Vegas Pro 9 versus Adobe CS4 Premium?

[Mark B.]

Any opinions one way or the other between VP9 and CS4 Premium?

I'm buying editing software soon, and the choice seems to have fallen between these two packages. I'm running Vista64, Core-i7, 6GB memory, and a basic graphics card (I don't mind putting the processing burden on the CPU).

Keeping costs low is very important, but I'd like to get software that will handle what I need it to do. Primarily, I'm looking for software stability, nice titles/credits, good compositing, stabilizing of shaky footage, and color balancing tools that are flexible and quick. Quality of the output will also be important, but I'm assuming both packages will provide equally good output (am I wrong about that?).

CS4 has After Effects, but plug-ins are available to expand Vegas as well. So, what recommendations do you have?

 

[michael zaletel]

Two good threads going...

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30269

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30293

-michael zaletel
(shooter)

 

[michael zaletel]

And another:

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30270

-michael zaletel
(shooter)

 

[Mark B.]

Those threads seem to be focusing their discussion on Vegas Pro 9 as it compares to Vegas Pro 8, which is useful for understanding stability and product evolution. But direct comparisons against Adobe's offering is what I'm really after. For instance, people say Vegas 9 is providing very fast previewing, but how much faster (or slower) is it compared to Premier?

 

[donatello b]

you can download trials V9 and Premiere ... to see how they work on your computer

i've been a Vegas user since 2000 ..
since i've had the RED i've tried FCP , Premiere CS3/4 ..
my preferred workflow was using FCP to render out to 2k cineform clips .. edit 2k cineform in Vegas ...
tried premiere - i'll pass
FCP - other then rendering out to cineform - i pass ...

so far V9 is drop r3d clips in TL and play/edit doesn't matter if you have SD/HD/2k/4k project time line ..

i think you have to think your workflow from begin to end..
Vegas works excellent if you are finishing on Vegas .. there are work arounds to get it to other apps/software but they are work arounds ( could be extra TIME ..which could = $$) ...

CS4 it's easy to go from one app to the other and back ...

the only current problem i'm seeing in V9 is it will not play cineform clips ( and i have alot of em) ...

 

[Mike Harrington]

vegas cannot compete with the full CS4 suite....

as an editer Vegas Vs Preimiere...that is a different argument..

but vegas(even with plugins) vs premiere, AE, SB, mocha ae, ect ect
that is an entirely different category in terms of capability.

for compositing titles ect Vegas will not hold a candle to AE...

but then again it depends on how complicated your graphics will be....if you are primarily an editor....go with what works best for you.....that may be Vegas

but if you want more flexability...the CS4 suite will give almost anything you need.

really it's like comparing a pickup truck to a welding truck.
if you just need the pickup...go with that
but if you ever need to do welding, and use a crane....you need the welding truck