Sony Vegas
Encyclopedia
Sony Vegas is a professional video editing software
package for non-linear editing system
s (NLE) originally published by Sonic Foundry
, now owned and run by Sony Creative Software
. Originally developed as an audio editor, it eventually developed into an NLE for video and audio from version 2.0. Vegas features real-time
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. It runs on Microsoft Windows XP (XP x64 not supported), Vista
and 7. In April 2007, Sony along with AMD jointly demonstrated a 64-bit version of Vegas running on 64-bit Vista.
The consumer level Sony 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 such as advanced compositing tools and 24p
editing support, nor does it contain the capability to burn DVDs or Blu-ray Discs (without accompanying software DVD Architect Studio). In previous releases, the video editing portion of the professional suite could be purchased separately from Sony's DVD
and Blu-ray Disc
authoring software, DVD Architect Pro (previously called DVD Architect; DVD Architect Studio is the consumer version), then a package called 'Vegas + DVD' became available while Vegas 7 was out. Since the release of Vegas Pro 8.0, both DVD Architect Studio Pro 4.5, Vegas Pro 8.0, as well as Boris FX
LTD and Magic Bullet Movie Looks HD are all bundled together and may not be purchased individually.
computer across a broad range of hardware.
In areas of compositing and motion graphics Vegas provides a broad tool set including 3D
track motion compositing with control over z-depth
, and spatial arrangement of visual planes including plane intersection. Unfortunately keyframing of simple 2D motion lacks bezier adjustments and multiple keyframed smooth motion is marred by slowdowns or hesitations at each keyframe.
Much of the visual effects processing in Vegas follows an 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.
With version 8.0, Vegas now reads MJPEG
AVI
s (usually from "video" setting on digital still cameras). (With prior versions of the software, installing an MJPEG codec sometimes fixed the problem.) Third-party codec
s are supported but it can be difficult to see which codec is being used to play back an AVI. Some of Vegas's codecs are 'native' or built-in.
One major omission of Vegas is that, although it started life as an Audio Multitrack NLE, it has no MIDI capability at all. (Apart from control-desk and synchronisation.) This restricts its use for Audio production, focussing the product on the post-production, Video NLE market only.
Vegas features integration with 24p DV. 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 and 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. It also comes with a green screen feature where you can merge pictures into each other.
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.
The latest release of Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 is Vegas Pro 9.0e (Released on 13 May 2010), which includes features such as a new white balance video FX.
In 2009, Sony Creative Software purchased the Velvetmatter Radiance suite of video FX and these are included in Vegas 9. As a result, they are no longer available as a separate product from Velvetmatter.
and a few more updates and UI changes.
acceleration of video decoding, effects, playback, compositing, pan/crop, transitions, and motion. Other improvements are to include enhanced text tools, enhanced stereoscopic/3D features, RAW photo support, and new event synchronization mechanisms.In addition,Vegas Pro 11 comes pre-loaded with "NewBlue
" Titler Pro, a 2D and 3D titling plug-in.
Unlike previous versions of Vegas Pro, version 11 does not support Windows XP.
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 popular for documentary video production and mobile news reporting because of its ability to run on moderately powered computer systems.
Video editing software
Video editing software, is application software which handles the post-production video editing of digital video sequences on a computer non-linear editing systems...
package for non-linear editing system
Non-linear editing system
In video, a non-linear editing system is a video editing or audio editing digital audio workstation system which can perform random access non-destructive editing on the source material...
s (NLE) originally published by Sonic Foundry
Sonic Foundry
Sonic Foundry is the former developer of various media software suites, which were purchased by Sony in late 2003 for $18 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities and obligations...
, now owned and run by Sony Creative Software
Sony Creative Software
Sony Creative Software is a subsidiary of Sony, focused primarily on their line of media production software...
. Originally developed as an audio editor, it eventually developed into an NLE for video and audio from version 2.0. Vegas features real-time
Real-time computing
In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...
multitrack video and audio editing on unlimited tracks, resolution-independent video sequencing, complex effects and compositing tools, 24-bit/192 kHz audio support, VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
and DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
plug-in effect support, and Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
surround sound mixing. It runs on Microsoft Windows XP (XP x64 not supported), Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and 7. In April 2007, Sony along with AMD jointly demonstrated a 64-bit version of Vegas running on 64-bit Vista.
