Sony Vegas Video Editing Software for Everyone

Sony Vegas (PRO) Video Editing Software

Since our discussion will center around Sony Vegas (pro) video editing tool, let’s take a few minutes to run a background check on video technology and editing tools.

Without any doubt, video Technology is the act of recording, storing, and playing visuals in motion via an electronic medium.

And video editing, on the other hand, is the act of Editing or cutting visuals in motion, adding effects to these videos, and putting video shots in order. 

Videos have become one the highest forms of content popularly produced and consumed online. According to data statistics, the aggregate number of people watching online videos in the US was estimated to be over 244 million (Business Insider 2020).

People are watching and also producing more videos like never before. Video editing skills are now one of the most sought-after skills in the market.

In recent years, with the advancements in video technology, the invention and modification of different software for video editing have become largely established.

An example of such video editing software is the SONY VEGAS PRO, also called Vegas Pro. This software program for video editing is usually for non-linear Editing (NLE).

Non-linear Editing is a video editing type where a video received digitally or in an analog format can be moved to a hard disk for Editing or cutting in no particular order or non-linearly.

Non-linear Editing broke the barrier and limitations that linear Editing posed. Its advantages were not limited to the fact that videos could now be edited from the middle, the ending, or just the beginning.

Also, original files remain preserved and in good quality. Sony Vegas Pro integrated this unique quality into its video editing software.

Vegas Pro is a professional video editing software. It provides all the necessary equipment and tools needed for editing videos professionally.

It is the most advanced video editing package as it involves the use of sound design, live streaming, and advanced HDR color correction.

This program runs on PC Windows Os and can be used by YouTube bloggers, entry-level and professional editors to create movies, music albums, TV programs, etc, and to add special effects to videos.

BRIEF HISTORY of Sony Vegas Pro Smart Video Editing Tool

Vegas Pro was previously called Sony Vegas Pro. Vegas Pro was developed by Vegas Creative Software and was published originally by Sonic Foundry from 1999 to 2003.

Then it was published again by Sony Creative Software from 2003 till 2016 and recently is from 2016 till date by Magix headquartered in Berlin.

It was created first as an audio editing software before it became a non-linear video and audio editor from version 2.0.

Sony on May 24th, 2016 announced that they had sold out Vegas and some of its creative software to Magix to further develop and support the software.

This was confirmed by Magix CEO, Klaus Schmidt, who made a Twitter post affirming his acquisition of Sony Vegas Pro and its applications. This software was written in C# and JavaScript.

Sony Vegas Pro FEATURES

Sony Vegas Pro is an already built software and so does not require any specialized hardware to properly function. This is what allows it to function on any Windows computer not minding its hardware.

Its best feature rated by reviewers for 8.4/10 was Support Rating. Here are some of Vegas’ important features:

• It provides, in areas of compositing and graphics in motion, a toolset that is very wide and includes a spatial arrangement of visual planes and a 3D track motion that controls over z-depth.
  

• Its visual effects processing mainly follows a paradigm of audio sort and these effects can be used in the flow of visual signal or event level but for track level and output level, flange and delay audio effects are used in digital audio systems.
  

• It has integration with 24p DV and can convert any format to any format or any format to 24p without the support of a third-party application or plugins.
  

• It copies and pastes sequences and clips in between instances, like rendering a sequence in the background with the user editing in a different instance in the foreground.
  

• It has the tools professional editors use for creating and editing projects, for example, image stabilizers, Chroma key, multi-cam editors, white balancer, and stereoscopic 3D editor.
  

• It has built-in tutorials that are very interactive and shows how the tools work.
  

• It also has a unique tool called the Vegas Pro Connect iPad application that allows one to perform some desktop functions on a tablet.
  

• It offers brilliant upscaling, enabling you to take regular HD footage from a low resolution and enlarge it to as high as 4k resolution. This allows you to work on older videos and clips of videos shot with a high-resolution camera.
  

• It is not complicated but simple to learn, gives good quality movies, and supports a gallery of video formats like HDV and AVCHD.
  

