Vegas Pro

Vegas Pro (stylised as VEGAS Pro, also called Sony Vegas) is a video editing software package for non-linear editing (NLE). The first release of Vegas Beta was on 11 June 1999. The software runs on Windows operating systems.
Originally developed as an non-linear audio editing app, it became a non-linear video and audio editor, starting from version 2.0. Vegas Pro features real-time multitrack video and audio editing on unlimited tracks, resolution-independent video sequencing, complex effects, compositing tools, 24-bit/192 kHz audio support, VST and DirectX plug-in effect support, and Dolby Digital surround sound mixing.
The software was originally published by Sonic Foundry until May 2003, when Sony purchased Sonic Foundry and formed Sony Creative Software. On 24 May 2016, Sony announced that Vegas was sold to MAGIX, which formed VEGAS Creative Software, to continue support and development of the software.
Features
Vegas does not require any specialised hardware to run properly, allowing it to operate on any Windows computer that meets the system requirements.
In the areas of compositing and motion graphics, Vegas provides a 3D track motion with control over z-depth and spatial arrangement of visual planes, including plane intersection.
Many of the visual effects processing in Vegas follow an audio-like paradigm. Effects can be applied at any stage of the visual signal flow or event level. Moreover, track level and output level effects, such as reverb, delay, and flange, 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.
Although Vegas started as a non-linear multimedia audio editor, it has no MIDI capability at all (with the exception of control-desk and synchronisation). For this reason, the use of Vegas is restricted only for post-production audio or for the non-linear video editing market.
Vegas features integration with 24p DV. It is also one of the few non-linear video editors which can convert other formats to 24p (or any other format) without any kind of a plug-in or third-party application support. It is the only non-linear video editor that allows multiple instances of the application to be opened simultaneously. Clips and sequences can be copied and pasted between instances of Vegas. One example of this 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 compositing, including green screen, masking, and key-frame animation. Nesting allows a prior project to be included in another project, modularising 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 helpful in large, complex or special effects projects, as the final rendering suffers no generation loss.
Version/variant history
Each release of Vegas is sold standalone, however upgrade discounts are sometimes provided.
Vegas Beta
Sonic Foundry introduced a sneak preview version of Vegas Pro on 11 June 1999. It is called a "Multitrack Media Editing System".
Full release
Vegas 1.0
Released on 23 July 1999 at the NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee, Vegas was an audio-only tool with a particular focus on rescaling and resampling audio. It supported formats like DivX and Real Networks RealSystem G2 file formats.
Vegas Video beta (Vegas 2.0 beta)
Released on 10 April 2000, this was the first version of Vegas to include video-editing tools.
Vegas Video (Vegas 2.0)
Released on 12 June 2000.
Vegas Video LE 3.0
Vegas Video 3.0
Released on 3 December 2001. This release added:
New Video Effects – Lens Flare, Light Rays, Film FX, Colour Curves, Mirror, Remap, Deform, Convolution, Linear Blur, Black Restore, Levels, Unsharp Mask, Colour Grading, and Timecode Burn filter.
Batch Capture with Automatic Scene Detection – Captures DV with automatic scene detection, batch capture, tape logging, still image capture and thumbnail previews.
Red Book Audio CD Mastering with CD Architect (TM) Technology – Used for burning Red Book audio CD masters directly from the Vegas timeline with ISRC, UPC, and PQ list support.
New Sonic Foundry DV Codec – Introduces a DV codec developed by Sonic Foundry that offers artifact-free compositing and DV chromakeying.
DV Print-to-Tape from the Timeline – Prints projects to DV cameras and decks from the Vegas timeline.
Windows Media (TM) File Editing – Creates and edits Windows Media (TM) files.
New MPEG Encoding Tools – Used for producing MPEG-2 files for DVD productions.
Dynamic RAM Previewing – Temporary RAM/render-free previews for analysis and tweaking of complex video FX without rendering.
VideoCD and Data CD Burning – Burning projects directly to VideoCD for playback on most DVD players or data CDs for playback computers' CD-ROMs.
Vegas 4.0
Released on 6 February 2003.
