i've read about the issues with authoring BD. it has to do with java and basically learning how to code java in order to author the BD disc. if you do not want to code, someone (like the vegas programming team) must create templates of codes so that we can achieve certain fx.

this means vegas9 might have BD authoring capability?

Look at some of the sub-pages - you'll see a couple of Vegas screens you haven't seen before!

Vegas certainly is not progressing at the same rate as the big guns (FCS2 is amazing, for example). For me the highlights of Vegas 8 are 32-Bit Floating Point Video Processing, Multicamera Workflow, and ProType Titler. Considering the titler should have been much better to begin with, I can't consider it an upgrade. I don't do multicamera shoots yet, but I hope the 32-bit float processing will make a visible difference. That's it for me...

BD-J is necessary for the most advanced, interactive features, but it's not necessary. I believe that no Blu-ray title currently on the market yet uses BD-J. I seem to remember that Disney's "Cars" will be the first disc to include BD-J. It will list all makes and models of cars featured in the film, and will let you go to the scenes for each type of car.

At NAB I spoke with a Sonic representative. They were showing the pro version, which cost $5k. Their consumer version (not at the show) cost $500, and was similar to consumer DVD authoring packages (basic menus only.)

Considering that there are still no BD-J titles available, I don't know that the $5k Sonic package includes BD-J. It might be that you author Java in a separate tool, such as J-Builder or Intelli-J, and the Sonic tool lets you integrate the Java code. However, I believe that you can author basic animations and such without Java, but you need Java to implement interactivity over the Internet.

Anyway, I believe that there are these levels of authoring:
0) Burn only (like in V8, apparently)
1) Menus only (consumer grade)
2) Menus and animations (pro grade)
3) Menus, animations and Internet-enabled interactivity (advanced, with BD-J)

If you go by "look," then Vegas is the same as it was nearly 10 years ago. Changing the over all look and feel of an application is not only expensive and challenging, it's often bad juju. People get comfortable with an appearance and then don't want to learn a new workflow or layout.
There are many significant upgrades in Vegas8 from the Trimmer and Titler to under the hood/less visible changes. For instance, seeing a frame marker on every event is very useful/helpful, but certainly not a bullet point feature.

Perhaps the different "look" is from the changes mentioned by Sony:
"New in Vegas Pro 8 software are some radical advancements for customizing the layout and positioning of the traditional Vegas layout. The timeline can now be at the top or the bottom of the application. Docking window tabs can be at the top of bottom of the dock."

Those particular options are already available in version 7.

DSE,
My bigger wish (since Vegas4) is an overwrite mode and a track lock button. Two very basic features.
In the Sony forum, very few people asking for this and after seeing the V8 screenshots, I have no illusion: V8 don’t seem to have those features (so paradoxical for a product with “PRO” in his name…)
As a beta tester, please can you tell me if you know some editor using Vegas as a cutter (on long documentary project)?
How are they dealing with this lack?

TIA
Gilles

If I understand you correctly, there is a lock button in tools, and to replace an event with another one, there is "replace" in project media, or to overwrite an event by another event at the timeline level there is the "Takes" feature. But maybe you have something else in mind since you say that you have been asking for this for a long time.

I am using Vegas to edit a feature film.

True, there is no button but the feature is still available to lock an event:
Edit -> Switches -> Lock

To replace media: Right-click a file in the Project Media window, and choose Replace from the shortcut menu.

You can also use takes as Paul Fierlinger suggested.

Wouldn't you consider the lock icon, when placed in the toolbar, to be a button? You can even select any number of events and lock them together with one click on the lock icon/button.

Absolutely; I negelected to mention that he can customize the toolbar. I meant the "default" layout. Regardless, I find it a non-issue. People seem to constantly point to things that Vegas is supposedly missing because they just do not realize that those things are there (and the Online Help and manual are quite thorough so I don't really understand why).

So, Gilles:
Options -> Customize Toolbar -> Select "Lock Event" on the left (under Available Toolbar Buttons) -> Click Add -> Click Close.

Why would you want an overwrite mode any more? Even Avid editors hate {b} overwrite mode, and few use it any more. There is an overwrite script icon that can be placed on the toolbar, but why on earth would anyone want to use it? CTRL+SHIFT+Q will insert a new track. Place overwrites on that track, which is the same method we teach in the Avid Media Composer and XpressPro training DVDs.

Spot, would you mind explaining what exactly this overwrite mode does?

Overwrite is an antiquated method of doing an insert edit, or placing a new video clip in the middle of an existing clip. So, you've got a primary video clip playing, and want to insert B-roll. In the old days, you'd do an insert or "overwrite" that would replace media in the primary video for the duration of the desired overwrite length. If you only had say...two video tracks and wanted to use one for titles and the over one for video, then an overwrite is necessary.
Basicly, it's merely a means of replacing sequential frames in an existing video event with new sequential frames.
Putting new media on a new track is much easier, and how even Avid recommends working in their Xpress and Media Composer tools.

No wonder I didn't know what it means; I avoid by all means available inserting a scene into an ongoing event. Sometimes there is a call for it but it's rare for me to allow myself one of those inserts. There has to always be a new place to go to instead of back to the previous one.

