is a
Non-Linear Editing System produced by
Sony Creative Software . Currently, it runs on
Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003. Vegas 7.0 also runs on Vista but is not yet officially supported. As of Vegas Pro 8.0, Windows Vista is now fully supported. In April 2007, Sony along with AMD jointly demonstrated a soon to be released 64bit version of Vegas running on 64bit Vista. Originally developed as an
Audio Editor , it developed quickly into a complete NLE for video and audio from version 2.0. Vegas now features
Realtime multitrack video and audio editing on unlimited tracks, resolution independent video sequencing, complex effects and compositing tools, 24-bit/192 kHz audio support,
VST and
DirectX plug-in effect support, and
Dolby Digital surround sound mixing.
Vegas comes in a variety of price points based on the bundled programs and extensibility of features. The consumer level ''Vegas Movie Studio'' version (formerly titled ''VideoFactory'' and ''Screenblast'') shares the same interface and underlying
Code Base as the professional Vegas version, but does not include professional features like
24p editing and advanced compositing tools. Also available is ''Vegas + DVD'', which bundles the
DVD authoring software ''DVD Architect'', as well as ''Boris FX LTD'' and ''Magic Bullet Movie Looks HD''. With the release of Vegas Pro 8.0, DVD Architect Pro 4.5 is now included.
Vegas has the ability to edit video and audio on unlimited tracks, the only limit is the speed of the host computer. It also supports any or
CRT monitor via
Component Video or
DVI connections.
Vegas is the only
Non-linear Editing System (NLE) which allows project/timeline settings (frame rate, aspect ratio, etc.) to be changed at any time during editing.
In addition, Vegas also has powerful color correction tools, such as a three-wheel color corrector as well as a secondary color corrector to make changes to an isolated element in an image. A user can monitor these changes on accurate
Vectorscope ,
Waveform ,
Histogram , and
Parade Video scopes. Modified video can be compared against the source via Vegas' split screen previewing. As of version 6.0, Vegas can take advantage of
Dual-core and
Dual Processor systems to render projects.
In areas of compositing and motion graphics Vegas provides a substantially broader tool set than most NLE systems featuring 3D track motion compositing with control over
Z-depth , and spatial arrangement of visual planes including plane intersection. A full range of compositing modes accessed as track/layer controls makes Vegas' use of compositing modes very similar to
After Effects and
Photoshop which is unlike most NLE systems that usually apply such modes as clip specific effects. Vegas also has keyframeable
Bézier masking tools with unlimited points. Masks can be feathered and blended, as well as set to certain opacity levels for each layer. The program can also do real-time event reversing and velocity envelopes for manipulating frame-rate and clip speed playback over time using bezier point manipulations. All effects, processes and video transitions--such as crossfades and wipes--are keyframable in Vegas with users having full control over the duration, motion and acceleration of effects and transitions.
Much of the visual effects processing in Vegas follows a very audio-like paradigm. Effects can be applied at any stage of the visual signal flow - event level, track level and output level effects, much like reverb, delay and flange audio effects are applied in a digital audio system, like
Pro Tools ,
Cubase or
Sonar . Master output effects can also be controlled and manipulated over time by the use of Master Bus track automation envelopes.
Vegas is arguably the most format friendly NLE on the market reading and writing a very wide array of file formats and codecs - avi, mpeg 1/2/4, mp4, quicktime mov & QT, tiff, psd, targa, bmp, jpeg, png, mp3, wma, wav, aiff, rm, ogg, ac3, wav64 and pca. It can support all major codecs employing avi wrappers including divx, xvid and various YUV codecs with the proper directshow codecs installed. Vegas is also able to utilise all major codec, in its current form, does not upsample chroma and so may appear (e.g. in a rendered MPEG-2 sequence) to be inferior to Microsoft's DV codec which is selectable as an option in "Preferences". Vegas will also accept nearly any format on any timeline and will not have to re-render the footage to fit the timeline, unlike many other NLEs.
