Thanks Chienworks,
I have the Vegas download and will be giving it a test drive later today. Unfortunately time is not always on my side and trying out every available piece of software would be an impossible task. I was relying on a concice answer from you guys who know...which you have given me.
Thank you.
Bruce

Vegas is good at mixing multiple tracks with various types of edits. Sound Forge is a much deeper application that is specific to audio.

Maybe some examples would be better. I use both Vegas and Sound Forge on a regular basis. I just finished a wedding video for my sister in law that took place outside. Even though I used an external mic of decent quality, the wind noise made it difficult to hear the minister. So I used Sound Forge to do some noise reduction on the audio. When that was done, I adjusted the volume level to match other audio sources in Vegas to mix is correctly.

Another thing that use Sound Forge for is the Acoustical Mirror effects that Vegas won't do. They allow you to take an audio source and convolve it with an impulse response of a particular space and have your audio sound like it was recorded in that space. This is a pretty high level effect that Vegas would not be able to do.

If all you need to is make cuts and transistions, adjust volume mix tracks together, and maybe some simple equalization, then Vegas can do all that, but if your going to do any complex audio work, then Sound Forge is the way to go.

Does one have to own the Sony Noise Reduction software to do advanced noise reduction from within Sound Forge or is SF alone capable by itself?

you need the plug in. A bargian. I recouped my investment in one audio repair job. Well worth the price and an indispensible tool. IMO

Peter

"Well worth the price and an indispensible tool. IMO"

Peter, Wasn't I the one who told you that a few years back? Glad to hear it's all that I said it was and you're passing on the word.

You bet, Brian! A guy in Edmonton shot an entire video around transformers, wind, and inside a welding shop with very noisy ventilation. Multiple passes of noise reduction atttenuated the unwanted NAT sound enough that the spoken audio was relatively clear and not significantly distorted. Yes you did recommend it and I have persuaded several others to buy it. Thanks for the advice way back when.

Peter

Is this plugin available for use within Vegas or does it have to be used in SF?

Noise Reduction is available from within Vegas just like any DirectX plugin after you purchase it but I find it much more elegant in Sound Forge. Sound Forge is like micro-surgery on individual sound files. You have much more control.

I was lucky and found Sound Forge 5 bundled with Noise Reduction 2.0 at $199 several years ago via Nextag or PriceGrabber (Safe Harbor I believe) for less than the price of Noise Reduction alone. Great deal for me even though I already had SF 4.5 but I was looking to get Noise Reduction.

MJ

Thanks for you comments.
I will be shooting a documentary at sea and wind noise is going to be a real problem for me. Any comments in this regard to give me a heads up would be appreciated.
Tks,
Bruce

Sea and wind noise will be problematic at best, more than likely impossible. Noise Reduction apps./plugins work best on narrow band, constant frequencys. Since the above are wide spectrum sounds your best bet is to eliminate their intrusion from the start with close micing techniques.

Any time you try to remove wide frequency noise you will be removing significant amounts of the wanted program with any software. At best you can reduce it with unwanted artifacts applied to the wanted material.

MJ