Sony Vegas Movie Studio for £24.97 !

[rickyt]

Just found this for anyone wanting some cheap DV software .
Some of you guys in the know will tell us if it's a good deal or not .

Sony Vegas Movie Studio 8 Platinum Edition (PC)
by Sony Creative Software
Platform: Windows XP
RRP: £69.99
Price: £24.97 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £45.02 (64%)
Availability: In stock. Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.

I use Sony Vegas 4 & 5 and have just bought this it will do HD and the others will not . I thought it was worth the money .

Hope this post doesn't break any rules regarding purchasing goods :competitors etc .

[redsox_mark]

Yes, that is an excellent price.

[Solidstate]

Bought this the other week for £50 to use with my TG3 when I can get hold of one.

Looks really complicated compared to iMovie - but it should work well with the camera. I know its one of the few ways you can edit and still retain the 5.1 soundtrack from the camera.

Excellent spot.

[cogla]

Nice one Ricky !!

Just ordered mine for £24.97 including P & P

http://www.vimeo.com/970664

[Phil W]

Hi,
probably a silly question but can this process AVCHD footage from any make of HD camcorder?
Just purchased a Canon HF100 and looking for a good editing package to convert from AVCHD to DVD, used Pinnacle stuff in the past and some of the reviews of the latest offers aren't always complimentary - this software seems to get the least negative views for a good price.

(wont need to import from HF100, will just stick the memory card in a reader to get it on the PC)

Any advice appreciated as usual!
Phil

[redsox_mark]

It should work with the latest update (once you purchase you can download for free the latest update 8.0d from Sony), but as it is a new model I'm not sure. Unfortunatly AVCHD isn't totally standard. 8.0d supports the Canon HG10 I know.

[Phil W]

Not such a silly question after all - the Sony site lets you download and trial the 8.0d version so I'll give it a go.

But if AVCHD isn't standard wont the same question apply to any editing software that claims to handle it? and that software wont support newer models using AVCHD until the software vendors release a patch...possibly?

Phil

[redsox_mark]

But if AVCHD isn't standard wont the same question apply to any editing software that claims to handle it? and that software wont support newer models using AVCHD until the software vendors release a patch...possibly?

Yes it can be a problem, and yes vendors typically release updates to fix it. With Vegas MS Platinum, 8.0c added Panasonic support (1440x1080). 8.0d added 1920x1080 support (e.g. for Canon HG10), but still doesn't support Panasonic 1920x1080..... but I'm sure 8.0e will.

[dave_bass5]

Vegas MSP 8.0d will work with HF10/100 files no problem.
I used the demo recently when i was at a mates house.
normally i use Studio 11 as i like the transitions and output formats that it comes with but i do find that a bit slow. Vegas seems to work faster.
Might buy a copy myself

[dave_bass5]

Well i just ordered a copy, should be here by the weekend (went for first class post).

just noticed though that This version (as opposed to Vegas 8) will only output up to 1440x1080 and not 1920x1080.
Not sure what difference it will make to output quality though.

[Phil W]

You beat me to it! I installed the demo version last night and it appeared to handle the AVCHD footage I had ok - so think will order a copy as well.

However, having been used to earlier versions of Studio (v8 and possibly v9) this looked a bit more complicated - am I worrying too much and should play with it more or is there a good tutorial/book that might help?

Cheers
Phil

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by Phil W

You beat me to it! I installed the demo version last night and it appeared to handle the AVCHD footage I had ok - so think will order a copy as well.

However, having been used to earlier versions of Studio (v8 and possibly v9) this looked a bit more complicated - am I worrying too much and should play with it more or is there a good tutorial/book that might help?

Cheers
Phil

I think like anything there is a slight learning curve.
I have used Vegas 6 beforte so sort of knew how to do a few things. Quite happy with the output but wish it had more options like Studio 11 does.
I would like to see more of a tutorial but the help file is not bad.

Regarding the 1920x1080 output. You can set the project this size but it wont let you output it at this size. Apparently you can in the full version.

I have a few things i need to get my head around though. In the preview window i can see that you can have guides to show the safe areas. what i cant figure out is why if i go outside of these my image does get cut off on my TV. Even though the output is 1440x1080 and my PCH is playing the files at 1920x1080. I would have thought i could get closer to the edge.
Anyone fill me in on whats going on. The files are 1920x1080 (Canon HF10)

[redsox_mark]

There are some tutorials on You Tube on Vegas


This is a good book, but it is for the pro version. The Movie Studio version works the same way, but has a subset of the features
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vegas-Pro-8-...0758783&sr=8-8

"safe areas" have to do with displays themselves not showing to the very edge of the screen. With modern flatscreen displays they tend to have a smaller amount cut off than with older TVs, but the effect is still there. It has nothing to do with 1440 or 1920; the 1440 will get scalled up to 1920.

You even have this effect on camcorder LCDs; it will record more than what you can see on the LCD.

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

"safe areas" have to do with displays themselves not showing to the very edge of the screen. With modern flatscreen displays they tend to have a smaller amount cut off than with older TVs, but the effect is still there. It has nothing to do with 1440 or 1920; the 1440 will get scalled up to 1920.

You even have this effect on camcorder LCDs; it will record more than what you can see on the LCD.

Cheers Mark.
Not sure i get it though.
While i understand why the safe areas are there i cant figure out why im getting my image cut of on my TV that is wider than the preview (and im not putting anything that close to the edge).
In Studio 11 this seems to be fine if i put something close to the edge and that's outputting the full 1920x1080. In Vegas MSP the edge of the safe area is quite a way in but if i line my image up with it (im doing picture in picture) its almost the same as the Studio 11 version. This is playing the output file back at same size, not scaling it on the TV.
Guess i might be having a blond moment here.

[redsox_mark]

Dave, it's probably me having a "grey" moment (unfortunatly I'm grey, not blonde)... but I don't fully understand what you are saying.
The preview display in Vegas will be the full picture - nothing cut off. The safe area shows what might be cutoff when you play it on a TV/display.
If the preview doesn't seem to be right, check that the project properties match what you are editing.