In addition, Vegas has arguably the best integration with 24p DV, making it a favorite choice among those who shoot in that format. It is also one of the few NLEs which can convert other formats to 24p (or any format to any other format) without any kind of a plugin or third-party application support. Vegas is the only pro NLE that allows for multiple instances of the application to be opened simultaneously. Clips and sequences can be copied and pasted between instances of Vegas with ease. Moreover, one instance can be rendering a sequence in the background while the user continues to edit in a different instance of Vegas in the foreground.
Vegas has full resolution 24-bit/192 kHz audio support, with over 30 customizable real-time audio effects included with the application. All audio effects can be controlled via envelopes for each parameter. Effects include Track EQ, Reverb, Chorus, Delay, Noise Gate, and Flange/Wah/Phase. Audio effects for
5.1 projects are also included with the program, including EQ, Dither, and Wave Hammer™ Surround compression tools. Users can expand the program via its
VST and
DirectX plugin support. As of version 6.0, Vegas also supports professional-quality low latency
ASIO drivers, as well as broadcast wave format.
The software provides many tools for 5.1 surround mixes, including keyframeable surround panning and effects for tracks and busses. Surround projects can be rendered with the included
Dolby -certified
AC-3 encoder, included with the Vegas+DVD package. Film-style surround panning mode supports panning between speakers using a constant power model, which is optimized for theater-style speaker placement.
The program includes 19 timestretch modes that allows users to choose the resampling method that best fits the audio. Users can also change the pitch of any event in a project. Pitch, tempo and stretch amount information is displayed in timeline events. New to version 6.0 is tape-style audio scrubbing, which mimics the effect of dragging an analog tape past the playhead.
If users don't have 5.1 speakers, Vegas offers real-time downmixing of audio from 5.1 surround to stereo. Users can also downmix from stereo to mono. Complicated mixes can be obtained with bus-to-bus routing, as well as with bus envelopes to set track effect parameters, volume, and panning for a Vegas project.
Vegas has the ability to run user created scripts. Microsoft .NET is required for scripting functionality. Scripts can be written in Visual Basic or Javascript and can be built to control, manipulate or automate almost any aspect of Vegas. The online community of Vegas users has produced a vast array of such scripts which can be downloaded and run without any scripting knowledge.
Vegas provides full functionality for nested timelines allowing individual project files to be placed within each other and utilised as singular clips without pre-rendering on the timeline.
Vegas has native support for network rendering, allowing up to 2 'render nodes' per license to be installed on extra machines. This allows long renders to be shared across 3 total computers as long as the project is on a networked folder. When network rendering, the file is broken up into smaller pieces in which the three computers render separately, then the 'stitch host' pieces them back together to form the fully rendered file.
Released on September 10, 2007, the Vegas Pro collection combines Vegas Pro 8.0, DVD Architect Pro 4.5, and Dolby® Digital AC-3 encoding software to offer an integrated environment for all phases of professional video, audio, DVD, and broadcast production. These tools let you edit and process DV, AVCHD, HDV, SD/HD-SDI, and all XDCAM™ formats in real time, fine-tune audio with precision, and author surround sound, dual-layer DVDs.
- Edit SD or HD video with drag-and-drop functionality, mouse and keyboard trimming, and ripple editing. Features include ProType Titling technology, multicamera editing tools, 32-bit floating point video processing, customizable window layouts, color-coded snapping, improved HDV/SDI/XDCAM support, Cinescore plug-in support, A/V synchronization detection and repair, and auto-frame quantization.
- The Vegas Pro 8.0 interface provides a fully customizable workspace for accomplishing a wide range of production requirements. Dock multiple windows across multiple monitors, and save your layouts to fit specific editing tasks; nest Vegas projects within the timeline, customize and save keyboard commands, and use application scripting to automate repetitive tasks. System-wide media management produces maximum efficiency. Network rendering saves time by using multiple computers and networked drive arrays to render complex projects. Vegas Pro software also supports 24p, HD and HDV editing.
- Use unlimited tracks, 24-bit/192 kHz audio, punch-in recording, 5.1 surround mixing, effects automation, and time compress/expand. Apply customizable, real-time audio effects like EQ, Reverb, Delay, and more. Expand your audio processing and mixing options with supported third-party DirectX® and VST audio plug-ins. Use the Mixing Console for precise audio control.
