Public Beta of Vegas 4.0, Vegas +DVD Ready

Vegas 4.0 (Click for a close-up)

Vegas +DVD (Click for a close-up)

Sonic Foundry announced the availability of public betas for Vegas 4.0 and Vegas +DVD, two new programs for professional video and audio production on the Windows platform. As operating systems become more robust, PC processing power accelerates, and the price of digital video production systems decrease, editors are realizing that 'software-only' solutions that offer integrated real-time previewing, 5.1 surround mixing, multichannel encoding and DVD authoring capabilities -- all within a single application -- are no longer out of reach.

Sonic Foundry continues to expand upon its popular Vegas technology by offering even more production technologies. Vegas 4.0 provides integrated real-time video and audio non-linear editing with comprehensive features that allow for mixing, compositing, color correction, titling, streaming media creation and surround sound production for multimedia professionals. Vegas+DVD not only includes Vegas 4.0, but also offers complete DVD authoring (featuring DVD Architect) and a Dolby certified multichannel AC-3 encoder.

The enhanced capabilities of Vegas 4.0 make it a comprehensive software package available for professional DV and audio production. Some of the new features to be included are:

• Advanced Color Correction Tools
• Media Pool bins and searches
• Vectorscope, Histogram, Parade and Waveform monitoring
• Application Scripting
• Improved Ripple Editing
• Additional Transitions, Effects and Compositing Modes
• Velocity and Motion Blur Envelopes
• 5.1 Surround Mixing
• AC-3 Encoding (multichannel and stereo)
• DirectX Audio Plug-In Effects Automation
• ASIO Driver Support
• Windows Media 9 support
• DVD authoring with AC-3 file import capabilities
• Integration with DVD Architect via chapter marker passing

"Vegas 4.0 represents a significant upgrade that offers professionals the types of powerful video and audio production enhancements they've demanded out of their real-time editing platform," said Sonic Foundry's Brad Reinke, senior vice president and general manager of software. "Vegas 4.0 and Vegas+DVD provide editors and producers with a single, comprehensive solution that fits seamlessly into our already growing family of integrated media production tools."

Availability and Pricing

Public beta copies of both products can be downloaded immediately at www.sonicfoundry.com

Sonic Foundry anticipates shipping both products in February 2003. Pricing for Vegas 4.0: MSRP $699; download from Sonic Foundry for $489; boxed version from Sonic Foundry for $559. Pricing for Vegas+DVD: MSRP $999; download from Sonic Foundry for $699; boxed version from Sonic Foundry for $799. Vegas 4.0 and Vegas+DVD also will be available from software dealers and distributors worldwide. Upgrade pricing will be available at time of product release.