• It allows you to author DVDs and Blu-ray discs and gives the power and control needed to create a video of high quality for the audience by creating visual special effects, compositing, and 3D titling.

BENEFITS OF SONY VEGAS PRO

• Picture in picture OFX Plug-in: This is a brilliant feature that helps users edit inserted images on Vegas Pro Video Preview windows. This is brought about by OFX Plugins which also help users control the movement, placement, and sizing of images in videos.
  

• Timeline Editing Capabilities: Vegas Pro features a timeline editing capacity that makes the video editing process faster and easier. Users can use this to swiftly arrange and enhance video events on their timeline directly. Its capacity allows overlapping of clip events in an instant and application of crossfade in between.
  

• Open Effects (OFX) Plugins for more special effects: These Plugins are created by a joint effort of third-party developers and promoted by a non-profit organization known as the Open Effects Association. With the help of these plugins, Vegas Pro gives users access constantly to a wide range of video effects and filters to help them apply new techniques and more effects that are special to the videos.
  

• Lookup Table(LUTs) OFX Plug-in: Lookup Tables are used typically by renowned photo editing applications like Adobe and are very useful in modifying images and clips. It helps users gain access to the same features available in Vegas Pro. The LUTs Plug from OFX can be used to apply cinematic effects to videos, apply color grading to it, and also a camera.
  

• Instant Freeze Time: This allows users in Editing to automatically reduce the playback speed for a particular frame within a certain timeline clip event to create a dramatic effect. The use of this feature is very easy as the user only has to place his cursor on a particular frame where he wishes to apply a freeze-frame.
  

• Authoring of Bluray Discs and DVDs: Vegas Pro has features of templates of DVD layout and design that helps users choose how they want their Bluray or DVD’s menu system to be like. Users also have the opportunity to choose from a set of effects and animated menus and also from backgrounds as they author and burn Bluray discs and DVDs. 
  

Vegas line of products

Vegas has different lines of products among them are;

1. Vegas Pro: This has all of the features of Vegas Pro Edit and has also Blu-ray and DVD Authoring Software.
   
   
   
2. Vegas Pro Edit: This is the best choice for those who are new to video editing as it includes all of the basic and essential features. It is also the cheapest of all the lines of products.
   
   
   
3. Vegas Pro Suite: This is the most expensive of all and is the ultimate version of the software. It has all the features of a standard version and also has advanced features like the Boris FX 3D object unit used for 3D creation and manipulation and the Boris FX Match Move unit used for motion tracking.
   
   
4. Vegas Pro 365: This includes all the latest features of Vegas Pro with high-end plugins. It also has online training courses that teach how to use Vegas Pro. It gives users full access to Sound Forge Audio Studio which is used for high-quality sound production. 
   

Vegas Pro 365 has a monthly subscription offer of $16.67 while Vegas Pro, Vegas Pro Edit, and Vegas Pro Suite are sold at $400-$800. 

VEGAS PRO versions

Each release of Vegas sells stand-alone but sometimes upgrade discounts are usually given. Some Upgrades include:

• Vegas Beta: A sneak preview version of Vegas Pro was introduced by Sonic Foundry on June 11th, 1999. This is called a Multitrack Media Editing System.
  
  
  
• Vegas 1.0: This was released at the NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 23rd, 1999. Vegas before then was an audio-only tool with a focus particularly on resizing and resampling audio but as it was boosted it provided support for popular formats like Real Networks RealSystem G2 file formats and DivX.
  
  
  
• Vegas Video beta (Vegas 2.0 beta): This was the first Vegas release that included video editing tools. It was released on April 10th, 2000.
  
  
  
• Vegas Video (Vegas 2.0): This was released on June 12th, 2000.
  
  
  
• Vegas Video LE 3.0
  
  
  
  
• Vegas Video 3.0: Came into the limelight on December 3rd, 2001, and this release offered nine(9) features. These are:
  
  

1. New video effects: These include Lens Flare, Remap, Mirror, Black Restore, Levels, Unsharp Mask, Color Grad, Timecode Burn filter, Convolution, Linear Blur, Light Rays, Film FX, Color Curves and Deform.
   
