Avid upgrades, adds Cloud + Studio

Avid has new versions of its flagship editing systems - Media Composer version 5.5, NewsCutter version 9.5 and Symphony version 5.5 - offering increased third-party hardware support, enhanced “in the box” functionality, and more open, collaborative workflows with added control integration and format flexibility - more on this at TVB Europe.

Avid will be unveiling the first fruits of its 2009 acquisition of cloud-based technology Max-T at NAB, and will be touting its Integrated Media Enterprise - an IP-based framework for the creation and distribution of video content. Again more on this in another article, by Adrian Pennington, at TVB Europe.

Avid is also pushing itself into the low-budget market, with Avid Studio, a $170 Windows 7 application, that is essentially an upgraded Pinnacle Studio (Avid owns Pinnacle and also unveiled three Pinnacle HD Studio 15 programs), although it also includes some technology originally created for Media Composer, such as stabilization, and user interface elements. It should be available to download on March 8 and Pinnacle Studio users will be able to upgrade to Avid Studio for $99.

The key features of Avid Studio are listed as:

• Sophisticated movie editing tools, including markers and keyframes
• Powerful media management library to organize videos, photos, and audio files
• Media editor to apply corrections or effects to videos, photos, and audio
• Unlimited timeline tracks for advanced editing and compositing
• Professional add-ons and plug-ins (valued at over $2,000): including Red Giant Plug-in package, Complete Avid content package, 100 additional HD video transitions
• Comprehensive collection of how-to videos from Class on Demand
• Motion Titler for adding animated graphics and text
• Audio tools for professional sound quality
• 5.1 surround sound import/export functionality
• AVCHD burning; DVD and Blu-ray disc authoring and burning tools
• 5' x 6' green screen sheet for chroma-key effects

By David Fox