• Video Tracks 24
  • Audio Tracks 64
  • Projects Unlimited

Get it now from

$4999/month
≡Menu
Free trial
Media Composer

Comparison
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

Audience and availability

Ideal for...

 Aspiring video professionals and beginners Professional editors, movie makers, and journalists
Availability A free download for anyone to use Subscribe monthly or annually, purchase a perpetual license (you own the software), or get it bundled with Avid Artist | DNxIQ
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

General
Projects Unlimited Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects
Bins 5 bins per project Unlimited bins
Shared bins and projects
Volume bins
Favorite bins

Video and audio plug-in support

 AVX and AAX plug-ins from the Avid Marketplace only All AVX and AAX plug-ins
Transcode Limited +
Consolidate Limited +
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

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

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
Video file formats See the latest See the latest
Project formats SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080 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
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
Color spaces 601/709 601/709, 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
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

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
Audio channels Mono, dual mono, stereo Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

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
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
Video effects Limited core set
Source Side Motion Effects
TimeWarp
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)
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 effects Limited core set 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
Titles Classic Title tool Classic Title tool
Marquee tool
NewBlueFX Titler Pro
Background render, transcode, and consolidate +
Settings Limited User settings
Limited Project settings 		Full User settings
Multiple Users settings
Site settings
Project settings
Keyboard Mapping Limited (based on available functions) Full

Source/Record color differentiation

 On by default Off by default
Snap to Edit On by default Off by default

Auto-launch Effects Editor

 On by default Off by default

Video and audio plug-in support

 AVX and AAX plug-ins from the Avid Marketplace only All AVX and AAX plug-ins
Avid Marketplace In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

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

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

Hardware interfaces
Avid Artist | DNxIQ/DNxIO +
Avid and third-party audio interfaces Limited to 2-channel I/O +
Third-party video interface +
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

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

Software options
Media Composer | Symphony Option +
Media Composer | NewsCutter Option +
Media Composer | ScriptSync Option +
Media Composer | PhraseFind Option +
Media Composer | Production Pack +
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

Avid Solutions Support
Interplay | Production +
Interplay | MAM +
MediaCentral Platform +
MediaCentral | UX +
Avid NEXIS shared bins and projects +
iNEWS +

Minimum system requirements
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

Mac
System Avid-qualified Apple computer Avid-qualified Apple computer
OS OS X 10.11, 10.12 OS X 10.10, 10.11, 10.12
RAM 6 GB minimum, 8 GB or more recommended; 16 GB or more when working with UHD or high frame rate media 8 GB minimum, 16 GB or more recommended; 24 GB or more recommended when working with UHD, large projects, or in an Interplay environment
Other See the Feature Performance page for more info See the Feature Performance page for more info
Compatibility See the Mac OS Compatibility Grid See the Mac OS Compatibility Grid
Media Composer | First
Media Composer

Windows
System Avid-qualified Windows-based computer Avid-qualified Windows-based computer
OS 64-bit OS: Windows 10 (Professional and Enterprise), Windows 8.1 (Professional and Enterprise), or Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1) 64-bit OS: Windows 10 (Professional and Enterprise), Windows 8.1 (Professional and Enterprise), or Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1)
RAM 6 GB minimum, 8 GB or more recommended; 16 GB or more when working with UHD or high frame rate media 8 GB minimum, 16 GB+ recommended; 24 GB or more recommended when working with UHD, large projects, or in an Interplay environment
Other See the Feature Performance page for more info See the Feature Performance page for more info
Compatibility See the Windows OS Compatibility Grid See the Windows OS Compatibility Grid

* Please note that the information provided above is subject to change without notice.