Paul, now you have me curious.
What specific settings are you referring to?See? If I would remember I wouldn't be worried about loosing these. It's usually some combination of settings someone explains well and I just try out and leave it that way if it helps some. This applies probably more often to rendering selections which improve playback for my clients. Maybe it would help if I told you I'm 73. :)

Actually Paul, all you have to do when using 9 is open an instance of Vegas 8 (remember these are separate programs) peek at your old settings and then change them in Vegas 9.

Thanks, Jeff, and course, I forgot all about that one too!

That new, eh? :)
Will it help if I make screen prints of my current settings or will the new version have preferences laid out in so many different ways to not make the screen prints worth the trouble?

Screen prints could be helpful. While some screens have changed, I don't recall any settings changing screens. So just capture the preference tabs you've changed and you should be good to go.

I, personally, don't change over about a half dozen settings and they're easy to remember. So I just pop into File - Properties, set my defaults, and then Options - Preferences and change a few more entries and I'm done.

It's usually some combination of settings someone explains well and I just try out and leave it that way if it helps some. This applies probably more often to rendering selections which improve playback for my clients.

If you're referring to custom render templates, I've got a pile of them myself and would be lost without some of them.
Here's where they're stored on your computer and how to move them around if you need to.

All of the custom rendering templates are in:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Sony\File Templates
Where <username> is your windows account name.
Just copy them over to your new PC and they should be recognized.


Maybe it would help if I told you I'm 73. :)

I'll be 58 soon so I'm not that far behind you :-O

I'll be 58 soon so I'm not that far behind you :-O Ah, the things I could remember back then... but on the other hand....

Thanks Mike, I needed to know that.

I think most people here are misunderstanding those of us who are 'complaining' about the features in this release..

From what I can tell, nobody is really complaining that the features added are useless.. I'm perfectly happy to see RED support, support for larger images (Gigapixel images? How many is that anyway compared to my 10 "mega"pixel cameras resolution?), and a new grey interface that can be easily manipulated... Nobody here has a problem with those additions..

The problem is that when SCS has a major product release and this is ALL that you see in the update, features that mostly don't apply to the majority of users, many of us are scratching our heads...

Jon

Exactly! Fixing things that don't won't work well in the previous version is commendable. Adding support for new formats is nice, but Sony benefits from an expanded market. Changing the screen color is wonderful, but it's not a new feature. This version provides almost no improvement in across-the-board functionality. Almost everything that supposedly should make me want to upgrade, was available previously as a workaround or with a minimal purchase. There's just no enough substance. This should have been called 8.5 IMO.

Well, I received a letter in the mail informing me about the 'One-Time Payment Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act'.

So, it looks like Obama is buying the Vegas Pro 9 upgrade along with a movie and lunch for me.

LOL!

HA! I didn't even vote for him...

Danny Fye
VidMus Video - Music Productions (http://www.vidmus.com)

Danny you're forgetting the cardinal rule of business..."There is no free lunch" I haven't gotten that letter yet myself, but the song "The devil went down to Independence, MO" comes to mind. I don't know if I would sell my soul for Vegas 9...mostly because I'm still trying to get 8 to work right!!! Maybe I'll let President Palin buy it for me in 3 years, 263 days, 4 hours…Well you get the picture

Danny you're forgetting the cardinal rule of business..."There is no free lunch" I haven't gotten that letter yet myself, but the song "The devil went down to Independence, MO" comes to mind. I don't know if I would sell my soul for Vegas 9...mostly because I'm still trying to get 8 to work right!!! Maybe I'll let President Palin buy it for me in 3 years, 263 days, 4 hours…Well you get the picture

Well, I guess we can get into politics and all but since my message was for the sake of humor, I will let it be.

Hmmm, maybe we should send a copy of Vegas Pro 9 or will it be 11 by then to Palin to slick up her video editing abilities? LOL!

Have fun,

Danny Fye
VidMus Video - Music Productions (http://www.vidmus.com)

Exactly! Fixing things that don't won't work well in the previous version is commendable.

And why exactly have people figured that various things haven't been fixed??? Just because they don't mention it??

