Sony Vegas+DVD Package - Producing The Tracks?

The latest version of Sony's Vegas+DVD Production Suite unveiled at IBC has squared up to offer improved format support and cater for full-frame rate HDV 1080i editing. Steve Preston peeks at this full-on picture pixel and sound envelope pushing package...
The latest incarnation handles both proxy and full resolution HDV and XDCAM support without transcoding. Sony have added extended support for XDCAM transfer, import, conform and render. Improved support has been provided for Blackmagic Design Decklink cards and AJA SDI video cards. Templates are now included for the creation of Sony PSP and Apple Ipod compatible files.
According to Sony, given the right PC hardware the software offers full frame-rate playback, but for those with lesser endowed systems the preview window has user settings to cater for the performance of slower editing PCs. The user interface options are flexible enough to cater for most editor's preferences in terms of screen layout. Usefully the tear-off windows can be positioned on a second monitor. The preview output can also be sent to a secondary monitor. These preferences can be saved and recalled as desired, though flipping the timeline window to the bottom is achieved via a user preferences setting, as is moving the tabs in the docking windows.
An earnest effort has gone into improving and simplifying the 'snapping' features available in the track timeline. A colour coded 'glow' usefully indicates the object - marker, region, event, cursor, or grid - being snapped on.
Turning to the audio, a multi-threaded audio playback engine to enhance audio playback and Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 files can be handled. Sony have added support for the Cinescore music creation program, via a plug-in.
Bundled with the package is the titling offering Boris Grafitti Ltd and Magic Bullet Movie Looks HD65 that supports HD resolution and provides 65 presets for creating movie and television looks.
In use the editing package with its multiple imbedded tools accessible from the track timelines means that the initial learning curve for Vegas is quite sharp. However, once the editor gets to grips with the interface the working regime is consistent and clips can be assembled with ease. The built in transitions and effects can be readily configured and may be used to create new presets, which facilitates building a custom template for a particular project's theme. Certainly with the SD footage and stills I threw at Vegas for a lengthy VJ sequence, Vegas was rock solid stable and behaved consistently well with both Shuttle Xpress (a new prefs template is tucked away on the install disk) and keyboard/mouse inputs.
The addition of Sony's DVD Architect 4, that includes new features, most notably dual layer support, make the package an end-to-end solution for output to DVD.
At the current price point of £399, anyone who previously found the Vegas user Interface impenetrable, would be well advised to reconsider Sony Vegas+DVD as an entry level editor with some serious professional capabilities.
For further information visit www.sonymediasoftware.com
(SP)