What do I need to start?

[Rob Strobbe]

Well, do you want to author DVDs?

If you don’t, and you have no plans to do so anytime soon, then you don’t need DVD Architect. You can edit videos in Vegas just fine without it. Used to be that you needed to have DVD Architect installed in order for Vegas to encode AC3 audio. I’m not sure if that’s still the case (haven’t had Vegas without DVD Architect in years), and even if it is, AC3 audio is used almost exclusively for DVDs anyhow.

If you do eventually intend to start authoring DVDs, you could buy DVD Architect Studio (a stripped down version of DVD Architect Pro) by itself or some altogether unrelated DVD authoring package.

Note, however, that you probably will not be able to “add” DVD Architect Pro at a later date since it is sold only bundled with Vegas Pro. I have heard of Sony cutting someone a deal if they bought a Vegas-only package from a retailer, but I’ve also heard of them declining to do. Officially, they’re probably not supposed to, but maybe some people just happen to call a sympathetic sales rep.

Rob

[Terry Esslinger]

You could try the “Studio” version of Vegas. Stripped down version much like Elements and Photoshop. You can download a trial version for free and see if you like it. It is SO MUCH better than windows movie maker.

[Danny Hays]

If you have another DVD burning app like Nero or Roxio, you don’t need DVD Architect. Most new computers with a DVD burner installed come with some sort of DVD burning app. You can render to NTSC DVD Compliant mpeg 2 from Vegas. Hope this helps. Danny Hays

[Kate Wildauer]

Thank you all for the quick replies. This helped–I will skip the “bargain” for now and keep researching.
Kate