The consumer level Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Sony Vegas Movie Studio is a consumer-based nonlinear video editing software designed for the PC. It is a scaled-down version of Sony Vegas. Vegas Movie Studio was formerly called "Sonic Foundry VideoFactory" and then "Sony Screenblast Movie Studio," still using the same Vegas interface and...
version (formerly titled VideoFactory and Screenblast) shares the same interface and underlying code base
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
as the professional Vegas version, but does not include professional features such as advanced compositing tools and 24p
24p
In video technology, 24p refers to a video format that operates at 24 frames per second frame rate with progressive scanning . Originally, 24p was used in the non-linear editing of film-originated material...
editing support, nor does it contain the capability to burn DVDs or Blu-ray Discs (without accompanying software DVD Architect Studio). In previous releases, the video editing portion of the professional suite could be purchased separately from Sony's DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
authoring software, DVD Architect Pro (previously called DVD Architect; DVD Architect Studio is the consumer version), then a package called 'Vegas + DVD' became available while Vegas 7 was out. Since the release of Vegas Pro 8.0, both DVD Architect Studio Pro 4.5, Vegas Pro 8.0, as well as Boris FX
Boris FX
Boris FX is a software development company specializing in integrated graphics and visual effects technology. The company is one of the leading software developers for 2D and 3D compositing, titling, and vector graphics applications used by broadcast media companies, filmmakers, post-production...
LTD and Magic Bullet Movie Looks HD are all bundled together and may not be purchased individually.
Features
Vegas does not require any specialized hardware to run properly, allowing it to operate on almost any standard WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
computer across a broad range of hardware.
In areas of compositing and motion graphics Vegas provides a broad tool set including 3D
Three-dimensional space
Three-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
track motion compositing with control over z-depth
Z-buffering
In computer graphics, z-buffering is the management of image depth coordinates in three-dimensional graphics, usually done in hardware, sometimes in software. It is one solution to the visibility problem, which is the problem of deciding which elements of a rendered scene are visible, and which...
, and spatial arrangement of visual planes including plane intersection. Unfortunately keyframing of simple 2D motion lacks bezier adjustments and multiple keyframed smooth motion is marred by slowdowns or hesitations at each keyframe.
Much of the visual effects processing in Vegas follows an 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
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
, Cubase or Sonar
Cakewalk Sonar
Cakewalk SONAR is a digital audio workstation made by Cakewalk for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR Home Studio 7 XL, SONAR X1 Producer Edition, SONAR X1 Studio Edition, SONAR X1 Essential Edition, and...
. Master output effects can also be controlled and manipulated over time by the use of Master Bus track automation envelopes.
With version 8.0, Vegas now reads MJPEG
MJPEG
In multimedia, Motion JPEG is an informal name for a class of video formats where each video frame or interlaced field of a digital video sequence is separately compressed as a JPEG image...
AVI
Audio Video Interleave
Audio Video Interleave , known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback...
s (usually from "video" setting on digital still cameras). (With prior versions of the software, installing an MJPEG codec sometimes fixed the problem.) Third-party codec
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
s are supported but it can be difficult to see which codec is being used to play back an AVI. Some of Vegas's codecs are 'native' or built-in.
One major omission of Vegas is that, although it started life as an Audio Multitrack NLE, it has no MIDI capability at all. (Apart from control-desk and synchronisation.) This restricts its use for Audio production, focussing the product on the post-production, Video NLE market only.
Vegas features integration with 24p DV. 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 and 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. It also comes with a green screen feature where you can merge pictures into each other.
Vegas Pro 8.0
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 the user 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.- Vegas was the second NLE that allowed users to put a variety of formats on the timeline and just edit them. Other NLEs would require the user to render or "conform" these down to a single format. Vegas Video 1.0 had this in 2000. Final Cut Pro got this feature in 2007 with FCP 6.
- In 2003 when the 4.0b update was released, Vegas users got HD editing support and 24p support for free.
- Vegas was 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 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.
| Date | Version | Name | Major features added |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2007 | 8.0 | Vegas Pro 8.0 |
|
| September 2006 | 7.0 | Vegas 7 |
|
Vegas Pro 9.0
On May 11, 2009, Sony Creative Software released Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 with greater support for digital cinema including:- support for 4K resolution
- native support for pro camcorder formats like Red and XDCAM EX
The latest release of Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 is Vegas Pro 9.0e (Released on 13 May 2010), which includes features such as a new white balance video FX.
In 2009, Sony Creative Software purchased the Velvetmatter Radiance suite of video FX and these are included in Vegas 9. As a result, they are no longer available as a separate product from Velvetmatter.
Vegas Pro 10
Sony Vegas 10, released October 11, 2010, introduces many new features such as:- Stereoscopic 3D Editing
- Comprehensive Closed Captioning
- GPU-Accelerated AVC Encoding for limited formats (Using NVIDIA CUDACUDACUDA or Compute Unified Device Architecture is a parallel computing architecture developed by Nvidia. CUDA is the computing engine in Nvidia graphics processing units that is accessible to software developers through variants of industry standard programming languages...
