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Media Composer

Comparison

Media Composer | First

Tell great stories using the tools pros use
  

FREE

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Media Composer

Accelerate storytelling and power through editing

from
$19.99 USD/month

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Media Composer | Ultimate

Integrate workflows and collaborate


from
$49.99 USD/month

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Audience and availability

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

General

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 + +
Backward licensing compatibility Anyone can activate and run Media Composer | First 8.8.5 and later* Current subscribers can activate and run Media Composer 2018.4 and later* (see details for perpetual licenses here) Current subscribers can activate and run Media Composer 8.0 and later*

* Get details on accessing older software in your Avid Account

Tracks

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

Video and color

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

Audio

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

Features

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

Ingest

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 + +

Export

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... + +

Hardware interfaces

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 + +

Control surfaces

Media Composer | First
Media Composer
Media Composer | Ultimate

Control surfaces
Pro Tools | Control + +
Pro Tools | Dock + +
Artist Control + +
Artist Mix + +
Artist Color
 + +
Artist Transport + +

Software options

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 + +

Avid Solutions Support

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)

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