This release added:
Advanced Color Correction Tools
Searchable Media Pool Bins
Vectorscope, Histogram, Parade and Waveform Monitoring
Application Scripting
Improved Ripple Editing
Motion Blur and Super-Sampling Envelopes
5.1 Surround Mixing
Dolby® Digital AC-3 Encoding certified and tested by Dolby Laboratories
DirectX® Audio Plug-In Effects Automation
ASIO Driver Support
Windows Media™ 9 Support, including Surround Encoding
DVD Authoring with AC-3 File Import Capabilities
Integration with DVD Architect Via Chapter Marker Passing
Vegas 4.0b
Released in April 2003; added HD editing and 24p support.
Vegas 4.0e
Released in November 2003; This is the first release of Vegas under the ownership of Sony; Sonic Foundry had sold Vegas alongside Sound Forge and other programs to Sony Pictures Digital for USD$18 million that same year.
Vegas 5.0
Released in April 2004; added reversing, masking and 3D Track Motion.
3D Track Motion and Compositing
Keyframeable Bezier Masking
Transition Progress Envelopes
Support for control surfaces including the Mackie Control Universal
Envelope automation recording
Envelope point thinning
Support for 5.1 audio plugins-ins on the master bus
Multiple docking windows
sub-clip creation
Realtime audio/video event reverse
Save and recall up to 10 different window layouts
Vegas 6.0
Released on 18 April 2005.
Vegas 7.0
Released in September 2006. Version 7 is the final Vegas release to include Windows 2000 support. It also gives the option to move the timeline to the bottom.
Improved video preview
Enhances window layout management
Improved snapping
User definable default smoothness for Pan/Crop and Track Motion
Freehand envelope drawing on timeline
Cut/Copy/Delete applies to grouped events
Red eye reduction for still images
DVD Import of 5.1 audio
Vegas Pro 8.0
Released on 10 September 2007.
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 users can still move it back to the top.
Ability to burn Blu-Ray DVD discs
Added support for Matrox uncompressed formats
Added support for reading QuickTime files using the BitJazz SheerVideo codec
Added "General" tab to the event and media properties
32-bit floating point processing
Multi-camera editing
ProType Titler
Digital Signage support
Tempo based audio effects
Scripting now allows Custom Command extensions
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 11 May 2009, Sony Creative Software released Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 with greater support for digital cinema including:
Support for 4K resolution
Native support for pro camcorder formats such as Red and XDCAM EX
The latest release of Sony Vegas Pro 9.0 is Vegas Pro 9.0e (Released on 13 May 2010), 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 Sony Vegas Pro 9.0. As a result, they are no longer available as a separate product from Velvetmatter.
Vegas Pro 10
Sony Vegas Pro 10, released on 11 October 2010. This release added:
Stereoscopic 3D Editing
Comprehensive Subtitling
GPU-Accelerated AVC Encoding for limited formats (Using NVIDIA CUDA). With the release of Sony Vegas Pro 10.0d, support was extended to some AMD GPUs (via the OpenCL GPGPU API).
Image Stabilisation
Audio Event FX
Track Management
Elastique Pitch Method
OpenFX plugins support
A few more updates and UI changes
Version 10 is the final Vegas Pro release to include Windows XP support.
Vegas Pro 11
Sony announced Vegas Pro 11 on 9 September 2011, and it was released on 17 October 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 synchronisation mechanisms. In addition, Vegas Pro 11 comes pre-loaded with "NewBlue" Titler Pro, a 2D and 3D titling plug-in.
Version 11 is the final Vegas Pro release to include 32-bit support.
GPU Accelerated Video Processing
New Titles and Text plugin
Improved usability for ProType Titler
Added Star Wipe transitions
Added Radial Pixelate effect
Added per parameter keyframing for many effects
Event Pan/Crop is now integrated into the Video Effect dialog
Improved usability for the Mixing console
Simplified Master Bus window
Sync Links help keep events synced on the timeline
Vegas Pro 12
Sony released Vegas Pro 12 on 9 November 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.
Starting with this release, it is available in three new configurations:
Vegas Pro 12 Edit: Professional Video and Audio Production
Vegas Pro 12: Professional Video, Audio, and Blu-ray Disc Creation
Vegas Pro 12 Suite: Professional Editing, Disc Authoring and Visual Effects Design
New Features
Added New Plugins (LAB Adjust, Color Adjust, Layer Dimensionality)
Added Lightness/a/b to Histogram view
Added tools for creating rectangular or oval masks
You can now use the Apply to FX control in the Event Pan/Crop to mask video event effects
You can pair stereoscopic 3D subclips at the track level
new Match Project settings option to match the project with a video clip
Vegas Pro 13
Sony released Vegas Pro 13 on 11 April 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. The last Sony Vegas Pro 13 build was #453. MAGIX released a rebranded version build #545.
