Test Bench: Editing Software – Sonic Foundry Vegas Video

Sonic Foundry, a pioneer in audio editing software with products like ACID, SoundForge and Vegas Audio, has won our hearts again with its first foray into video editing with Vegas Video. Based on its popular professional-level audio editing software, Vegas Audio, it has enough intuitive simplicity for the novice, as well as depth and versatility for the professional. Not only that, but it integrates perhaps the most powerful audio editing solution available in its class.

The Ease of the Edit

Sonic Foundry incorporated many aspects of its Vegas Audio interface into Vegas Video. It uses a familiar timeline interface for video editing. In addition, the file management and navigation of your media in Vegas Video’s Explorer window is just as you would find it in Windows Explorer. But Sonic Foundry went a step further and added media-preview enhancements that make file organization convenient, not confusing. The tool bar is also common Windows fare. With Editing, Transition and View icons added to the staples Save, Cut, Copy and Paste – ah, it’s just like being home.

The number of video and audio tracks in Vegas is unlimited, which allows audio mixing and video editing flexibility. Once we started the editing process, we found the functionality of Vegas Video to be quite satisfactory. When we opened the media files into the Explorer area of the interface, previewing and placing them into the timeline was a no-brainer.

The editing tool was intuitive and easy to use. Its functions changed depending on where we were on the screen. With the edit tool in the center of a clip placed along the editing timeline, for example, we could move the clip up and down the timeline. By placing the tool on either edge of the timeline, we could trim the clip. And when we moved to the upper corner of either end of the clip, the tool became a fade tool and allowed us to apply and adjust the in-and-out points. In the upper middle portion of the clip, the tool allowed us to adjust the clip’s opacity level for superimposing one layer of video over another. We also found we could slide a clip over another and they would dissolve together with user-defined properties.

We quickly edited a couple of sequences together and previewed our results. To our surprise, Vegas let us search files, place new media in the timeline, adjust audio levels and add transitions, while our project was previewing. Many applications do not allow you to do anything (but wait) until previews have been generated.

Another advantage that Vegas Video offers is media integration. With most editing software you have to import media files that you want to use within its interface. If you want to use an .mp3 clip or an .mov file, for example, the program converts the file into something the editing software can understand. This is time and space consuming. Vegas actually integrates various media files into a project without converting them. So .avi, .mov, .aif, .mp3, .wav and others can work seamlessly within Vegas Video.

Awesome Audio

Another positive aspect of Vegas Video is its output versatility. Every popular file format is represented so editors can master the finished project to tape, compress it for the Internet or burn a CD-ROM or audio CD. Another big thumbs up for Vegas Video is its "Create an OpenDML (.avi version 2.0) compatible file," which uses a proprietary media file, .w64, that overcomes the file size limit of 2GB that most editing software has. In this version of Vegas Video, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are not supported, but Sonic Foundry says they will be in a forthcoming plug-in.

The video capture utility is easy to use but may not be compatible if the host computer does not have an OHCI-compatible capture card. If this is the case, users will have to use the capture utility that came with their particular cards.

Vegas has a titler that also incorporates key-frames for composite animation. The on-board video image effects are key-frameable, customizable and very usable.

Other Hits

Another positive aspect of Vegas Video is its output versatility. Every popular file format is represented so editors can master the finished project to tape, compress it for the Internet or burn a CD-ROM or audio CD. Another big thumbs up for Vegas Video is its "Create an OpenDML (.avi version 2.0) compatible file," which uses a proprietary media file, .w64, that overcomes the file size limit of 2GB that most editing software has. In this version of Vegas Video, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are not supported, but Sonic Foundry says they will be in a forthcoming plug-in.

The video capture utility is easy to use but may not be compatible if the host computer does not have an OHCI-compatible capture card. If this is the case, users will have to use the capture utility that came with their particular cards.

Vegas has a titler that also incorporates key-frames for composite animation. The on-board video image effects are key-frameable, customizable and very usable.


A Survivor

If we were stranded on an island with Vegas Video – assuming that there was electricity and a healthy PC – we wouldn’t vote it off the island. Vegas Video has what it takes to compete with the best of them.

Specifications

Price: $699 ($629 download)

Platform and recommended

system requirements

Windows 98SE, 2000, NT 4.0 SP4

CD-ROM (if installing from disk)

400MHz processor

128MB RAM

16-bit color display

Windows compatible sound card

OHCI compatible capture card (to use Vegas capture utility)

Internet Explorer 4.0 (included) for viewing online help

Media file formats supported

Import: .wav, .w64, .aif, .avi, .mp3, .mov, .bmp, .gif, .jpg, png, .tga, .tif

Export: .wav, .aif, .avi, .wma, .asf, .rm, .mp3 (with optional plug-in), .mov (streaming), .w64

STRENGTHS

  • Sample-accurate audio editing
  • Supports multiple media formats without conversion
  • Windows-friendly interface
  • Render-free previews

WEAKNESSES

  • OHCI-compatible capture card required to use capture utility

SUMMARY

  • Easy-to-use editing software with powerful audio editing capabilities and support for multiple file types.

Sonic Foundry

1617 Sherman Avenue,

Madison, WI 53704

608.256.3133

www.sonicfoundry.com

Videomaker
Videomakerhttps://www.videomaker.com
The Videomaker Editors are dedicated to bringing you the information you need to produce and share better video.

Related Content