Today's best VEGAS Pro Edit deals
We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices
Image 2 of 5
Feb 20, 2018 Vegas Pro 15 represents a major overhaul of the software that was originally developed by Sony but taken over by Magix. The company’s first post-sale version 14 in.
Image 4 of 5
VEGAS Pro is one of the biggest names in professional video editing software, and it’s been used for years to create movies, TV shows, music videos and more. It has a very intuitive user interface, especially if you’re upgrading from VEGAS’ consumer-level application, VEGAS Movie Studio. It excels at creating visual special effects, 3D titling and compositing, and it even allows you to author DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Its ever-expanding tool set makes it a good choice for pro video editors who want the power and granular control needed to make the high-quality videos demanded by their audience.
VEGAS Pro has all the features professional editors need to create their video projects. Tools like chroma key, white balance, image stabilization, stereoscopic 3D editing, multicam editing and masking are all present and work well. If you’re a new editor, it may take you a while to get the hang of all the tools VEGAS Pro has to offer. Fortunately, this pro video editor has built-in interactive tutorials that show you how many of the tools work. So, even if you’re not a pro, you can learn to use this program effectively if you’re willing to put in the time it takes to learn.
Proxy-first workflow is one of the features that make this software a unique entry in our lineup. This tool allows crews in remote locations to send proxy footage back to their home base for editing with a camera-mounted adapter. This is an amazing tool because it allows editors to begin work on footage only moments after it’s captured from pretty much anywhere in the world. The only requirement is an internet connection.
Another unique tool is the VEGAS Pro Connect iPad app. This app lets you perform basic desktop functions on your tablet. For example, you can control playback, drop markers and collaborate with other editors who also have the app. You can even download a proxy version of your project to take with you. Then you can play back your project and make notes that sync when you connect with the desktop app again. This is a great collaborative tool.
This professional video editor also features intelligent upscaling, which means you can take your regular HD footage and enlarge it to 4K resolution. This is great because it allows you to use footage that may be older with clips filmed with the newest ultra-high-resolution cameras. This is good because VEGAS Pro has extended its camera support to include the RED digital cinema cameras.
One thing that may dissuade from buying this program is its price tag. At the time of this writing, the program will run you about $600. That’s about $150 more than the next most expensive application and more than twice that of industry-standard programs like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro and Media Composer.
It’s worth noting that VEGAS Pro was sold by Sony to MAGIX, which makes its own professional video editor. Since MAGIX took over, VEGAS has improved dramatically, introducing previously omitted features such as motion tracking, video stabilization, dynamic media bins and more.
VEGAS Pro is a worthy entry in our review of the best professional video editing software. It has all the tools and features you need to create highly polished projects, from YouTube videos to feature films. All you have to do is learn how to use it properly and the sky is the limit.
Today's best VEGAS Pro Edit deals
We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices
It’s official. MAGIX CEO, Klaus Schmidt, announced yesterday on Twitter the acquisition of most Sony Creative Software (SCS) applications, including Sony Vegas Pro. As of today, the full story is available on the official MAGIX website.
Where is Sony Vegas Pro heading?
Sony’s Creative Software division hasn’t been too busy lately. The last major update to Vegas Pro was a long time ago—and there wasn’t anything like a roadmap available. So the move to sell off this area of the business is quite understandable. Sony’s far more streamlined Catalyst line of applications, however, will remain in their own hands.
The German company, MAGIX Software GmbH, is (by its own claim):
A leading creator of video, music, and photo-editing software and apps in Europe and is already well established in the US market.
Its line of products ranges from their original piece of software, the Music Maker, to easy-to-use video editing programs like Video Deluxe. Most of their programs are pretty affordable and, in all honesty, a bit limited regarding features. Realistically, these programs are aimed at rookie to intermediate users, and are designed to be easy to use with the help of lots of presets and wizards.
So, where does Sony Vegas Pro? Well, the MAGIX acquisition of Sony Vegas might be a very smart move, as it has become quite robust and well-developed over the years. It could be a nice addition to their line-up and definitely could draw a few more customers to the brand.
What’s next?
Hopefully, Vegas Pro won’t be stripped of its features in order to make it simpler to use. That would be a shame. Perhaps we’ll even see it flourish under the banner of MAGIX—that would be quite a happy ending, I think.
I believe that it’s kind of a strange move for Sony—and quite the opposite of what Blackmagic has done. First, the Australian company bought Davinci Resolve; then they started building cameras to feed this piece of software, and now they are actively developing editing capabilities into Resolve. And Sony? They have a lot of cameras; that’s for sure. Plus, they had a whole creative software division, too, which is kind of just… gone. So no more synergy between acquisition and post production. But maybe they just wanted to streamline their portfolio by chopping off antiquated traditions and concentrate on Catalyst.
I suppose time will tell.
Possible alternatives
If you are a Sony Vegas Pro user and don’t see any future for your beloved NLE, maybe you should give DaVinci Resolve or Hitfilm a try. Although neither is as feature packed as Sony Vegas, Hitfilm is an affordable and well-kept piece of software while Resolve comes for free and has a world-class grading suite build in. The editing side of the application needs a little more time, but the current development is promising.
Sources: Press release | Twitter