- Burn Blu-ray discs directly from the timeline for high-definition delivery. Create standard DVDs with multiple video angles, subtitles, multiple languages, and running commentary. Apply Brightness and Contrast, Auto Levels, Crop, and Anti-Flicker filters. Set CSS and Macrovision® copy-protection flags for masters. DVD Architect Pro 4.5 software supports the latest devices, including dual-layer DVD burners.
- Vegas Pro 8.0 software has a comprehensive help system, as well as detailed interactive tutorials that provide walk-through demonstrations of common features and functionality. These tutorials provide an easy step-by-step method of learning the product and the workflow necessary to complete most common tasks.
DVD Architect Pro software for professional DVD authoring is known for its clean, drag-and-drop interface and powerful layout and authoring tools make it easy to develop dynamic menu-based DVDs, movies, picture slideshows, and music compilations. DVD Architect Pro 4.5 software works seamlessly within the Vegas Pro 8.0 environment.
- Author menu-based and single-title DVDs using backgrounds, motion menus, buttons, text, and effects. Set content to loop, hold, or timeout at the end of a scene. Import layered Photoshop (PSD) files for use as backgrounds, buttons, masks, and graphics.
- With Vegas Pro 8.0 software you can burn a Blu-ray Disc directly from the timeline. Blu-ray Disc burning allows you to create a disc similar to a "single movie" DVD—the movie has no titles, menus, or buttons. Blu-ray Disc burning in Vegas Pro 8.0 software provides an alternate distribution option for high-definition content, rather than traditional file-based hard disk or streaming media formats.
- You can also use the Blu-ray Disc burning feature to create high-definition discs that can playback on a set-top Blu-ray Disc player or on a Sony PS3 gaming system.
- DVD Architect 4.5 software supports the ability to create and run scripts in final DVD design. With scripting you can build robust interactivity into your DVD projects.
- Add keyframes to the DVD Architect Pro timeline to animate objects such as buttons and graphics. You can also use keyframes to control pan/crop attributes over time.
- If you have Sony Cinescore software installed, you can use it within DVD Architect Pro 4.5 software to generate music for menus, slideshows, and media without leaving the DVD Architect Pro environment.
- Several different marker types give you complete control over: Scene selection, Navigation, Button-over-video placement.
- Add a button "hot-spot" over video and control its placement, duration, and link. This creates an interactive experience for the end user, allowing them to navigate to alternate media related to specific scene in your DVD.
- With DVD Architect Pro 4.5 software you can set project properties to enable various parental control settings. These settings restrict the DVD's playback to match parental control levels set in the users DVD player, as set by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA): G—General audience, PG—Parental Guidance, PG-13—parents strongly cautioned—some material may be inappropriate for under 13, R—Restricted. No child under 17 should watch without parent present, NC-17—no one 17 or under should watch this content.
- Burn a functioning DVD from a previously mastered project without going through an extra prepare step.
- DVD Architect Pro4.5 software now supports burning to DVD-R DL so you can author much longer projects on these double capacity discs.
- Automatically add pans and zooms to picture compilation slideshows.
- Button Overlap Indicator warns when buttons are overlapping.
- Preview workspace at greater than 100% for precise editing when working with detailed graphics.
- Add a graphic element in subtitle track. Gain complete control over look of subtitle, and even embed watermarks.
- Full video backgrounds support.
- Typical aspect ratio support (4:3, 16:9).
- Interlaced and Progressive Scan support.
- Copy protection and region lock support.
Vegas was originally developed by
Sonic Foundry based in Madison Wisconsin USA as an audio editing tool called "Sound Forge" (which Sony also sells). From version 4.0 Vegas has been developed under Sony after the corporation bought a portion of Sonic Foundry.
