Vegas Pro 11: Accelerate To Warp Speed

Sony Creative Software’s flagship Video & Audio Editing Suite – Vegas Pro 11 – has thrust our expectation of its content creation capability into the metaphorical beyond. The newly designed architecture of Vegas Pro 11 is as progressive as it is – ‘of the next generation’. Sony Creative Software have gone all out attack by streamlining Vegas Pro 11′s performance capability, enhancing its rendering efficiency, improving the user interface while adding some pretty cool features and FX eye candy too. In the next few paragraphs we take an overview of the most prevelant of Vegas Pro 11′s new feature set and upgrades.

GPU Accelerated Performance: In version 11 – Vegas Pro – is newly transformed into a highly optimized performance engine using the industry standard OpenCL™ framework to achieve remarkable rendering speed improvements from start to finish. GPU-accelerated video processing is used during editing and playback to produce smoother previews and a more responsive timeline operation. You can now create projects using video effects, transitions, composititng, pan/crop/, and track motion tools and see increased playback and rendering performances of between x2 to x4 times faster with Vegas Pro 11. There are over 45 effects, transitions, generators and compositors GPU-accelerated in Vegas Pro 11, as well as a substantial amount of built-in video processing such as crossfades, fades, alpha compositing, framerate resampling, interlace processing, pan/crop, track motion, opacity, fade-to-color, and multicamera display. To take full advantage of the incredibile GPU-acceleration feature in Vegas Pro 11, you will need a card with at least 512 MB of GPU memory using supporting devices from AMD and NVIDIA.

Image Stabilization: The improved Image Stabilization technology in Vegas Pro 11 enhances video by reducing jitter, camera shake and roller shutter issues. Video footage shot from handheld camcorders without the assistance of a tripod, will have the ability to quickly address this media using several optimized presets. Image Stabilization analyses movements on the X,Y & Z camera axis, providing tremendous precision and incredibly smooth results. The stabilisation tool also includes rolling-shutter correction of the jello/skew/ wobble effects caused by some CMOS camcorders.

Stereoscopic 3D enhancements: Vegas Pro 11 provides a host of new tools which enhance 3D production quality and prevent Stereoscopic 3D edge violations. The Stereoscopic 3D alignment and depth adjustment tools help to correct any horizontal or vertical misalignment which may detract from the viewing experience. Users can now automatically correct 3D video by quickly applying calculated 3D adjustments to salvage minor camera setup discrepancies and ensure that the 3D footage is correctly aligned.

Titling Improvements: Two new titling tools have been added to the Vegas Pro 11 toolkit which provide a refreshing resource for realising creative intros and lower thirds. With the all new Titles & Text tool in Vegas Pro 11 you can quickly add 2D motion to text events by selecting an animated preset from the list and apply them to any project with a simple drag and drop. The ProType Titler - used for creating professional-looking 2D titles – has also received a make-over with a new look interface which is vastly improved for simpler timeline interaction. There are also horizontal offsets in select 2D effects and transitions which can be shifted to allow the perceived depth of the effect to be adjusted. Working with Titles in Vegas Pro 11 has been given an additional boost as they can also be manually adjusted directly in the preview window.

NewBLue FX Titler Pro: A mighty boost to the StereoScopic 3D workflow the NewBlue FX Titler Pro plugin is a worthy and credible addition to the existing Professional grade ‘Titling’ features found in Vegas Pro 11. This high quality plugin allows you to quickly produce superior 3D text animations and stylised lower thirds. Titler Pro is packed with features which enhance the workflow when designing titles. The process of creating complex timelines, keyframing, and using motion graphics in a lot of different ways is made easy in Vegas Pro 11 through the included Titler Pro. With the ability to import raster-based graphics onto your animations and to apply organic raster effects, you can get stunning 3D titles. The plugin supports drag and drop, GPU accellerated FX and provides a user base of preset templates.

Sync Link Grouping: The timeline workflow has been greatly enhanced in Vegas Pro 11 with the inclusion of the new Sync Link Grouping function. It is now possible to link multiple events on the timeline for more efficient editing. When 2 events (or more) are linked they remain in sync with each other and can be moved anywhere along the timeline. Sync Link Grouping is a powerful editing feature which maintains better user control and enables users to easily organize events on the timeline during editing.

Improved ‘Render As’ Options: Complete with improved search tools and the ability to designate favourite file templates and apply built-in template filters – the slick new look user interface in Vegas Pro 11 extends to the ‘Render As’ options window. The ‘Render As’ dialogue window is better organised into component catagory sections. Render templates are easy to choose using the improved ‘Render As’ dialog settings which openly provide a preset list of options to match the settings of your project properties. You can create your own render settings, save them as presets and even designate templates as ‘favorites’ for quick access later. Another new feature at the rendering stage in Vegas Pro 11 is the fully integrated Upload to YouTube interface. This is a very convenient tool, simple to configure and made easy for the upload of video media to any YouTube account. Also worthy of mention here is the fact that Vegas Pro 11 can now render AVC/MP4 files with full streaming support, compatible with most streaming servers.

DVD Architect: Vegas Pro 11 also ships with DVD Architect to provide an all round efficient and dynamic environment for professional video and broadcast production. Through DVD Architect you can create menu-based, single title DVD and Blu-ray Disc projects using the software’s preset backgrounds, motion menus, buttons, and effects. You can also import your own layered Photoshop^® (PSD) files for use as backgrounds, buttons, and graphics

Vegas Pro 11 system requirements:

Microsoft^® Windows Vista^® 32-bit or 64-bit SP2, or Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit
2 GHz processor (multicore or multiprocessor CPU recommended for HD or stereoscopic 3D)
500 MB hard-disk space for program installation
2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
OHCI-compatible IEEE-1394DV card (for DV and HDV capture and print-to-tape)
USB 2.0 connection (for importing from AVCHD, XDCAM EX, NXCAM, or DVD camcorders)
Windows-compatible sound card
DVD-ROM drive (for installation from a DVD only)
Supported CD-recordable drive (for CD burning only)
Supported DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW (for DVD burning only)
Supported BD-R/-RE drive (for Blu-ray Disc™ burning only)
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (included on application disc)
Apple^® QuickTime^® 7.1.6 or later for reading and writing QuickTime files
Internet Connection (for Gracenote MusicID Service)
Supported NVIDIA or ATI cards for GPU-acceleration (please see the GPU acceleration page for more information)