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SpectraLayers, Sharpening, Color Grading and other questions…
Vegas is my first and only editing software and i like it a lot. I tried out Adobe Premier once and laughed out loud at all the steps required just to do a simple picture crossfade. I’m really getting into indie feature filmmaking and have big projects planned for future and was wondering if anyone else is using Vegas for serious professional work. It seems that all my fellow indie filmmakers use everything BUT Vegas (final cut, adobe, media composer,etc).
Here’s my first question: In the world of editing is Vegas really more just considered a “beginners/amatuer” software? Are pros using Vegas cause I’ve never met one?
Next question: Vegas’ sharpening tool is really bad. Is there plug-in’s available that would get me sharpening tools like found in Adobe Photoshop?
Color Grading: I’ve not used any other software so I just don’t know what’s available but Vegas’ color tools seem very basic to me. Are they basic or is it that I just don’t know how to use them to their capacity? What are better alternatives for color grading?
Audio: I’m teaching myself in video/audio editing so my exposure to this world is very limited. If I wished to really master audio does Vegas have the tools…or do I really need something like Avid Pro Tools? The new Spectralayers and Izotope plugins look good and I was wondering what others think about those tools.
Just looking for some insights here.
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5 Replies
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[Mike Thomas] “In the world of editing is Vegas really more just considered a “beginners/amatuer” software? Are pros using Vegas cause I’ve never met one? “
I guess you’ve never met Stan Harrington. His movies Bread in the Bone, Craving Heart, and Everyone’s a Victor were edited entirely on Vegas Pro and have won numerous film festivals. Here is a list of others:
List of films edited in Sony Vegas
Paranormal Activity (2007) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/
Bred in the Bone (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469043/
The Craving Heart (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758739/
Everyone’s a Victor (2007) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1071793/
Sasquatch Hunters (2005) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339531/
Bendeyar (2011) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2069723/
Small Change (2010)(https://www.dogbytefilms.net) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1785563/
Zombies During Third Period: Again https://www.zombies2movie.com/movie.html
By the Light (under production) https://vimeo.com/19857410
OceanWorld 3D (2009) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1249415/
Picture Me (2009) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1459052/
Deuce of Spades (2010) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1384586/
Sleep Disorder (Pendulum Pictures)
Return of the Curse (Pendulum Pictures)
Bigfoot (film)
The Making of a Documentary
The Basement (indieflix.com)List of TV shows edited in Sony Vegas
Survivor Man by Les Stroud https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770659/
Painting & Travel with Roger & Sarah Bansemer (PBS) https://www.paintingandtravel.com/
Ocean Wonderland 3D (2003)
Sharks 3D (2005)
Dolphins and Whales 3D (2008)
Air Shows by Mike Goulian https://mikegoulian.com/
Nightline
A Man’s World https://amansworldtv.com/
WoodMarvels.com 3D Animations & Live Videos https://WoodMarvels.com/Vegas Pro is not an amateur tool by any means. Tools like Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer are just getting features that Vegas Pro has had for years and years. I personally sat in a room and watched Final Cut Pro 7 editors salivate and jaw drop while they watched a Vegas Pro demonstration and see multiple native formats with multiple frame rates get dropped on the Vegas Pro timeline and continue to play with no conforming or pre-rendering. Vegas Pro is the fastest most productive editing environment in the industry. Final Cut Pro X is finally getting close with it’s magnetic timeline. I exclusively use Mac’s but I have one Windows workstation just to edit with Vegas Pro. It’s that good.
[Mike Thomas] “Vegas’ sharpening tool is really bad. Is there plug-in’s available that would get me sharpening tools like found in Adobe Photoshop? “
Have you tried the Unsharp Mask? That usually does a better job than Sharpen. There are lots of tools in plug-in suites like Boris FX’s Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) that give you amazing control over their FX. You should definitely check these out.
[Mike Thomas] “Color Grading: I’ve not used any other software so I just don’t know what’s available but Vegas’ color tools seem very basic to me. Are they basic or is it that I just don’t know how to use them to their capacity? What are better alternatives for color grading?”
Red Giant Magic Bullet Looks remains the goto color grading plug-in for Vegas Pro. It’s very intuitive to use and produces outstanding results. BCC 8 also has a great suite of color grading tools.
[Mike Thomas] “Audio: I’m teaching myself in video/audio editing so my exposure to this world is very limited. If I wished to really master audio does Vegas have the tools…or do I really need something like Avid Pro Tools?”
Vegas Pro started out as Vegas Audio (with no video) so it is the most capable audio editor in an NLE bar none. With the exception of not having MIDI support (which you may not need) and side-chaining, Vegas Pro can do anything ProTools can do including multi-track recording.
[Mike Thomas] “The new Spectralayers and Izotope plugins look good and I was wondering what others think about those tools.”
Spectral Layers is a very surgical tool for manipulating audio and can get you out of some very tight jams when a recording is less that acceptable. iZotope RX2 is required IMHO. It is the go to tool for audio repair. iZotope Ozone 5 for mastering and sweetening, and iZotope Nectar if you are doing VO or other vocals.
[Mike Thomas] “Just looking for some insights here.”
Well.. you came to the right place for insights on Vegas Pro. lol. (now you have mine but I’m sure others will add their views) 😉
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
If i start writing and explaining my views like John on
the matter to you Mike, it would take you the whole day
to read it (lol)….But John sums it up perfectly basically.Steve Rhoden
(Cow Leader)
Film Editor & Compositor.
Filmex Creative Media.
https://www.facebook.com/FilmexCreativeMedia
1-876-832-4956 -
Excellent! Thank you John! That’s just the kind of info that I needed to know. I think it’s the fact that Vegas is rarely mentioned among editors that I began questioning it myself. Kind of like when I was a photojournalist years ago and I’d be at a big event and be the only Minolta shooter among all the Nikon and Canon shooters. My Minolta did everything their cameras did but I always felt like the weirdy in the group. Thanks again!
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Here’s another feature film cut on Vegas to add to your list- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruaUIyrFMMU
Redemption Ride, my first feature (first film project of any kind actually!)
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[Mike Thomas] “I think it’s the fact that Vegas is rarely mentioned among editors that I began questioning it myself.”
I think part of this may be that most video editors use a Mac and Adobe and Avid run on a Mac along with Final Cut Pro but Vegas Pro does not. That cuts Sony out of a LOT of conversations. I know if I were looking for an NLE now and didn’t know Vegas Pro, I wouldn’t even consider it because I exclusively use a Mac and wouldn’t be looking at Windows software. It’s only because I came from the PC world and am hooked on Vegas Pro that I begrudgingly invested in another PC to run it on but this will be my last. My next workstation will be a Mac Pro and I’ll run bootcamp if Sony doesn’t port Vegas Pro to the Mac by then… but I won’t give up my Vegas.
[Mike Thomas] “Kind of like when I was a photojournalist years ago and I’d be at a big event and be the only Minolta shooter among all the Nikon and Canon shooters. My Minolta did everything their cameras did but I always felt like the weirdy in the group.”
Then you should feel right at home with us Vegas Pro editors because you’re going to feel the same way. 😉
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com
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