When you see the name Sony next to a product, especially when near anything video-related, it inspires a feeling of quality and safety, as in “choose Sony, and they’ll back you up.” Yes, it’s corny and even mushy, but when Sony decides to make software, the end result is usually a solid, stable, well-designed and “deep” product. What do we mean by that?
Sony Vegas Studio 9 Platinum is what we call “deep” because its features number in the hundreds and flexibility is at a peak for the price point. This means you can do more with Sony Vegas than most entry-level video editing software, but it also means Vegas 9 Platinum takes more effort to learn.
Fortunately, Vegas Studio 9 has an amazing interactive tutorial system that not only tells you what to do, but highlights the buttons you need to press and continues only when you’ve completed a step. It’s a great way for new users to become familiar with basic tasks, and we recommend that every new user spend a good hour using the tutorials before capturing a single video.
Capturing video in Vegas 9 is the same as with most other video editing software – from DV or analog sources, standard or high definition, drag and drop, etc. – and captured with the same efficiency as PowerDirector and VideoStudio.
When editing video in Sony Vegas 9, you can view your clips in Sony’s timeline. Vegas does not have a storyboard view like PowerDirector and VideoStudio, but you shouldn’t let that determine your decision to buy. There’s so much in Vegas that’s worthy of mention we won’t be able to fit it in this review.
Trimming video in Vegas 9 isn’t quite as intuitive as with other video editing software, where you mark sections ‘in’ or ‘out.’ Although when you learn how Vegas trims video, or splits video – to use Sony’s terminology – you’ll feel silly for not figuring it out sooner. Splits are done by playing your video and pressing the S key when you find the desired spot on the timeline. Vegas will split the video at that spot, so you can insert transitions and add effects to the various clips.
Another nice feature allows you to place markers on the timeline that translate into chapters when you create a disc with Sony’s DVD Architect. This is done by pressing the M key to define a start and end point.
Of all the consumer level video editing software, Vegas Platinum 9 has the best options for exporting your projects to video files. The file list is extensive:
• MPEG-1
• MPEG-2
• FLAC
• FLV
• AVCHD
• MP4 (for iPod)
• PSP-compatible
• MOV
• RM
• AVI
• WMV
• DV/HDV Camcorders
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