INSTALLATION
Out of the securely packaged box are the Sony Vegas Pro 8 and DVD
Architect Pro installation discs, wire bound QuickStart manuals, and
keyboard command reference cards.
The installation is professionally done and is a breeze taking about
25 minutes. A serial number card is included for convenience during the
install. The installation requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 which is
provided on disc. Media Manager 2.3 is also installed which uses
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition also provided on disc. And
finally, there’s the Thought Equity Motion Search plug-in with an offer
for 15 free video clips,
providing stock video footage from Sony Pictures, NBC News, HBO
Archives, and National Geographic. There’s also a full version of the
user manuals on the installation discs. VEGAS PRO 8 FEATURES
The first task I tried was backwards compatibility, opening a Vegas 7
project file with Vegas Pro 8, not a problem! I also tried the same
thing with DVD Architect Pro and as expected version 4.5 had no problem
working with version 4.0 project files.
A change since version 7 is that Sony now mimics Adobe Premier Pro’s
layout by having the default setting with the timeline along the bottom
of the screen and the media resources and preview window along the top
of the screen. In version 7 this was reversed. You can also change it
back if you prefer it the other way.
Media generators include credit rolls, text, solid colors, test
patterns, noise texture, checkerboard, and color gradient. A new feature
in Vegas Pro 8 is the ProType Titler tool which is a very powerful
feature. This tool can be used with phrases, words, and even at the
character level. Some of the animations include character fly-ins,
advanced curves, shadows, glows, blurs, and gradients. You can also
adjust line and character spacing, and X/Y coordinate axis positioning
with precision. It’s easy to sample media generators and video effects
by mousing over the selection. This is a great time-saving feature as I
was able to get an idea of an effect’s behavior very quickly.
An interesting movie theater type effect is the fly through effect which uses multiple levels of 3D motion on 4 video tracks.
It’s great to see that one of the features I had suggested be added
in my Vegas Pro 7 review has been added to Vegas Pro 8–full screen
preview. You can press ALT Shift 4 to view full screen or use the
"Preview on External Monitor” button if you just have one display. If
you have an external display you can configure it to work with this
button. Well done, Sony!
Interactive tutorials are available on the Help menu and are helpful
for completing various tasks such as adding a title to your project
timeline. Some of the tutorial categories include basics, audio, video
and still images, text and backdrops, and projects.
Scripting is handy for automating repetitive tasks and can be run
from the Tools menu. Vegas extensions are actually compiled scripts that
use the .NET Framework and can be written in Javascript or Visual Basic
.NET. Created scripts can also be accessed via the Edit, View, and
Tools extensions menus.
In both Vegas Pro 8 and DVD Architect Pro you can access additional
media using "File->Get Media from the Web”. This accesses the Sony website
which serves as your content connection to Sony partners including
Artbeats, Sony Media Software, Shockwavesound.com, ActionBacks,
Sounddogs.com, and iamusic.com. AUDIO FEATURES
Sony has added an Audio mixing console in Vegas Pro 8 which provides a
hardware-like audio mixer with buttons for assigning effects, routing,
and automation control. To access use "View->Mixing Console” and the
mixing console displays all of your audio tracks vertically with buttons
for noise gate, EQ, compressor, adding new insert effects (Fx), input
source, output master, and PAN sliders. With my audio background Sony
had me feeling right at home and it’s a snap to add audio effects with
the mixing console. For example, on a particular track select the Insert
Fx button and then the effect type/manufacturer/effect
(Chorus->Sony->Sony ExpressFX Delay). It’s that easy! PERFORMANCE
A PC configured with 1GB RAM is sufficient for running one tool at a
time but if you plan to run multiple tools concurrently then I suggest
you upgrade your setup to 2GB RAM (you’ll be glad you did). DVD ARCHITECT PRO
Sony has added additional themes (now totaling 44) in DVD Architect
Pro and these can be customized and saved as new themes for use in
future projects. A handy feature is "Reapply theme layout” which works
well when you’ve selected a theme and then rearranged and added buttons
on the screen. "Edit->Reapply Theme Layout” will automatically
realign the buttons using the theme style structure. This is a very cool
feature indeed! I also used object order to layer graphics moving items
forward/backward or to the Top/Bottom.
Editing tools include the selection, sizing, navigation, and keyframe
tools which can be accessed from the Edit menu or by clicking on the
corresponding button in the workspace panel.
DVD Architect Pro integrates with Cinescore as you can insert
soundtracks directly within DVD Architect Pro. Selecting
"Insert->Generated Music” launches Cinescore and selecting a track
results in it being inserted in your DVD Architect Pro audio timeline.
Very slick and Sony even allows you to import Adobe Photoshop files!
