I think it's in keeping with other upgrades on similar products. The jump from VV 3.0 to V+DVD is quite a step up. Where else can you get that capability for $399?

I agree with Ed Fiebke, it's "reasonable."

Rick, I agree, I think it looks like a good NLE but I guess I'm not willing to learn another one unless I could use it to replace Premiere. I wish Canopus would write a driver for it. I'm certainly not married to Premiere and it's bugginess. I relly like the multicam capability of Vegas. But I'm not willing to give up the realtime capabilities of my Storm, because my deadlines just don't allow for a slow render!

So Jeff, how do you like Avid DVXpress? Any comments as compared to Vegas or Premiere?

If Vegas is rendering the entire timeline, you definitely have something wrong. It ONLY renders the sections that need rendering such as transitions, where overlays/titles are added...

However, there IS a common cause for Vegas wanting to render everything and that is the master opacity level on the track. Sometimes it will get knocked down below 100% (like 99.8%) which you cannot visibly see a difference but will require every frame to be rendered.

I, weekly, edit a one hour tv program, it will only render about about 6 minutes worth of that footage. The remaining 54 minutes remains untouched from the original captured DV-AVI - no rendering at all is required for those 54 minutes.

Edward,

Thanks for the response. Something definately seemed wrong. I'll have to be careful with the interface.

I am still struggling to get use to the Sonic Foundry way of doing things. Vegas has so many nice features and so many odd quirks that I am still slowly working through.

Rick

I went from Premiere to Pinnacle DV7 to VV3. At the time I started VV3, it seemed a little odd. Now, when I have to go do something on AE...it just seems WAY odd...LOL.

Odd in software seems to be what ever one isn't use to. Applies to many things with the possible exception of my Uncle Louis. He's odd and that is all there is to it.

Rick

LOL

Rick,
I really like Avid, especially things like the customizable interface. It allows me and my students to configure it the way we like it individually. What I don't like is the learning curve, very steep (at least for a slow guy like me!), but I think it's mainly the un-learning Premiere thing. It does everything in a different way, and after working in Premiere for so many years (4.0 tocurrent version) it is hard to break old habits. I think it's also that I'm leaning FCP at the same time. Too much for too small a brain. As far as VV go, there are things I like about it, but I will admit that I struggle with the interface. It just seems very strange to me. If Canopus would write a driver for it though, I would make myself get over that hurdle. Also, if I could just leave Premiere behind, I think it would help me tremendously. Unfortunately, I can't do that, at least not yet.

"If Canopus ......"

Unfortunately there are so many ways to finish that sentence. If Canopus woud do almost anything interesting... Oh well. I've just about completely given up on Canopus. Love my RexRT board for color correction and such, but I've had it with Premiere. I like what I see with Vegas, so at least for now I'll use it.

Rick

Interesting thread guys, thanks for the responses. Not being a Vegas user, I was curious as to what changes were being made to the system. Looks like they made some smart choices.

The review comparing it to Avid was incorrect however. You do get realtime color correction via the Parahelia card. Which of course means you also have dual monitors with a client monitor as well. Does Vegas support three point edits and rolling trims? I was a little surprised to see it is improving it's "ripple" abilities.

I guess that's one of the advantages of Vegas, it doesn't require a specific kind of card to do real-time color correction.

To answer any questions you might have, I'd suggest you visit http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums and select the "Vegas - Video Topics" forum.

Hope this helps.

To do real realtime you have to have the hardware. For previews Avid, FCP and Vegas can all do it.

There has been a great deal of talk over at the Sofo/VV3 forum regarding hardware support for this product. As of this point, it's still just talk. Dedicated hardware support would make the product significantly more expensive...and as processor speeds increase, the day will come where hardware support for an NLE will be passe'.

Agreed. But I need realtime (out to DV) color correction, etc. now. And I have it with my DV Storm. No one knows how soon those things will be available in software only. But based on the limitations that exist even with the hardware, I think it is a ways off. And once you've experienced the ability to do those thigs in realtime, it would be extremely difficult to go back to the renders. For me, deadlines don't allow it. If Vegas would work with my Storm, I would be really interested.