Can we say..... "jumping to conclusions"?

Because, frankly, it's just common sense that if they add a new feature, enhance an existing functionality, or increase the speed of some function, they mention it in their marketing material to try and "sell" the product.

It's been my experience that companies tend to over push the envelope with their marketing tactics.

Jon

It's been my experience that companies tend to over push the envelope with their marketing tactics.

And then some!

Many of us do it. Just looking at the websites of many of the professionals on this forum who, when posting, are open about the fact that they are one man bands, reveals a lot of 'we can . . . ' and 'our team is always ready to . . .' and 'operating from studios using cutting edge technology . . .' statements.

In reality these often should read 'I can . . . probably', 'I am always ready . . . unless I have another job on' and 'operating from a converted garage with a prosumer camera and a copy of Vegas'!

Take a look at my site as a great example of overhype. OK, there are now three of us, and soon to be five, but only last year it was just me, and my site was still talking about 'we' as though I had a bunch of employees. Now I really do have a small studio, but last year - my garage.

BUT, we do this so we can attract new business - we don't try and convince existing clients (who have first hand knowledge of how big the business is) that we are something more than we really are, because we will be found out!

And here, at last, is my point: fixing things that didn't previously work or were previously substandard should NOT count as an upgrade! Maybe a point release, as Paul Cascio suggested.

I'm siding with the 'disappointed' group here, I'm afraid. This is not about how much the upgrade costs - it's that there are too few major enhancements that are desirable or useful to the majority of users. No, hang on, to ME! That's who I'm really talking about, if I'm honest.

Because, frankly, it's just common sense that if they add a new feature, enhance an existing functionality, or increase the speed of some function, they mention it in their marketing material to try and "sell" the product.

It's been my experience that companies tend to over push the envelope with their marketing tactics.

Jon

Mmmmm.... I see. So you think that publicizing bugs and such, especially to new potential customers.... is great marketing tactic???

They fixed the black frame problem a while back and didn't advertise that. I guess that was a great mistake in their marketing department.... right? ;)

I agree price isn't the issue. This release is borrrring. Look at the buzz, or lack of it.

Note to Sony: Please remove the sickeningly cheesey DVD templates titled Groovy, Birthday, Flower Power, Wood, and Funky. Funky? Does Sony even have a clue? Funky is a derogatory term nowadays, not a good one. Funky means bad, as in "It sucks". So I guess it fits. It is funky. Has anyone here even seen the wedding DVD templates? The sports templates? The button selection? The button selection looks like it was dreamed up by a community college dropout 20 years ago.

This is some seriously dated crap.

I admit I had to learn to make creative and beautiful DVD menus for my customers specifically because there is nothing offered in DVDA. So I guess that is a good thing.

Where is GPU support for NVidia graphics cards, the abiltity to render flv files, new tasteful 3d and 2d DVD menu templates, the inlcusion of a sigificant number of new transitions and fx, 32 bit plug ins working with Vegas 64 bit. As the cineform issues with 64 bit Vegas shows, Sony is making the world come to it, not vice versa. Sony does not play well with others, but this is already well known, so the point is moot I suppose. Can anyone say corporate snob?

Give me tools to help me dazzle my customers and make my work easier. I don't need to spend $$$ on third party software to make a flash video. Give me hardware support. Throw me a bone here people.

Those who think this is a worthwhile release are welcome to feel that way. But I believe there are myriad options Sony has to beef up this product and make it more exciting.

I enjoy Vegas because IMO it is stable and easy to use. But I shouldn't have to keep paying for that stability over and over again with these snoozer upgrades.

Instead you have a few people here and there defending it against those who are disappointed with it. Very few users, unless I missed it, seem truly excited about this upgrade. The prospect of a new GUI is fine, but my god, have we gotten so desperate for some excitement with this product we are even debating how great a new GUI will be?

I might be wrong here, but I think that a significant number of Vegas users are wedding videographers, sports and corporate videographers. Help us out. Red support? Well and good, but how many wedding and small corporate types are using Red hardware? Raise you hands please.

If Sony releases an upgrade as boring as this again and you see me get excited about it, shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Mmmmm.... I see. So you think that publicizing bugs and such, especially to new potential customers.... is great marketing tactic???

