Initial thoughts on Avid Studio

Posted by Tim O'Riordan on Tuesday 21 June 2011 at 8:00am
Tags: editing | video |

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I’ve been using Avid software for the past 12 years and, although I also edit using Final Cut and Premiere, I still feel most at home with the Avid interface (and have recently upgraded to Composer 5). Although Avid Composer is firmly targeted at the professional market, I have often felt that the company are missing a potentially huge enthusiast/education market. Back in 2007 they brought out a free version of Avid DV¹ that had limited functionality, but used the tried and tested Avid interface. Unfortunately it was a flash in the pan and was soon withdrawn.

My hopes were revived recently when I saw publicity for a product called Avid Studio². Were we going to see a cut-down version of Avid Composer? Sadly not. This new consumer-oriented product does not provide an entry-level opportunity to gain experience in using the well-known Avid interface, or the ability to move projects to higher spec Avid products. Instead Avid Studio is essentially Pinnacle Studio³ (Avid acquired Pinnacle in 2005) with some notable improvements and, at £140, a higher price tag.

My gripe about the interface and interoperability aside, this does look like an impressive piece of software. The biggest improvement on Pinnacle Studio is the inclusion of unlimited video and audio tracks which should facilitate intricate and complex montages - and the other key features listed on the Avid site look impressive:
•    Movie editing tools, including markers and keyframes
•    Media management library to organize videos, photos, and audio files
•    Media editor to apply corrections or effects to videos, photos, and audio
•    Professional add-ons and plug-ins
•    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

I hope to get my hands on a free trial of Avid Studio soon and am very interested to hear from anyone who has tried out, or is regularly using the program.

References:

1. Wikipedia Foundation Inc., 2011. Avid Free DV (Online) Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avid_Free_DV [Accessed 16 June 2011]
2. Avid Technology, Inc., 2011. Avid Sudio (Online) Available at: http://www.avid.com/US/products/avid-studio [Accessed 16 June 2011]
3. Avid Technology, Inc., 2011. Avid Sudio and Pinnacle Studio HD (Online) Available at: http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/ Accessed 16 June 2011]

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