Transferring Vegas 3.0 multitrak audio files to Sound Forge Pro 15, 16

Edward-Rousseau wrote on 8/25/2022, 9:17 AM

I run dual music computers. A win XP Pro with Sonic Foundry Vegas 3.0 and a Win 10 with Sound Forge Pro 15 with a stereo sound card. I'm considering buying Sound Forge Pro 16 but want to know if I can transfer the Vegas files (old Sonic Foundry format) to the newer Magix SFP 15 or 16. Also, does the multitrack function in 15 and 16 only for computers with multitrack sound cards? Thank you for any info you can provide.

Comments

rraud wrote on 8/25/2022, 10:44 AM

Hi @Edward-Rousseau, Sound Forge cannot open a Vegas <.veg> project file if that is what you are asking. It will open the audio and most video media files recorded or rendered in Vegas.

Sound Forge is a multi-channel editing/mastering application. Vegas, Acid, Samplitude, Protools, Reaper and Audtion, ect, are multi-track. Sound Forge is not an application for music type recording and mixing.

btw, the current builds of Sound Forge Pro-16.1 has problems with third-party VST plug-ins, so this should be a consideration if you need to currently use a lot of third-party VST plug-ins. This should eventually be fixed though. SFP-17 is also in the works.

Edward-Rousseau wrote on 8/25/2022, 2:44 PM

rraud, Thank you for the information. I can see Vegas 'rendered' files would import to SF-15 but I cannot seem to get it to the muti-channel section. I often build on different audio sources and mix to stereo. That said I may just end up buying the latest Vegas software for the multi-track capability. Do you know if Vegas can import Blueray video and then covert to CD, MP3 ect?

rraud wrote on 8/26/2022, 11:31 AM

Do you know if Vegas can import Blueray video and then covert to CD, MP3 ect?

Yes and no @Edward-Rousseau, I have on many occasions imported video and audio from video DVDs to Vegas. I have not done this using a BluRay disc, nor do I have a BluRay drive or disc to try out. But based on what I recall with video DVDs.. the disc must be opened in Windows explorer to drag the VTS_01_0.IFO file (in the video folder) to the Vegas timeline. This imports the entire duration of the video / audio program.. It will take a few minutes or so to build the files depending on your system and optical drive speed.
btw, I further recall this worked with the legacy SCS versions of Sound Forge as well, I would suspect the same with Magix versions of SF.

There are applications that can extract the disc contents as well. One of the expert users on the Vegas video forum (MusicVid, whom I have the utmost respect for) recommends Video Redo which has a lot of useful tools.

johnebaker wrote on 8/26/2022, 12:06 PM

@Edward-Rousseau

. . . . Do you know if Vegas can import Blueray video . . . .

This depends on the whether the Blu-Ray disc is a commercial disc or a 'home burned' disc.

Commercial discs are usually copy protected ie have Digital Rights Management (DRM) built in. Trying to import them fails or has audio and visual disturbances rendering the copy useless, breaking the DRM is illegal.

Existing 'home burned' disc can be copied as DRM is not an available option for the 'home user' to protect their discs.

. . . . I cannot seem to get it to the muti-channel section. I often build on different audio sources and mix to stereo . . .

This sounds like you are needing 'multi track' not multi channel which refers to the number of audio streams within a video or audio file eg stereo, the various surround sound formats and multiple streams that some video file formats support.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

rraud wrote on 8/26/2022, 2:39 PM

If you cannot import the audio data directly from the disc because of copy protection, you can likely 'record what you hear' from the soundcard. I do not think that is affected by copy protection. otherwise it would not be heard on your monitor speakers. Imported audio data files would have the pristine quality of the disc, but it probably would not be an 'audible' difference.
I am not stating it is okay or legal to re-record copy-written material.

Edward-Rousseau wrote on 8/27/2022, 10:46 AM

Apologies. I miss spoke. I want to record to Blu Ray from CDs to decrease the disc count for some audio files I have. I'm not doing video. Sorry I misled you.

rraud wrote on 8/27/2022, 12:37 PM

Lot of variables in doing this concerning quality and the file size you want and audio only or video. Can you elaborate?
I do not think BluRay can playback like an Audio CD without some kind of video track or the same menu structure..
For archival purposes you could just extract the PCM disc files (aka, rip) and import them to a BluRay ROM format, However this would be just like Windows Explorer access. You could make playlist files though, depending on on the format
If you need to fit lots and lots of files on a disc, you could encode them in the MP3 or AAC. format. They would have a smaller file size than the CD's PCM files, but would have lesser quality. With all lossy file types, the smaller the file, the lesser the quality. A 320kbs MP3 sounds pretty good as does the AAC format. FWIW, 320kps is maximum bit rate for MP3. The AAC format can go up to 500kps or so,
If some are voice only recordings, there are ways to maintain quality with a small file size using a mono format. The procedure is different with lossy and PCM file. A mono PCM files would be half the size of a stereo... That does not apply to lossy formats though and the procedure is different. A mono file has no spacial (stereo) content, which is typically not present on voice recordings anyway.

Edward-Rousseau wrote on 8/28/2022, 10:54 AM

This helps tremendously. I've got some homework but this will put me on track. Thank you.

Edward-Rousseau wrote on 8/29/2022, 3:39 PM

Regarding the Vegas Pro upgrade; Will Vegas import non commercial DVDs and render Blu Ray discs? Also, can I perform multi-track mix downs to stereo with only a stereo sound card? Thank you for any info...Ed

rraud wrote on 8/29/2022, 5:35 PM

Vegas can import the video and audio to the Vegas Pro timeline, but it would not include the DVD menu,

Can I perform multi-track mix downs to stereo with only a stereo sound card?

Yes, Just choose 'Stereo' audio in Vegas 'Project Properties'

I am not sure about BluRay. 'DVD Architect' was the authoring app that 'was' included with some versions of Vegas Pro, I think BluRay authoring could be done on that too. You should post the DVD and BluRay questions on the Vegas Video forum. Lots of knowledgeable video folks over there.