   
2. New Sonic Foundry DV Codec: This is a high-quality DV codec developed by Sonic Foundry and it offers sharp images, pristine colors, DV chroma-keying, and artifact-free compositing.
   
   
3. Windows Media(TM) File Editing: This creates and edits Windows Media(TM)files in Vegas Video 3.0.
   
   
4. Video CD and Data CD Burning: Burn your project Video CD directly for playback on most DVD players or data CD for playback on the CD ROM of your computer.
   
   
5. Dynamic RAM Previewing: Temporary RAM or render-free previews provide for quick analysis and tweaking of complex video FX with no time consumption rendered.
   
   
6. New MPEG Encoding Tools: The new MPEG plugin in Vegas Video provides superior MPEG 2 files for DVD productions at a faster rate.
   
   
7. DV Print To Tape From The Timeline: Print finished projects with bars and tone to decks and DV cameras from the timeline of Vegas.
   
   
8. Batch Capture with Automatic Scene Detector: These Capture DV with automatic scene detection, tape logging, batch capture, thumbnail previews, and still image capture.
   
   
9. Red Book Audio CD Mastering with CD Architect (TM) Technology: Burn professional quality Red Book audio CD masters directly from the Vegas timeline with ISRC, UPC, and PQ list support.

• Vegas 4.0: This was released with its features on February 6th, 2003. Some of its features are: 

ASIO Driver Support

5.1 Surround Mixing

Improved Ripple Editing

Application Scripting

Searchable Media Pool Bins

DVD Authoring with AC 3 File Import Capacity

Integration with DVD Architect via Chapter Marking Passing

Motion Blur and Supersampling Envelopes

Advanced Color Correction Tools

Vectorscope, Histogram, Parade, and Waveform Monitor

• Vegas 4.0b: This was released with added HD editing and 24p support in April 2003.
  
  
• Vegas 4.0e: This was the first release of Vegas when it was owned by Sony. It was released in November 2003. This same year, Sonic Foundry sold Vegas and Sound Forge with other programs to Sony Pictures Digital at a rate of US$18 Million.
  

• Vegas 5.0: This was released in April 2004
  

• Vegas 6.0: This was released on April 18th, 2005. Its new features are:
  

Superior frame rate conversions

3D track motion

Key frameable transition, filters, and track motion

Enhanced video monitoring 

Enhanced video compositing

Multitrack video editing on unlimited tracks

HDV, SD/HD-SDI support 

Key frameable Bezier masks

• Vegas 7.0: This was the final Vegas release to include the support of Windows 2000. This has the advantage of the multithreaded audio engine.

• Vegas Pro 8.0: This was the first Sony Vegas version to go with the branding of Sony Vegas Pro in place of the regular Sony Vegas branding. It moved the timeline to the bottom but the user has an option to take it back to the top. It was released on September 10th, 2007. Its features are:

Customized workspace

5.1 surround mixing

Effects automation, time compression, and expansion

Unlimited tracks,24 bit/ 192kHz audio

Real-time audio effects

Interactive tutorials

Surround DVD authoring

It includes Vegas Pro 8, DVD Architect Pro 4.5, and Dolby Digital AC 3 encoding software

• Vegas Pro 8.1: This was the first version of Vegas Pro to have the capability to be ported to a 64-bit system.

• Vegas Pro 9.0: Released with significant support for digital cinema by Sony Creative Software on May 11th, 2009. This included a 4k resolution support and pro camcorder formats native support like Red and XDCAM EX. Some of Vegas 9.0 features are just like that of Vegas 8.0.

• Vegas Pro 9.0e: It was released on May 13th, 2010, and is the latest release of Sony Vegas Pro 9.0. It includes features like a new white balance video FX.

