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Jimco Software Reviews - Sony Vegas 6 (continued)
Main Interface
As shown in figure 1, the main interface
of Vegas is quite simple in design. The simplicity of
design is what makes Vegas so easy to begin using right out of
the box. We love intuitive software, and in our
experience, there are two kinds of intuitiveness; thought-based
and non-thought-based. Thought-based intuitiveness is when
you have to think about what you're doing and figure out how to
do something via trial and error. It doesn't usually
require using a manual, but it does require you to think
problems out. Non-thought-based intuitiveness is when you
don't have to think about software. You just start using
it and everything works in such a natural way that it flows
beautifully.
If you've ever used software that was
non-thought-based intuitive, you'll know exactly what we mean.
Vegas is just that. It works the way your mind works.
It's an uncanny experience that you have to experience for
yourself to really understand. Suffice it to say that
Vegas will have you creating impressive videos right out of the
box without even glancing at documentation.
The interface is divided into 5 main sections;
the Track List, the Tracks, the Tab window (a name we coined),
the Mixer window, and the Video Preview window. Let's go
into each one of these individually so that you can get a handle
on how to work with Vegas.
Figure 1 - Vegas's Main
Interface
The Track List
Vegas uses two different kinds of tracks; audio
tracks and video tracks. Each type of track has settings
that apply specifically to that type. Tracks can be
arranged by dragging and dropping the track to a different
position. Where audio is concerned, the track location
doesn't matter, but video tracks are stacked on top of
each other. That means that a video track that is on top
of another video track masks the video track below it.
Each track contains one or more clips.
(Audio tracks contain audio clips and video tracks contain video
clips, images, generated media such as text, etc.) The Track List provides you with global control over all
clips placed on that track. Vegas provides you with an
unlimited number of tracks so you can break up your clips any
way that you see fit. There literally isn't a right way
and a wrong way to arrange things. However, there are some
rules to follow. For example, transitions between video
clips can only be applied to two clips on the same track.
If you mess up and place a clip on an undesired track, you can
simply drag and drop it to the track you desire. That's
part of Vegas's intuitiveness, and it makes the Vegas workflow
seamless.
Another cool track feature is compositing.
Compositing is the act of combining tracks using different
filters so that one track partially overlays another. In
figure 2, we have configured a compositing mode for the
top track so that the white-on-black title screen acts as a mask
to the video beneath. The result is that the video in
track 2 shows through the title screen. See the video
result by
clicking here.
Figure 2 - The Track List
You can also set up a parent/child relationship
between tracks so that you have precise control over how
compositing is applied. In addition to compositing, you
can also configure automation effects which give you the ability
to control properties such as fading and levels over time.
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