Media Composer

Comparison

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Audience and availability
Ideal for...	Aspiring video professionals and beginners	Professional editors and movie makers who work independently	Professional editors, movie makers, and journalists who work in a collaborative environment
Availability	A free download for anyone to use	Get a 1-year subscription and pay monthly or in full; a Media Composer perpetual license is also available for those who prefer to own the software	Get a monthly, annual, 2-year, or 3-year subscription; a Media Composer perpetual license is also available for those who prefer to own the software (does not include the software options that come with Media Composer \| Ultimate)
Included software options			Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option, ScriptSync Option, Symphony Option, and NewsCutter Option included with Media Composer \| Ultimate 1-, 2-, and 3-year subscriptions

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
General
Projects	Unlimited	Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects	Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects
Bins	5 bins per project	Unlimited bins Volume bins Favorite bins	Unlimited bins Volume bins Favorite bins Shared bins and projects
Video and audio plugin support	AVX and AAX plugins from the Avid Marketplace only	All AVX and AAX plugins	All AVX and AAX plugins
Transcode	Limited	+	+
Consolidate	Limited	+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Tracks
Video tracks	4	24	24
Audio tracks	8	64	64
Data tracks	Not supported	Fully supported	Fully supported

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Video and color
Linked file support	Full decode SD, HD, >HD File, Volume, and third-party export not supported	Full encode and decode SD, HD, >HD	Full encode and decode SD, HD, >HD
Video file formats	See the latest	See the latest	See the latest
Project formats	SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080	SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, Custom	SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, Custom
Frame rates	23.978p, 24p, 25i, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p No progressive support for SD rasters	23.978p, 24p, 25i/p, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p	23.978p, 24p, 25i/p, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p
Native compression	JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K	JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K	JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K
Color spaces	601/709	601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy	601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy
Desktop display LUTs	Rec. 709	Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy	Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Audio
Audio resolutions	32, 44.1, on-the-fly conversion to 48 kHz; 24-bit	32, 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz; 16- and 24-bit	32, 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz; 16- and 24-bit
Audio channels	Mono, dual mono, stereo	Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround	Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Features
Video editing	Best-in-class Trim tools Smart Tools Create sequence based on selection	Best-in-class Trim tools Smart Tools Create sequence based on selection Script-based editing Auto-Sequence	Best-in-class Trim tools Smart Tools Create sequence based on selection Script-based editing Auto-Sequence
Multicam editing	Group Clips 4-Way Split Display Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms	Group Clips MultiGroup 4-Way Split Display 9-Way Split Display MultiCam Editing mode MultiCam Accelerator keys Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms	Group Clips MultiGroup 4-Way Split Display 9-Way Split Display MultiCam Editing mode MultiCam Accelerator keys Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms
Video effects	Limited core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp Stabilize	Full core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp TimeWarp Fluid Motion Stabilize	Full core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp TimeWarp Fluid Motion Stabilize
FrameFlex	+	+	+
Timecode tool	+	+	+
Print Timeline	+	+	+
List tool		+	+
Film workflows		+	+
Stereoscopic 3D		+	+
Color Correction	CC Effect Predefined CC Effects HSL Controls Hue Offsets Luma Range	CC Effect Predefined CC Effects HSL Controls Hue Offsets Luma Range Curves Color Info Channels (Secondary and Relationships available through the Symphony Option)	CC Effect Predefined CC Effects HSL Controls Hue Offsets Luma Range Curves Color Info Channels (Secondary and Relationships available through the Symphony Option)
Audio editing	Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in	Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in Audio Subframe Slip Audio Grouping Read Audio Timecode Audio MultiMix Change Sample Rate	Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in Audio Subframe Slip Audio Grouping Read Audio Timecode Audio MultiMix Change Sample Rate
Audio effects	Limited core set	Full core set (see details)	Full core set (see details)
Workspaces	Custom Single View Source/Record Editing Full Screen Playback Effects Editing Color Correction Audio Editing	Custom Single View Source/Record Editing Full Screen Playback Effects Editing Color Correction Audio Editing Capture	Custom Single View Source/Record Editing Full Screen Playback Effects Editing Color Correction Audio Editing Capture
Titles	Classic Title tool	Classic Title tool Marquee tool	Classic Title tool Marquee tool
Background render, transcode, and consolidate		+	+
Settings	Limited User settings Limited Project settings	Full User settings Multiple Users settings Site settings Project settings	Full User settings Multiple Users settings Site settings Project settings
Keyboard Mapping	Limited (based on available functions)	Full	Full
Source/Record color differentiation	On by default	Off by default	Off by default
Snap to Edit	On by default	Off by default	Off by default
Auto-launch Effects Editor	On by default	Off by default	Off by default
Video and audio plugin support	AVX and AAX plugins from the Avid Marketplace only	All AVX and AAX plugins	All AVX and AAX plugins
Avid Marketplace	In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade	In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade	In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Ingest
Source Browser	+	+	+
Drag-and-Drop Import	+	+	+
Drag-and-Drop Link	+	+	+
Photoshop w/Layers	+	+	+
Capture		+	+
Dynamic Media Folders		+	+
AAF Import		+	+
EDL Import		+	+
ALE Import		+	+
Shot Log Import		+	+
SCC Import		+	+
Edit While Capture		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Export
QuickTime (.mov) formats	Limited: H.264, DNxHD, PCM, WAV	+	+
Publish to YouTube	+
Publish to Vimeo	+
Graphic Export	Limited: TIFF, JPEG	+	+
AAF Export		+	+
ALE Export		+	+
AFE Export		+	+
Shot Log Export		+	+
SCC Export		+	+
TTML Export		+	+
AMA File Export		+	+
DPX Export		+	+
AS-11 MXF OP1a Export		+	+
DNxHD MXF OP1a Export		+	+
DNxHR MXF OP1a Export		+	+
J2K MXF OP1a Export		+	+
Export to Device		+	+
Send to...		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Hardware interfaces
Avid Artist \| DNxIQ		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxIV		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxIP		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxID	+	+	+
Avid and third-party audio interfaces	Limited to 2-channel I/O	+	+
Third-party video interface AJA Video Systems Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with AJA KONA 4, KONA 3G, KONA LHi, Io 4K, Io Express, and more. Blackmagic Design Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with UltraStudio, DeckLink, Intensity Pro 4K, Intensity, and more. BlueFish444 Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with Create \| 3D Ultra, Epoch \| 2K Ultra, and Epoch \| 4K Supernova. Matrox Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with MX02 Mini, MX02 LE, MX02 Rack MAX, Mojito MAX, and more. MOTU Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with HDX-SDI and HD Express.		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Control surfaces
Pro Tools \| Control		+	+
Pro Tools \| Dock		+	+
Artist Control		+	+
Artist Mix		+	+
Artist Color		+	+
Artist Transport		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Software options
Media Composer \| Symphony Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| NewsCutter Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| ScriptSync Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| Production Pack		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Avid Solutions Support
Interplay \| Production			+
Interplay \| MAM			+
MediaCentral			+
MediaCentral \| Cloud UX			+
Avid NEXIS shared bins and projects			+
iNEWS			+

