Vegas pro 8 vs. Vegas movie Studio Platinum 8

[DAE06]

I thought I had seen this comparison here once, but am unable to find it now. I would like to know the differences between the two softwares. Vegas Pro 8 from Sony (Sony creations Web site) costs~ $550.00 and Vegas Movie Studio platinum 8 is ~ $115.00. What does Pro have that is worth the $400.00 difference?

[jaegersing]

Here's the product comparison from the Sony website. I haven't used Movie Studio so can't help with a real-world example. Maybe you could download the trial version of both and see if you can find a reason to spend the extra cash within the 30 day trial period?

Richard

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...457&PageID=110

[pitonyak]

The more expensive version:

- Has more codecs for rendering. For me, the most important thing is that there is more support for rendering with customizable codecs such as MPEG-4 H.264. The cheaper version only supports this with WMV.

- Unlimited video tracks. A small limitation, but you might exceed it, especially if you start doing things like "green screen".

- I see the cursor object snapping thing. I can't believe that is not in every version (if it is what I think it is). That is very nice.

These reasons were sufficient for me to spend the extra money. that said, you can always upgrade later I believe.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

- Color Corrector SECONDARY.
- Velocity Envelopes.
- 1920x1080 exports (Platinum 8 stops at 1440x1080) (Platinum 9 can do full 1080p)

The cursor snapping exists in V8 Platinum, just not in any V7 version.

[DAE06]

So for me, just doing simple edits of home movies, Platinum 8 should be good enough. Thanks

[jaegersing]

So for me, just doing simple edits of home movies, Platinum 8 should be good enough. Thanks

Definitely!

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Another difference is that Pro can use scripts, written in VB or C#.

[DAE06]

LOL, I don't even know what that means.

[canuck88]

Eugenia, are the color correction tools and such the same with the two pieces of software?

[Rikki]

Pro also has more audio tracks available, more masking options and various plug ins available that apparently dont work with the MSP version.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

>various plug ins available that apparently dont work with the MSP version.

I have not seen any plugin that didn't work with MSP. Some are simply not included, but they do work if they did. All third party ones work for example.

>Eugenia, are the color correction tools and such the same

Color Correction yes. Color Correction Secondary no. You mostly need the first one though, so you should be ok.

[Rikki]

There was some stabiliser program mention either here or on another site, think it was German or something, and I contacted the company to ask if it would work on MSP as the site only mentioned Vegas Pro and they said no because the way the two programs work is completely different.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

No, that's not true. The API for plugins is the same for both programs. Except if they used functions that are only able to work on Pro (I don't believe that's so), OR, they also used scripts, in which case, only Pro supports those.

[Lou van Wijhe]

Did someone mention that the Pro version has "intelligent rendering"?

When you render video to any of the following formats, unedited video frames are passed through without recompression:

. DV AVI
. DV MXF
. IMX MXF (IMX 24p MXF is not supported for no-recompress rendering)
. HD MXF
. HDV

Meaning that cuts-only footage is simply copied and that only parts with effects, transitions, titles, etc. need to be rendered. This not only speeds up the output tremendously but also preserves the original quality as much as possible.

Apart from that, I often do need more than 4 layers which is the maximum in Vegas MSP.

Lou

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Personally I always color grade my footage, so the no-recompress feature does not apply in my case, it always has to re-encode... Plus, I never export back to tape, so I never export in HDV. I export in MP4 AVC for playback on my PS3. However, I can understand that for some people the tape will be the only way to playback their footage back in HD.

[Rikki]

No, that's not true. The API for plugins is the same for both programs. Except if they used functions that are only able to work on Pro (I don't believe that's so), OR, they also used scripts, in which case, only Pro supports those.

---

Von: Rikki [mailto:rikki@xxxxxxx.co.uk]
Gesendet: Freitag, 25. Januar 2008 15:22
An: service@prodad.de
Betreff: Mercalli


Hi there,

Will Mercalli work with Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 8 ?

---

From: service@prodad.de [mailto:service@prodad.de]
Sent: 25 January 2008 15:23
To: 'Rikki'
Subject: AW: Mercalli


Hello,

No - sorry - only Sony Vegas 8 Pro .

With kind regards,

Michael Wolf

---

Von: Rikki [mailto:rikki@xxxxxxx.co.uk]
Gesendet: Freitag, 25. Januar 2008 17:01
An: service@prodad.de
Betreff: RE: Mercalli


Do you have any plans to introduce it for Movie Studio in the future?

Thank you.

Rikki

---

Sorry,

technically impossible yet.

Regards,

Michael Wolf

proDAD GmbH
Gauertstr. 2

78194 Immendingen
Germany

Call ++49 (0)7462 9459 0
Fax ++49 (0)7462 9459 79

Internet www.prodad.com
email service@prodad.com

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Rikki, I never said that Merkalli or anything else will work with Platinum. What I said was, that 99.9% of plugins out there WILL work with Platinum, and that the API between the two apps is common. The Vegas SDK is so old by now, that all functions available on it are pretty much supported by Platinum. Unless Merkalli uses undocumented Pro-only functions, or uses scripts, there is no reason why their software can't be made to work with Platinum too.

[Rikki]

Rikki, I never said that Merkalli or anything else will work with Platinum. What I said was, that 99.9% of plugins out there WILL work with Platinum...

Yes you did. "All third party ones work for example".

