Sony Creative Software features a well-respected line of higher-end professional video and audio tools, including Vegas Pro for video editing, Sound Forge for audio editing, and ACID for music creation, plus the newer Cinescore for professional soundtrack creation. Sony also has developed the corresponding Studio family of consumer applications for digital video, DVD, audio, and music production.
The latest update to the Studio line is Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9, released this month with expanded support ranging from YouTube uploads to high-def editing. It's available in three versions -- the base Vegas Movie Studio 9 lists for $69.95, the higher-end Platinum Edition for $99.95 adds expanded HD video support, and the Pro Pack bundle for $129.95 includes Sound Forge Audio Studio 9 plus additional libraries of sounds and effects.
The Movie Studio 9 product still includes the separate DVD Architect Studio 4.5 for DVD authoring (not updated), and adds the new Cinescore Studio for automated music soundtrack creation.
Version 9 also adds integrated upload to YouTube, and improves support and performance for native HDV and AVCHD high-def formats. You also can burn menuless Blu-ray Disc directly from the timeline. The Pro Pack also adds more Cinescore themes, 1001 Sound Effects, New Blue Transitions and effects plug-in, and even a free 2 GB Sony flash drive (while supplies last).
The Movie Studio interface is based on Sony's professional Vegas Pro editor, simplified to remove complexity, and enhanced with consumer-friendly Show Me How interactive tutorials and new New Project and Make Movie wizards. But the higher-end product design still shows through -- this is not a basic step-by-step interface to walk you though the editing process, but instead provides the tools and elements for enthusiasts who want to dive in to editing.
Visit the Sony site for Trial Downloads to try out the Studio (or pro) products for yourself.
See full article -- Summary: Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 -- for more on the product versions and features.
See my Video Editing Software Gallery for details on this and related products.
Find Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 on Amazon.com