Originally developed as a Sony product, the Vegas Pro & Movie Studio editing packages have had a revamp after being recently bought by Magix.

Previous versions had felt a bit stuck between two very different target markets, with its professional software too basic for professional filmmakers and its consumer version too complicated for the average amateur home user. Its latest release, the Vegas Movie Studio 14 Platinum does still seem to be aiming for both, describing itself as”easy-to-use pro-level” software. As a professional who routinely uses a range of high-end video editing packages such as AVID I was curious to find out exactly what that meant.

Firstly, I have to say that Magix have to be congratulated on their support and learning tools. These come in the form of basic but tip-filled online video tutorials. They are well made and give enough practical information to get a new user cutting in Vegas Movie Studio right off the bat.

The software then provides on-going support via three interactive learning tools which enable editors to learn about the software’s capabilities on the go. “What’s This” and “Interactive Tutorials” give you quick answers to explain the more complex functions while the exhaustive “Program Help” should have an answer to any more complex questions that come up during the editing process.

The VEGAS software provides on-going support via three interactive learning tool
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It is great to know these learning tools are available, but just how intuitive is the software? The interface has been updated since version 13 and looks simpler and more stylish, which is a good start. The dark colour scheme and design theme works better, and the overall aesthetic of the UI feels much more modern.

The Project, Timeline and Preview windows are more clearly laid out and – most noticeably – some major changes to the Track Header have made it easier to monitor and control the tracks in the Timeline.

Changes to the Track Header made it easier to monitor and control tracks in the Timeline
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The buttons and icons in the Toolbars are relatively self explanatory but detailed pop up info windows appear when you hover over them so the button functions are very easy to learn as you edit. The dropdown menus are also much simpler than in previous versions, with functions grouped well under specific menu items.

As with all such software, there is a learning curve and you do tend to get out as much as you put into it, so some time dedicated to delving into the available Transitions, Effects and Title options certainly pays off in the long-run. That said, the capable learning tools are there to support you and utilising these while messing about and actually making some stuff is a great way to learn.

In the Project window the Transitions, Video FX and Media Generator tabs are really nice with hover-over demos of the effects that quickly help you find the creative look you are after, and there are lots of options! In fact that was one of the pleasant surprises about the Vegas Studio software, in that it comes with such a capable set of Video FX and Transitions, which a newbie should have lots of fun experimenting with.

VEGAS provides an affordable and robust prosumer video editing package
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This version 14 update also brings some key performance improvements such as quicker loading times for large projects, and I’m pleased to report that I didn’t have a single crash while putting it through its paces, which was a first for me with Vegas. In fact, I was able to cut a short but resource-heavy video in 4K and export it as a 1080p MP4 without any issues. Admittedly my PC is very powerful and has 32GB of RAM but even so this is a vast improvement over previous versions.

It also has much improved RAM preview so Timelines play quicker and more smoothly as you edit, speeding up your workflow and making Vegas much more fun to use. There is also a new multicam editing option which, while it’s not something the average user might need, it’s a nice to have for people cutting two camera interviews or multi camera event videos, even though you still need to synch the videos using the audio waveforms which is a bit of a pain.

Vegas Movie Studio also now offers direct upload to YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo
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Vegas Movie Studio also now offers direct upload to YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo which speeds things up for delivering video for web streaming or Vloging regularly, which is a nice touch and likely to be a popular feature. When combined with the increased Timeline tracks available and the addition of NewBlue FX and Titler Pro plugins plus HitFilm Toolkit, SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 6 and Music Maker, Vegas Movie Studio 14 Platinum looks like a very easy to use, solidly designed and creative package, specially considering the £69.99/$79.99 price point which makes it vastly more affordable than any professional-level industry alternative. So, in answer to the question of whether they managed to turn out a product that hits that elusive “prosumer” market, I believe they might just have.

This is a guest review post by Tom Atkinson from R3Digital. Images are from his latest production in partnership with Carrion Films, the highly anticipated gothic horror masterpiece Borley Rectory starring Reece Shearsmith and narrated by Julian Sands.

