50% Avid Media Composer Price Cut

[Andrew McCarrick]

Avid has cut the price of Avid Media Composer by 50% and Avid Express Pro is EOL.

http://community.avid.com/forums/t/56089.aspx?PageIndex=1

[Sean]

That is VERY good news. Something many, many customers have been calling for over the past couple years. It will strengthen the grass-roots user-base, which over time will only strengthen the higher echelon users too.

[Dylan Reeve]

YES! That's what I wanted to see!! Does MC support the Analogue Mojo? I hope they've got the price point right - although as they are EOLing Xpress Pro I think the upgrade from Xpress Pro 5.5+ to MC should be cheaper (more in keeping with the Version upgrade cost of Xpress Pro - about $50).

[Chris Swartz]

MC does support the analog MOJO.

BTW if you have an older copy of Xpress you can upgrade it to full MC soft for $495.

Now that is a real deal.

Chris

[David Birdy]

Avid is still in the game!!!

Good move Avid!

Dave

[Dylan Reeve]

Can't find that $500 upgrade on the site yet...

I still think Avid is unmatched in Media Management a simple editing efficiency... But it has certainly fallen behind in some other aspects - I hope they keep on top of it.

[Barry Green]

This is an excellent move by Avid. What a shocker (to hear XPress Pro is end-of-line) but to price Media Composer more competitively... good move. Now let's see them add native R3D support and they'll really have something here...

[Andrew McCarrick]

Can't find that $500 upgrade on the site yet...


Yeah, they don't have it in the store yet. They do have the full version price reduction in the store.... but I'm assume that was a simple alteration of data where as the inclusion of the $500 upgrade would require a little database work.

[Joel Kaye]

Long overdue strategy change - but it'll probably save their base from leaving. They may have just saved themselves. New management appears to be a good thing.

This is where then industry is heading... lower cost apps, higher volume. All editing programmers working on one killer app.

[Dylan Reeve]

Well they were in an impossible situation before. Xpress Pro was a good app, but was software limited in ways that just annoyed people. They couldn't open up those things in Xpress Pro without upsetting their MC users.

Best option was to dump Xpress Pro and bring MC down in price.

I imagine it was a pain in the ass to manage as well, two apps that share essentially the same core code but have programmed feature differences.

[Dylan Reeve]

This is an excellent move by Avid. What a shocker (to hear XPress Pro is end-of-line) but to price Media Composer more competitively... good move. Now let's see them add native R3D support and they'll really have something here...

I'm sure they'll figure it out - but I can't see how Avid can have native R3D support.

The way Avid manages it's media means there's probably always going to be a lengthy import process, whereas FCP simply links to whatever media you point it at and uses whatever QT codecs it has available to decode it. However perhaps an Avid import process can be streamlined, or even backgrounded in some way? So that the metadata is carried natively, and the media imports seamlessly and without tying everything up.

I'm sure the kids in Tewkbury have some idea of what they'll do.

[Frank Weeks]

The plot thickens. Now Avid becomes an even stronger option.
Good news.

[Corey Culp]

I don't see how slashing the price on an already overpriced app is anything great. If they had made their pricing a little more competitive (the price it is now) from the get-go on the launch of the Media Composer software, a 50% slash to stay competitive WOULD be a big deal.

Avid still hasn't figured this out.

For those that were ready to buy MC for $5k yesterday, congrats on getting a tremendous discount today.

[Dylan Reeve]

It's not the slashing the price so much, as the elimination of the unnecessary intermediate step that was Xpress Pro. Since MC has been available as software-only Xpress has been a sort of lame duck... It does almost everything MC does, except those things that they've deliberately limited - but while those things are great features, they weren't quite worth the extra money that MC cost... At least that's how I saw it.

Ideally with less complication in their product offering for standard NLE work (it's all MC now, with just some hardware options), then they can focus on improving that product and not worrying about how to structure the feature-tiers between Xpress Pro and MC for new features.

What I'd personally like to see from Avid next is third-party hardware (Decklink/AJA) - although their existing hardware products work very well, they are pretty heavily priced considering the other options that exist in the market.

[Corey Culp]

It's not the slashing the price so much, as the elimination of the unnecessary intermediate step that was Xpress Pro. Since MC has been available as software-only Xpress has been a sort of lame duck... It does almost everything MC does, except those things that they've deliberately limited - but while those things are great features, they weren't quite worth the extra money that MC cost... At least that's how I saw it.

Ideally with less complication in their product offering for standard NLE work (it's all MC now, with just some hardware options), then they can focus on improving that product and not worrying about how to structure the feature-tiers between Xpress Pro and MC for new features.

What I'd personally like to see from Avid next is third-party hardware (Decklink/AJA) - although their existing hardware products work very well, they are pretty heavily priced considering the other options that exist in the market.

