Disappointed at NAB

tjglfr wrote on 4/21/2005, 9:32 AM

I attended NAB Monday and Tuesday and
was very disappointed with Vegas6 presence at NAB.
I was hopping to see a Vegas demo booth bigger than last year’s.
I was hopping that Sony would try to convert more editors to Vegas.
I had to ask three Sony reps, where the Vegas booth was. Finally
I found the small demo both that look more like a bank teller than
somebody trying to convince Avid and FCP editors that this was the way to go.
The classes for V6 and DVDA3 where very informative. But my feeling is that Sony is only interested in selling upgrades to existing Vegas editors and not trying to compete with the other NLEs.
I missed Spot and Tim Duncan doing their magic in front of the crowds.
Or is Sony more interested in marketing Xpri.

Comments

busterkeaton wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:04 AM
Did you attend any of booked-solid sessions where Spot and others demoed Vegas 6 and DVDA3?

Did you go to the Vegas users party that had to hire more security and buy more food and drink?

Did you go to any of the Post-Production Conference sessions?
http://www.nabshow.com/PPC2005grid.pdf
Spheris wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:08 AM
I doubt that the private party was what he was talking about.

The reports from the demoes were....interesting...
That's a way to put it
tjglfr wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:22 AM
I meant precense at the show ala Avid and FCP, not secluded demos by invitation or
signing to them in advance. The whole deal is for Vegas to be out there, for everybody to see. Most people I tell that I use Vegas, think its a video game.
Remember last year, I heard a lot of people beign amazed of what Vegas could do without any plg'ins.
rextilleon wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:26 AM
Remember, Vegas is only a small part in the array of Sony products. They introduced several new cameras (in addition to the two HDV's) and are a huge multi-national corporation.
Jason_Abbott wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:31 AM
My experience was the same. It would have been nice to see more floor presence. Final Cut, Edius, Pinnacle's line, Premiere, Avid, and probably others I'm forgetting now, all had very noticeable, sometimes gigantic, floor displays. The party and classes were great, yes, but after seeing the hidden Vegas "ATM" I checked my map several times, and walked all over, trying to figure out where the actual Vegas display was. I don't know how anyone not looking for it would have seen it mentioned at all.
Spot|DSE wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:35 AM
I've got two minds on this subject....
Sony is a huge company; lots of products, each division demands showcasing. The stage that held Vegas last year was the stage for HDV this year, and the only other "large" stage area held the Anystream system, which is immensely popular. Vegas is across/next to the HDV demostation. It's true that Vegas' presence could have been much larger, but then the question begs to be asked of why it's not larger than it was before, or as large as it was before.
I don't work for Sony, obviously.....but the cost of NAB boothspace is huge, and for Sony to do this year what they did last year, would have easily been a 500K investment just for Vegas alone. How many 500k's does it take to add up to a lot of money coming out that is greater than what is going in? What is the break even vs loss point in terms of sales?
Sony focused on other things; LOTS of presence of Vegas in other booths, the huge party event that is still the talk of the community (Adobe Premiere's group had less than 75 people in their users group party, I was embarrassed for them because they had a buffet, drinks, etc) Sony also had Vegas in prime locations in the booth such as the XDCam display and other places. It wasn't a rockstar stage, but it was definitely a nice intimate cafe presence. Vegas was also at the Digital Cafe, and other special events through the night. So....while I also would love to have seen Vegas on a monster stage front and center, I also understand the balance of seeding the floor vs being in few places and having that big stage. Plus, the training sessions Sony did were sold out, and our own VASST/Post Production Conference sessions ran between just a few dozen to a couple hundred, depending on the sessions....In other words, Vegas was covered pretty well at the show, IMO.
But that big stage is wonderful....
jkrepner wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:40 AM
I was a little let down by the Vegas presence at the Sony booth as well. I was there Monday and Tuesday, and on Monday morning I couldn't find the booth and no one at Sony knew what I was talking about. Eventually, I found the seminars (which were great as was the Vegas party) and someone there told me where the "ATM" machine-Vegas display was located. I didn't care, but it was embarrassing since I had a friend along who is a FCP guy.