Thx for your suggestion Paul & John, but :

-about Overwrite mode: Here one of my old thread in the Sony Forum.

-about track lock button: I know the event lock switch feature. I want a Track lock feature (very more handy on long project).

In my point of view (and many professional french editors), Overwrite mode is not antiquated. Adding track every time we need to overwrite event(s) complex unnecessarily the project.
After seeing your answer my conclusion is: there is very few real professional editor using Vegas (I’m talking about professional working on long project with many cut).
I really love Vegas, but it is time for me to look on another NLE.

So, if I follow your logic, because 1) you're a "professional French editor" and 2) you don't want to add an overwrite script icon or add a track, you're going to switch to a totally new NLE?

James,
I’m the guy who wrote the Overwrite Script, so this icon is already in my toolbar ;)
Unfortunately, this is not handy as a real overwrite mode.
When I say “I really love Vegas”, this means: I made lot of French tutorials, I’m a French forum moderator and I made lot of free scripts (multicam, photo montage etc…)
But no matter how I love Vegas, this NLE have incomprehensible lacks (I don’t want to explain it again. If you are a professional you should know why).
I will continue to use Vegas, but for long project with hard cut editing I will certainly look to another NLE with very solid editing features and AFF export to make project completion in Vegas (color correcting, compositing, titling etc…)

To DSE:
Do you remember who wrote: I'd rather see an overwrite mode than see 10 bit ? ;)))

Now, Vegas have 32-Bit Floating Point Video Processing, but no OM.

The term professionalism is quickly changing in these Internet times, and I for one, am glad for this to be happening.

The days when the only filmmaker worthy of the title Professional was the one associated with the big, commercially important studio loaded with huge staffs, monstrous equipment warehouses and disgusting, man-eating bosses.

People who mentally tie themselves to this fading picture are depriving themselves of the future, where the best works will be coming out of the living rooms and basement offices of the new professionals.

To make my point, here is a link to what I am working on right now. It is just a bunch of clips ready to be picked up by a website designer to create a website dedicated to our movie. There are clips from behind the scenes and there are clips from the actual film and there are too many stills and word .docs of bios which you will perhaps want to skip. Just look at the video clips, if you are interested in the point I am making in this post.

www.paulfierlinger.com/TulipWeb/

Someone claims to have already gotten a beta on Youtube (No, I'm not talking to the guys at VASST... but it is in the related videos for the VASST multi-cam sample video)

That video is honestly a lack of professionalism in the form of it's delivery. The keyframing's good, but other than that...

Jack, that video is likely from Sony Vegas Movie Studio 8. If not....it's terrible.
The ProTitler application would have been much smoother, and had better letter reveal. With the Protitler, a character, word, or line can be revealed at whatever pace you wish for.

Quesions:

What does the "32 bit floating point processing" actually mean? Will it make a visible difference if I"m still working in SD miniDV?

"Real time Audio FX" --- does this apply to events now, that is, will I no longer have to render a new file to apply an audio effect to a single event?

Anyone know cost to upgrade from VEgas 6?

this one has been beaten to death over at this post..
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=102508

Where does it say real-time audio effects? If you are talking about this:
note that it does not say New!, which suggests that it is the old track level automation. Am I right?

[QUOTE=Josh Bass;739330]Quesions:

What does the "32 bit floating point processing" actually mean? Will it make a visible difference if I"m still working in SD miniDV?


There is a lot of talk about about 32 bit floating at these posts but as Josh Bass asks what does it mean to us mere mortals and what advantage will it have to pictures
Thomas

if you're not working in DV, it'll make a big difference in your picture quality (for the better, generally) and for compositing, color correction, and other spatial processes, it'll make for better end results in most cases.

That's about all you need to know.

It's now "official"
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...ct.asp?pid=457

Konrad

Max resolution still limited to 2048x2048?

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...t&keycode=3504

Nice article giving some info on the new ProType Titling feature

One of the reasons I've kept Premiere Pro up to date is the titler. This will make that more of an issue...

What real world application needs needs more resolution?

This is the most popular cinema projector out there right now

http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/...stieCP2000.htm

It happens to be what my local bug house uses.

Max res is # 1920 x 1080 @ 24P or 24psf (ie. MPEG-2, MXF-Interop format)
# 2048 x 1080 @ 24P or 48P (DCI-compliant).

Let me tell you Star Wars looked real good at 2048x1080 on the big screen to my eyes.

For the bargain price Sony charges I'm sorry I just don't see the need for more resolution.

some theaters are thinking 4k projection ( landmark theater chain) ....


http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...XRD/index.html

RED is here and it shoots 4k ..
some movies shot in 35mm are scanned at 4k .. so is the theater that is about to spend 100k for a projector going to go with 2k or 4k ?

More resolution need for editing stereo 3D video dual stream HD
in over under - 1920x2060
in side by side - 3840x1080

I don't have RED One, but guys who own this camera interested in 4K resolution,
because Vegas support REDcode raw :)

Good Luck Getting That for $249.95 or less :)

http://www.jetdv.com/tts/TTS05-01.pdf

Some info regarding the new version on Edward Troxels newletter. Actually, there's a goldmine of info over there.

http://www.jetdv.com/vegas/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54

Nice to see a new Tips and Tricks! Thanks Ed.