Vegas Pro


Vegas Pro is a video editing software package for non-linear editing originally published by Sonic Foundry, then by Sony Creative Software, and now by Magix. The software runs on the Windows operating system.
Originally developed as audio editing software, it eventually developed into an NLE for video and audio from version 2.0. Vegas features real-time multitrack video and audio editing on unlimited tracks, resolution-independent video sequencing, complex effects and compositing tools, 24-bit/192 kHz audio support, VST and DirectX plug-in effect support, and Dolby Digital surround sound mixing. On 24 May 2016, Sony announced that it had sold Vegas to MAGIX, who would continue supporting and developing the software.

Features

VEGAS does not require any specialized hardware to run properly, allowing it to operate on almost any standard Windows computer across a broad range of hardware.
In areas of compositing and motion graphics, Vegas provides a broad tool set including 3D track motion compositing with control over z-depth, and spatial arrangement of visual planes including plane intersection.
Much of the visual effects processing in Vegas follows an audio-like paradigm. Effects can be applied at any stage of the visual signal flow — event level, track level and output level effects, much like reverb, delay and flange audio effects are applied in a digital audio system, like Pro Tools, Cubase or Sonar. Master output effects can also be controlled and manipulated over time by the use of Master Bus track automation envelopes.
One major omission of Vegas is that, although it started life as an Audio Multitrack NLE, it has no MIDI capability at all. This restricts its use for Audio production, focusing the product on the post-production, Video NLE market only.
VEGAS features integration with 24p DV. It is also one of the few NLEs which can convert other formats to 24p without any kind of a plugin or third-party application support and is the only proprietary NLE that allows multiple instances of the application to be opened simultaneously. Clips and sequences can be copied and pasted between instances of Vegas. One instance can be rendering a sequence in the background while the user continues to edit in a different instance of Vegas in the foreground. VEGAS provides sophisticated compositing including green screen, masking, and keyframe animation. Nesting allows a prior project to be included in another project modularizing the editing process so that an array of tracks and edits become one track for further editing. Any changes to the previous project become reflected in the later project. Nesting is especially helpful in large, complex or special effects projects as the final rendering suffers no generation loss.
Unlike other editors, MAGIX VEGAS Pro supports scripting technology which provides task automation, simplified workflow, and greater efficiency and productivity. Free and paid pre-written scripts are available from the VEGAS community on the web.

Version history

Vegas beta

Sonic Foundry introduced a sneak preview version of Vegas Pro on June 11, 1999. It is called a "Multitrack Media Editing System".

Vegas 1.0

Released on July 23, 1999 at the NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee, Vegas was an audio-only tool with a particular focus on rescaling and resampling audio. It boasted support for popular formats like DivX and Real Networks RealSystem G2 file formats.

Vegas Video beta (Vegas 2.0 beta)

Released on April 10, 2000. Video capabilities were added.

Vegas Video (Vegas 2.0)

Released on June 12, 2000.

Vegas Video LE 3.0

Vegas Video 3.0

Released on December 3, 2001.
This release offered:
Released on April 2003.
Included a new "Scripting" option allowing external scripts to be written that can modify the timeline simplifying many editing tasks.

Vegas 4.0b

Released in 2003; added HD editing and 24p support.

Vegas 4.0e

First re-branded version after the acquisition by Sony.

Vegas 5.0

Released on April 2004.

Vegas 6.0

Released on April 2005.

Vegas 7.0

Vegas Pro 8.0

Released on January 15, 2008.
The first Sony Vegas version to go with the "Sony Vegas Pro" branding instead of the regular "Sony Vegas" branding.
It also moved the timeline to the bottom by default, but the user can still move it back to the top.

Vegas Pro 8.1

Vegas Pro 8.1 is the first version of Vegas Pro to be ported to 64-bit systems.

Vegas Pro 9.0

On May 11, 2009, Sony Creative Software released Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 with greater support for digital cinema including:
The latest release of Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 is Vegas Pro 9.0e, which includes features such as new white balance video FX.
In 2009, Sony Creative Software purchased the Velvetmatter Radiance suite of video FX plug-ins and these are included in Vegas 9. As a result, they are no longer available as a separate product from Velvetmatter.

Vegas Pro 10

Sony Vegas Pro 10, released on October 11, 2010, introduced many new features such as:
Version 10 is the final Vegas Pro release to include Windows XP support.

Vegas Pro 11

Sony announced Vegas Pro 11 on September 9, 2011, and it was released on October 17, 2011. Updated features include GPGPU acceleration of video decoding, effects, playback, compositing, pan/crop, transitions, and motion. Other improvements were to include enhanced text tools, enhanced stereoscopic/3D features, RAW photo support, and new event synchronization mechanisms. In addition, Vegas Pro 11 comes pre-loaded with "NewBlue" Titler Pro, a 2D and 3D titling plug-in.

Vegas Pro 12

Sony released Vegas Pro 12 on November 9, 2012. Updated features include enhanced 4K support, more visual effects, and faster encoding performance. Vegas Pro 12 is dedicated to 64-bit versions of Windows.

Vegas Pro 13

Sony released Vegas Pro 13 on April 11, 2014.
It brings new collaboration tools and streamlined workflows to professional content producers faced with a wide variety of multimedia production tasks. This is the final Vegas Pro release under Sony's ownership.
Available in three new configurations:
released Vegas Pro 14 on September 20, 2016. This is the first release of Vegas Pro under the ownership of MAGIX. It features advanced 4K upscaling as well as various bug fixes, a higher video velocity limit, RED camera support and various other features.

Vegas Pro 15

Released on August 28, 2017, Vegas Pro 15 features major UI changes which claimed to bring usability improvements and customization. It also allows more efficient editing speeds, including adding new shortcuts to speed up editing. Vegas Pro 15 includes support for Intel Quick Sync Video and other technologies, as well as various other features.

Vegas Pro 16

Released on August 27, 2018, Vegas Pro 16 has some new features including file backup, motion tracking, improved video stabilization, 360° editing and HDR support.

Vegas Pro 17

Released on August 5, 2019. It contains these new features:
Launch planned for August 2020.

Reception

Major broadcasters have utilized the software, including Nightline with Ted Koppel. Several film festival winners have used Vegas to cut their features. It is also often used by many small to medium Internet content creators due to its ease of use, relatively low price, and professional-grade tools.

Related products

The consumer level Vegas Movie Studio version shares the same interface and underlying code base as the professional Vegas version, but does not include professional features such as advanced compositing tools, or advanced DVD/Blu-ray Disc authoring. In previous releases, the video editing portion of the professional suite could be purchased separately from Sony's DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring software, DVD Architect Pro, then a package called 'Vegas + DVD' became available while Vegas 7 was out. Since the release of Vegas Pro 8.0, both DVD Architect Studio Pro 4.5, Vegas Pro 8.0, as well as Boris FX LTD and Magic Bullet Movie Looks HD are all bundled together and may not be purchased individually.
Catalyst Production Suite is a new lineup of video preparation and editing software released by Sony Creative Software.