This Vegas Movie Studio 16 review marks the third release of the software since Magix bought out the entire Sony Creative range of video and audio editing products a few years back now.
Despite the doomsday rumblings at that time as to what what Magix was going to do with the software, the company has steadily continued development with very good results.
So just as I do whenever I am embarking on any new review, here is a video from Vegas Creative showing a reasonably complete run through of the software and what it looks like.
Now before I embark on this full Vegas Movie Studio 16 review I think it is important to address why Movie Studio in many ways sits outside the box when it comes to consumer level video editing software.
Movie Studio was always a bit of an oddball within the consumer level video editing software market over the years mainly due to its origins.
The product grew out of some of the very first digital video editing software made by Sonic Foundry, later purchased by Sony which ultimately became Vegas Pro.
All of those early editors were designed around the existing terminology, techniques and workflows of professional film editors to make them more attractive to that specific market.
At some point the geniuses at Sony (the owners at the time) worked out that video editing was finding its way into the consumer market so they decided to create a “home user” version of the software.
Unfortunately the result of that was a very well equipped piece of software that was an absolute nightmare to learn or understand unless you were a pro editor.
Over the years design changes were made to make it easier to handle but I don’t think Sony ever actually grasped the concept of easing a new user into a totally foreign piece of software.
Of course the reality is that no matter which editing software you choose, if you have had no previous experience with it, it will all look a little daunting!
With the sale of the software to Magix a few years back things finally started to fall into place for Movie Studio.
Magix have not really tried to add a bunch of new bells and whistles to the program given that the software always had a pretty formidable feature set on offer.
What they have introduced has been an entirely new view on the way the software looks and operates from the user’s point of view.
The user interface is now a simple clean arrangement offering easy access to the extensive set of features on offer without all the clutter.
If you are new to the software or new to Vegas Movie Studio of course like any editing software, it will all seem a bit foreign so to deal with that Movie Studio comes armed with a set of interactive lessons built in to the interface.
You can get up to pace and be working on your project in no time at all and more importantly, any time you get stuck or want to know how to do something, you can access the appropriate guide to find out immediately how to do it.
For a clear idea of actually working with the software check out this video.
Mode Based Workflows
The new Mode-based workflow has been introduced to offer a sequential approach to putting together your project based on a logical progression of steps.
As you can see in the image above you start with the addition of video, audio and image assets then from there move through to Titles, Graphic Elements Transitions, Special Effects etc until you finally output to your file type of choice.
At any time you can switch to the Power User Mode which immediately converts the user interface into the fully loaded editing interface.
This workflow is actually based on the same workflow most professional editor make use of and minimizes the need to keep switching back and forth to correct things that have been thrown out by other actions.
The best part of it is that whenever you are working on a specific type of feature such as transitions or titles etc., the user interface switches instantly to only show the tools and settings relevant to that activity.
This is a great way of keeping your screen real estate clean and uncluttered and lets you always know just where you are in the editing process.
You can see a demonstration of both the Mode Based workflow in the video below.
Guided Video Creator
This is an even more guided approach to making video projects that steps you through the entire process from the point of selecting the video assets you are going to use.
Interactive Storyboard Editing
Again another feature designed to make the software more user friendly.
Having a Storyboard view within the editing interface is hardly a groundbreaking new feature in any video editing software!
However in most editors that level of functionality available in storyboard mode is usually greatly reduced based on the assumption that storyboarding is only going to be used to add media to a project in a very general “overview” sort of way.
In Movie Studio 16 you have the ability to use your cursor to scrub through each clip shown in the library so you can get a better idea of what that clip contains.
You can not only layout your clips from this view of the editor but also trim clips and rearrange them to achieve a fast “rough cut” of your project.
Which Version?
Vegas Movie Studio is offered at three levels:
Vegas Movie Studio 16
This is the simplest version of the program ideally suited for someone wanting to perform simple editing and uploading to the internet or mobile devices.
It offers basic editing features, special effects and tools but has no ability to create discs of any kind, has limited audio features and only ten available video or audio tracks.
It does have integrated uploading to YouTube and other services because that’s basically the style of editing or distribution it is aimed at.
VEGAS Movie Studio 16 Platinum
At this level most of the more advanced features begin to kick in with more pro tools such as motion tracking and enhanced video stabilization available.
You can adjust the layouts of your windows and workspaces then save them for later use.
The sheer number of features you get at this stage is far too long to list here but some of the highlights are the NewBlue Transitions Ultimate package, the ability to color match footage as well as secondary color correction.
You can execute motion tracking along with the ability to use Bézier masking, one-touch video stabilization, complete 360° editing workflow and much much more.
At this level Vegas Movie Studio also adds the ability to burn DVDs, Blu-ray discs and AVCHD on to DVD discs.
You also get a much wider range of audio effects, video effects and filters plus greater ability to control them.
