MEDIA COMPOSER COMPARISON

Compare our video editing apps

See how Media Composer compares to our other video editing apps and decide which version is right for you.

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
$23.99 USD/month

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Media Composer | Ultimate

Integrate workflows and collaborate

from
$49.99 USD/month

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Media Composer | Enterprise

Customize the interface for any role

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Audience and availability

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
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	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	Get a monthly, annual, 2-year, or 3-year subscription—floating license included; add the Media Composer \| Cloud VM option to run Media Composer as virtual machine software; a Media Composer perpetual license is also available (does not include the software options that come with Media Composer \| Ultimate)	Annual subscription—floating license included
Included software options			Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option, ScriptSync Option, Symphony Option, and NewsCutter Option	Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option, ScriptSync Option, Symphony Option, and NewsCutter Option

General

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
General
Projects	Unlimited	Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects	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	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	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 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	n/a	Limit or restrict access by user or group to projects, bins, media functions, and more
* Get details on accessing older software in your Avid Account

Features

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
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	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 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	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
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	Full core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp TimeWarp Fluid Motion Stabilize
FrameFlex	+	+	+	+
Timecode tool	+	+	+	+
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)	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 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	Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in Audio Subframe Slip Audio Grouping Read Audio Timecode Audio MultiMix Change Sample Rate Audio Mixer
Audio effects	Limited core set	Full core set (see details)	Full core set (see details)
Workspaces	Edit Color Effects Audio	Edit Color Effects Audio	Edit Color Effects Audio	Edit Color Effects Audio
Interface customization				Customize the interface for any production role in your organization
Titles	Titler+	Titler+ Marquee tool	Titler+ Marquee tool	Titler+ 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	Full User settings Multiple Users settings Site settings Project settings
Keyboard Mapping	Limited (based on available functions)	Full	Full	Full
Source/Record color differentiation	On by default	Off by default	Off by default	Off by default
Snap to Edit	On by default	Off by default	Off by default	Off by default
Auto-launch Effects Editor	On by default	Off 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	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	In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade

Collaboration and control

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

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

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

Video and color

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
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	Full encode and decode SD, HD, >HD
Video file formats	See the latest	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	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	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	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	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	Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy

Audio

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
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	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	Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround

Import

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
Import
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

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
Export
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

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
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.		+	+	+

Control surfaces

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
Control surfaces
Avid Control	+	+	+	+
Avid Dock		+	+	+
Avid S1	+	+	+	+
Artist Control		+	+	+
Artist Mix		+	+	+
Artist Color		+	+	+
Artist Transport		+	+	+

Software options

	Media Composer \| First	Media Composer	Media Composer \| Ultimate	Media Composer \| Enterprise
Software options
Media Composer \| Symphony Option		+	+ (included)	+ (included)
Media Composer \| NewsCutter Option		+	+ (included)	+ (included)
Media Composer \| ScriptSync Option		+	+ (included)	+ (included)
Media Composer \| PhraseFind Option		+	+ (included)	+ (included)
Media Composer \| Production Pack		+	+	+
Media Composer \| Distributed Processing			+	+ (included)
Media Composer \| Cloud VM			+	+ (included)

Compatible Avid solutions

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

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

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

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

MEDIA COMPOSER COMPARISON

Compare our video editing apps

Audience and availability

Audience and availability

General

General

Features

Features

Collaboration and control

Tracks

Tracks

Video and color

Video and color

Audio

Audio

Import

Import

Export

Export

Hardware interfaces

Hardware interfaces

Control surfaces

Control surfaces

Software options

Software options

Compatible Avid solutions

System requirements

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