So we have the standards of software, Pro Tools for audio, Avid or Premier for video on PC or Final Cut for Mac (depends on who you ask), and Fruity Loops for beat making. But it seems to me there is a major software suite that many people over look when searching for their choice of editing software. This suite is the Sony Media Suite. I don’t think that’s the actual name for it but that’s what I call their collection of the programs Acid, Vegas, and Cinescore.
If you have never heard of these programs and are an enthusiast of computer media creation, then look them up or go to Sony’s website and take a look at what they have to offer. If you are a professional media creator and you have never heard of or used this line of products, then shame on you, download a demo now!
In general, these software programs work very well together. They are all designed around the Sonic Foundry ACID program that Sony purchased some years ago. They mainly support ASIO interfaces and have a large support for firewire devices.
Now to the specifics. If your looking for a cost effective audio editing application with large features and looping ability as a bonus, Sony acid is one of my favorites. You can get it for around $300 usually and most major retailers. There are many times I have been working on a project in Cubase that I want to edit in a different way, so I’ll import the track to acid. Or, if I want to put some nice loops and tracks together, ACID’s beatmapper and insane zoom level work great to match up your tracks. Doing a quick scroll in, cut, and scroll out has never been simpler. If you don’t have any other audio editing programs, and are on a budget, this is the one I would get. It can also produce full 24/96 recordings and multi-track pretty simply easily and get great quality, while utilizing VST plug ins.
If video editing is your thing, a copy of Sony Vegas 7 or 8 is perfect for the aspiring director/film creator. A copy of Vegas 8 will set you back about $575, but considering it also has the ability to multi track record audio like ACID, this may be the best solution anyone interested in video production by itself or video and audio production. The best part of this application is the ease in editing. Not in iMovie, Final Cut, Premier or Avid have I found an easier yet effective way to edit your movie. You click, Press the S key to split, move the clip where you want, and your done. It’s that east to put together footage. But Vegas is just simple, it’s also powerful. Green or blue screen shots, overlapping footage, 3d effects and animations, full color correction. Anything that you could really want out of a full video editing program is included, and can import and render in full High Definition with no extra plug ins. Another major perk is the format support. Very very few programs allow you to import almost any video file into your timeline without extra plugins, but vegas has it all covered. This is the best value editing you can get for your PC that is capable of motion picture creation.
Now to the last and kind of odd program, Sony Cinescore. Ever thought of putting soundtracks to your movies or compilations from the comfort of your own home? If not your probably not alone, as I had never thought about it until I saw an ad for the program. This nifty tool allows you to import a video, and then chose a theme you would like for adding a soundtrack. There are a large variety of trance/electronica mixes, but also available are wedding themes, orchestral scored, and some rock band themes. Looks like this one is more of a program in testing and development for future use, but if you don’t mind the chance of sharing the same musical score as someone else, then it’s a fun tool to play with.
If you haven’t checked out the latest production offerings from Sony lately, I suggest you at least download the demos and give them a test drive. You may or may not like them enough to warrant a purchase, but it’s hard to beat their simplicity with the amount of full features they incorporate into their software. Just remember that the split key is S and you’ll have no trouble at all. Does your favorite software suite (if it isn't Sony's) let you play nice with so much software?
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