system requirements

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate

Minimum system requirements	Avid-qualified Mac or Windows-based computer (get the details)	Avid-qualified Mac or Windows-based computer (get the details)	Avid-qualified Mac or Windows-based computer (get the details)

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Hardware interfaces
Avid Artist \| DNxIQ		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxIV		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxIP		+	+
Avid Artist \| DNxID	+	+	+
Avid and third-party audio interfaces	Limited to 2-channel I/O	+	+
Third-party video interface AJA Video Systems Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with AJA KONA 4, KONA 3G, KONA LHi, Io 4K, Io Express, and more. Blackmagic Design Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with UltraStudio, DeckLink, Intensity Pro 4K, Intensity, and more. BlueFish444 Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with Create \| 3D Ultra, Epoch \| 2K Ultra, and Epoch \| 4K Supernova. Matrox Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with MX02 Mini, MX02 LE, MX02 Rack MAX, Mojito MAX, and more. MOTU Use Media Composer \| Ultimate with HDX-SDI and HD Express.		+	+

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate
Software options
Media Composer \| Symphony Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| NewsCutter Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| ScriptSync Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option		+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| Production Pack		+	+

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Comparison

Audience and availability

General

Tracks

Video and color

Audio

Features

Ingest

Export

Hardware interfaces

Control surfaces

Software options

Avid Solutions Support

system requirements

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