). With the release of Vegas 10d, support was extended to some AMD GPUs (via the OpenCLOpenCLOpenCL is a framework for writing programs that execute across heterogeneous platforms consisting of CPUs, GPUs, and other processors. OpenCL includes a language for writing kernels , plus APIs that are used to define and then control the platforms...
GPGPUGPGPUGeneral-purpose computing on graphics processing units is the technique of using a GPU, which typically handles computation only for computer graphics, to perform computation in applications traditionally handled by the CPU...
API). - Image Stabilization
- Audio Event FX
- Track Management
- OpenFX plugins support
and a few more updates and UI changes.
Vegas Pro 11
Sony announced Vegas Pro 11 on September 9, 2011, and it was released on October 17, 2011. Updated features include GPGPUGPGPU
General-purpose computing on graphics processing units is the technique of using a GPU, which typically handles computation only for computer graphics, to perform computation in applications traditionally handled by the CPU...
acceleration of video decoding, effects, playback, compositing, pan/crop, transitions, and motion. Other improvements are to include enhanced text tools, enhanced stereoscopic/3D features, RAW photo support, and new event synchronization mechanisms.In addition,Vegas Pro 11 comes pre-loaded with "NewBlue
NewBlue
NewBlue, Inc. creates the NewBlueFX line of digital video and audio plugins for non-linear editors including Sony Vegas, Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Edius....
" Titler Pro, a 2D and 3D titling plug-in.
Unlike previous versions of Vegas Pro, version 11 does not support Windows XP.
Awards
Vegas has won awards because of major broadcasters who have utilized the software, including Nightline with Ted Koppel. Several film festival winners have used Vegas to cut their features. The 2009 hit film Paranormal Activity was edited in Sony Vegas.Vegas has been used by engineers and artists as diverse as the 5.1 surround
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
mix for Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, as well as recordings by Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, and Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
and music video/live recordings for Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
. Vegas is also popular for documentary video production and mobile news reporting because of its ability to run on moderately powered computer systems.
See also
- Adobe Premiere
- AVS Video EditorAVS Video EditorAVS Video Editor is a shareware video editing software tool produced by Online Media Technologies Ltd., the direct vendor of multimedia video and audio solutions, UK. The program is intended for those who are new to video editing, it also is a real-time, timeline-based video editing software...
- Final Cut ProFinal Cut ProFinal Cut Pro is a non-linear video editing software developed by Macromedia Inc. and then Apple Inc. The most recent version, Final Cut Pro X, runs on Mac personal computers powered by Mac OS X version 10.6.7 or later and using Intel processors...
- PowerDirectorPowerDirectorCyberLink PowerDirector is a video editing software application for non-linear video editing, published by CyberLink Corporation. PowerDirector allows users to capture, edit and output from within the software and has semi-professional features suitable for the consumer level...
- Pinnacle StudioPinnacle StudioPinnacle Studio is a non-linear video editing software application manufactured by Pinnacle Systems, a division of Avid Technology. It is the consumer-level counterpart to Pinnacle's former professional-level software, Liquid Edition . It also inherits from VOB Computersysteme's Instant CD/DVD...
- Sony Vegas Movie StudioSony Vegas Movie StudioSony Vegas Movie Studio is a consumer-based nonlinear video editing software designed for the PC. It is a scaled-down version of Sony Vegas. Vegas Movie Studio was formerly called "Sonic Foundry VideoFactory" and then "Sony Screenblast Movie Studio," still using the same Vegas interface and...
- Ulead MediaStudio ProUlead MediaStudio ProUlead MediaStudio Pro is real-time, timeline based prosumer level video editing software by Ulead Systems. It is a suite of 5 digital video and audio applications, including: Video Capture, Video Paint, CG Infinity, Audio Editor and Video Editor...
Review
- Ben Pitt (21 Jun 2010) Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 review, PC ProPC ProPC Pro is one of several computer magazines published monthly in the United Kingdom by Dennis Publishing. PC Pro also licenses individual articles for republication in various countries around the world - and some articles are translated into local languages...
- Alan Stafford (2 Dec 2010) Sony Vegas Pro 10: Advanced Video Editor Adds 3D, PC World (magazine)PC World (magazine)PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
- Brent Holland (Feb 2011) Sony Vegas Pro 10 Advanced Editing Software Review, Videomaker MagazineVideomaker MagazineVideomaker is a magazine publication dedicated to video production. The magazine's publisher/editor, Matthew York, founded the publication with his wife Patrice York, Associate Publisher, to "empower people to make video and to democratize and enrich television."-Overview :When Videomaker started...