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Sony Vegas NLE Updated to Version 6.0d

Digital Media Net visited Sony Pictures Digital Networks headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, where Sony product managers demonstrated an update to its Vegas nonlinear editing software that the company will be demonstrating at NAB 2006. Aside from the usual round of bug fixes and housekeeping, Sony Vegas 6.0d continues its tradition of handling a variety of files, where its developers have added support for Sony's PlayStation portable (PSP) as well as support for video files for the iPod. It can also can encode and edit H.264 files for a variety of devices from the iPod video up to HD.

Vegas developers noticed soon after last year's release of version 6 that there was a lot of interest in delivering video to handheld devices, especially right after the release of the Apple iPod video. As a result, Sony developed a content creation tool set specifically for those types of files, and the first part of the demo showed Vegas 6.0d exporting files directly from the timeline for the Sony PSP and Apple's video-capable iPod.

Sony has an obvious leg up on its competitors with its own PSP, where it uses a specially-developed Sony encoder to render PSP files into a form that can be played on the PSP. In the demo, this function was demonstrated as a simple file save, where after the clips were edited, it was a simple matter of going to the file menu and selecting Render As, and then selecting the PSP Format. It's quite easy to use, where a wizard takes care of the basic functions just as it does for any other file rendering functions in Vegas. There's a template included for easy one click rendering, or users can adjust the pixel aspect ratios and compression parameters to their exact specifications. Sony demonstrated the workflow of encoding footage into the PSP format using this wizard, a quick and easy process of rendering to the PSP format directly from the timeline. Then, using the optional Export to PSP routine, the rendered file was placed onto a PSP in a decidedly uncomplicated process.

Also included in the Vegas 6.0d update is the ability to export directly to the iPod video format from the timeline. This is part of Vegas's new H.264 coding and decoding routine, which renders files in almost any resolution up to and including high definition. At their lower resolution, files can used by an iPod by dropping them into iTunes, where they then can be placed onto the iPod. This process uses the AVC (advanced video codec) H.264 codec for the video, and AAC (advanced audio codec) for the audio. Vegas is not only able to encode into this format, it can also open files that are encoded in this format as long as they are not using digital rights management (DRM).

Sony didn't forget its MiniDisc users with this update to Vegas, either. The software is now able to encode audio into the ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding) format, which is a proprietary Sony compression algorithm used for Sony MiniDisc and other Sony music players. The codec was specifically designed for low power consumption, and at its highest compression rate can record extremely long stretches of audio at very low file sizes. Vegas now lets users render out these ATRAC audio files in a variety of bit rates. Also available is a separate plug-in in the ATRAC format used in the Sony flash memory-based music players. Sony mentioned that this ATRAC capability will be popular with game developers.

Vegas also moves closer to a completely tapeless workflow with this update, where standard-definition Sony XDCam file editing is now supported. The workflow enables users to copy files off XDCam disks, and then edit that footage in Vegas. This is obviously the first step in a progression that will lead to the ability to edit high-definition XDCam files as well.

With this update, Sony Vegas further enhances its ability to handle a tremendous variety of video files, including DV, HDV, DigiBeta with DeckLink support, HDCam, PSP, DVD, CD, Web video, iPod video, and DVCPro25. An obvious weakness with this strategy still remains Vegas's inability to directly edit DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO100 files, including DVCPro HD. When asked about the absence of support for this file format, Sony pointed to third-party developer DVFilm.com, which has developed a $150 product called Raylight that creates a virtual AVI of the Panasonic DVCPRO100 MXF file. That software is used to get the files into Vegas, and once they're inside the application, they can be edited as usual, even though the large file sizes make for some cumbersome rendering without hardware support.

Summing up, version 6.0d is nothing revolutionary – it's an incremental update to Sony Vegas, where there are a few more file types that can be handled within the already-versatile application. The company will be demonstrating these updates at NAB 2006, along with a few other surprises in what the company says will be a technology demonstration of things to come.