They fixed the black frame problem a while back and didn't advertise that. I guess that was a great mistake in their marketing department.... right? ;)


Jack,

Go back and read my post please... I mentioned..

"it's just common sense that if they add a new feature, enhance an existing functionality, or increase the speed of some function"

Where in there do you see in the text I wrote (and you quoted) bug fixes such as the black frame issue should be billed as new?

I don't expect them to list bug fixes, when/if they speed up the rendering process by 20-30% I expect them to say "Rendering now up to 30% faster!!!" When the preview playback has been enhanced for better visual quality and speed improvements I expect them to say "Enhanced video playback ability", etc.

When they DONT say those things, it's a tip off that the improvements there are either completely non-existant. I am SO used to software releases as I've been using and buying software now for nearly 20 years.. I know there is as much to see when something is *not* mentioned of the stuff that is...

Jon

I agree price isn't the issue. This release is borrrring. Look at the buzz, or lack of it.

If Sony releases an upgrade as boring as this again and you see me get excited about it, shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Same here Jeff, i love upgrading software and buying the next gadget, i even bought cinescore for g'sakes, but I just cant be bothered to upgrade to Vegas 9.

Why don't they spend their money giving us better compression algorithm/tools? Everything we do outputs via compression to web media, DVD or blueray. I want the compressed result to look as good as the original footage.

As for that preview window........

Yawwn....

I mainly use Edius for video and Vegas for audio. Edius has just released 5.1 free upgrade that has a lot more in it from 5.01 (like Spurs Engine support of the Firecoder Blu card from timeline etc) than the Vegas upgrade that costs real money. No I will miss this upgrade and see what the next has to offer.

Ron Evans

Boy this is so much different than the sony apologist board.lol I agree this its a very weak upgrade at best and they should of fixed 8 totally before releasing 9.

What chaps my hide is not just this upgrade, but 8.0 was a disappointment as well.

That's two in a row.

You guys sure are getting worked up into a lather over a product that hasn't yet been released. This thread has 120 posts in it and no one, except Ed Troxel, has ever used the new version for any length of time and his review was rather positive. His review also revealed some new features that weren't mentioned on the SCS web site. I'm going to wait another nine days until I have it installed on my own machine before I comment on this release.

We'll see how great this release is soon enough.

Maybe Sony is not listing the really cool new features 'cause they want to surprise us.

Maybe Sony is not listing the really cool new features 'cause they want to surprise us.

Yeah, that'll be it! ;-)

@John: We're discussing the new feature list, not our experience of using the new release which, as you rightly say, is limited to a few people outside of Sony.

I have little doubt that we will be reading a similar selection of comments from the 'post May 11' threads, i.e. a load of 'I'm underwhelmed' responses, along with a load of 'it's the best release ever' responses, as well as a healthy batch of 'I'm waiting for 9.0a when those bugs will be ironed out'. I think that might be me . . . :-)

As has already been suggested here, some of us are waiting for the eager beavers to buy/ install/use/report back before we make the jump. I'm happy to be an early adopter if there are sufficient features to make it worth the effort/cost/risk. Just don't see it in this release. I will almost certainly check out the trial version though, and I will gladly and publicly eat my words when it turns out to be a stormer!

Interestingly, of the 35ish individuals that have posted in this thread, just over half fall into the disappointed category. But close behind are those who think it's a good release. Too close to call, and too few numbers to draw any conclusions, but clearly not the overwhelming shout of approval that Sony would have liked. For that they have to turn to their own board where the majority seem to be giggling like drains about the new features!

I think that everyone has their own personal wish list for features they would like to see added and not everyone has the same list. For example, lots of people want Vegas to include a built-in deshaker plugin, but that doesn't mean much to me since I don't shoot shakey footage to begin with. Personally, I'm not looking for major new features, I'm more interested in things that make editing easier and, therefore, faster. I'm in Vegas literally 10-12 hours a day, if I could make that 8-10 and still be able to crank out the same quantity of material, that would make me very happy. A little over an hour of my time pays for the upgrade, so it's a no-brainer for me.

