Compare our video editing apps
See how Media Composer compares to our other video editing apps and decide which version is right for you.
Audience and availability
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Audience and availability |
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Ideal for... |
Aspiring video professionals and beginners | Professional editors and movie makers who work independently | Large broadcast and post-production teams with multiple roles contributing to the production that need administrative control and security, plus media education facilities | |
| 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 | Annual subscription—floating license included | |
| Included software options | Media Composer | PhraseFind Option, ScriptSync Option, Symphony Option, and NewsCutter Option | |||
General
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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General |
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| 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 Shared bins and projects* * for perpetual licences only |
Unlimited bins Volume bins Favorite bins Shared bins and projects |
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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 2018.9 and later* | Current subscribers can activate and run Media Composer 2018.9 and later* (see details for perpetual licenses here) | Current subscribers can activate and run Media Composer 2019.6 and later* | |
| Access control | n/a | n/a | Limit or restrict access by user or group to projects, bins, media functions, and more | |
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* Get details on accessing older software in your Avid Account |
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Features
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Features |
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| 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 |
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| 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 Edit Groups Mixed Rate Groups |
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 Edit Groups Mixed Rate Groups |
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| 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 |
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| FrameFlex | + | + | + | |
| Timecode tool | + | + | + | |
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Sequence Map |
+ | + | + | |
| Bulk Edit | + | + | + | |
| 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) |
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| Audio editing and mixing |
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 Mixer |
Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in Audio Subframe Slip Audio Grouping Read Audio Timecode Audio MultiMix Change Sample Rate Audio Mixer |
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| Audio effects | Limited core set | Full core set (see details) | ||
| Workspaces |
Edit Color Effects Audio |
Edit Color Effects Audio |
Edit Color Effects Audio |
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| Interface customization | Customize the interface for any production role in your organization | |||
| Titles | Titler+ |
Titler+ Marquee tool |
Titler+ Marquee tool |
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| 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 |
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| Keyboard Mapping | Limited (based on available functions) | Full | Full | |
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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 | |
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Auto-launch Effects Editor |
On by default | Off by default | Off by default | |
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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 | |
Collaboration and control
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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| Shared bins and projects | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| MediaCentral workflow integration | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| Avid NEXIS shared media workflows | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| Role-based interface customization | + | |||
| Limit access to features, functions, media, and locations | + | |||
| Lock content export and publishing | + | |||
Tracks
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Tracks |
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| Video tracks | 4 | 64 | 64 | |
| Audio tracks | 8 | 64 | 64 | |
| Data tracks | Not supported | Fully supported | Fully supported | |
Video and color
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Video and color |
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| 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 |
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| 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, 8K, 16K, Custom | SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, 8K, 16K, 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, 47p, 48p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p, 119p, 120p | 23.978p, 24p, 25i/p, 30i/p, 47p, 48p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p, 119p, 120p | |
| Native compression | JFIF, DV, ProRes, XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG | JFIF, DV, ProRes, XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, DNxUncompressed, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K | JFIF, DV, ProRes, XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, DNxUncompressed, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K | |
| Floating point timeline (32-bit) | + | + | ||
| Color spaces | 601/709 | 601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES 1.0, ACES 2065-1 | 601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES 1.0, ACES 2065-1 | |
| Desktop display LUTs | n/a | Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy | Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy | |
Audio
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Audio |
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| 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 | |
Import
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Import |
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| Source Browser | + | + | + | |
| Drag-and-Drop Import | + | + | + | |
| Drag-and-Drop Link | + | + | + | |
| Photoshop w/Layers | + | + | + | |
| Capture | + | + | ||
| Dynamic Media Folders | + | + | ||
| IMF Link | With Symphony Option | + | ||
| OP1a Native Link and Import | + | + | + | |
| ProRes decoding (Mac and Windows) | + | + | + | |
| OpenEXR decoding | + | + | ||
| AAF Import | + | + | ||
| HEVC (H.265) decoding | + | + | + | |
| EDL Import | + | + | ||
| ALE Import | + | + | ||
| Shot Log Import | + | + | ||
| SCC Import | + | + | ||
| Edit While Capture | + | + | ||
Export
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Export |
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| QuickTime (.mov) formats | Limited: H.264, DNxHD, PCM, WAV | + | + | |
| ProRes decoding (Mac and Windows) | + | + | + | |
| OpenEXR encoding | + | + | ||
| 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 | + | + | ||
| ProRes MXF OP1a Export | + | + | ||
| DNxHR MXF OP1a Export | + | + | ||
| J2K MXF OP1a Export | + | + | ||
| OP1a Export | + | + | ||
| IMF Export | With Symphony Option | + | ||
| HEVC (H.265) Export | + | + | ||
| Export to Device | + | + | ||
| Send to... | + | + | ||
Hardware interfaces
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Hardware interfaces |
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| Avid Artist | DNxIQ | + | + | ||
| Avid Artist | DNxIV | + | + | ||
| Avid Artist | DNxIP | + | + | ||
| Avid Artist | DNxID | + | + | + | |
| Avid and third-party audio interfaces | Limited to 2-channel I/O | + | + | |
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Third-party video interface
AJA Video Systems Matrox |
+ | + | ||
Control surfaces
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Control surfaces |
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| Avid Control | + | + | + | |
| Avid Dock | + | + | ||
| Avid S1 | + | + | + | |
| Artist Control | + | + | ||
| Artist Mix | + | + | ||
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Artist Color |
+ | + | ||
| Artist Transport | + | + | ||
Software options
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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Software options |
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| Media Composer | Symphony Option | + |
+ (included) |
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| Media Composer | NewsCutter Option | + |
+ (included) |
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| Media Composer | ScriptSync Option | + |
+ (included) |
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| Media Composer | PhraseFind Option | + |
+ (included) |
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| Media Composer | Production Pack | + | + | ||
| Media Composer | Distributed Processing |
+ (included) |
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| Media Composer | Cloud VM |
+ (included) |
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Compatible Avid solutions
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interplay | Production | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| Interplay | MAM | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| MediaCentral | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| MediaCentral | Cloud UX | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| Avid | Editorial Management | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| Avid NEXIS shared bins and projects | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
| iNEWS | Perpetual licenses only | + | ||
System requirements
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Media Composer | First
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Media Composer
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Media Composer | Enterprise
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| HEVC (H.265) decoding | 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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