Go check this:

Go check this:

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/4513326

Sony moves to Flash memory for new line of audio players

Sony moves to Flash memory for new line of audio players



Sony Electronics of China announced today a new line of MP3/WMA/Photo players which use flash memory instead of hard drives or Hi-MD media. The new devices boast compatibility with MP3 and WMA audio formats, as well as BMP and JPEG viewing capabilities.

Sony has also been implementing recording features into their personal audio players recently and the CE-P line has not been left out in the cold. The CE-P line features an FM tuner which can be recorded from along with a mic for voice recording. A rough translation of some Chinese websites also hint at a calendar function which may bring some type of organizer functionality to it.

Visually, the CE-P series features a 1.5-inch 260,000 color OLED display with a resolution of 128x128 pixels. The player will also feature two languages, simplified Chinese and English which may hint at a greater target market. The CE-P has a USB 2.0 interface to connect to PCs for transferring media although there is no word of PlayForSure compatibility. The CE-P lines is only about 1.8-inches wide and about 3-inches tall which makes this one of Sony's smallest portable audio devices yet.

Because of the Chinese-only announcement, it may be a while before we see the CE-P line in the States or we may not see the devices at all as it so often happens. The CE-P line comes in 3 different flash memory capacities: the CE-P13 with 256MB at about $100, the CE-P15 with 512MB at about $125, and the CE-P17 with 1GB of flash memory at around $150.

Sony recently announced a new Hi-MD player which featured OLED and MP3 support, but many were skeptical that these updates would change the outlook for the MiniDisc format. Is Sony looking to drop the MiniDisc format or just offering a wider range of options?

Why Sony Should've Put Its Weight Behind Hi-MD

By Thom Holwerda

Currently, .mp3 players are all the hype. Everyone has one, and if you don't, you're old-fashioned. I do not have an .mp3 player. I tried to have one, but for various reasons it did not please me. I'm a MiniDisc guy. I've always been. MiniDisc has some serious advantages over .mp3 players, whether they be flash or HDD based. Note: Sunday Eve Column.



First of all, MiniDisc players are much more sturdy than HDD players. You have to treat HDD players with a lot of care, because dropping one kills the harddrive easily. MiniDisc players, on the other hand, can be dropped down stairs, or while riding your bike, and they still work mighty fine (I know this out of experience). They will even survive a bath of Coca Cola (don't ask, but I have experience with that as well). Try bathing your EUR 330 iPod in some Coca Cola.

This durability of course extends to the discs themselves. They are completely enclosed in a hard, extremely durable plastic cover. They are also quite small, measuring only 5x72x68mm. You can play tennis with them, throw them around, yes, even run a bike over them: they'll survive.

Secondly, MiniDisc offers unlimited storage space. The new Hi-MD format offers 1GB per disc (which can add up to 45 hours of music on one disc)-- and a disc only costs a few Euros. This in essence gives you unlimited storage space, but of course it does come at a certain cost, because you have to carry those MDs around. But seeing many just use their music players to commute or during some running through the park, 1GB should be enough. Now, compare that to say, flash players which have limited storage space, and storage space you need to update every time you want to listen to different music. And even though HDD-based players offer a lot more space, this space is, in the end, limited too. And as mentioned above, they are much more fragile.

An interesting plus to Sony's new Hi-MD format is that it's completely backwards compatible with the previous MD standards (MD, MDLP, and NetMD). In fact-- formatting an ordinary MD using the Hi-MD filesystem actually doubles its original capacity from 170MB to 305 MB!

Another huge advantage over .mp3 players is MD's recording capability. Portable MD recorders aren't called recorders for nothing: you can record at any time, any place, any way you wish. Digitally via optic cables or USB, or analog via a microphone (whether built-in or external) or analog cables connected to i.e. an old tape deck. This is a major advantage, and one of the reasons why MD is often associated with field recording.

Lastly, portable recorders have an extremely good battery life. My lower-end recorder, for instance, plays back for 30 hours using only one AA battery.

