Discover storytelling on the cutting edge. With the new Avid Media Composer 4 non-linear editing software, you get the speed, flexibility, and confidence you need to achieve your creative vision and deliver compelling content—on time and on budget. Media Composer 4 goes where other editors leave off, giving you the strongest editorial tools, the most dependable media management, and innovative features that let you do the unimaginable. That’s why the best and most successful producers, directors, and editors trust Media Composer software to create the world’s most watched, most loved films, TV shows, and commercials.

This complete boxed set includes the DVD installation and manuals for Avid Media Composer 4 along with the complete Avid Production Suite including Avid DVD by Sonic, Avid FX, Boris Continuum Complete, SmartSound Sonicfire Pro and Sorenson Squeeze. (not included in academic version)

Key Features

• Accelerate your cuts with ultra-accurate editing tools
• Mix and match formats, frame rates, and resolutions in the same timeline
• Instantly access and edit XDCAM, P2, and GFCAM mediadirectly with AMA (Avid Media Access)
• Find the best takes fast with ScriptSync
• Get real-time HD editing, in mastering picture quality, with Avid DNxHD
• Never lose media with the industry’s most reliable media management
• Work with RED, 3D stereoscopic, and single-frame image files with MetaFuze
• Share projects and media for deadline-driven, real-time collaboration
• Get the look, effects, and quality you want with powerful production tools
• Deliver optimized content for the web or on DVD or Blu-Ray Disc
• Get capture, editing, monitoring, output, and higher performance by integrating a Nitris® DX or Avid Mojo® DX hardware interface

Avid Media Composer 4 is the perfect editing solution for every type of editor including:

FILMS AND MOVIES
Whether you’re working on feature films, independent movies, or documentaries, you can work smarter and faster with Media Composer software. Gain real-time HD editing and mastering picture quality with Avid DNxHD media. Find the best takes fast with the ScriptSync feature. Never lose sight of assets thanks to rock-solid media management. Edit in your hotel room, on set, or in the field to get a head start on dailies. And with Avid Unity™ integration, you and your team can access the same media—at the same time—to collaboratively shape the story.

TELEVISION
In the world of television, having a rock-solid system that helps you quickly sort through the hodgepodge of material and cut together the most engaging storylines is crucial. With Media Composer software, you get the speed, flexibility, and dependability you need to deliver broadcast-quality content fast. Mix and match formats, frame rates, and resolutions in the open timeline. Gain real-time collaboration to meet deadlines. Find the footage fast through robust media management. Even edit XDCAM, P2, and GFCAM media directly with AMA for the fastest project turnarounds.

COMMERCIALS AND PROMOS
TV commercials, trailers, show previews—when time is money, you need a dependable system that lets you quickly shape video clips, sound bites, and music into a punchy story that sells in seconds. With Media Composer software, you can find the right clips, right now, with powerful search, sort, and sift commands at your fingertips. Insert yourself into any workflow, and move projects to Avid and other finishing systems. Quickly cut sequences with razor precision to frame the defining moments. And create eye-catching titles and animation with the included Production Suite.

DIGITAL MEDIA
For web content, corporate video, and other digital media, Media Composer software opens the door to more opportunities. Gain the flexibility to work with a wide range of media formats, raster sizes, and frame rates, and mix and match SD and HD clips on the timeline. Work on multiple projects simultaneously without worrying about keeping track of project assets. And with the included Production Suite, you can easily get the look you want through animation and effects, generate music soundtracks effortlessly, and deliver content for web or DVD viewing.

What's New

• Mix and match frame rates (in addition to formats and resolutions) in the same timeline
• Share Mac-based Media Composer projects with Pro Tools editors through Video Satellite
• Encode and deliver final masters in Panasonic AVC-Intra format
• Instantly access and edit GFCAM 100 Mb-formatted media through AMA
• Be more creative and productive with new updates to the included Production Suite
• Create low-res proxies of archived HD 720p media for faster reviewing and retrieval
• Capture and preserve ancillary and closed captioning data on Nitris DX and Mojo DX systems
• Monitor 1080p24 projects on NTSC monitors with Symphony Nitris DX systems
• View stereoscopic material side-by-side for a more natural line of sight
• Get more monitor choices for viewing stereoscopic media
• Experience improved playback with DV100 media
• Get improved playback of QuickTime DNxHD media in Pro Tools
• View 16 tracks at a time in the audio mixer, in addition to 4- and 8-track display
• Work with AAF files larger than 2 GB
• Get more levels of undo
• Work with complex scenes even easier with multicamera editing improvements
• Gain precision and save time with auto-zoom for motion tracking and stabilization
• Move clips without having to rebuild transitions with transition preservation
• Get better archive and restore control with new recapturing and decomposing features
• Manage clips in the timeline easier with improvements to clip color coding
• Gain better edgecode handling when using the Timecode burn-in effect
• Enter timecode more easily when using a keyboard without a numeric keypad
• Directly register Media Composer through the activation dialog (may require an Internet connection)
• Get support for the latest qualified NVIDIA hardware with the updated driver

