Sony Vegas Movie Studio for £24.97 !

rickyt · 12-05-2008, 11:01 PM

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 · 13-05-2008, 7:10 AM

Yes, that is an excellent price.

Solidstate · 13-05-2008, 7:26 AM

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 · 13-05-2008, 9:02 AM

Nice one Ricky !!

Just ordered mine for £24.97 including P & P

http://www.vimeo.com/970664

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=spbW85pqTlI

Phil W · 13-05-2008, 9:35 AM

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 · 13-05-2008, 9:58 AM

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 · 13-05-2008, 10:20 AM

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 · 13-05-2008, 10:28 AM

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 · 13-05-2008, 3:20 PM

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 · 13-05-2008, 5:49 PM

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 · 14-05-2008, 9:01 AM

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 · 14-05-2008, 9:28 AM

Quote:

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 · 14-05-2008, 9:57 AM

There are some tutorials on You Tube on Vegas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5-uXHPemwo

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 · 14-05-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

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 · 14-05-2008, 10:31 AM

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.

dave_bass5 · 14-05-2008, 10:52 AM

Ok.
my file is 1920x1080. the project in Vegas is 1440x1080, 32bit, 25i FPS. my TV is displaying at 1920x1080i.
Using the project preview window as a guide im placing the inserted picture close (but not right up to) the edge on the right hand side.
when i play the output file (1440x1080) on my TV, set to not scale but to play at full size i find the inserted pic is very close to the edge of the screen, to the point where it is getting cut off very slightly.
In Studio 11 my project is 1920x1080 and placing the picture in almost the same place and outputting the file at 1920x1080 gives me what i want.

Im guessing it might be to do with Vegas scaling the video somehow as it outputs the file but i could be wrong.

Its not the end of the world as i can use the safe area guides and to be honest its not something ill do a lot of but i need to look in to see if parts of the main picture are getting cut off as well.

Im new to This version of Vegas so it could be me doing something wrong. Might even be the preview window is set wrong.

Why do i get a message saying that the preview is one size and the display is something else?

redsox_mark · 14-05-2008, 11:19 AM

Hmm... I would always have the preview (project properties) set to match the source media. So if the project is 1920x1080, set the project properties that way. (But are you saying you can't do that in the Platinum version?).

Having said that, if the properties are set to 1440x1080 with Pixel Aspect Ratio of 1.333, then that should be the same in terms of what is displayed. If the PAR was set to 1.00 then that would be an issue.

dave_bass5 · 14-05-2008, 11:44 AM

Mark.
Seems to me the only way to get the project at 1920x1808 is to create a new one based on the video dimensions of a file.
This is giving me a project of 1920x1080 25i and a preview of 480x270 25p and also a display of 480x270.
But you cant render at this size. It changes to 1440x1080 in this version.
I wonder if this is causing the picture to distort slightly.

and yes, the PAR is set to 1.333

Edit: As i started to render the above project the preview size changed to 1440x1080 but the display size didnt. I was getting black bars top and bottom in the preview window. Then all of a sudden it changed the project size to 1440x1080 as well but now no black bars and the display is still saying 480x270.
Im at work now but ill check to see if anything is cut off on the TV compared to the original file. This is just a straight forward conversion to WMV and a bit of levels correction.

cogla · 15-05-2008, 11:12 AM

Well it's arrived already!!
48 hours after ordering online

Only paid bog-standard price of £24.97

Now down to the serious.......................

dave_bass5 · 15-05-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogla

Well it's arrived already!!
48 hours after ordering online

Only paid bog-standard price of £24.97

Now down to the serious.......................

Mine also arrived today.
I only needed to enter the serial number in to the trial and it was up and running. and it comes with a manual

Installed the extra transitions as well.

Anyone know if i can activate it on more than one PC? I put it on my work PC but want it at home as well.

Im really liking this program and cant get over how easy it is to edit video compared to the last time i tried with my old DV cam and Vegas 6.

Jakeh1969 · 15-05-2008, 11:27 AM

Now that I know it downsizes 1920x1080 video to 1440x1080 I'd like to cancel my order but Amazon are going to despatch soon......

dave_bass5 · 15-05-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakeh1969

Now that I know it downsizes 1920x1080 video to 1440x1080 I'd like to cancel my order but Amazon are going to despatch soon......

