Sony Vegas Pro Goes to 11

Apple Final Cut Pro X might have gotten more attention, but Sony Vegas Pro has just gone to 11 -- version 11, that is -- and it's faster and more useful than ever.

The big feature this time is the inclusion of GPU-accelerated video processing. If you've got an OpenCL-supported device from AMD or NVIDIA, Vegas Pro 11 will be able to deliver faster video processing, effects, transitions, compositing, panning and cropping, and encoding.

A new feature called Sync Link lets editors organize and synchronize clips in the timeline. You'll be able to edit secondary audio and B-roll clips independently of each other, while they say in sync with your primary clip.

Titles get an upgrade thanks to the new Titler Pro tool. It lets you create 2D and 3D titles, controlling each character separately down to the X, Y, and Z axis. Additionally, the Titles and Text tool and the improved ProType titler let you control 2D motion.

A stabilization tool can now remove the jitters from handheld camera footage. Other additions include support for single-display 3D computers and render template filtering.

Vegas Pro 11 sells for $699, or the upgrade price of $199.

If that sounds like more power than you need, be aware that Sony upgraded its consumer editor, Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11, in June of this year. New features included stereoscopic 3D editing, greater file support, and improved text animations and effects. Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 comes in three versions that list for $99.95, $129.95, and $179.95. Visit Sony Creative Software for more details.

Troy Dreier's article first appeared on OnlineVideo.net