Vegas 4 is a complete audio and video production tool. A decent PC, DV camera, 1394 port, external sound card, and quality video monitor are essentially all you need to make some outstanding video (and audio) content. That said, I've been using the program for several years and have found a few additional tools that no Vegas stalwart will want to be without. A few of these tools I consider essential for every NLE editor regardless of software. Here they are:

1) ShuttlePro

The mouse works. Keyboard shortcuts help. Scripting automates. Wouldn't it be nice to have a jog/shuttle wheel and button access to your most used tasks? And at the same time give your left hand something to do? Enter the Contour A/V Solutions ShuttlePro. This handy device includes 13 fully-programmable buttons (the latest version has 15) and a jog/shutle wheel that greatly speed up many editing tasks. Once you get one, you'll wonder how you did without it.

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Contact: www.contouravs.com

2) Vegas Custom keyboard

WorldTech Devices, Inc. teamed up with Sony Pictures Digital to create an USB keyboard with over 130 Vegas 4.0 shortcut commands laser etched onto their Specialist keyboard. This isn't some cheesy overlay or stickers that'll rub off after a few weeks of extended use. This Vegas keyboard is built for lasting professional use and will speed up your workflow efficiency.

Contact: www.worldtechdevices.com

3) PluginPac

Though Vegas 4 includes some 3-D transitions, you can't do enough with them. Enter Satish's free suite of special effects for Vegas. The download includes several effects, but it's the 3D plug-in effect you really want. I use it for picture-in-picture effects, transitions, and titles. It's a snap to position your events in X, Y, and Z. Of course, it's keyframeable like all Vegas effects, so you can craft some stunning looks fast. Did I mention it's free, too?

Contact: www.debugmode.com/pluginpac

4) Ulead Cool 3D Studio

You'll love the new dimension that Cool 3D Studio brings to your video projects. Not only can you create stunning, animated 3-D titles and other objects/sequences with this tool, you won't waste days trying to learn it. Cool 3-D Studio is essentially a drag and drop, highly visual affair. You can keyframe your animation and build simple sequences in under five minutes and more complex work in an hour or two. Best of all, you can render to a 32-bit .avi and maintain alpha channel information. Then, you can superimpose the animation into your video with no muss or fuss. Couple all this functionality and ease of use to a low price and you have another essential add-on for the serious Vegas user.

Contact: www.ulead.com

5) Editor's Tool Kit 1 and/or 2

For eye-popping results fast, Digital Juice's Editor's Toolkit 1 and 2 include dozens of fully animated and seamlessly looping lower-thirds, overlays, and background graphics. Many come as matching themed animations, called Jump Sets, that instantly give your video a high- quality, professional, and broadcast network look. Say good-bye to bland transitions, too. ETK2 has over 100 animated wipes that really make a statement (and many match the Jump Sets). The motion design elements in ETK2 are even more impressive. Combine and composite these clips - there are four DVDs worth! - to create an infinite number of unique animations. Both ETK1 and ETK2 include hundreds of still photos and other static backgrounds to dress up your work, too.

They also include "The Juicer" software that let's you preview everything, change the animations (size, color, and speed), and convert them to other formats. Drop these clips onto your Vegas timeline and your clients will think you paid thousands for custom animation. (Insider information: The Wedding Editor's Toolkit with nuptial-inspired graphics, animations, and jump sets will be released soon.)

Contact: www.digitaljuice.com

6) Motion Backs

Are ETK1 and ETK2 out of your budget range? Check out Digital Juice's Motion Backs. While not as versatile as the myriad of options in the ETK series, you do get some eye-candy to liven up your videos. Motion Backs are short animation loops perfect for adding some interest to titles and other graphics. You can resize them in Vegas using track motion and create some interesting lower-thirds, too. Or composite them in unique ways for a custom look.

The animations come from the extensive Digital Juice library, and you might call these shorter versions "The Best of Jump Backs." There are twenty different Motion Backs per DVD volume and there are five volumes in all: Pure Tech, Soft & Subtle, Dynamic Impact, Chaos, and Ultra Funk. You can buy the DVDs individually or at a discount in a five pack.

Contact: www.digitaljuice.com

7) Backtraxx for Powerpoint Music Library

Don't let the title fool you; this is a useful music pool perfect for your Vegas productions. While some people may choose to compose original music (as I often do), sometimes you just need a track fast for your video. Since you can't use copyrighted music and your budget precludes paying a substantial license fee, you need some royalty-free library music. Unfortunately, the problem with most royalty-free music libraries is a lack of choice and often a severe case of bland.

