E Q U Sonic Foundry I P As PC power moves exponentially onward and upward, a purely software-based M DAW makes increasing sense. Adam McElnea downloads and upgrades. E onic Foundry, the company best known for However, this is just an overview of the feature list. Vegas N producing audio editing and sample manipulation Pro also incorporates proprietary multi-threaded architec- T Stools such as and ACID, has recently ture, the option of asynchronous I/0 when available, a true unveiled its long awaited move into the realms of profes- 53-bit internal processing path, and a scalable CPU and sional DAWs, with the release of a multitrack media RAM-based system. In short this should mean some p editing system called Vegas Pro. Put aside any Elvis witti- seriously powerful real-time performance. However, it is R cisms that quickly spring to mind, because Vegas Pro is a pertinent to remember that your real-time performance is seriously powerful program that deserves serious scrutiny. directly related to your CPU, RAM and hard disk configura- E Vegas Pro boasts real performance when it comes to fast tions. Regardless, you can perform nondestructive crossfade V non-destructive (non-linear) multitrack audio/media edits, run multiple simultaneous plug-ins, and track edit on editing for those involved in audio/music production, the the fly, all in real-time! All this on a mildly powerful system I Internet, and the video/broadcast markets. spec (Pentium 350MHz, 64MB to 128MB of RAM). E At the time of writing, the Vegas Pro application could only be experienced in a beta format. While this is not a All Systems Pro W release version, it is cripple free and quite stable. By the One of the first things that you notice about Vegas Pro is time this preview hits the stands, Vegas Pro should be it’s resemblance to Sonic Foundry’s ACID applications. available as a fully released No doubt, those ‘on ACID’ will feel at home with Vegas version. However, if you Pro. However, newcomers to the Sonic Foundry philoso- are more inclined to try phy will also find navigating through the Vegas Pro appli- before you buy, Sonic cation intuitive and elegant. Foundry’s website contains It is important to recognise that Vegas Pro is primarily a a functional demo with a high-performance digital multitrack media editing system. downloadable PDF There is no Midi at all. Therefore, Vegas Pro is basically in manual. a class of its own. Unlike Logic, Cubase, or Cakewalk and the like, Vegas Pro isn’t a Midi+Audio system. This fact will Viva Vegas probably ruffle a few feathers from the legion of Midi users Vegas Pro is fundamental- worldwide, there again, Vegas Pro doesn’t pretend to ly a media production tool accommodate everyone’s needs, but what it does do, it founded upon the ideology does powerfully, simply, reliably and in real-time. that simplicity, power and Fundamentally the main window is where most of the results speak louder then, over-specified complexity. action takes place. Other significant work areas include the However, don’t mistake Vegas Pro’s elegance‚ for a lack Track List, the Track View, and the Window Docking Area. of grunt. In fact, the preliminary specifications definitely Unfortunately for those who have grown used to the world look impressive. Just ask yourself, “what do I look for in a of virtual software mixers, Vegas Pro does not offer any on- professional DAW?’ Now see how your list compares screen console. You could argue that virtual mixers use with the one following: unlimited tracks; unlimited excess on-screen real estate, and at times over complicate undo/redo; non-destructive editing; imports and exports otherwise simple applications. Personally I don’t mind extensive file formats including, .wav, .aif, .avi, .mpg, virtual mixers and I feel the option should have been given. .wma, .asf, mp3 (with an optional plug-in); automatic In keeping with Sonic Foundry’s ideology to create a crossfade functionality (including the crossfading of more efficient audio/media production environment, Vegas different samples of different bit resolutions and sample Pro incorporates all mixing and metering functions on the rates in single tracks); loop recording; real-time event main interface. The scalable Track List is uncluttered and resampling; audio/video scrub; 24-bit/96k support informational, and in its expanded form uses a multipurpose (including 88.2k); 26 aux outputs; internet streaming file slider for track panning and auxiliary bus volume. The Track authoring; full duplex recording; dual processor support; List uses concise symbols known as Track Controls for navi- dual monitor support; multiple file formats on a single gating through the various elements of the track. Track solo, track (.wav/aif); DirectX plug-in support; 32 assignable mute, arm for , bus and track effects are all accessed DirectX FX sends; EQ and compressor inserts available via the Track Control symbols. The Track Effects control on every channel; and multiple I/0 support – including accesses each track’s effects insert chain. Although based virtually any Windows soundcard with multiple I/Os. on DirectX technology, Vegas Pro’s insert chains will not

