Avid today launched new versions of its flagship video editing systems Media Composer version 6, NewsCutter version 10 and Symphony version 6, writes Adrian Pennington.
All are rebuilt from the core on a new open, 64-bit architecture and additionally include support for third-party hardware, AVCHD and Red Epic support with Avid Media Access (AMA), an Avid DNxHD 444 codec, and support for Avid Artist Color.
Pricing for Media Composer 6.0 starts at $2,499. Upgrades cost from $299. NewsCutter 10 starts at $2,499, with upgrades from $499. Symphony 6.0 starts at $5,999.
Final Cut Pro (excluding FCP X) users can purchase Media Composer with free online training to help them move from Final Cut Pro to Media Composer, for $1,499.
With innovations such as AMA, for direct access to file-based media, PhraseFind and ScriptSync, for phonetic searching and editing, and realtime Mix and Match, allowing multiple formats in the same timeline, Avid claims that this release reinforces Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony “as the ultimate professional editing systems on the market.”
The new Avid Open I/O enables support for video and audio cards from AJA Video Systems, Blackmagic Design, Bluefish444, Matrox and MOTU. There is also the ability to incorporate Avid’s high-performance hardware video accelerator, Avid Nitris DX.
There is also increased flexibility for audio editing and finishing with enhanced Pro Tools integration, 5.1/7.1 surround sound, and extensive metadata management. This allows the transfer of more session data from Media Composer to the recently upgraded Pro Tools (now version 10). Additional metadata is available in the AAF interchange format. Extensive 5.1/7.1 surround support is also fully compatible with Pro Tools through the improved AAF capabilities.
