Final Free Beta of Vegas Pro Released

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Sonic Foundry has introduced Vegas Pro, a powerful audio/media production and Internet authoring tool. With Vegas Pro, you can mix file properties, bit depths, and sampling rates, all on a single track without many confusing dialog boxes. You can edit during playback, perform non-destructive crossfade edits, and run multiple simultaneous plug-in effects, all in real-time.

Vegas Pro's unique multi-threaded architecture delivers superior real-time performance from a standard Windows PC. Its non-linear hard disk recording system is RAM-dependent - you can boost the performance of Vegas Pro simply by increasing your computer's processing power. With multiple processors and additional RAM you can achieve a totally new level of performance from a "software only" multitrack.

Disk throughput, the most crucial aspect of any hard-disk based recording system, is heavily optimized in Vegas Pro. Vegas Pro uses asynchronous I/O, when available. Asynchronous I/O prevents the processor from being stalled while reading from a disk and can result in large performance gains over normal synchronous I/O.

All audio data is processed using floating-point math, which yields high mathematical precision. This precision, coupled with the application's ability to output 24-bit audio and the final mixing stage, results in superb audio fidelity.

Sonic Foundry has posted a free, fully functional beta version of Vegas Pro on their web site at www.sonicfoundry.com. This latest beta version expires on July 30th. After that, Vegas will be available for purchase at Sonic Foundry's site or local dealer.

Vegas Pro's specs will include:

• 24-bit/96 kHz for unparalleled audio resolution
• Unlimited tracks - limits only based on CPU/RAM processing power
• Non-destructive editing - each event in the track view is simply a reference to files on the disk
• Support of multiple file formats (.wav/.aif) on a single track
• Real time file/event resampling - allows mixing of files of various sample rates on one track without conversion
• 32 assignable DirectX FX sends - creates plug-in chains on each track and on the output of each bus
• 26 Master and Aux outputs
• Simultaneous multitrack record & play - arms multiple tracks for recording while project plays back
• Unlimited undo/redo - hundreds of levels of undo and redo lets you edit with complete confidence
• Multiple I/O support - supports virtually any Windows sound card with multiple ins and outs
• Dual monitor support - each tab-based window preview is dockable and can be placed on a work surface of an additional monitor
• Midi Time Code synchronization
• Advanced auto-crossfade functionality - provides visual reference to create customized crossfades between events
• Quick-edit media trimmer with direct link to wav editor - edit and drag portions of media files from trimmer into track view or simply right-click to edit any event in a wav editorseamlessly
• 4-band EQ and compressor inserts available on every channel - two repositionable inserts on every track
• Dither and noise shaping plug-ins available on bus outputs
• Advanced loop recording
• Audio/video scrub - intuitive interface to scrub forward or backwards in your audio or video project
• DirectX Plug-In support - supports any DirectX audio plug-in
• Plug-In manager - provides for enhanced plug-in management from within the program interface
• Video preview window - resizeable window allows previewing of any supported video file
• Edit detail list management - editable text view of all 'edits' in your project
• Dual processor support
• Direct Internet streaming file authoring (Windows Media Technologies 4.0 and RealNetworks G2) - no need for special file conversion. Save to streaming media directly right from VegasTM Pro.
• Ability to incorporate timeline metadata (markers/captions) for advanced Internet content authoring - editable captions and makers can be placed anywhere on the timeline
• Imports/supports: .wav, .aif, .avi, .mov (using Microsoft DirectShow), .mpg (video), .bmp
• Exports/saves: .wav, .aif, .avi, .wma (not available in beta release), .asf (not available in beta release), .rm, .mp3 (with optional plug-in)

System Requirements

• Pentium 200 microprocessor (400 MHz microprocessor recommended)
• Microsoft Windows 9x / NT 4.0
• Windows-compatible sound card
• DirectX Media Runtime 6.0
• Internet Explorer 4.0 or later
• At least 32MB RAM (128MB recommended)
• At least 20MB free disk space
• 24 Bit Color Display recommended