 Are you certifiable? Introducing two new Sony Certification programs for Vegas software. Sony Certification can help you gain peer recognition and differentiate you from your competitors. There are two levels of certification for Vegas software, Sony Certified Vegas User (SCVU), and Sony Certified Vegas Editor (SCVE).
To kick off the new certification programs, we're teaming up with VASST, a leading provider of training for multimedia professionals and hobbyists, to deliver several two-day, hands-on training courses designed to fully prepare you for the certification exam(s). The Vegas Certification Tour will make stops in Chicago (August 7-8), Los Angeles (August 10-11), Orlando (August 17-18), and New York City (August 21-22). Both SCVU and SCVE certification training will be offered at each location on the tour.
The cost for the two-day training course is only $799 and includes a copy of the Digital Video and Audio Production course book, as well as an exam code needed to access the online certification test. Laptop computers will be provided for classroom work, along with all of the media required for the hands-on exercises. We'll also feed you lunch on both days, and throw in a free t-shirt just for fun.
For detailed program information including course topics, visit our website.
To register for an upcoming SCVU or SCVE training course, visit the VASST registration page.
 So many transitions, so little cash Did you know that Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum software includes more than 1,200 combined video effects and transitions? Just over 800 of these effects and transitions are provided by the bundled SpiceMASTER™ 2.5 TFX from Pixelan Software. SpiceMASTER is a leading visual effects plug-in for custom soft and organic transitions and effects, which can greatly enhance your creative flexibility while editing. In addition to its incredible breadth of video effects and transitions, Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum software includes HDV support, ACID XMC software for music creation, Sony Pictures Sound Effects, and the book HDV: What you NEED to Know. At only $129.95 US, Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum software delivers a ton of video editing and production power, for not a lot of money. More Info
The incredible shrinking file, part 2
by Craig Anderton
Last issue we described various data compression algorithms, as well as some of the parameters that influence the fidelity of data compressed file formats such as MP3 and WMA. Now, let's consider how to make those files sound as good as possible.
One easy way to improve quality is to compress to a mono instead of stereo file. This is because with a stereo file, you're essentially "spending" your bandwidth on two separate channels; for example, with a 128kbps file, each channel is actually encoded at 64kbps. With mono, you're spending all your bandwidth on a single channel, which gets the full benefit of 128kbps encoding. A lot of material sounds just fine in mono, and the benefits derived from the higher fidelity may offset the loss of stereo imaging.
Reducing high frequencies, then using Sound Forge's Wave Hammer plug-in to restrict dynamic range, can condition a signal so that it sounds better when you apply data compression algorithms (e.g., MP3 or WMA).
Of course, the beauty of using a digital audio editor like Sony Sound Forge to create a data-compressed file is that you can "Save As…" using different file types and evaluate the results for yourself. If mono sounds better, use mono. Continued
Blissed out on Sony Creative Software
46bliss-Clare Veniot, David Cooper, and Jack Freudenheim-began in a spirit of collaboration twelve years ago and continues that way today. After being signed as a songwriter to Warner Chappell, David Cooper missed the atmosphere of a band and sought out friends Veniot and Freudenheim to help him. Often working from different cities, the group has recorded two CDs and is working on their third. "All songs are written by the three of us," says Freudenheim. "We usually start by jamming on something one of us has started on our own, mold and massage the results, sometime for months until we have a finished product."
Vegas, ACID Pro, and Sound Forge have been instrumental in that process. "We often use Vegas for capturing a performance, liking the way you can set a loop point and record multiple takes on top of each other. ACID Pro has been our go-to tool for loop-based composition. Sound Forge is where we do all our destructive editing. If we're going to do a little pitch correction or cut out extraneous noises from a performance, we'll bring it into Sound Forge and do the job there. Plus if there are final mastering touches to do, even post-mastering, that's the place to do it." We lay out the final CD with indexes and crossfades in Vegas software to burn a master for manufacturing. Full story
Choosing the right digital camera for you
by Matthew D. Sarrel
Digital cameras are advancing in leaps and bounds every year. Yesterday's great camera is today's big and bulky mediocre camera. Of course, like most technology, this translates to a need for a new camera every few years. Here are some tips on buying the right one for your needs.
Cameras come in many shapes and sizes, with even more choices surrounding features. The ultracompact camera is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and is very convenient for snapping quick pics, but you'll pay extra for the sleek design and the small buttons may not be for everyone. The compact camera can be carried in a pants pocket or a purse and typically has more features and better picture quality than the ultracompact, but isn't as stylish. For more flexibility, move up to the superzoom category that usually has a 10X or greater optical zoom and the ability to adjust each setting manually, but is bigger and bulkier. And finally, for the ultimate in flexibility and quality, there's the digital SLR (D-SLR), a bulky feature rich camera with interchangeable lenses.
The first task is to figure out a budget. For around $100 you can get the most basic digital camera, with 4 megapixels at most and probably no optical zoom. (An optical zoom is a truer zoom created through the use of lenses. A digital zoom is on that is created by the camera. The camera spreads out the pixels, then interpolates to fill in the gaps and make everything look closer.) Continued
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