Vegas was the first non-linear editor to offer external preview without any form of acceleration hardware. Native
24p editing was first made possible in Vegas; more than a year in advance of the competition. It was also the first NLE with serious audio tools, such as integrated 5.1 surround mixing, 24-bit/192 kHz audio support, and ASIO driver support. Vegas has been used by engineers and artists as diverse as the
5.1 Surround mix for
Yes , as well as recordings by
Shania Twain ,
Rod Stewart , and
Quiet Riot and music video/live recordings for Sheryl Crow. Vegas is also widely popular for documentary video production and mobile news reporting because of its high level of efficiency requiring no hardware and able to run on very moderately powered computer systems.
Vegas started life as an audio-only tool with particular focus on rescaling and resampling audio, making it arguably a leader in its category with substantially more sophisticated audio tools than any other NLE.
Vegas was among the first NLEs to embrace HDV support both as native TS files and through lossless transcoding tools such as Cineform Connect HD.
Vegas has won awards for major broadcasters using it, including
Nightline w/Ted Koppel
Several film festival winners have used Vegas to cut their features. [http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=34085
Vegas 7.0 was released on September 12th, 2006.
Vegas 7.0e includes support for
AVCHD files.
Vegas Pro 8.0 was released on September 10th, 2007.
Vegas is still a relatively new NLE by comparison to the long standing apps of
Adobe Premiere Pro ,
Avid and to a lesser extent,
Final Cut Pro . Originally developed by small independent software developer, Sonic Foundry, and only relatively recently taken over by Sony, Vegas has not had the massive marketing and promotion budgets of its competition so doesn't hold the same market recognition or large scale user base. However Vegas's profile and popularity have grown steadily and substantially in recent years and its community of users is well known as very proactive in online discussions and forums.
How Sony chooses to develop Vegas into the future will depend in some part on its intentions for their high-end hardware-based system
XPRI which has struggled to find a substantial foothold in the TV broadcast market it was intended to penetrate. The fact that Vegas now supports IMF XDCAM files for both SD and HD might indicate that Sony plans to continue to develop Vegas as a potential replacement or partner to XPRI.
With every release, Sony continues to improve and with the recent release of Vegas Pro 8.0, much of the prior criticism is no longer relevant. Vegas' greatest perceived weakness in the face of its main competitors,
Avid and
Final Cut Pro , is in some areas. The lack of hardware support was initially a problem, but Vegas now enjoys compatibility with Blackmagic Design
DeckLink ,
Multibridge and AJA SDI interfaces. Vegas previously only functioned in 8bit colour space with no support for 10bit. However, with the release of Vegas Pro 8.0, 32bit floating point video processing is now available, surpassing traditional 8bit and 10bit support. Text titling tools in Vegas are also regarded as weak by comparison to Premiere Pro's title engine (inherited from Photoshop). Sony finally included a brand new titler called ProType in Vegas Pro 8.0. The other area often criticized is media management. This criticism is largely unfounded as Vegas employs a complete bin structure to its media pool including sub-clips, takes and full search functionality. Vegas did implement a media manager tool in version 6.0; however, it is not integrated with the main media pool and is intended more as media mangagement system for stock media libraries for production houses and broadcast facilities rather than a project-based sorting system.
Vegas was also criticized for its interface which moves away from several long standing NLE conventions that have drawn their legacy from linear production methods - flatbed and tape-to-tape. An example being Vegas' combined source/preview window and its focus on timeline rather than source window as central process area. New users also often dislike the "upside down" arrangement, in which the timeline is situated at the top of the screen and tools are placed at the bottom-- the opposite of the arrangement of its competitors. The interface, however, can be inverted to a traditional layout using settings in the application preferences. Since version 6.0, The window arrangement has been fully-customizable and savable, allowing quick recall of different layouts for various tasks. For example, you could have a large timeline, and have it set up for your video preview to be on another monitor, and save that preset, and have another preset for when you want to focus on the audio, etc.
Finally, Vegas also lacks the wide-ranging third-party plug-in support of its competitors, or the integration with other other applications in a bundle such as the Adobe production studio or Apple's Final Cut Studio. This is slowly changing, however. Notably, in 2006, NewBlue, Inc. released
NewBlueFX , a wide-ranging collection of audio and video plugins for Sony Vegas, a subset of which Sony is now including with its Vegas-based products.