VEGAS Movie Studio 16 Suite
At this level you are about as close as you are going to get to a pro editing solution at the consumer end of the market.
This is mainly achieved through the implementation of NewBlue FX packages consisting of:
- NewBlue Transitions Ultimate
- NewBlue Cartoonr Plus
- NewBlue Cinema Collection Template
- NewBlue Chroma Key Pro
- NewBlue Essentials 5 V3
- NewBlue Fluid Template Pack
- NewBlue Titler Pro Express
This version represents the peak of the Movie Studio family with all the bells and whistles and I think if you look hard enough, you will find the kitchen sink too!
It has hundreds of features and can do just about anything you can think of and it is at this level that the interactive guides really become necessary.
There is just a bewildering array of video, audio and still image effects and features inside the program and to list them all out would take pages and pages which I am not going to do here.
You can see a full Product Comparison Chart Here
Summary
There is no point going into what Vegas Movie Studio 16 can do here… it does it all and it does it very, very well!
Of all the video editing software at the consumer level Vegas Movie Studio 16 is one of the most feature packed products at each price level.
It particularly excels in the field of manually controlling every aspect of video production and honestly if it can’t do what you want then you probably need to go up to a pro editor.
With its excellent tutorial system the learning curve is still a curve but much less painful than most.
Within a very short time you will have the software well under control and doing what you want it to do.
bradley huggins says
20/12/2017 at 12:24 pmhello ordered 2 weeks ago have not seen or heard from you , this a was a Christmas gift.. wheres my order ?
Bradley Huggins
Chico Ca.
Lance Carr says
21/12/2017 at 12:45 amHi Bradley,
This is the second time you have contacted me on this matter and this is also the second time I have replied to you on it.
Let me re-state what I said in the first reply via email.
I DO NOT sell software on this site so it is impossible for you to have purchased any software from me.
This is a purely informational site and there is nowhere on this site where you can purchase software in any way shape or form.
What I believe has happened is that you may have read my review of Vegas Movie Studio 14 and then clicked on the link at the bottom of the page.
At that exact moment you LEFT DIYVideoeditor.com and went to the Vegas site and on THAT site you made your purchase.
If you did that and have not received your software then you need to go to that website and contact those people to track down what has happened.
scott campbell says
14/09/2017 at 8:27 pmHi
Thanks for the review.
I have just started using Movie Studio Platinum 12 as I was using the GoPro Studio APP. Is it worth upgrading to the Studio 14, I am using it for my surfing videos and I am a novice with this editing stuff.
Just not sure if to upgrade now before I get used to using the 12?
Thanks
Lance Carr says
15/09/2017 at 12:35 amHi Scott,
So here is my standard rant regarding updates/upgrades.
The software you have in hand is absolutely the perfect software for your needs unless you can conclusively prove that it is not.
It seems to me that right now you need to learn that software and above all, use it regularly.
It can do everything you probably need and much more.
The only reasons to upgrade would be:
That you are feeding it video files that are so exotic only the latest versions can handle them. (Doubtful)
There is a new feature in a later version that you actually NEED and would USE. (Again doubtful)
That all your friends have upgraded to the latest version and you are experiencing upgrade envy. (Tragic)
Or finally that the version you have is so old that the discounted upgrade path is about to run out for you. (In this case, not so.
I see people chasing the upgrades continuously in an effort to compensate for the fact that they have simply not sat down and learned the version they have.
Make an effort to learn and use 12, then you will be armed with knowledge and experience so as to be able to decide for yourself if an upgrade is worth it.
Tetay says
05/09/2017 at 12:04 pmGood Afternoon! I’m planning to purchase the Vegas Studio Platinum 14 Suite version. I already have the Movie Studio Platinum 12 and wanted to upgrade. I got a pop-up notification asking me if I want to upgrade to Vegas Studio Platinum 14 Suite for $79.99 the offer is good till 9/6/17. I really tempted to purchase this software but my only concern is I want a CD delivered to my house and not a download version once I make my purchased. Do you know if they only offer download version?
Thanks,
Tetay
Lance Carr says
06/09/2017 at 1:31 amHi Tetay,
I just went to the site and tried to walk through the purchase process and what appears to happen is that once you sign in you go to the shopping cart.
At that point you enter your existing licence key.
Next the update product comes up with a choice to get a DVD back up BUT!
I don’t actually know if that is also a download (an ISO file) or a physical disc!!!
My advice would be to go to VegasCreative and submit a question to their Help section to clarify all this.
John Drew says
09/09/2017 at 1:32 pmI upgraded my Movie Studio Platinum 12 Suite to the Vegas 14 version in March 2017. I opted to get the ‘backup DVD’, which cost an extra £4.99. The DVD arrived about a week later by post, in a box including brief instructions for installation and a card with an Activation Key.
However, the Activation Key was only supplied in the box with the DVD, and not on line at the time I purchased the upgrade. Consequently I could not download and run the software immediately after purchasing the upgrade. In effect Magix were selling installation rather than ‘backup’ media.