After reading Ed Troxel's review of Vegas v9, it turns out that it has a lot of seemingly minor functional enhancements which are going to greatly increase my productivity. Some of them don't necessarily rate a feature "bullet point" on the Vegas web page, but I'm pretty jazzed about them nevertheless. Just the change to the envelope tool could have literally saved me an hour today alone.

If you haven't read Ed's review, check it out here:

http://www.jetdv.com/tts/TTS07-01.pdf

I think that everyone has their own personal wish list for features they would like to see added and not everyone has the same list. For example, lots of people want Vegas to include a built-in deshaker plugin, but that doesn't mean much to me since I don't shoot shakey footage to begin with. Personally, I'm not looking for major new features, I'm more interested in things that make editing easier and, therefore, faster. I'm in Vegas literally 10-12 hours a day, if I could make that 8-10 and still be able to crank out the same quantity of material, that would make me very happy. A little over an hour of my time pays for the upgrade, so it's a no-brainer for me.

After reading Ed Troxel's review of Vegas v9, it turns out that it has a lot of seemingly minor functional enhancements which are going to greatly increase my productivity. Some of them don't necessarily rate a feature "bullet point" on the Vegas web page, but I'm pretty jazzed about them nevertheless. Just the change to the envelope tool could have literally saved me an hour today alone.

If you haven't read Ed's review, check it out here:

http://www.jetdv.com/tts/TTS07-01.pdf

You make some very good and fair points here John... I've already ordered it and am anxiously waiting to see what I get... At this point though, I'm basically hoping for surprise performance and stability increases that didn't make the 'bullet point feature set' that you referred to.

If the program is more stable, a little faster (more efficient), throws in some usability enhancements, and adds to the table support for other formats (RED, etc), I'll be a happy camper and at $200 to support this software every 12-18 months, I don't consider that too bad.

Jon

if Vegas is your editor you'll have to buy 9 at some point, because effectively it must mean there are no more releases for 8 to fix known problems or enhance useability, which means a purchase of version 9 is essential.
If you've given up on Vegas and moved to another NLE system, you'll probably wait at least to the 9.0a to get inital teething bugs removed prior to any thought of purchase, unless of course, if people cry from the rafters how wonderful it is, people like me, who have a love/hate relationship with Vegas may jump in early.

Until then........

I've never had any problems with v8.0c, 8.0a was a little flaky, though.

Typically, the X.0 releases have a couple of minor problems which can only be discovered once the program goes into wide use, these issues are usually fixed within a couple of weeks with an X.0a release.

Thankfully, one can keep v8 installed and play with v9 until it stabilizes. I've got v7 and v8 on my machine now, but I haven't used v7 in a year or so.

Well hopefully I'm not retreading old ground too much from the past 100 or so posts, but personally I am disapointed.

I saw the feature list when it was released and was instantly disapointed. I read Ed's review just then, and while there are some minor tweaks which may be useful and I'm sure no doubt it will be a bit more effecient and stable, it wasn't exactly convincing enough for an upgrade. I guess it just comes across as Vegas Pro 8.0D rather than Vegas Pro 9.0. Which is disapointing in that Vegas Movie Studio version 9 came out quite a long time ago, so with the delay in the pro version of 9, I was expecting something a bit more groundbreaking I think. Maybe 9.0a will bring some amazing new feature list, but going by history, those updates are just bug fixes.

Maybe if the production assistant was included, I'd be more keen on upgrading but still think I'd still wait around for version 10 (especially considering the AUD is so poor right now compared to when I bought v8.0). But maybe I'm just expecting too much from probably the best value video editing software out there (not that I've used Avid, Premiere or Final Cut for a few years, so hard to compare).

I can see some users will think it's great, in particular Red and XD cam users, but considering I just bought a Z7 last year, those features are not going to be any use to me personally for at least a few years. If I wasn't upgrading, but just buying 9 fresh, or if I was upgrading from an older version like 6 or 7, then yeah it would seem good.