Mix and Match Frame Rates
Work with mismatched media without rendering or restriction. With the new Frame Rate Mix & Match feature, you can mix and match SD and HD formats at 24, 29.97, 30, 50, and 59.94 fps in the same timeline. Eliminate the time and money spent on external transcoding and frame rate conversions, and enjoy real-time, broadcast-quality playback

Sync with Pro Tools Editors
With the Video Satellite option, Pro Tools editors can now use a Mac OS X-based Media Composer system (in addition to Windows Vista and XP) as a Pro Tools Video Satellite, meaning you won’t have to transcode video, render effects, or copy files for them. Learn more about Pro Tools interoperability with Avid systems in this white paper.

Deliver Masters in AVC-Intra Format
Easily integrate into the popular Panasonic AVC-Intra pipeline and deliver final masters in AVC-Intra (P2) format for further handling and playout. With new AVC-Intra encoding, you can work with any P2 project in its original native format, from acquisition to delivery, for the quickest project turnarounds.

Expanded GFCAM Support
With this latest release, you can instantly access and edit Ikegami GFCAM 100 Mb-formatted material (in addition to GFCAM 50 Mb material) directly on GFPAK media or an AMA Virtual Volume through AMA (Avid Media Access). Get the fastest GFCAM workflow from shoot to edit, with full native support for the format and all metadata.

Be More Creative and Productive
With new features, tools, filters, and support in the included Production Suite (formerly Software Suite), you can be even more creative and productive than ever before. Create stunning visual effects with new filters and effects in Avid FX 5.8 and Boris Continuum 6. Get higher quality encoding, Mac burning, and expanded codec support in Sorenson Squeeze 5. Create music tracks with more ease with SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5. And author and burn DVDs and Blu-ray Discs with Avid DVD by Sonic 6 (Windows only).

Editing Done Right

• Storytelling on the Cutting Edge
  With the industry’s most powerful, accurate, and flexible editing tools around, you can cut smarter and faster than ever. Trim on the fly with your mouse or keyboard, use dual-rolling trim, or nudge frame-by-frame. Slip and slide clips quickly with comprehensive 2-, 4-, or 6-frame display modes. And customize the interface, shortcuts, and keyboard layout to maximize your speed and comfort.
• Scripted Editing Made Easy
  Take the work out of editing movies, television shows, and other script- and transcript-based projects, such as documentaries and reality TV. The unique ScriptSync feature automatically syncs all relevant clips to your script phonetically, so you can find the best takes fast. Line up dailies to the script in minutes — not hours — giving you more time to refine the story instead of digging through bins.
• Mix and Match Media
  Add and edit practically any combination of PAL, NTSC, SD, and HD formats in real time — regardless of the resolution or frame rate — in the same timeline, without rendering or transcoding. Whether you’re editing online or offline, you can mix and match media of different formats, codecs, resolutions, and frame rates, and enjoy real-time broadcast-quality playback.
• Management You Can Count On
  Whether you work alone or as a team, never worry about losing source material and rendered files with the most reliable and robust media management available keeping track of all project assets and metadata for you. Create custom metadata fields to track media the way you want. And easily search, sift, and sort to find information beyond the scope of OS-level searches.
• Real-Time HD Editing
  Edit HD material in real time, and in optimal mastering picture quality, using Avid DNxHD encoding. Whether your HD workflow is online or offline, you can maximize your productivity, reduce storage requirements, and maintain the highest image quality — even over multiple generations — without additional hardware.

