Deciding which version of vegas to get?

[Yasha-Chan69]

Okay I've been muddling around in the free trial of Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0 for two weeks and am in love. I am a quick learner and I am already seeing the limits of the program, basically the fact that you can't mask (only that stupid chroma key feature which SUCKS), or add more than 4 video trax. That blows.
So, I looked to see if Movie Studio Platinum Pro 9.0 (which isn't Sony Vegas 9, it's still an average consumer program, not a really "pro") would be much better, but the things on the website really didn't give me the information I needed. I am looking for a version of vegas, that has features and tools such as unlimited video tracks (audio track amount is fine where it is in the program I have, one is usually all I need...) full masking capabilities (so If I want Sanzo to be running around at the bottom of the screen, while there is stuff going on in the layers underneath his, I can do that.) and generally more transitions and video effects. I'd also like to be able to add an image, cut it out and then make that image "follow" a part of the video behind it, so like in that aquasky "flying car" video, where Muraki brings his hand up and there's a real life hacksaw plastered over top of the video, and it moves with his hand, I want to be able to do that. Or in the "Bumble-bee tuna" video, when the tuna cans are superimposed over Chiyo-chans pig tails and she waggles them, and the tuna cans waggle as well, to cover the actual hair behind them...
*sigh* I just don't know the technical term for what this is, and where I sit now, I can use Chroma key and an image editing program to put a green background behind my insert image,cut it out and have it there, but I can't make said image move around the screen, it just sort of sits there, where it was cut out. Do you know what i'm talking about?

I am told that older Pro versions of SV are cheaper and still more powerful and less restricting creatively than the newer consumer grade versions like SVMSP 9.0 that I have now. So if maybe you could recommend the best version of Vegas for me?

[Vivaldi]

Your best bet would probably be Sony Vegas pro 6.0. In every version after that the improvements made aren't that valuable to amvs, so it's the best cost\benefit ratio.

It has full masking, essentially unlimited audio\video tracks. IIRC version 6.0 is what Jaddziadax used in the afformentioned tuna video.

To make images move around the screen You'll to open up the Pan\crop window. (Should be a button located on the clip in the timeline.) Adjust the image position, and keyframe it for the duration of the clip.

[Yasha-Chan69]

Thanks very much for the advice as well as the help on motion. I think I will poke about a little bit, I still have 2 weeks before my free trial runs out, and find out more about what Vegas 6 can do, but I think it sounds perfect so far. I will most likely end up getting that one. Where does one obtain older copies? Like ebay? or can I buy them at best buy or future shop or something?

[AFT]

I really think you should get Vegas Pro 8. As Vivaldi mentioned, most Vegas editions after 6 don't have too many new useful features when it comes to amvs.But it does have new FX, transitions, 3D features (I don't think 6 has 3D), and improved workflow.
Also, recently I've noticed that online prices for Vegas pro 8 have been falling, now that 9 is out. Last time I checked you could get a new full boxed version on ebay for less than $200, maybe even $150... whereas version 6 was pretty hard to find.