With Backtraxx for Powerpoint Digital Juice has brought together over 900 tracks in a variety of styles onto two CD-ROMs. The files are high-quality MP3s and you can select and listen to the titles from your Web browser. From sweet to street and high tech to rock - there's plenty here for just about any circumstance including a Reggae Wedding. Seriously, this is a versatile and great sounding collection that uses real players and real instruments. Many of the songs are sound-alikes and the popular pieces you need.

Contact: www.digitaljuice.com/presentation_products.asp

8) Analogx DXPad, DelayCalc, and TapTempo plug-ins

Want another way to keep important information with your Vegas file? The fine folks at Analogx have crafted a free DX plug-in notepad. Add it to either an audio or video DX effects chain and jot down notes to store with your project. You can save common reminders as "effects presets", too. It's nothing fancy, just utilitarian.

While you're downloading that file, check out the free DelayCalc utility. When mixing music, I like to sync my delays to the music beat. Type the song tempo into DelayCalc and get delay times (in milliseconds) for several beats (whole, half, quarter, etc.) with which to program your delay line. Of course, the math is easy, but this method is even easier.

And if you don't know a song's tempo, download the free TapTempo utility here, too. Play the song and tap along on the space bar for a few measures to get the tempo.

Contact: www.analogx.com

9) Vegas 4 Editing Workshop DVD

Wouldn't it be sweet to have an editing professional stop by your house and show you how to use Vegas better? It's not a dream. Right now you can invite Douglas Spotted Eagle, well-known Vegas expert, to spend six hours teaching Vegas to you. Class on Demand has released a four-disc "Vegas 4.0 Editing Workshop" training DVD set. How does it work? Pop the DVDs into your computer or set-top box, watch, listen, and learn. Aside from a live teacher, there isn't a better or easier way to get in-depth Vegas training than this package.

Contact: www.classondemand.net

10) Color Correction for Digital Video

Vegas 4 includes some awesome color correction tools and video scopes. If you don't know a thing about how these work or how to use them, grab this book from CMP. This isn't light reading, but once you work through the tutorials using the sample media supplied with the book, you'll master some practical and creative skills for improving the look of your videos.

Contact: www.cmpbooks.com

11) Sundance Media Group Vegas Help

Learn by checking out what other Vegas people are doing. After you register at the site, you can download dozens of free VEG files, open them up on your computer, and pick up some great techniques fast. Some effects will astonish you. Some you'll want to use on your next project. Others are just helpful in the why-didn't-I-think-of-that or so- that's-how-you-do-that vein. Also, you can get free automation scripts and links to dozens of great tutorials here. Spend a few hours here and you'll improve your Vegas prowess exponentially. Make sure you visit often as the material available is ever-growing.

Contact:www.sundancemediagroup.com/help/kb

12) Vegas 4 Editing Workshop - the book

Douglas Spotted Eagle has also authored a Vegas book released by CMP. I found it to be a terrific training tool, too.

Contact: www.cmpbooks.com

13) External monitoring

For previewing your Vegas work, get a DV to analog converter (such as the Canopus ADVC-100) and a decent broadcast monitor. Is your work destined to play on TV? Don't make critical judgments without seeing your work on a real TV. In a pinch, you can use a DV camcorder for the conversion and a regular TV (but use caution and/or the scopes).

14) ADS Pyro 1394 Drive Kits

Working in DV demands some heavy drive space. I prefer grabbing hard drives on sale and putting them in the Firewire data tanks made by ADS. It's basically a plug and play affair and you can daisy chain several of them for affordable, portable, high-capacity storage.

Contact: www.adstech.com

15) Sony/Sonic Foundry Noise Reduction Plug-in

People will put up with bad video (we call that style), but they hate bad sound. Excessive noise is usually the culprit. Clean up your audio with this outstanding tool. Load up a file, select a bit of the noise, take a noise sample, and the software eliminates it from the file. While it can't solve every bad audio problem, it can help on most. And on minor sound issues, it's virtually transparent.

Contact: www.sonicfoundry.com

16) DMN Vegas forum

For up-to-the-minute advice, tips, tricks, and more there is no better place to go than the Vegas forum on Digital Media Net. I've learned more there in a few days than from any other resource. From novice to expert user, there is something for everybody here. Make time to check it regularly. Better yet, participate!

Contact: www.dmnforums.com

There you have it, my personal list of sixteen (or so!) tools that complement Vegas very well. Check them out and see how they can help make your work easier and look and sound far better.

Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2003 - Republished with Permission