Video workspace overlays are very useful for checking your project
prior to mastering. For example to ensure your production adheres to
title and action safe areas you can enable these overlays by using
"View->Workspace Overlays” and enabling "Show Title Safe Area” and
"Show Action Safe Area”.
CINESCORE Cinescore
is a loop-based audio soundtrack creation tool that has some very
interesting sound styles, themes, and variations, and you run Cinescore
right from Vegas Pro 8 or DVD Architect Pro.
The Cinescore timeline includes 4 main tracks for video, audio,
generated music (i.e. theme pack music), and sound effect style audio
transitions (i.e. whoosh, breaking glass).
Themes represent a collection of related musical ideas, are typically
loop-based, and include a variety of variation presets. Theme variation
presets share characteristics such as key, tempo, and melody. Each
theme has one or more sections and moods, and for each mood you can
select from a variety of arrangements. Advanced parameter controls
include section, mood, arrangement, intensity, tempo. You can also set
the ending as normal, fade out (gradual), loop, or abrupt. Theme
variation presets include starting section (i.e. intro, verse, chorus,
bridge, interlude), mood, arrangement, tempo, and intensity. You should
also note that the sections and moods available to select from vary by
theme.
Intensity setting reflects the density of the music (i.e. loudness of
the mix and number of instruments/sounds used). A setting of 100% uses
all instruments. Tempo variations vary from one theme to another and
typically range between 96-106% where 100% represents the original tempo
setting. This is to prevent drastic tempo changes that will distort the
overall sound. Hints are markers that indicate change (i.e. tempo,
mood, intensity). To add a hint double click the location on the hints
bar above the timeline in the Generated Music dialog.
Sony also has a variety of theme packs available for use with
Cinescore and I test drove 2 of the newly released (Sep 2007) editions,
"Hyperculture: New Media Soundtracks” and "Urban 24/7: City Soundmaps”.
Each of these theme packs includes 10 themes. A breeze to install each
of these theme packs installed in about 5 minutes each. I didn’t even
have to restart Cinescore to detect the newly installed theme packs.
Using the "Theme Chooser” dialog I was able to sort themes by title,
package type, genre, and tempo. Hyperculture: New Media Soundtracks
Hyperculture is representative of new media, jazz/symphonic, rock,
pop, and cinematic backdrops. Some interesting themes and variations
listed below:
UK Seoul (electronic piano, percussive, brassy, and funky) variations:
Windy city horns
Slow trip groove
Sax delay
Horns, brass & Drums
Drums & Bass
and more… Urban 24/7: City Soundmaps
Urban 24/7 is representative of inner city diversity, night club
atmosphere, percussive and abstract backdrops. Some interesting themes
and variations listed below:
Only in America (mid-western rock feel) variations:
Soft rock trio
Power rock
It gets thicker
Blast off
Diva sings
Triumphant
Full harmonics
and more…
Cinescore themes are ideal for film-scoring as most film scores are
thematic and don’t require a lot of different themes. Film composers
often use repetition (with variation) of musical ideas to establish
familiarity with the listener. EXTRAS
Sony Cinescore Theme Packs
retail for US$89.95 each. Sony also has a number of user forums for
specific programs such as Vegas audio, Vegas video, DVD Architect, and Cinescore. A Vegas Pro 8 Script Development Kit (SDK) is also available at Sony’s Development Kits download page.
PRICING
Available from Sony Creative Software Sony Vegas Pro 8 (which
includes DVD Architect Pro) retails for US$699 with a street price of
US$585. Sony is also bundling Cinescore and 2 theme packs with the Vegas
Pro 8 suite for US$650 (offer valid through Oct 31 2007). Cinescore is
also available as a stand alone product retailing for US$175 with a
street price of US$160. Individual theme packs retail for US$99 with a
street price of US$79. ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
As I mentioned in the V7 review the boxed set includes hard copies of
only the QuickStart manuals. I would also like to see hard copies of
the PDF user manuals included in the boxed set as well. In the future
I’d also like to see DVD Architect add DVD case artwork design/print
capability (i.e. DVD cover, insert, booklet).
While I really like Cinescore’s theme and variations preview feature,
I’d like to also see this capability expanded to allow previewing of
audio transitions as well. CONCLUSION AND RATINGS DEFENSE
I gave Sony Vegas Pro 8 high marks for quality. It’s a professional
tool suite that’s packed with features and improved integration and
should certainly have a place in your multimedia project studio. I
recommend this product to anyone who is serious about multimedia
productions and audio video entertainment applications. Vegas Pro 8 is
more than capable of editing and producing your next large complex
multimedia video project and should definitely be on your short list to
consider.
