Continuing its “New Thinking” (read “lower-cost”) strategy that pits it head-to-head with Apple, Avid Technology is now shipping the next generation HD editing systems and storage solutions that it showed at the NAB convention. The company has cut the cost of many of its new offerings (Media Composer software can now be bought for under $2,500 and used on a laptop) and announced new upgrades to its Unity MediaNetwork, Unity ISIS and Interplay product lines.
Avid has also designed a number of specially priced support packages for educational institutions, which begin as low as $99 per year.
The new products include new versions of Avid’s Media Composer (v3.0), NewsCutter (v7.0), and Symphony (v3.0) software, as well as new hardware configurations of its Mojo DX and Nitris DX systems. All Media Composer and NewsCutter systems offer the same software toolset across their respective configurations – with further capabilities coming from different hardware options. In addition, all deliver greater speed, responsiveness and reliability.
In a statement, Todd Ulman, Associate Producer of ABC’s Greek called his new beta software “the fastest Avid has ever been on a Mac.”
For broadcasters producing news, Avid has added a timestamp export tool for the Broadcast WAV (BWF) format that is available on all Media Composer and NewsCutter systems. Designed to facilitate fast and easy sync reference, the timestamp export feature enables customers to insert sequence time code, based on the project type when exporting the timeline audio tracks as BWF files.
Avid is also offering new customer support services, such as technical alerts, monthly "quick tips" and advanced parts replacement on hardware. Also, customers who purchase a support contract when they purchase any new Media Composer, NewsCutter, Symphony or DS Nitris product will receive a 15 percent savings on the price of the contract. To be eligible, contracts must range from one to three years and be purchased between June 1 and December 31, 2008.
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