The post Software Review: VEGAS Movie Studio 14 appeared first on Tech Trends.

The amazing growth of crowdfunding means everyone wants a piece of that action. But although the industry is worth an estimated $5 billion globally, it’s not all about the money.

Not only can crowdfunding help get money for your project, but it can be the perfect marketing tool
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Sure, crowdfunding can lend a hand in providing much -needed financing for your idea, but it can also be the perfect launchpad for “the next big thing”. Oculus is a case in point, a company that began life as a Kickstartercampaign and went on to be acquired by Facebook for $2 Billion this year.

With so many great crowdfunding ideas to choose from it's a lot harder to get noticed
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With so many great ideas to choose from, however, getting noticed in the crowd is also getting a lot harder. Gone are the days when you could get away with badly spelled copy, boring rewards and sloppy videos. Those are now the minimum standards for any campaign worth its salt, and there’s really no excuse, as platforms like Indiegogo and Kickstarter make it easy to put together a nice page. On top of these basics, there are 3 key things that can really make a difference to crowdfunding success, and while working on several campaigns I learned from people in the trenches what they are:

1 — Set your target amount low, and exceed it early

A high target can put some supporters off, especially at the start of the campaign, when it can seem too large a mountain to climb. Ideally, you want to reach over 30% of your target amount in the first few days of the campaign. That gives you a lot more chance to get promoted in the platforms, and creates a buzz of excitement around the campaign. You can always exceed your target, and that looks good too. The trick is to go as low as you can, while still being confident that the minimum amount you set is enough to keep your promises to the community, so keep this realistic, and be honest with your supporters. One recent example where this went really well, as a campaign run by Ramen VR for the virtual world, Zenith. They initially looked to raise an initial $ 25,000 USD and easily achieved that within several hours. It’s been so successful that Zenith has managed to raise just over $ 167,000 with a month still to go.

It’s not a Monty Python restaurant, so Spam is definitely not on the menu where it comes to Crowdfunding
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2 — Communicate constantly and creatively

It’s not a Monty Python restaurant, so Spam is definitely not on the menu. What you need is to have a solid plan of how you will roll out relevant content across all your social media channels, engaging your existing supporters and encouraging them to bring new ones on board. Shareability is key, so think interesting visuals, video, multimedia, games, and text content that will intrigue and delight your community. Someone at Indiegogo once told me that “Crowdfunding is just another word for marketing, and a successful crowdfunding campaign demands around-the-clock promotion. In today’s technocracy, that translates to constant tweets, relentless Facebook status updates, email blasts up the wazoo, sleep strikes, the occasional hunger strike, and any other means by which to keep your project on the minds of your friends, family, and supporters”.

Shareability is key, so think interesting visuals, video, multimedia, games, and text content that will intrigue and delight your community
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3 — Leverage influencers

Think long and hard about what the audience is for whatever you’re crowdfunding. When you have that picture firmly in your head, start thinking about the type of person that audience is likely to listen to, especially on social media. They might be celebrities, or simply trusted influencers in their field, but getting them on side is key to energising your campaign and giving it that extra reach and momentum. Do your research and find things about yourself and your campaign that would interest those people, and reach out to them proactively with any means at your disposal.

Think long and hard about what the audience is for whatever you’re crowdfunding
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Remember that there are many benefits to crowdfunding when it’s done right, and these certainly go beyond reaching your money target. Film director Ashley Thorpe from Carrion Films, currently producing an animated short about Borley Rectory, used his Indiegogo campaign to grab the attention of the likes of Julian Sands and Reece Shearsmith, who are now taking part in the project. He’s in no doubt that crowdfunding elevated his company’s status and potential in spite of the campaign falling short in financial terms. “With the reward costs and fees deducted, we were left with about half of the film’s budget in the end, but I have raised the profile of what I’m attempting to do tenfold, and made connections with groups of people that I never thought I’d get to work with”.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Successfully Crowdfunding Your Idea appeared first on Tech Trends.