At the time I wrote to Magix pointing out that their ordering page was unclear on this point and that it would help if it made clear that one could purchase EITHER the ‘instant download’ OR the installation DVD. They replied saying they would pass on this feedback to the web team, but it sounds from your experience that things haven’t improved since!
Lance Carr says
11/09/2017 at 1:00 amAnd now we are both confused!
It’s good software but they really do have trouble communicating sometimes!
Mawaschi says
21/05/2017 at 2:36 amHi,
I’m currently running the trial version of Vegas movie studio suite and Video Deluxe Premium.
I’ve also created short 3-d intro with the Viddyoze website (MP4 file with PNG codec).
My problem is that I can integrate it in Magix Video Deluxe Premium but not with Vegas.
Do you have any idea why it is not possible on Vegas because even if I prefer Vegas for me that will a deal breaker….
Lance Carr says
22/05/2017 at 2:56 amHi Mawaschi,
The probelm here is that many of the 3-d platforms are using proprietary codecs and system to create the 3-d assests.
It appears that Magix can handle the ones you have made but Vegas can not.
At the moment broad compatibility as far as import, editing, and output goes is not quite there yet.
For now you should probably go with the one that works rather than going in circles trying to debug the one that doesn’t.
Mawaschi says
22/05/2017 at 4:15 amThank you very much, I’ll go with your advise!
Kal says
31/03/2017 at 1:59 amThanks very much for your feedback Lance. Much appreciated.
Kal says
30/03/2017 at 12:44 amThanks for the review Lance. I’m testing a trial version of Vegas Movie Studio 14 Platinum and Magix Movie Edit Pro Plus. Haven’t yet decided which to purchase. Any thoughts on the comparison? Thanks
Lance Carr says
30/03/2017 at 1:08 amHi Kal,
Both are good choices and I’ll repeat what I say all over the site, “Please download the trials first and take them for a spin before you commit to a long term relationship.
At the end of the day both of them have pretty much the same feature set except that Vegas gets you there manually and Movie Edit gets you there with presets and plugins.
To me the real question is where do you want to finish?
If you are going to keep it relatively simple then Movie Edit Pro, if you want to really get into editing as a serious hobby or even move towards pro, Vegas Movie Studio.
Zack says
28/03/2017 at 2:03 pmHello,
Thank you for this article. I’ve had Movie Studio Platinum 13 for about 2 years now and I love it.I have yet to do anything complicated such as making animations or adding special effects, as the videos I make don’t really require anything of that nature. My question is, do you think that there is a large enough feature improvement to spend the money to upgrade? I got platinum 13 off of Amazon for about $60.
Lance Carr says
29/03/2017 at 3:24 amHi Zack OK so apparently as a marketer I am supposed to make up some kind of story here that backs my recommendation for you to upgrade regardless of the situation.
Unfortunately for me I suck at marketing.
Given the fact that you are happy with the current version, are working within in its capabilities and have no need for any more fancy bells and whistles then I would stay with what you have.
What I would recommend is keeping an eye out for the next update and going for that one automatically.
The main reason I say this is because it keeps you in touch with the cheap upgrade path and makes sure that changes in computer configurations and video file formats don’t start crashing your computer or giving you problems.
David says
03/01/2017 at 12:32 pmHello. I read this article with great interest. I had been a Pinnacle user since forever, but after Version 12 I decided to try Sony Vegas. They actually released bug fixes! Pinnacle seemed to carry the same bugs from one version to another. I currently have version 11 of Vegas Movie Studio HD platinum suite. Is the update to 13 worth the cost? Has Pinnacle finally figured out how to release software that won’t kill you from frustration due to the bugs? What would you suggest? I loved using Pinnacle Studio and would consider switching back if they have fixed the issues I mentioned.
Lance Carr says
04/01/2017 at 3:50 amHi David,
Yes Pinnacle has certainly has its fair share of “moments” throughout its history!
Probably around the time you ditched it, it was bought by Avid and they made some inroads into getting it stable… but!
Given that they are a software company used to only working at the pro end of the market I think they realized they has bitten off a little more than they could chew.
Possibly by the time they were surrounded by enraged villagers with pitchforks and lit torches they made the decision to sell Pinnacle to Corel.
Corel spent probably about versions 16 and 17 just trying to tame the beast and get it to behave which they did quite well.
Versions 19 and 20 have been good solid updates and hopefully the instability issues are behind them now.
As far as Vegas goes, Sony sold it to Magix last years so the entire Vegas range has moved over there.
Magix have released a new version of Vegas Pro and a new version of Vegas Movie Studio is in the works right now and should be due for release pretty soon.
I think you should wait until that release and then take a look at updating to the new version.
Magix have undertaken to respect the upgrade pricing paths that people agreed to when they originally bought the software from Sony.