• Sony Vegas Pro 10: This was released on October 11th, 2010. it introduced new features like:

Audio Event FX

Track Management

Image Stabilization

Elastique Pitch Method

OpenFX plugins support

Stereoscopic 3D Editing

Comprehensive Closed Captioning

Version 10 is the final Vegas Pro released that included Windows XP support

• Vegas Pro 11: It was announced by Sony on September 9th, 2011, and released on October 17th, 2011. It comes preloaded with NewBlue Titler Pro, A 2D and 3D titling plug, and updated features like playbacks, motion, effects, pan or crop, compositing, and transitions. The features of Vegas 11 are:

Supports RAW photo files

Generate closed captioning

It has a more powerful video editing powerhouse

It supports GPU devices from AMD and NVIDIA

Creates amazing stereoscopic 3D projects

Its GPU acceleration provides a faster rendering and smooth video playback

• Vegas Pro 12: This was released by Sony on November 9th, 2012, and came along with updated features like more visual effects, faster encoding performance, and enhanced 4k support. Some other features are:

It has system Wide Media Management

Imports and exports most popular project files

It has native support for the popular file format

Has smart proxy workflow

Supports 60p,4k, and 3D projects

Has blu ray disc and DVD authoring

Has good video effects and composition

• Vegas Pro 13: This was the final Vegas Pro released by Sony on April 11th, 2014. It streamlined workflows for professional content producers who had issues with a wide variety of multimedia production tasks and also brought new collaboration tools.
  
  The #453 was the last Sony Vegas Pro built before MAGIX released #545 a rebranded version of #453. Vegas Pro 13 is available in three(3) new configurations which are:

• Vegas Pro 13: This is for video, audio, and Blu-ray Disc creation

• Vegas Pro 13 Edit: This was for just video and audio production

• Vegas Pro 13 Suite: This can be used for Editing, Disc Authoring, and Visual Effects.

The features for Vegas Pro 13 are:

Audio Event FX

Excessive Audio Effects

It surrounds sound mixing and encoding 

It has Input Buses

It has high-resolution Audio support

Has Envelope Automation Recording

Has multithreaded Audio Engine

Broadcast Wave Format Support also presents the extensive audio effect

Broadcast wave format support

Has high-resolution Audio support

Has input buses

Envelope automation Recording

Multithreaded Audio Engine

It surrounds sound mixing and encoding

• Vegas Pro 14: This was released by MAGIX on September 20th, 2016. This is the first Vegas Pro to be released under the ownership of MAGIX. It came with features like a higher video velocity limit, various bug fixes, advanced 4k upscaling, RED camera support, and other features. This was the last version of Vegas Pro to have set as default the light theme. Its features include:

It has an Upscale HD Footage

It has Hover Scrub technology

Has Red Camera Support

It Upscales HD footage

Has up to 40x video velocity

Can choose what resampling mode to use

Can smart zoom

Has Hover Scrub Technology

It has a Script for grouping videos and audio events

Smart Adaptive Deinterlacing       

• Vegas Pro 15: This was released on August 28th, 2017. This was the first version of Vegas Pro to have a dark theme. It allows efficient editing speeds by adding new shortcuts to speed up Editing.
  
  Vegas Pro 15 has support for Intel Quick Sync Video(QSV) and other features. This was the Vegas Pro that introduced the icon as V. Some features include:

ACES 1.0 support

Major user interface innovations

Selectively phase event attributes

Includes NewBlueFX Filters 5 Ultimate for $299 value

Instant Freeze Frame

Lookup Table (LUT) OFX plugin

Crop OFX plugin with real-time controls on the video preview

Includes DVD Architect for DVD and Blu Ray Disc authoring

Powerful hardware acceleration technologies

Picture in Picture OFX plugin with real controls on the video preview 

• Vegas Pro 16: This was released on August 27th, 2018, and has features like improved video stabilization,360 degrees editing, HDR support, motion tracking, and file backup.