I think what I am waiting for, and would be more interested in paying for, is a Sony equivalent to After Effects/Motion etc. I liked the fact they added Pro titler in version 8, but I didn't find it that use-able, and from the looks of it, there's no advancement in that area in version 9, nor a new seperate effects specialist program released (though maybe that's in the pipeline?).

That all said I still love Vegas, though it does prompt me to maybe try out the latest version of competiting software.

As an XDCAM user I am very pleased with the upgrade. It is still attractive in terms of value as compared to the rest of the NLE list prices in my country. I just hope that the software is a lot more stable now, esp with the 64bit compatibility.

...Interestingly, of the 35ish individuals that have posted in this thread, just over half fall into the disappointed category. But close behind are those who think it's a good release. Too close to call...

Ian,
You probably may have included me in the disappointed category, but I am moving to the optimistic side of the fence and placed my early order 2 days ago. I should probably go read Ed's review now so i can get really psyched but for me it was the issue of keeping up with the newest updates and bug fixes. I think SONY is highlighting the new features that appeal to users they have not reached out to in the past and are counting on many of us loyal Veggies to stay loyal. I don't shot Red but if V9 can handle 4k, how much better will it handle 1080i/p? I think we have a gem here and are going to see that once it is out, there are alot of improvements that have been understated. I will check back in after the 11th and let you know if I am eating crow or performing a victory dance...until then i will remain optimistic...

Actually, after reading Ed's review for the second time I now have done somewhat of an about face.

I now suspect in terms of performance the upgrade may be worthwhile, thought still disappointing in several key aspects. As has been pointed out, many of us have been waiting for hardware support. For a professional NLE to NOT offer HW support to me seems like an unforgivable oversight with HDV taking over the market. Even Nero offers hardware support via NVidia graphics cards which makes it seem even more ridiculous.

At any rate, several aspects of the upgrade sound nice, and for under $200 I'll do it.

I don't want people to think I have a downer on v9. I don't.

My only point is that for ME the new feature list doesn't contain anything that really gets me excited. Some nice enhancements, yes, but nothing that makes me want it NOW!

With v8 things were different - there was the new ProType Titler, for example, which had me giggling with anticipation. And then I saw it . . . ! And then I tried to USE it! This time I'm being cautious.

If there are marked performance and stability gains in the new version I will rush out and buy the upgrade, but I haven't read anything official - or unofficial - that says those improvements are there.

I really hope they are.

It IS disappointing Ian. But with the grieving process they say there are 5 stages. My first reaction to the feature list was anger (stage 1). Now I'm in the denial stage (stage 2), saying it's OK. I don't remember the other stages but I'm sure I'll find out as this continues.

Ha! Actually, stage 1 is shock, then follows denial, then anger! Your next stage, if you get back on the correct Kubler-Ross grief cycle, is bargaining. That's where you offer Sony $50 for the upgrade.

Can you tell who watches Frasier?

It seems you are right about the order. I went straight from shock to anger. This upgrade has got me so screwed up I'm doing it out of order.

I smell a lawsuit here based on psychological distress. I may need to call a few of you as witnesses.

After bargaining comes depression (when you find out the new release fixed all the old flaws but has lots of new ones) and finally acceptance (hoping Sony will fix the flaws in the next update).

:-)

I've upgraded with each new version since v6 and have sold on my previous version each time, recouping all my upgrade costs. I plan to do the same again.

I've upgraded with each new version since v6 and have sold on my previous version each time, recouping all my upgrade costs. I plan to do the same again.

Renton, how would i go about doing this ?
I currently have pro 8 and i'd like to upgrade to 9 but did'nt realise i could sell 8, if i did sell 8 then i presume it'd get registered to someone else.
So how does the upgrade to 9 process go, (i've never upgraded before) ?
I presume i go to the sony site, hit the upgrade (to pro 9 ) button and somewhere during the purchase i have to supply my pro 8 activation key.
I then get a pro 9 download and a new pro 9 key ? Or do i use my pro 8 key ?
My point is, if i sell pro 8 i presume the key goes with it what happens if my pc with pro 9 on it crashes in the future and i need to reinstall 9 ? What activation key do i use ?

Paul.

