Avid has addressed customer requests for native support of the Sony XDCAM format, a 3D stereoscopic workflow and the “death of the dongle” with the release of Avid Media Composer (v3.5), Symphony (v 3.5) and NewsCutter (v 7.5) software. In addition to a new architecture designed to make these Avid solutions more open, the latest version of the software delivers a variety of new features that enable customers to take advantage of:

What’s New in Avid Media Composer and Symphony Software

• Native XDCAM support
  Offers complete end-to-end native support for the Sony XDCAM HD formats, at all bandwidths. Customers may now play back and edit directly from the disc, render, mixdown, export sequences and clips with eight audio tracks, and write back with sequence timecode.

• Stereoscopic 3D editing
  Delivers full support of stereoscopic workflows, which enables customers to acquire, edit and display stereoscopic (3D) material. Content can be displayed with stereo monitoring capabilities in both the composer window and full-screen playback—eliminating the need for costly conforms previously required to screen 3D material.

• AMA, or Avid Media Access Architecture
  Customers can automatically link clips from a third-party volume (Panasonic P2 or Sony XDCAM HD/EX) devices into an Avid editing bin without having to transcode or store the media on their system.

• Elimination of dongle with new software activation and licensing
  Eliminates the need for a dongle key to activate new purchases and upgrades of Avid software. All new software sales and single-seat upgrades will be licensed by a system activation key (www.avid.com/MCTrial).

• Keyframable color correction
  Provides customers with the ability to make most color adjustments using advanced keyframes in the offline editorial process—saving time and money associated with online color correction costs when using the Avid Total Conform.

• Fluid stabilizer
  Equips customers with a new 2D tracking engine designed to track and remove camera motion, when used in combination with the Avid SteadyGlide feature.

• General FX enhancements
  Offers improvements the ability to copy Keyframes at position as well as enhanced 3D Warp, Quality and CPU/GPU performance to quickly render and process effects.

• Improved Pro Tools integration
  Integrates Media Composer 3.5 with Pro Tools 8 through the Video Satellite feature, which allows control of a Media Composer system from Pro Tools for full resolution, synchronized video playback for audio. Now, customers can install both Media Composer and Pro Tools software on the same system.

• Enhanced Audio Capabilities
  Delivers a wide range of new audio capabilities that provide customers with more control over audio clips and sequences

Availability and Pricing
Avid Media Composer and Symphony (v 3.5) and NewsCutter (v 7.5) software are available now.

What Customers are Saying:
“This new release of Media Composer will greatly improve the speed and efficiency of our workflow here at Discovery," says Mark Miller, producer/director at Discovery Channel Canada’s West Coast office. Miller favors the seamless XDCAM HD capabilities and Keyframeable color correction in the new release. “By having the ability to natively ingest in the field, my producers, directors and editors can start working with the media right away, and not waste time traveling back to the office to get a cut completed. Also, the Keyframeable Color Correction features are invaluable. We've been able to save a lot of time and money in the production process by being able to make color changes on the fly in run-and-gun situations where lighting can change and effect color over the course of a single shot. Previously, that could only be fixed in the online color correction."

Editor Michael Tronick and Assistant Editor Aaron Brock have worked on a number of 3D films, including the newly released Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, and are very excited about the possibilities of Avid's Stereoscopic capabilities. “To see how the 2D material I am cutting would translate to 3D, and be able to show it to the director on the spot and make changes would be so useful. Avid has created the most effective 3D workflow I’ve seen,” Tronick says.

Brock estimates that the benefits of using Media Composer 3D capabilities for offline editorial will save thousands of dollars. “If we could use this new feature, it would save the studio an unbelievable amount of money. Instead of having the online system running for five months straight, we could just conform complete reels for full screenings like on a normal feature. It would be much more efficient than doing conforms on a daily basis.”