Not looking for an argument just stating facts that some plugins will not work as noted by their own tech support team.

[Beaker1024]

I'm currently trying to figure out what NLE package to get and Vegas 8 is definately my primary choice.

Since I'm going to be getting my 1st camcorder in a month or so (99% sure it'll be a HV30) I'm trying to figure out the editor now.

I've almost convinced myself that the Vegas MS Platinum 8 would be enough and fine.

But I have a few questions first about it's "limitations" compared to the PRO version. Yes I have read the Sony software table many time but it's alot of info and I'm new to this. Sorry.

1) Does the MSP 8 use the cineform codec?

2) Can the MSP 8 create MPEG4/divx files (I did buy Divx Pro codec with the file converter already though so this might not be a biggy).

3) MSP 8 can put create a these 2 final products: Put back to miniDV tape and SD DVD widescreen.

All I need is a stable, solid, professional (doesn't make end product look "cheesy") way to make edits / cuts / tranistions and all saved as HD footage, but can be made into mpeg-2 for DIVX crunching or to SD DVD disks.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

>Yes you did. "All third party ones work for example".

Yes. Because *I* have never encountered ANY third party plugin that won't work. And if Mercalli doesn't work, it's because of their own stupidity, not because Platinum is not able to support the SAME set of API functions as Pro does. UNLESS they are using scripts, they have no excuse to not support Platinum.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

>1) Does the MSP 8 use the cineform codec?

Yes, you can export using Cineform and read Vegas-derived Cineform files. If you used Cineform's tools instead, you will have to rename away the cfhd.dll file found on Vegas' own program folder in order to force Vegas to use the system-wide library for Cineform instead of their own. Otherwise, there is a possibility that Vegas won't read the Cineform-derived files.

>2) Can the MSP 8 create MPEG4/divx files (I did buy Divx Pro codec with the file converter already though so this might not be a biggy).

Yes and no. Not by default. If you install the XViD codec ( http://www.free-codecs.com/download_...p?d=1570&s=337 ) the codec shows up on the AVI export custom section of Vegas. Problem is, it doesn't really work as well as the other Vegas-included codecs, because this third party codec and Vegas were never tested together by Sony. Personally, I had trouble de-interlacing XViD files while exporting from within Vegas. Your mileage might vary. Also, Platinum can't read XViD/DivX files at all, so even if you can export as such, don't expect Platinum to read them back.

>3) MSP 8 can put create a these 2 final products: Put back to miniDV tape and SD DVD widescreen.

Yes.

[Beaker1024]

Eugenia - Thanks for the quick and detailed answer.

I think your answers are more technical than I meant. I'm just hoping to use Dvix as a distrubtion formation (to relatives over the net, etc..). But not YouTube.

I was also just thinking of the cineform question in the light of; Does MSP 8 use it as an intermidiate format while editing, etc... From your answer it appears that Platinum does do this!

I'm just going back and forth between buying Vegas Pro8 (CD only) at B&H for $129 (no DVDa) verse the Vegas MSP 8 Retail (with DVDa) for ~$85 and trying to see what would be overkill and what would do what I need....

Again I'm really new at this but I do like to do alot of research and still try to be practical. Though I usually go for the biggest and best (at first), I'm thinking it just might not be needed to fit my objectives.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Yes, Vegas uses Cineform as an intermediate format. However, if you are thinking of using Cineform files to load them on the DivX encoder to create DivX files, this might not work, because the Cineform version that Vegas has licensed, only works inside Vegas. You will need to either buy the Cineform codec from Cineform.com, OR, download their freeware Cineform player codec (and hope that this will make the DivX encoder "understand" cineform files).

I am sorry for the convoluted answers, but I am not sure what your plan is and how you are planning to create DivX files -- given the fact that Vegas won't do well what you want with them.

[Beaker1024]

Eugenia - Thanks again for information! I'm just thinking that for long distance relatives with only SD setups and DVD players with DivX playback (from USB sticks or off Data CD/DVD) I could "ftp" a DivX version of a downconverted (SD) final file. Just to keep the file size smaller and make it all easy. I did buy Divx pro (w/converting software) so I can use that to convert the files. Just thought Vegas might do it (an export or something) as well or better. Not a big deal.

For myself each project would have a version staying in HD and likely put back onto a miniDV tape plus a downconverted SD DVD burnt. That is untill I finall get a BR player and/or BR burner.

But those are just the final products I'm interested in. I'm trying to make the decision on getting the retail Vegas Platinum 8 verse the CD only Vegas PRO 8. I've mostly convinced myself I'd never use the full features set of PRO and I'd likely enjoy having DVD Architect and Platinum would have more than enough features/functions for my simple family home video objectives.

Thanks again for your responses, they are appreciated.

As for what format I want to work in... I just read on a cineform website and saw their comparison with using them as the intermediate (while editing) format holding up under multiple re-renders. So I was hoping that was something the Platinum version still did (as I knew the PRO does).

[Beaker1024]

And you can get Vegas MS Platinum 8 w/DVDa (yes only the studio version) for $59.99 AFTER mail in rebate ($30) from newegg. making it 1/2 the cost. I've gone that route and will consider upgrading to PRO if needed long down the road. The main thing I'd like is the DVD authoring software to do BlueRay very nicely but I believe in a few years (when the burner drives price comes down) that I could use any "burning" software to make the HD disk. Not specifically from Sony creative software.