System Requirements

Media Composer Software - System Requirements - v3.0.5

Because the performance and reliability of the Avid Media Composer system depend on the optimal combination of software, optional I/O hardware, and the computer platform, Avid dedicates a significant amount of engineering resources to test and qualify specific platform configurations.

These Avid-qualified workstations and laptops are listed below. We strongly recommend that you use one of these platforms, not only to get the best possible performance out of your system, but also because Avid trains and qualifies its support teams on these systems.

We have also listed a set of minimum specifications. Please note that these are provided for reference only. Avid cannot make any representation regarding either the suitability of non-Avid-qualified platforms to run the Avid Media Composer software or the performance and reliability of such a system. We are also not able to provide support for non-qualified platforms.

If you are looking for optimal system reliability, performance, and support, we strongly advise you to purchase an Avid-qualified platform or an Avid turnkey system.

Qualified platforms

Windows

For details of Windows-based workstations and laptops that have been qualified by Avid, please click here.

Mac

For details of Mac-based workstations and laptops that have been qualified by Avid, please click here.

Supported operating systems

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 (32 bit)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 (32 bit)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1 (32 bit)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1 (64 bit)
• Apple Mac OSX 10.5.5 (Leopard)

Minimum system requirements for Media Composer Software - Windows

Processors:

• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz

System Memory:

• 2GB of RAM
  • Note 1: If working with complex sequences, (multiple effects/streams) or compressed HD resolutions 4 GB of RAM is recommended.
  • Note 2: Vista requires 4 GB of RAM

Graphics Card:

• NVidia Quadro FX 560 or higher
  • Note 1: Only Nvidia cards are supported
  • Note 2: Full Screen play feature requires a minimum of 128MB of graphics memory

Internal Hard Drive:

• 40GB minimum hard disk drive
  • Note 1: Any media drives need to be 7200RPM or greater

Optical Drive:

• DVD capable drive required for product installation

Minimum system requirements for Media Composer Software - Mac

Processors:

• Intel dual, dual core 2.66 GHz Xeon
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz (laptops)

System Memory:

• 2GB of RAM
  • Note 1: If working with complex sequences, (multiple effects/streams) or compressed HD resolutions 4 GB of RAM is recommended.

Graphics Card:

• NVidia GeForce family
  • Note 1: Full Screen play feature requires a minimum of 128MB of graphics memory

Internal Hard Drive:

• 40GB minimum hard disk drive
  • Note 1: Any media drives need to be 7200RPM or greater

Optical Drive:

• DVD capable drive required for product installation

Miscellaneous

Uncompressed video on laptops

The support of uncompressed video on laptops is limited to one stream of uncompressed Standard-Definition.

Avid Mojo SDI connection on laptops

The connection of Avid Mojo SDI on laptops is only supported via an integrated IEEE-1394 port, not using PCMCIA cards.

QuickTime

Avid has tested and qualified Apple QuickTime version 7.4.5.

Windows Media Player

Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 is required in order to create various export formats, as well as to work with VC-1 codec material.

Avid Mojo SDI connection

Avid Media Composer software with Avid Mojo SDI must be installed on Avid-qualified platforms. For more details on PCI Bus Segment requirements see the PCI Bus Segmentation Requirements for Avid Mojo
Avid Media Composer software with Avid Mojo SDI requires platforms with more than one PCI bus segment whenever external storage is used. External storage includes Fibre, SCSI, FireWire and Avid Unity media networks. The configurations qualified by Avid will accommodate users requirements for local storage and/or Avid Unity shared storage. Avid Mojo SDI connects to the host via an IEEE-1394 cable. For proper real-time performance, Avid Mojo SDI must connect to a PCI bus segment that is not shared with any SCSI or Fibre Channel storage controller being used for local or shared storage. IEEE 1394 drives cannot be connected to the same port as Avid Mojo SDI. Avid Mojo SDI must be connected to the 1394a port. The 1394b port is not qualified for Avid Mojo SDI.