Hmm, my only wish for Vegas 9 is that the preview to DV firewire has to work with crossfade and 1 title track in full quality, without dropping frames!
I dont know why Vegas cant do this even on my core2duo system,
when Edius for example from version 2 or 3 can do on my older and far slower
Athlon XP system... :(
Don't misunderstand me, i like and use Vegas, but it would be good this function!

Anybody have a system that can make a simple DV to DV dissolve to firewire in full quality at 50/60i speed? If yes, please write your system specs here.

THX
Marton

Renton, how would i go about doing this ?

I'm not Renton but here's my understanding on how this works.
You're on record with Sony as having purchased Vegas 8 Pro.
When you go to buy the upgrade, you use this serial number (it's part of the purchasing process) to get the discount price on the upgrade.
You get a new serial number when you purchase version 9 so you're covered in case of crashes, reinstalls, etc.
When you sell your old version, the purchaser registers it and gets a new serial number from Sony.
If the version you sell was used for an upgrade from a previous version, the purchaser can't use it to get the discounted price to upgrade to the latest version.
Hope this helps.

Cheers Mike, that all makes sense.
I get a new number when i buy the upgrade, that was my main concern.

Thanks.
Paul.

Paul, to extend on what Mike said...

YOU must contact customer service. You then tell them what you're doing (i.e. selling Vegas Pro 8 to another party), they'll need your serial number, you confirm who you are, you tell them who the recipient is, and they will send THEM a new serial number. NOTE that the NEW serial number CANNOT be used for any upgrades so the person you sell it to cannot upgrade.

I was thinking that it would be something along those lines, thanks Edward.

Paul.

Edward, thanks for the clairification on this issue.

Selling on seems to have been covered well enough so I won't repeat.

There are people who are quite willing to buy without the possibility of upgrade, because they are content to have a great program at cheap cost, even though it is not the latest greatest...

...With v8 things were different - there was the new ProType Titler, for example, which had me giggling with anticipation. And then I saw it . . . ! And then I tried to USE it! This time I'm being cautious.

Ian, I hear you on the pro type titler. I never figured it out and in reality, I was getting professional titling results out of the built-in generators. Most of the "effects" the pro type enabled where hokey in my opinion anyways so I never saw that as a loss. I upgraded to V8 for the blu-ray support and upgraded coding, similar reasons for going to v9. i don't have new blue FX either so that is a nice bonus (i think) and I am hoping to migrate to XDCAM EX within a yr or so and I am always of the opinion that it is better to be ahead of the curve on your editors and system and behind the curve on the cameras. You can learn a new camera on the fly but learning the limitations of your editing software (IMHO) during a mission critical job is bad mojo.

I appreciate your skepticism (and Jeff's) and value your opinion and experience. It helps me keep my optimism in check. But I will be honest, I feel like a kid 3 days before xmas, I am ready for today to be the 11th...

After reading the information on the Video Guys site and thinking about it for a while I just ordered the updrade.

With my new Sony HDR-XR500V camera, it looks like Vegas 9 will (should) be quite helpful for my needs.

I tried NEO Scene and do not like it at all! Files are way too big and quality is not the same as the originals, not even close and the playback is not that much better.

So I am hoping Vegas 9 will improve the playback of my files.

I love the new camera! Great video even with the lowest quality and bit rate setting. Low light is excellent as well.

The review at the severely biased CCI should be 100% ignored.

Danny Fye
VidMus Video - Music Productions (http://www.vidmus.com)

So I have a quick question for everyone who preordered. I logged in to my profile at Sony Creative Software, and my pre-order doesn't show up. I also checked my bill, and the charge hasn't posted. I trolled back through my email inbox and don't see an order confirmation email either. Is this because it is a pre-order or should I contact customer support? I am chomping at the bit for tomorrow's install.

For those who already purchased, does your pre-order show in your profile at SCS? Did you receive a confirmation email when you placed your order?

Thanks!

No. I ordered today and got the message I would not receive the confirming e-mail until it was available for download. It also does not appear in my software listing. It did give one a receipt to print out as proof of purchase.

Thanks! With the clock counting down to the expected deadline, I guess I was just getting a little paranoid... :) Thanks for easing my mind.