Added render support up to 4096x4096
Added loudness meters and logging
Vegas Pro 14
MAGIX released Vegas Pro 14 on 20 September 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. This was the last version of Vegas Pro to have the light theme set by default.
Improved Velocity Envelope and added 20% and 40% presets
Increased number of scripts that can be shown in the script menu
Native support for reading ProRes 4444 files
ProRes Rendering
Support for reading HEVC hvc1 file variants
Vegas Pro 15
Released on 28 August 2017, Vegas Pro 15 features major UI changes which claimed to bring usability improvements and customisation. It was the first version of VEGAS Pro to have a dark theme, and 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 (QSV) and other technologies, as well as various other features. It introduced the VEGAS Pro icon to be a V.
Selective Paste Attributes
Support for AMD VCE hardware acceleration for encoding 8-bit progressive HEVC files and H264 AVC/AAC files
Read timecode from MP4/MOV files from GoPro, SAVC-S, and Alpaha 7s cameras
Updated Support for RED Epic Dragon, Raven, Scarlet, and Weapon files
LUT, Picture in Picture, Crop OFX filters now uses the GPU
5k and 6k files from Panasonic GH5 scaled to 4K for editing
Vegas Pro 16
Released on 27 August 2018, Vegas Pro 16 has some new features including file backup, motion tracking, improved video stabilisation, 360° editing and HDR support.
Vegas Pro 17
Released on 5 August 2019. This release added:
Nested timelines
Improved video stabilisation
Planar motion tracking/video tracking
Smart Split Edit
Dynamic storyboard and timeline interaction
Bézier masking OFX-Plugin
Lens correction plug
Improved Picture-In-Picture OFX plug-in
Automatic slideshow creator
Screen capture
Improved multicamera editing
Improved colour grading
Length show
Experimental MKV reader
Vegas Pro 18
Released on 3 August 2020. This release added:
Motion Tracker Panel
Improved Video FX, Transitions and Media Generator windows
8-Bit (full range) pixel format
Black Bar Fill plug-in
Denoiser plug-in
Flicker Control plug-in
Style Transfer plug-in
Integrated graphics card driver update check
The Lens Correction FX has got an additional zooming factor
Export and Import of VEGAS Pro preferences
Reworked screen capture utility VEGAS Capture
Incremental Save
A more detailed render progress dialogue box
Swap video files
New Video Scopes options
VEGAS Prepare
VEGAS Hub explorer window
Alternate High DPI mode
Logarithmic Exposure adjustment
Some more legacy features were hidden by default, use Preferences > Deprecated Features
Event edge handles
Vegas Pro 18 has suffered from serious stability issues, causing it to have a 35% positive review score on the distribution platform Steam.
Vegas Pro 19
Released on 18 August 2021. This release added:
Improved user interface
Improved colour grading
Improved effects
New cloud-integrated content management and acquisition.
Live streaming
Vegas Pro 20
Released on 10 August 2022. This release added:
File Drop for fast collaboration
Automatic project collections
Local project archives
Speech to Text functionality including automatic subtitle generation (official release - 365 subscribers only)
White Balance controls in the Colour Grading Panel
Hue adjustment curves in the Colour Grading Panel
VST3 Support for audio editing (beta)
VST 32-bit bridge (beta)
Optical Flow mode for Warp Flow and Smart Split
Real-time Optical Flow for the Slow Motion FX
Normalize button for events
Fade In/out included in Paste Event Attributes
Automatic region creation in Scene Detection
Honeycomb and Colour Planes presets for GL transitions
Vegas Pro 21
Released on 14 August 2023. This release added:
VEGAS Z-Depth OFX plug-in and compositor
Adjustment events
Offset and Wrap OFX plug-in
Smart Masking
VEGAS Mocha
Cloud-based text to speech (365 only)
Quick Upload (365 only)
Online Help
New GL Transitions
Improved Button icons
VEGAS Content improvements (365 only)
Reception
Major broadcasters have utilised the software, such as Nightline with Ted Koppel. Several films have used Vegas to cut their features.
References
Further reading
Book
News release
Review
External links
Video editing software
Vegas
Windows-only proprietary software