The feathering options for creating a soft edge to the mask are easier to find too. It’s also possible to resize and rotate masks in one simple action rather than adjusting each bezier node. This seemingly simple task used to be incredibly fiddly, so this subtle improvement comes as a huge relief.

Masks can still be drawn using bezier curves, but now there are tools for quickly creating rectangular and elliptical masks. Vegas Pro’s mask function for revealing a limited area of a clip has long been one of its strongest features, and it’s better than ever in this update. It’s worth noting that it no longer supports Windows XP or any 32-bit version of Windows, and this is a good thing as 64-bit brings significant performance improvements to video-editing software. Intricate text animation is one of many reasons to consider Vegas Pro over the cheaper Movie Studio Platinum It has histogram, vectorscope and other analysis tools to keep a close eye on colour output, plus extended support for professional cameras and other hardware. Its text animation is precise and sophisticated, with the ability to animate by line, word or individual character. It’s also possible to rotate footage in 3D space, which is something available in various consumer editors but not Vegas Movie Studio Platinum. Its support for masks means that split-screen videos can take any shape rather than being confined to a rectangular frame. It supports unlimited video and audio tracks and nested sequences, making it easier to handle complex sequences with split-screen video and lots of disparate graphic and text elements. Its effects aren’t as dazzlingly eye-catching as Premiere Pro’s but there’s plenty to distinguish it from consumer editors. Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 is also a very high-quality video editing package, but it’s also very expensive. Sony Movie Studio Platinum is a prime example, and a great choice for anyone who simply wants to organise and present footage at its best. Consumer video-editing software is undergoing a renaissance, with less emphasis on glitzy special effects and more focus on efficient editing tools and responsive performance.

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