I would like to ask the community for their personal opinion on Vegas 11, pro's, cons.

GPU acceleration a plus for you ?
Render times good ?

Thanks

Hmm, no answers to this. I would also be interested as I'm thinking of making the jump from Vegas Pro 9 to 11.

Thanks,
Garrett

It's working fine for me but my card is not a supported GPU to test those features. I have a friend using it on a supported card and he loves it. His FCP guys are envious when they need to update the closed captioning on an MPEG file - THEY CAN'T DO IT so they come to him to make the changes.

It's working brilliantly for us and GPU acceleration is well worth investing in a suitable card.

For info we have it on a 4 year old Dell XPS 420 with a Quad core Q6600 processor and a Geforce 8800 GTX graphics card. The graphics card is quite old and gives very little GPU accelleration for rendering.

My machine is a Dell XPS 8300 with an i7 processor and a Geforece GTX 560 Ti (OEM) card and it flies. I can render a 20 minute project from DSLR source footage out to DVD in 20 minutes with VERY heavy grading. Output to Blu-Ray AVC format takes about 30 minutes.

One benefit of the GPU processing is that it takes on some (not all) of the work. For example. In our projects we use a sharpen and film grain filter. Which are not supported by the GPU processing. However, when rendering I can see that the GPU is working hard on everything else and leaving the CPU to handle all the non GPU processing of filters. If I disable those plugins it renders in the same ammount of time, just uses less CPU.

If you have a suitable graphics card its well worth upgrading. If not, then get a decent card and upgrade.

A big thumbs up on Vegas 11. Before the latest release I had some major issues of one kind or another with features, and crashing was a constant problem.

It has all been fixed, as far as I am concerned. I have not had a single crash with the newest update. Before I had random crashes all the time, very frustrating.

Go for it!

GPU acceleration doesn't do much for me, I think because my processor is very fast already. A more expensive card than my GTX 460 might give me some speed, but I kind of doubt it.

I am very unhappy with preview performance of mulitcamera projects using 3-4 lines of 1080i and 1080 24p footage is awful, and my system is pretty well configured, I think.

But aside from preview performance, about which there is nothing to be done except invest in a dual processor system, I am very happy.

Hmm, no answers to this. I would also be interested as I'm thinking of making the jump from Vegas Pro 9 to 11.

i would jump from 9 to 10 for sure, but 11 - i don't know, I use 11 for r3ds only, my main editor is still 10, somehow I don’t see dramatic benefits of GPU acceleration, although i have a very decent graphics card;
my main reason staying with 10 is stabilize, for me it works much better on ver.10

V11 rocks! IT is one of the most worthy upgrades for me so far. I too use a Dell XPS8300 plys GTX560. The machine keeps crashing (blue screen due to shitty hardware - ram suspected) but when it is working fine Vegas works very well.

I see a big improvement in render times for mpeg2 and avc mpeg4 especially. The keyframe possibility with ofx support for almost everything makes the titler a lot more versatile. My only wish now is for Vegas to support xml for grading in Davinci.

In short, go for it!

Glad you're happy Sean. I am too, but I had my first crash this morning, and I lost a bit of work, as the bak file nor the restored version contained my work, very strange. So I'm back to backing up often again, like every few minutes, which is a pain since I save each time to three locations.

Otherwise I'm as happy as you, sorry to hear about your crashes!

NOT a fan of the new VFX controls.

Jeff, if you use my Auto Save custom command, it will do that for you! It installs when you install Excalibur. Auto Save is free to use, though.

Edward, thanks much for your tip about using Excalibur's save command. As I wrote my post I remembered you and your program, and how I needed to try it!

I will install it later tonight. Thank you good sir!

GPU acceleration doesn't do much for me, I think because my processor is very fast already. A more expensive card than my GTX 460 might give me some speed, but I kind of doubt it.

I am very unhappy with preview performance of mulitcamera projects using 3-4 lines of 1080i and 1080 24p footage is awful, and my system is pretty well configured, I think.

But aside from preview performance, about which there is nothing to be done except invest in a dual processor system, I am very happy.

I can't quantify how much difference GPU acceleration has made for me because I upgraded to a GTX570 at the same time as replacing my i7 processor cooling fan and renewing the thermal compound (previously it would run at well over 90 degrees when stressed, now down to 60). I also had to update the driver thatcame with the new video card before Vegas would even recognise it. But together the speed increase has been massive :- )

Jeff I regularly do multicam editing from three X 1080p / 50p sources (TM900's) together with up to 4 separate WAV audio tracks. I found that switching to 8 bit from 32 bit gives me a smooth playback staying at 50fps almost all the time. 32 bit is rough. The processor is a 4 core 8 thread i7 950.

