rendered to 2k with Magix AVC NVENC on my PC with VMS17 tooks 0:56 with VP17 1:03 and with VP18 0:35.

Ross-Jackson wrote on 6/19/2021, 5:06 AM

Thanks folks for all the interest. All views give information that is good for me and others. Moving onward and upward is the name of my game. Slowly but with fun. Can't fault it

studio-4

Looking forward to being able to use the add-ons. Work in progress

Regards

Ross