70 support standard DirectX effects. Sonic Foundry has instead Vegas, no gamble developed a custom effects spec, in order to make track Unfortunately due to time and word constraints, I have inserts more efficient. I’m informed that Sonic Foundry has only been able to offer a taste of what Vegas Pro can do. plans to make available this spec to other manufacturers for For example, Vegas Pro also looks well equipped in all future third party plug-in releases. Currently, tracks will by aspects of post production non-linear video editing and default load with a general purpose compressor and four finalising media for the internet. Additionally, functions bands of graphic EQ. Both of these insert plug- ins such as continuous track looping in record mode, and performed well. Additionally, this new plug-in spec offers automated mixes via visual envelopes, provide the real- users considerable power. For example, a Pentium 300MHz time flexibility and simplicity that make it easy and machine could easily run more then 20 compressors, and enjoyable to use day in and day out. over 80 bands of track EQ, and still have plenty left in the But you shouldn’t overlook the apparent limitations of tank for additional DirectX plug-ins. Of course track inserts the Vegas Pro application. The lack of Midi makes Vegas can be disabled if more power is required. difficult to integrate with sequencer applications. Automa- The Track View is where all the arranging and editing is tion is limited, particularly in the control of plug-ins and done. It offers precise positioning and viewing of specific assignable effects busses. Mix automation data doesn’t waveform data, cross-fade information and time-line data. clock to event data – therefore you lose automation data Additionally, tracks can be expanded individually, and multiple when you move an event. Finally, the virtual mixer events can be layered on single tracks, offering a tremendous omission may take a little getting used to for those amount of flexibility. It’s simple and convenient functions like familiar with computer-based virtual audio environments. these that make Vegas Pro a pleasure to work with. However, limitations aside, the strengths of Vegas Pro far The Window Docking Area offers a convenient outweigh its few limitations – just take another look at its approach to managing the availability of frequently used features and specs list! In the short period I had evaluat- Windows. Founded upon a drag and drop principal, the ing and previewing Vegas Pro, I continually found myself Docking Area can display up to three windows at any one asking the same question, ‘how can I live without it?’ At time and free up valuable visual resources. the end of the day, if you’re looking for a powerfully Normally located in the Window Docking Area is the flexible, elegant and innovative media editing DAW for the Explorer, Video Preview, Trimmer, and Mixer windows, PC platform, I seriously suggest taking a closer look at which effectively make up the remainder of the Vegas Pro Sonic Foundry’s Vegas Pro application. application. The Explorer window is used to import media AT files, and is visually and functionally similar to the file man- agement Explorer, included with your . The Distributed by Video Preview window is self explanatory, while the • Moore Music Trimmer window offers finite audio event editing. Finally, the Phone: (03) 9419 0344 Mixer window gives access to output levels, effects chains Fax: (03) 9417 6697 and bus assignments. Now keep in mind that Vegas Pro Moore Music on WWW: ‘www.mooremusic.com.au’ offers a formidable 26 busses to play with and a 32 assigna- ble FX sends that support most standard DirectX plug-ins, all Price with a high degree of flexibility. That’s a lot of power. • RRP: $995

ATM33A $299

h e TATM33A‚ s outstanding linearity both on and off-axis was designed to faithfully repro- duce vocals and acoustic instruments (such as hi-hats, overhead cymbals, piano, strings, percussion, acoustic guitar, reeds or harp), its high SPL capability allows the ATM33A to be used EVERYWHERE.