Now, a common and valid complaint about MiniDisc was that they were tied to Sony in that you were forced to use Sony's ATRAC format and SonicStage software. And I am putting it mildly when I say that SonicStage is a complete pile of steaming crap. But, an update to Sony's Hi-MD line-up last year added .mp3 support for Hi-MD: 2nd and 3rd generation Hi-MD recorders you buy have support for .mp3 files. However, a major malfunction remains: SonicStage. Even though each Hi-MD player can be used as a mass storage device under windows, Linux, OSX, and even BeOS, you cannot just drag/drop .mp3s onto it. You are forced to use SonicStage. Apple may force one to use iTunes to transfer songs to iPod, but at least iTunes is not a steaming pile of crap. And of course SonicStage is only available on Windows, not on OSX or Linux (Sony did announce Mac support for its upcoming high-end Hi-MD recorder, I can't wait for prices on that thing).

Another complaint that often reared its head was MD's lack of capabilities for storing non-music data. Besides the utterly failed MD-Data experiment Sony conducted in the '90s, MDs could never store data, like flash/HDD .mp3 players could. This has been fixed too: Hi-MD allows you to store any type of data on both Hi-MD discs as well as old MDs (with the mentioned storage capacities). As said, Hi-MD recorders act as ordinary mass storage devices, so any OS with drivers for that will work fine with Hi-MD recorders.

And now the ever important aspect of price. Before the .mp3 player revolution, MDs only competitors were CDs and before that, tapes. Technologically, they both do not stand a chance. However, they of course were much more popular because they were a hell of a lot cheaper: my first portable MD recorder cost a staggering Fl. 499,-, which is EUR 225. Portable CD players at that time only cost about Fl. 100,- to Fl. 200,- so you can understand how expensive MD recorders were.

Today, this has changed. My Hi-MD recorder (the MZ-NH600 model, so with the input jacks) only cost me EUR 150,-, which is not a lot of money when compared to higher-quality .mp3 players (yes, MiniDisc has always been and always will be a high-quality device. MD users expect that quality).

Given the above advantages, it is a complete mystery why Sony is not putting its full weight behind the MiniDisc format. No, instead of just using an existing, proven technology to power its highly successful PSP, they created a whole new standard altogether, which probably cost them a serious amount of research and thus money. Using Hi-MD in the PSP would have meant a serious push for MD. Sony has even made digital cameras which use the Hi-MD format, but none were ever released to the public. Recently they did release a portable Hi-MD recorder with an integrated 1.3MP camera, but I've never ever seen one in the wild (I'd kill for one).

My take on Sony's refusal to market Hi-MD properly is that Sony somehow seems to think it needs to create a HDD-based .mp3 player to compete with Apple's iPod. Now, I think that that is a pointless battle: you won't beat Apple in its current winning mood. Forget it. It ain't gonna happen. And, Sony's success with this competition kind of supports that claim. If you can't win from Apple on Apple's turf-- then try to beat them on your own turf.

So, what should Sony have done? They shouldn't have made any attempts at making flash or HDD based .mp3 players. They have a very strong technology with Hi-MD and they should've been using it whenever they could. They should've made the lower-end Hi-MD recorders a bit more stylish (historically, only the high-end MD recorders look sleek), should've created a good marketing campaign emphasizing MD's strong points, and they should have increased availability, and most of all: they should've ditched SonicStage, and they should've allowed people to just drag/drop songs onto their recorders.

Now, it's all too late. I'm afraid MiniDisc will slowly but surely die out-- and that will leave me and all of MD's die-hard fans who supported the platform since day one without portable music.

--Thom Holwerda

Great page...go have a look

Great page about live recordings:

The Minidisc Music Revolution



About the Author
Geoff Peters is a music and computer science student in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He writes a music weblog and performs frequently with his jazz trio.

He also likes eating out at Vancouver restaurants and writes restaurant reviews for Food Vancouver.com.