Dilemma upgrading to windows 8

[Phil Seymour]

I am not sure why Sony said the camera doesn’t support Windows 8, but it records to removable memory cards and they can be read by any system, Windows, Mac or Linux via a card reader (make sure the reader can handle modern high speed, high capacity cards.)

Whether Win 8 is as useful or good as Microsoft says it is, time will tell. Hopefully it isn’t another Vista.
With Hi-def you will need a high spec computer, so as long as it has (say) an i7 CPU, about 16gig RAM,a couple of large hard drives and a Blu-Ray burner plus a good graphics card, you should be in the business of HD video-making.

It is probably not worth worrying about GPU accelerated render/preview at the moment unless you have a very high end Nvidia card (Quadro series). For general cards the jury is still out on whether it is worth the bother, but some users may disagree. I have a GTX570 card and it really doesn’t do a lot.

Windows 7 Pro64, i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, SSD boot drive, GTX 570 Graphics, Vegas Pro 12

[Brad Leigh]

Luigi
I just bought a new Laptop last week. I bought from tiger direct, but all the online retailers have search filters. I wanted windows 7 pro because I have some xp and older software I didn’t want to replace. I also didn’t want to beta test Win 8, it looks like the features added are more tablet friendly.
I am very happy, the laptop i5 has Firewire ( for my HDV camera ) USB 3, Sata external. A DVD burner. 1gig dedicated video card. It’s a great crossover machine. I suggest if you use the search filters with the major retailers this is a great time to buy a Win 7 or Win 7 pro machine. I got a very good deal, and it is a major brand, not a refurb.
Brad

i7 2600 3.4 Ghz 8Gig Ram , Win 7 Pro, Vegas Pro 12

[Luigi Perrotta]

Thank you guys,
It seems what it boils down to is try to find another retailer I can trust. The problem is other retailers have a 15 days return policy. It is difficult for me to try a new computer, a new program, install the hardware and hope all works, in 15 days.

A few years ago I purchased a top of the line laptop, I needed it to record 3 hrs, of continuos music in the field. The laptop kept crashing I was going back and forth between the manufacturers of the laptop, the mixer the express card etc. They kept pointing fingers at each other The laptop’s OS was VISTA. I gave up, I purchased the Alesis digital recorder and never had a problem in the field.

I purchased a fireport that goes with the recorder it works like a charm, to input the sound in the computer.

I guess the first thing I need to do is try to find a driver or a program that works to input the info from the recorder in the computer that works with windows 7

I also was very surprised when Sony told me that my camcorder (HDR-AX2000) is not compatible with windows 8. It didn’t make sense, I repeated the question in several e-mails I got the same answer.
This camcorder comes with a program to input the video in the computer, maybe they don’t have an upgrade for this program. Maybe the card reader works better

I don’t know much about graphic cards, when I started making videos I spent several hundred dollars for a “better” graphic card, it dropped frames, the card that came with the computer worked better for me.

Is it worth all the troubles to upgrade from Vegas 8 to Vegas 12?

Thank you
Gino

[Phil Seymour]

You intend working in HD… and the world and technology have moved on from when Vegas 8 was in its prime. I would say yes to upgrade. There isn’t a piece of software without horror stories about it on the web, possibly some of the stories well deserved, but the big software makers are here to make money, and dud software soon tarnishes reputations. Windows based computers are a minefield for conflicting software, hardware and drivers, there being so many makers and models on the market (one reason Apple computers are so popular with a more controlled environment.)
Fortunately, there are forums like this when you have troubles.
Upgrade!

Windows 7 Pro64, i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, SSD boot drive, GTX 570 Graphics, Vegas Pro 12

[Luigi Perrotta]

Thank you phil.

I found a computer at COSTCO with windows 7 home premium installed.
The computer is made by Cyberpower, cooler master elite I guess is the model. I never heard of this manufacturer, The computer has 16 GB memory, 2. OTB HD.
I am in the process of finding out if it has room, to install a firewire card and my UAD SOLO 2, CARD for audio effects.

With so many firewire cards available it is even difficult to choose one, They all seem to do the same thing, I only noticed that the more expensive one support 800 speed, the less expensive support 400 speed. Now I need to understand what speed works best for my camcorders, my recorder and my external HD.

I am new at putting pieces together and hope all this works.

Thank you
Luigi

[Dave Osbun]

You just need to build your own computer. If you don’t know how, hire a local high school geek to put one together. Use Tomshardware.com as a guide to which components to buy if you aren’t knowledgeable in this area. It’ll be cheaper and you can use the best components on the market.

And there will be no need to worry about “will it work with Vegas 12” since any modern computer will work fine. This isn’t the 1990s anymore.

Intel i5 3570K Ivy Bridge 3.40GHz quad core
Asus P8Z77V-LK
16gb RAM
ATI Radeon HD7850 2gb
Crucial M4 SSD + Seagate Barricuda 7200rpm
Windows 7 Pro 64

[Luigi Perrotta]

Thank you for your input Dave,

My Son in law and I built my first computer over 15 years ago.
I also used to build my own speaker cabinets. I don’t have the patience to do these things anymore. I am not a young person. Stock computers have worked well for me lately.

It may not be the 90’s anymore, but if you read a previous post, just a few years ago I tried to record a few hrs. of continuos music on a laptop. It was a nightmare! I returned the laptop and got a 24 tracks digital recorder.

I am also a musician I make music videos, live performances and using a green screen in my basement. In live performance one needs a recording device that once you push the recording button it can be left unattended and trusted it will do the job, without crashes, or other problems.

When I spend more time resolving technical issues then making music or recording and editing. It’s time to quit and keep my sanity.