After testing some footage out last night i dont think its too much to worry about.
In my posts above i said i was getting the edges cut off. I was but im pretty sure what mark said about the camera capturing more than it displays is correct.
I hooked the HF10 up to the Tv via HDMI and it seemed to display the same area as my 1440x1080 output file from Vegas. In fact the image area seemed bigger on the TV than the LCD display on the camera was showing as well.
Tried the same file in my PS3 with the same results.
After a bit of reading it seems that 1440x1080 with a PAR of 1.333 is very close to 1920x1080 PAR 1:1 anyway (as mark also pointed out)
Still might do some more testing but im happy with it for now.
Just wish it could render to Divx like Studio 11 can.

redsox_mark · 15-05-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Anyone know if i can activate it on more than one PC? I put it on my work PC but want it at home as well.

Yes you can. The liscencing rule is you can install it on multiple PCs, but you are only supposed to use it on one at a time. In terms of the software it doesn't enforce this.

Jakeh1969 · 15-05-2008, 1:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

After testing some footage out last night i dont think its too much to worry about.
In my posts above i said i was getting the edges cut off. I was but im pretty sure what mark said about the camera capturing more than it displays is correct.
I hooked the HF10 up to the Tv via HDMI and it seemed to display the same area as my 1440x1080 output file from Vegas. In fact the image area seemed bigger on the TV than the LCD display on the camera was showing as well.
Tried the same file in my PS3 with the same results.
After a bit of reading it seems that 1440x1080 with a PAR of 1.333 is very close to 1920x1080 PAR 1:1 anyway (as mark also pointed out)
Still might do some more testing but im happy with it for now.
Just wish it could render to Divx like Studio 11 can.

Thanks for the info dave_bass5. I might give it a go and see how it comes out. It still looks quite a bargain for the money though and there's always the possibility of an update at some point.

Geordie Jester · 12-06-2008, 3:19 PM

back to 50 quid

MarkE19 · 12-06-2008, 3:37 PM

Yeh I know - and I was going to buy it at £25 as that would have been a bargain price.
I would probably have paid the full £50, but having seen it at half that I am now reluctant to pay the going rate.

Mark.

rickyt · 12-06-2008, 6:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geordie Jester

back to 50 quid

It's been back to full price for ages now , coz I checked before I told a neighbor about it and it was too late for the cheap price.Yeah ,you have to be quick with these bargains.

**Phil Hinton** · 12-06-2008, 11:11 PM

Just thought I would add that all the Forums video productions are edited by me with Vegas Pro 8. I have found it the most easy to use editing system after a few trials. It really has some powerful tools in there, you just have to give it some time and effort to uncover them. Once you get used to the basic features and how they work, your workload gets easier as most of the basics apply to more complex edit structures. I'm using HDV from a Canon HV20 at the moment but we will be moving over to the DVCPRO HD broadcast standard very soon, and Vegas does not handle this out of the box. However the sign of a popular platform is that there are already tools and plugins to make it compatible with this standard. I would hate to have to change my editing platform after using Vegas for some time and enjoying its ease of use and flexibility.

dave_bass5 · 13-06-2008, 11:16 AM

Phil.
That video is great. Im hoping to achieve something similar with my HF10.
any tips?
I play in a couple of bands and want to hand my Hf10 to someone in the audience (a mate obviously) so would need to more or less set it up before handing it over.

I agree about Vegas. Ive tried a few programs recently and Vegas pro seems to work the best for me. it seems to run faster on my Pc that Studio 11 as well.

Im one of the lucky ones that got Vegas MSP for £25 but after finding out about the output limitations too late i now use the Pro version.

**Phil Hinton** · 13-06-2008, 11:31 AM

Dave the best way to achieve a good result is like you say, set up the camera beforehand. Angles and unusual shots will always look good and it's important to keep the camera and shots moving, however you need to get practice at hand holding the camera so it is as steady as possible.
In the editing process, unless you have multipule cameras shooting at the same time, you will either need to shoot the song more then once, or as I did in that video, focus on the chorus sections and blend them into one with your editing structure.
Hope that helps!