I know this isn't Sony's priority and I think that with Sony's purchase of Sonic Foundry still relatively new, things will improve as Sony figures out where this product falls. The odd part is, I feel Sony does a great job promoting Vegas in print, but needed a better display at the show to sell the people who wonder by. I think the Vegas 6 display at the Blackmagic booth was better then the Vegas 6 display at the Sony booth (at least it was more front and center and easier to find.) WTF?

B_JM wrote on 4/21/2005, 10:59 AM
behind the scenes - the merger of blu-ray and HD-DVD may also weigh heavy on some people minds - as the ramifications will run into the millions of $$..

i.e. delay of PS3 and new r&d costs for sony ...

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/business/42500.html
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,67296,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6
http://www.techspot.com/story17435.html

and elsewhere




Guy Bruner wrote on 4/21/2005, 11:12 AM
Yes, I too had to look hard for the Vegas "booth." But, I saw Spot and others demoing Vegas outside the Sony display (Artbeats, etc.) I think the word is out there as witness THE Party...it was great to see SRO for the presentations, and the food/drinks were good. I enjoyed meeting folks I had only met on line...great group of people, Vegas users. With the announcement of the Panasonic HVX200, I just hope Vegas finds the means to support the DVCPROHD codec...that would make my year.
JJKizak wrote on 4/21/2005, 11:17 AM
The merger of BluRay and HD-DVD, anybody know if this is serious?


JJK
je@on wrote on 4/21/2005, 11:46 AM
Other than to current users, how exciting is a NLE software update? Sure we like it, sure it has HDV and so does everyone else. Under-the-hood improvments are difficult to demo and subtle to appreciate. I'd rather see Sony do some serious positioning of Vegas as a professional product as opposed to a big NAB dog & pony show.

Just my $.02...
p@mast3rs wrote on 4/21/2005, 11:50 AM
So who had the best showing at NAB2005? Ill give Apple the nod. They seemed to have done everything right. Adobe did absolutely nil except for annoucing that they are buying Macromedia. Sony sounds like they did a bit better than Avid but Id give it a tie.
B_JM wrote on 4/21/2005, 11:53 AM
very serious
JJKizak wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:06 PM
That's almost as far reaching as the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. Combining BluRay and HD-DVD has my mouth hanging open in total bewildermant.

JJK
Yoyodyne wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:07 PM
come on B_JM - spill the beans.
p@mast3rs wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:10 PM
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-04-21T102839Z_01_N20246054_RTRIDST_0_TECH-TECH-SONY-DVD-DC.XML

Its under serious consideration currently.
B_JM wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:15 PM
and read the links i posted above -- it makes good sense for the consumer
apit34356 wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:27 PM
B_JM, the blu "war" is about over, concerning the film industry, Sony has in the last 6 months demonstrated that bluray tech is the only effective way to quickly defeat the asian pirates vs the debate about more laws and lawsuits.
B_JM wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:32 PM
that is why toshiba and apple are showing HD-DVD at NAB then (together) ...

the movie industry (what is left of it sans sony) do not want two standards ....
apit34356 wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:41 PM
As you know, Apple has aready made a 3 year commint to Sony on bluray, for better access to technology concerning Sony pro Camera line and other "items:. Apple wants access to Sony's movies online deal...
B_JM wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:51 PM
so that is why "Apple first to market with HD-DVD"


apit34356 wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:52 PM
Bluray has more storage which is nice, but the debate about retooling cost has shifted since Sony has been able demonstrate, in terms of dollars, that pirating "retail style" would take a major hit, more that any investment in legal action. Cost of investment would be recovered more quickly. Plus a series of international banks are being lined up, with Sony's help, to underwrite the equipment buys with aggressive rates.
apit34356 wrote on 4/21/2005, 12:59 PM
" so that is why "Apple first to market with HD-DVD"", Apple likes to be first on the tech side issues concerning storage. The real question is, after Apple's inventory and contract comments are met concerning HD-DVD, how long will Apple support the HD-DVD tech beyond the Fall of 2005.
tjglfr wrote on 4/21/2005, 1:07 PM
Jeaton:
If you're going to play with the big guys you got to be noticed, and NAB is the place to do it.