Seamless Integration into Any Workflow

• Tapeless Becomes Waitless
  Experience the fastest tapeless workflows in the industry with AMA (Avid Media Access). Directly access XDCAM HD/EX, P2/AVC-Intra, and GFCAM media and metadata on a connected disc/card or device without having to transcode, import, or rewrap files. And download support for additional formats as they become available.
• Work Natively with SD and HD Codecs
  Start editing footage right away, with native support for a wide range of SD and HD codecs, including DV, HDV, XDCAM HD/EX, DVCPRO HD, AVC-Intra, and GFCAM. No need to transcode, even when mixing codecs in the same timeline.
• Total Conform
  Streamline your offline/online workflow, and get a seamless path to finish and master projects, with complete integration between Media Composer and Avid Symphony and DS systems. Directly share offline projects and media for finishing, with all media clips, edits, and effects directly available, so you can start the online without delay.
• Work with RED, Stereoscopic, and Other Single-Frame Files
  With MetaFuze*, you can quickly merge RED (R3D), DPX, TIFF, QuickTime, or even stereoscopic 3D files from film scanning or CGI systems into a single native Avid DNxHD or uncompressed media clip for editing. You can even display and edit 3D material offline — without conforming — using industry-first stereoscopic editing tools and workflows.
• Sync with Pro Tools Editors
  Make the audio post workflow easier by making projects directly accessible to Pro Tools audio editors through Video Satellite. No need to render effects, transcode video, or copy files for the audio team, as they can simply tap into any Media Composer system to open and play Avid HD and SD sequences (including DNxHD) in high quality, in full resolution, and in sync with their sessions.
• Film Focused
  For film, you have the industry's most powerful and accurate film workflow in your hands with the award-winning Avid Film Composer toolset. Save time with automatic audio and video syncing and seamless tracking of timecode, Keykode, and other metadata.
• Timecode and Subtitling Ease
  With the Timecode Generator, you can create onscreen timecode displays in real time to speed up any online or audio post workflow. And with the SubCap Generator, you can easily create open captions and subtitles, and import and export in Avid DS and standard EBU N19 subtitle formats.
• Ready For Delivery
  Whether you need to output your project for the web, electronic delivery, or back into the tapeless pipeline, you have the tools you need to quickly deliver your work in the absolute highest quality. Optimize your video for the web, and burn projects to DVD and CD. If you’re using a Windows-based system, you can also author DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and fast-turnaround approval DVDs (use native authoring tools on a Mac).
• Smoother BWF Workflows
  Ease the post audio workflow when exporting timeline audio tracks as BWF (Broadcast WAV) files. Just insert the sequence timecode based on your project type as you’re exporting the tracks to create a fast and easy sync reference for downstream processes that don’t support OMF or AAF, such as slave playback devices.

* MetaFuze works with Windows-based computers, including Windows XP and Vista, Macs running Windows through Boot Camp or other emulation.

Get the Look, Effects, and Quality You Envision

• Complete Color Correction
  Save time and maintain the highest quality production with the fully integrated and flexible 10-bit color correction toolset. Quickly and accurately match colors from shot to shot using NaturalMatch. Get fine control over shots with animatable color correction, or dive into the large palette of easy-to-use tools to manually refine settings or get creative with the color.
• FluidMotion?and FluidFilm Effects
  Create incredibly smooth slow-motion effects and “fit-to-fill” video using Avid's patented FluidMotion pixel morphing technology. And get the look of progressive film with interlaced video material using the exclusive FluidFilm feature.
• SpectraMatte Chroma Key Effect
  Create a high-quality key, even with compressed HD codec material. With SpectraMatte, you can eliminate all guesswork, correct common keying issues, and get perfect keys using the interactive interface. Preview your keys in real time and in online quality with 16-bit SpectraGraph technology.
• FluidStabilizer Tracking Engine
  Easily stabilize shots that contain even the most jittery camera movements. FluidStabilizer works in conjunction with SteadyGlide and Stabilize to deliver extremely precise image stabilization, enabling you to filter out unwanted motion while retaining any underlying motion you do want, such as a camera pan.
• Get More Effects with Plug-ins
  Get the look and effects you want through AVX and AVX2 plug-ins, which you can install and use right from your editing interface. Build up your effects library by choosing from tons of third-party AVX plug-ins available.
• Powerful Effects Performance
  With Avid’s advanced effect acceleration — architecture that closely ties multi-core CPU processing, GPU (Graphics Processor Unit), and PCI Express I/O hardware into a single high-performance pipeline — you get the best real-time effects performance around.
• Dazzle and Deliver with the Included Production Suite
  Create stunning visual effects and transitions. Design titles and graphics that animate across 2D or 3D spaces. Set the mood with music you generate and control. And deliver projects in the highest quality for the web or on DVD. With the included Production Suite, a powerful collection of popular third-party creative tools, you have plenty of options to get the look, sound, and quality you want.