Pete

Hi Peter, with GPU accleration on this latest update of V11, as I mentioned earlier in this thread or another one, (I forget), my playback is now fine.

Previously when editing in 720 60p, I did fine, but 1080 just gave me fits. It was especially disappointing because I spent $$$ on 15K rpm SAS drives, a great SAS controller, overclocked my I7 980 to 4.2gHz, and still 1080 was lagging.

But all is now well, as the GPU thing has given me smooth playback in 1080. It's marginal at times, but it's good enough.

Mind you I'm running the playback screen in the largest size, at Best quality, on a 30" monitor, so I may have been pushing things to begin with, don't know. I find Preview quality setting is just too poor when working with 1080 as it pulsates with grain during playback, very distracting.

Thanks for your feedback. BTW, I don't run in 32 bit mode, but thanks for mentioning it!

Vegas 11 has been pretty smooth for me, although I still get the crashes from time to time, but with the latest patches it has happened less often.
I just finished a multicam project with footage from my Sony NX5U,AX2000, Canon HG21 and HG10, all loaded in the timeline and they ran smoothly on my i7 920 setup, I have a older GTX 295 Video card so the GPU feature is available but not really noticable. of course I really have not felt the need to move up since editing and rendering have been smooth and fast on my current rig...

I'm running the playback screen in the largest size, at Best quality, on a 30" monitor, so I may have been pushing things to begin with, don't know. I find Preview quality setting is just too poor when working with 1080

I should have added that I'm using two 24" screens, one for editing and the other for fullscreen playback. I have viewing set to Best+Full and "Adjust Size and Quality For Optimal Playback" disabled - because as you say it gets tricky to see enough at lower settings. Dumping 32 bit made a significant difference in playback frame rate as well as in rendering times; coming from a pro-photography background as I do I had simply taken it for granted that 32 bit was indispensible rather than only using it when needed.

Pete

in general, i'd suggest using Good rather than Best for preview/rendering/etc.

(from the manual)
"Good uses bilinear scaling without integration, while Best uses bicubic scaling with integration.
If you're using high-resolution stills (or video) that will be scaled down to the final output size, choosing Best can prevent artifacts.

Unless you have specific performance problems, choose Good. Choosing Best can dramatically increase rendering times."

Well, depends on what you're doing it for.

If it's just playing around, then it doesn't matter.

If it's for a client or otherwise for pay, unless you have a really, really tight deadline, a little extra render time is worth it.

Besides, that part of the manual was written quite a while and numerous generations of CPUs ago. I can't imagine the render time difference would be much these days.

Hi Rob, I was talking not about Best in project properties but for the preview windows setting.

As far as project settings using Best, which I think you're talking about, I remember using Best used to be recommended for stills mostly, but nowadays I've seen it recommended by so many people lately I just started using it all the time. As David says, I rendered both ways yesterday with almost no difference in speed, which I know makes no sense, but I think my CPU is maxed out so it's about the same both ways. Don't know if it's better or not, to be hones, it works fine.

Best used to really take a whole lot longer, but not so much anymore, at least for me.

I have had the free trial for the last three weeks, and I pretty much like it. As I get used to it, I get more and more proficient, and that is saying something for old fart like me. The one area that I am disappointed is that I cannot product an AVCHD DVD with this program.

Mike

Mike,
true, but if you 'render image only' in Vegas (Tools / Burn disc) or 'prepare' to a folder in DVDA, you can take those into a free software like ImgBurn and burn the AVCHD disc there. I believe you have the Platinum version 11.

overall i like it alot, my render times to .mp4 files are absolutely amazing!

my one gripe is that i can't make any new render profiles with v11 or it wont render

I would like to ask the community for their personal opinion on Vegas 11, pro's, cons.

GPU acceleration a plus for you ?
Render times good ?

Thanks

I have a question to ask you Don, why?

Do you have VP11? Or are you thinking of upgrading?

Grazie

why not simply dl the trial and give it a whirl on YOUR pc.

my opinion is that the latest v11 is looking good on MY system.

Mike,
true, but if you 'render image only' in Vegas (Tools / Burn disc) or 'prepare' to a folder in DVDA, you can take those into a free software like ImgBurn and burn the AVCHD disc there. I believe you have the Platinum version 11.

Jorma, can you give me a detailed sequence, ie. step by step instruction, on how to do this?
Thanks.
Mike

Mike,
check my post in the other thread and follow the steps given there. You should be able to get by :)

I've been using Vegas since v.6. I like the Vegas tools and 'ergonomics'. After upgrading to v.11 and a new system, I'm dissatisfied with the preview quality - both in preview window and on external device (2nd monitor). Choppiness and image tearing are unacceptable.