We're on the same page, Dylan. Xpress being EOL is a good thing. But the elimination of XPro is exactly the reason why the new MC pricing is not enough. They should have made it $1999, at the most.

I know this is better than the days of taking out a second mortgage to buy a Media Composer system. That being said, there are too many NLE alternatives out there, I don't think they're doing enough for the customer. (Especially taking away a more "economical" option, then not bridging the gap a bit better.)

[Patrick Tresch]

Avid is still in the game!!!

Good move Avid!

Dave

I m not so sure.

Xpress and MC (even Phony) are catastrophic media managment platforms. DS is the only contemporany tool but tooo pricy. FCP is still the best for the biggest part of the NLE market : creative editing and media management (not high end).

AVID policy designed to kill Xpress (Imovie with edl):

Existing Avid Xpress Pro customers can upgrade to Media Composer software for $495 USMSRP. Avid will continue selling Avid Xpress Pro software through the end of Q2 2008, and offer support for the product through March 17, 2013. However, effective today, Avid will no longer sell support contracts or offer any further software upgrades for Avid Xpress Pro.


I expect much more from this great company!!!


See you

Pat

AVID XPresspro/MC/Phony/DS user

[Dylan Reeve]

We're on the same page, Dylan. Xpress being EOL is a good thing. But the elimination of XPro is exactly the reason why the new MC pricing is not enough. They should have made it $1999, at the most.

Granted, it could certainly be cheaper. I find the huge education discount (90%!) to be a bit weird too, and so prominently advertised and easy to get, it's almost like they're encouraging people to buy that when they aren't really entitled. Why not split the difference a bit? $1750 for MC Soft, or $450 Edu?

[Anthony Gratl]

If anyone wants MC for 1700, i have a brand new in box full retail Xpress Pro version 5.7.2, unregistered, which I'll let go for 1200 or best offer.

[Dylan Reeve]

Hah, interesting plan :)

[Andrew McCarrick]

The upgrade is now available in the Avid store:

http://store.avid.com/us/index.cfm?page=templates/product_detail&PartNumber=0010-08956-01&categoryid=69

[REDefine]

"New Student Edu pricing for the Media Composer Software - $295 US MSRP"

Does the student version have all features enabled or is there any limitation?
If it is same then, there is no doubt that it will be best deal ever.

[Corey Culp]

"New Student Edu pricing for the Media Composer Software - $295 US MSRP"

Does the student version have all features enabled or is there any limitation?
If it is same then, there is no doubt that it will be best deal ever.

If it's anything like FCP and how Apple does things, it'll be fully functional, but won't be upgradeable (beyond point upgrades) and you aren't supposed to use it in a professional manor. (i.e. make money with it.)

[Dylan Reeve]

Academic version is fully functional... I think it's usually upgradeable like normal versions (so major version upgrades usually incur an extra fee) but I believe it doesn't include the extra software that full version includes. And possibly no printed manuals, but I'm not sure about that one. I've never purchased an Academic version.

[Jeremy Torrie]

If only fully functional HD-SDI I/O on new hardware at Aja/BM prices, the ability to capture uncompressed HD with said hardware...then there would really be something worth talking about.

[Matt Gottshalk]

If only fully functional HD-SDI I/O on new hardware at Aja/BM prices, the ability to capture uncompressed HD with said hardware...then there would really be something worth talking about.

Don't hold your breath. Avid is in the business of selling heavy iron HARDWARE. They will never do that, which is why they are losing market share every day.

[Michael Hastings]

They should have made it $1999, at the most.



It will get there, two years ago it dropped from extremely expensive hardware/software bundle to $5000. Now it's $2500.

I gave my FCP license to a friend a couple of years ago to upgrade, and was about to buy new FCP studio - now I am seriously considering going to MC.

There are and always were some advantages for heavy duty work on AVID, but just wasn't worth the big price difference - now it is fairly small.

Further a lot of the things that we liked about apple vs Avid don't seem to be as true. For years I have felt strongly that Final cut was a core product for apple to keep improving and keep relatively inexpensive because it sold hardware. Now in the Ipod/Iphone era I am afraid Apple may be content to coast for a while.

Now Avid - once the maxi-priced, bloated big dog - is getting lean - and since editing is their core business they have little choice but to try to keep improving and maintain or improve market share. And they have always worked with the higher end projects so will keep pushing that envelope. Since all of us REDusers are moving toward the high end (even if only in the sense of pushing 4K files around) I think we need to reconsider the APPLE/AVID tradeoffs. AVID doesn't need to compete solely on price - they just need to get close enough that we aren't completely uncomfortable with the additional cost. The $3800 $1299 to $5K price difference was enough to keep me away - but $1200 difference when I've already invested $30K in the camera and $4K on the computer doesn't seem like enough difference to worry about if there are any advantages.