Designed for Collaboration

• Share Media, Projects, and Ideas
  Experience the most collaborative workflow and get things done on time and on budget. Seamlessly integrate with Avid Unity media networks, and you and your team can access and play the same files and capture media to the same volume simultaneously, in real time. And because media bins aren’t linked to specific projects or users, you can open bins and access files from other projects — even when in use by others — without having to copy media.
• Share Projects for Audio Post
  Collaborating with Pro Tools audio editors, remixers, and sound designers is easy. Export audio from your video projects to Pro Tools for audio production, with all media and metadata intact. Or for the fastest workflow, add Video Satellite to have Pro Tools editors sync directly with Media Composer projects, eliminating having to render, transcode, or copy files.
• Take Your Settings with You
  Forget about tweaking settings or re-orienting your workspace each time you move from one Avid system to another. Take all of your settings with you to any project through your own user profile - even when moving from an offline workstation to an online Avid Symphony finishing system. All shortcuts, keyboard, and screen customization are accessible, so you’ll be up and running in no time.
• Raise the Bar with Interplay
  When the stakes are high, bring collaboration to the highest level with Avid Interplay asset management systems. Instantly access media and secure files from unauthorized use. Always have the current production elements in play and synced through automated tracking. And with sophisticated multi-contributor asset management, multi-resolution workflows, and rules-based transcoding, you can put the flow in workflow for total facility-wide collaboration.

A Worldwide, World-Class Community

• The Industry Leader
  Avid understands professional content creation. We’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, designing the tools used by more film and television professionals than any other product. In fact, Media Composer is certified by ACE (American Cinema Editors), and received both an Oscar and Emmy Award. And though we are the industry leader, we continuously strive to innovate and make our products the best they can be, so you can keep doing what you do more easily and more efficiently. Learn more about Avid.
• Avid Editors Wanted
  For projects large and small, studios and production companies around the world constantly seek the skills and advice of Avid editors, as they’re widely considered to be the best in the industry. Whether you want to do freelance or join a team, or are looking for talented Avid editors to help you with a project, you’ll find opportunities and Avid editors everywhere.
• Get Expert Support
  When you need help, expert assistance is just a web click or phone call away. Choose from a wide range of Avid Support programs that fit your needs and budget, including free web-based support, pay-per-case phone support, an Avid Support contract, and complete installation services.
• Get Training
  Get the most out of your investment through Avid training. Whether you simply want to learn how to use your Avid software and/or system to the fullest or want to up your game through certification training, you can choose from several self-paced books, online courses and classroom training, and customized training programs.
• Connect with Others
  Whether you need help, want to offer help, have clips to share, or want to connect with thousands of fellow Avid editors, you’ll find a wealth of information and resources on the Avid Community site. Seek advice from the Avid staff and other users. Stay up to date on the latest tools and techniques. Get helpful tips, tricks, and tutorials from others in the community. Meet others by joining an Avid User Group. And much more!

For optimal performance and reliability, be sure that your computer or laptop meets the following minimum system requirements.

Upgrade

requires a previous version of Avid Media Composer or Xpress Pro/DV.

Windows

• Computer: Avid-qualified Windows-based computer or laptop (see details)
• OS: Windows XP Professional SP2/SP3* (32-bit), Windows Vista Business SP2 (32-bit* and 64-bit), Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster
• Memory: 2 GB of RAM (4 GB of RAM recommended; Windows Vista requires 4 GB of RAM)
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro FX family** (FX 560 or higher)
• Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
• Optical Drive: DVD drive for disc-based software installation

* HP Z Series Workstations are not supported with these OSs.
** Only NVIDIA cards are supported; full-screen playback requires a minimum of 128 MB of graphics memory.

Mac

• Computer: Avid-qualified Mac-based computer or laptop (see details)
• OS: Mac OS X 10.5.7 or 10.5.8 (Leopard)
• Processor: Intel Dual or Intel Dual Core 2.66 GHz Xeon processor or faster, or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster (laptops)
• Memory: 2 GB of RAM (4 GB of RAM recommended)
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce family
• Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
• Optical Drive: DVD drive for disc-based software installation

Additional Information

• Laptop users: Please note that support of uncompressed video on laptops is limited to one stream of uncompressed SD video
• QuickTime: Avid has tested and qualified Apple QuickTime 7.5.6
• Windows Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 is required to export certain formats and to work with VC-1 material

For a limited time only, the Videoguys' will include a FREE Class On Demand Training DVD for Avid Media Composer with the new Avid Media Composer 4. Use these links to purchase now and get your FREE Videoguys' Bonus! (not included in academic version)

Avid Media Composer 4 with FREE Training DVD

-------------------------------------

Attention Avid Editors:
Upgrade any version of Avid Media Composer or Xpress Pro/DV to Avid Media Composer 4 Upgrade with FREE Training DVD

Videoguys Top 10 Products of 2009!

2009 was a very busy year for Avid - with two significant upgrades released for Media Composer. In March they released Media Composer 3.5 which added some very cool new features including Stereoscopic 3D editing. While this feature certainly seems way ahead of it's time, after watching Avatar in all it's 3D glory, the 3D future isn't so distant. At CES several broadcasters announced their 3D roadmap that includes dedicated 3D channels launching in 2011.

Click here to read the full article

Click here for Videoguys' Money $aving Bundles featuring Avid Media Composer Bundles