For comparison I installed a trial version of Premiere CS5.5, loaded the same video files and see no problems with their preview. More here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/what-happens-vegas/506417-preview-choppy-vegas-11-but-not-premier-cs5-5-a.html

I've been using Vegas since v.6. I like the Vegas tools and 'ergonomics'. After upgrading to v.11 and a new system, I'm dissatisfied with the preview quality - both in preview window and on external device (2nd monitor). Choppiness and image tearing are unacceptable.

For comparison I installed a trial version of Premiere CS5.5, loaded the same video files and see no problems with their preview. More here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/what-happens-vegas/506417-preview-choppy-vegas-11-but-not-premier-cs5-5-a.html

It is probably cold comfort to realize that GPU can have a dramatic impact. I know you have a Quadro 4000. I just upgraded to an overclocked GTX580 Classified Ultra that absolutely screams. With the GPU enabled, I can preview Cineform avi's (24p) on the timeline at Best/Full, even when kicking the preview over to a secondary 30" display. Full frame rate, smooth as butter, not one hiccup. Perhaps in your case the Quadro 4000 is not playing well with Vegas.

It is probably cold comfort to realize that GPU can have a dramatic impact. I know you have a Quadro 4000. I just upgraded to an overclocked GTX580 Classified Ultra that absolutely screams. With the GPU enabled, I can preview Cineform avi's (24p) on the timeline at Best/Full, even when kicking the preview over to a secondary 30" display. Full frame rate, smooth as butter, not one hiccup. Perhaps in your case the Quadro 4000 is not playing well with Vegas.

I think it's time for me to seriously consider changing the graphic card. Somebody already advised a GTX for Vegas in the other thread.
My choice of Quadro 4000 was based on several articles, which I guess were kind of misleading.

Good afternoon,

I updated to version 11 this morning.

I must say this is the most worthy update \i have seen sense 8 pro!!

I layed down 20 minutes of hd, did serious color grading, pan and crop and some effects. I ran the preview window at best full screen and it ran at full rate all the time.!!!

I only had one glitch with a new blue effect that caused the grey non response screen. I tried a bit of everything and must say sony did a good job this time!!

I have not run it on my windows seven lap top yet but will give that a go tomarrow.

will also load a long format video just for a look see as well.

I am running my dell xps work station I7 2.67 gh and 10 gigs of ram, do not even know what my card is.

I'm finding out I cannot render to Bluray 1080 60i without serious issues, it's a huge pain. I have to render out progressive and I'm not a happy camper at all.

With the GPU enabled, I can preview Cineform avi's (24p) on the timeline at Best/Full, even when kicking the preview over to a secondary 30" display. Full frame rate, smooth as butter, not one hiccup. Perhaps in your case the Quadro 4000 is not playing well with Vegas.
Not to put down what your card is doing Steven, but,
My old GT240 could do that, 25 fps 6 tracks of Cineform 1080p with no FX at best full, no problems.
It would fall over when adding color correction or other fx.
My new GTX580 is better, but still not as good in Vegas as it is in the Adobe MPE.
1080p with heavy CC at best full is the dream.

Same here Steven, I found Cineform to be a piece of cake. It's the files that come directly from the camera that give me fits. But since AVCHD was primarily meant to be a delivery format, what can I expect, right?

I have a question to ask you Don, why?

Do you have VP11? Or are you thinking of upgrading?

Grazie

Grazie,

I am planning a 2013 project and am doing my homework. I am wide eyed at the new cams coming out and of course the software is a huge part of that. I was also doing a little project on computers. In addition, it would take an old fart like me a long time to get a feel for the Good the Bad and the Ugly !! So the communities experience would be priceless. Software is like a box of chocolates ............

'Software is like a box of chocolates ............ '

which can lead to awful toothache ;-(

Not to put down what your card is doing Steven, but,
My old GT240 could do that, 25 fps 6 tracks of Cineform 1080p with no FX at best full, no problems.
It would fall over when adding color correction or other fx.
My new GTX580 is better, but still not as good in Vegas as it is in the Adobe MPE.
1080p with heavy CC at best full is the dream.

Oh yeah, big guy? Did your old GT240 sound like a hairdryer at full bore? I think not. :)

One of my joys is applying Magic Bullet Looks as event FX and getting full frame rates at Preview/Best or Full/Best. Before my card upgrade, it was just awful.

-Steve

I agree with Steven that Cineform files playback very well

With Edius and PP badly showing up Vegas for preview ability of raw video files, I'm with you Gerald, still dreaming. Transcoding to Cineform for every project as I had done previously was a nightmare workflow wise. Projects went from 60-100GB to 600GB or more, the nightmare portion being storage and backup. I had about 10TB of data storage space filled with up and constantly had to struggle choosing which files to delete to make room for another completed project.

My old system handled Cineform just fine as it was. I could've skipped $2500 worth of upgrade had I known that playback would still be choppy with a multicamera 1080p project.