[Jeremy Torrie]

Would be great if they could certify the Quadro 4500/5500 SDI and then integrate Speedgrade...all within MC. That would make matching tool sets at a similar price point. Oh, they'd have to buy IRIDAS though...

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Matching? That would be outright destroying the competition. I don't know if I would even put Speedgrade and Color in the same sentence.

[M Most]

Don't hold your breath. Avid is in the business of selling heavy iron HARDWARE. They will never do that, which is why they are losing market share every day.

Never say never.

[Dylan Reeve]

Would be great if they could certify the Quadro 4500/5500 SDI and then integrate Speedgrade...all within MC. That would make matching tool sets at a similar price point. Oh, they'd have to buy IRIDAS though...

I hear that Avid's been working quite closely with Filmlight - but what that migh mean in the longer term is unclear. Hopefully Avid Media and AAF support in Baselight - that would be awesome. Consolidate a sequence to hard drive, plug it into a Baselight and grade... :)

[Jeremy Torrie]

Well I think you know what I'm saying...Professional apps across the board at Avid IF what I suggested could happen.

Wish I could divulge more but not yet.

[MichaelP]

I hear that Avid's been working quite closely with Filmlight - but what that migh mean in the longer term is unclear. Hopefully Avid Media and AAF support in Baselight - that would be awesome. Consolidate a sequence to hard drive, plug it into a Baselight and grade... :)
o
We have already done demonstrations with both FilmLight and Digital Vision where they take an AAF directly out of Avid, on shared storage, and color correct the sequence. With FilmLight, you can render the new color files and round trip the AAF back into Avid - because the render had handles, you can relink any changes to to sequences to the rendered color corrected files. Then apply titles and credits and send on out.

Michael

[Sanjin Jukic]

Filmlight Baselight is a plug-in for Shake for quite a long ago.

Avid tried to catch up the step because they found out that they are loosing a ground (or simply a market).

[Jörgen Persson]

Filmlight Baselight is a plug-in for Shake for quite a long ago.

Avid tried to catch up the step because they found out that they are loosing a ground (or simply a market).

Filmlight has a plugin for Shake: Truelight.
But it's a colour management plugin.

Filmlight Baselight is a complete DI package.

So this statement is just your ususal FUD, Sanjin

[Dylan Reeve]

We have already done demonstrations with both FilmLight and Digital Vision where they take an AAF directly out of Avid, on shared storage, and color correct the sequence. With FilmLight, you can render the new color files and round trip the AAF back into Avid - because the render had handles, you can relink any changes to to sequences to the rendered color corrected files. Then apply titles and credits and send on out.

That's really awesome Michael. I've been a fan of Baselight for a whlie. That workflow is great. So I assume Baselight can handle Avid 1:1 and DNxHD media in that scenario?


Avid tried to catch up the step because they found out that they are loosing a ground (or simply a market).

Your mistaken assumption has been pointed out - but what is it you have against Avid? I don't understand it.

[MichaelP]

Yes - JFIF and DNxHD media formats with AAF metadata for the sequence.

Michael

[Andrew McCarrick]

I think it's about time Avid either drops the Adrenaline non-HD or makes it cheaper; plus drop the price of the HD version of Adrenaline.

Some how BlackMagic has managed to make a BoB that can do most of what the Adrenaline does, for 3000 dollars (http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/multibridge/).... I'm not saying Adrenaline should come down that much but.....

Thoughts?


(And maybe MojoHD?)

BTW, how much is DVS Clipster?

[Dylan Reeve]

An HD Mojo would be totally kick ass. One of the reasons we opted in the end for an FCP suite was the giant we'd have to make from MC/Xpress Mojo to MC Adrenaline HD to get anything close to the HD workflow we wanted (and even then Varicam at 25fps was still going to be a nightmare).

BlackMagic are a neat company with some cool stuff. AJA too. If Avid can find a way to fit those types of third-party solutions into their business model, I think it would do a lot to get Avid back into those areas that have more recently 'fallen' to FCP.

I think AJA's IoHD is probably slightly closer to the Adrenaline (it uses the Firewire bus for connection) whereas the Multibridge actually operates as an externalised PCI-Express device.

Interestingly (or not), I captured Avid media with a Blackmagic Decklink HD Extreme last week... It seemed to work just fine, although I couldn't convince Avid to 'fast import' it.

[martinnoweck]

this is good news! (a friend of mine was ready to order premiere, he dropped his order for this news in 30 seconds)

but i can second different posts: MC supporting AJA Hardware would be a killer combination.

regards,
martin

p.s. using avid and final cut pro ;-)