• Vegas Pro 17: This was released on August 5th, 2019, and has new features which are:

Lens correction plug

Planar motion tracking/video tracking

Smart Split Edit

Nested timelines

Improved video stabilization

Bezier masking OFX plugin

Automatic slideshow creator

Improved Picture in Picture OFX plugin

Screen capture

Length show

Improved color grading

Improved multi-camera Editing

Experimental MKV reader

Dynamic storyboard and timeline integration.

• Vegas Pro 18: This was released on August 3rd, 2020, and its new features are:

Black Bar Fill plugin

8-Bit (full range) pixel format

Motion Tracker Panel

Style Transfer plugin

Integrated graphics card driver update check

Incremental Save

Swap video Scopes options 

Alternate High DPI mode

Logarithmic Exposure adjustment

Vegas prepare

A more detailed render progress dialog

Vegas Hub explorer window

Reworked screen capture utility Vegas Capture

The lens correction FX has an added zooming factor  

Flicker Control plugin

Improved Video FX, Transitions, and media Generator windows

Event edge handles.

Serious stability issues are suffered by Vegas Pro 18 and this has left it on the distribution platform with a 35% positive review score.

• Vegas Pro 19: This was released on August 18th, 2021. Its new features include:

Improved effects

Live streaming 

Improved user interface

New cloud-integrated content management and acquisition

Improved color grading

PROS OF VEGAS PRO FROM REVIEWERS

• Free stock clips for users or subscribers
  
  
• Nested timeline support
  
  
• Excellent and clear color grading tools
  
  
• Nice rendering performance
  
  
• Affordable price for professional editors and studios
  
  
• Great chroma key, text, and title templates
  
  
• Great effects and transition package
  
  
• Intuitive Audio Mixing Console
  
  
• Various input or output format support like HEVC, ProRes, AVC, etc
  
  
• In the free trial period No Watermark
  
  
• Video background removal
  
  
• Noise removal
  
  
• Great for social media for YouTube
  
  
• Many pro-level options
  
  
• Edits and transitions are simple and effective
  
  
• It has automatic tracking control for an object or image which adds better mobility to the video 
  
  
• Filters are fantastic for video editing as it helps change the color
  
  
• The autosave feature is very excellent and capable of saving all the progress that has been made on the video. Autosave doesn’t also take much capacity from the computer so its very simple to activate it and have the computer perform well
  
  
• Great for training videos for customers
  
  
• Great for Podcast audio     
  
  
• Powerful audio editing functions beyond what you find in comparable software
  

CONS OF VEGAS PRO FROM REVIEWERS

• Has an almost unstable Multicam
  
  
• Auto save is not intuitive enough to recover all edits after a crash
  
  
• It crashes on simple projects and gets worse with complexity
  
  
• GUI needs to be glitch-free and more smooth
  
  
• It hangs much and should be more stable
  
  
• No welcome panel with tutorials
  
  
• The interface lacks conveniences found in competitors
  
  
• Instability of some programs  
  
  
• It renders limitations on the free trial version at a length of two(2) minutes length
  
  
• No free trial just 30 days trial
  
  
• Video rendering speed could have been better but is slow.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Vegas Pro supports only Web-based, iOS, and Desktop devices, and support can be gotten via phone call or online.

Customers could be small or medium businesses, the Broadcast Media industry, and also enterprises. Integrations currently offered by Vegas Pro vendors are NewBlueFX and Open Effects Association Platform.

Vegas Pro is found in the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system and this software requires a computer RAM of 8GB(64GB recommended for the 4k program).

Its storage requirement is 1.5GB of Hard drive space and requires a CPU of 2.5GHs Intel Core i5 Quad-Core.

Vegas Pro software is available in four(4) languages which are English, French, Spanish, and German. It can be bought for just $898, and as of May 6th, 2022, it was available at $299. 

CONCLUSION

Sony Vegas Pro has to be your first choice for a video editor due to its simple user interface which is easy to use and its great performance for an intuitive workflow.

It also has all the necessary tools needed to make up your professional video editing kit. This is very much affordable compared to its rivals and provides 30 days free trial guarantees for the users to experience the software, making Sony Vegas a very reasonable choice.