Available Now!
- Hear how Media Composer 6 came to be
- Buy or upgrade to version 5.5, register it―get a free upgrade to version 6
Fast and better than ever
Professional editors and producers like you around the world have told us what you need to succeed. More efficient and easy-to-use video editing tools. An open platform that enables you to work with everything you want and integrate into any workflow. More power to eliminate bottlenecks, so you can work faster than ever. We listened. We took notes. We made it happen. Introducing Media Composer 6—the fastest, most versatile tool for professional video editing.
What's new
- Get better performance and speed to handle complex editing, now that Media Composer is a 64-bit app (Still need 32-bit? Learn more about Media Composer 5.5)
- Work with the Avid or third-party hardware you want—with Avid Open I/O, third-party manufacturers can now make their I/O hardware work with Media Composer
- Manage and edit stereoscopic 3D projects with a comprehensive set of editorial tools and workflows
- Take hands-on control of all color correction and grading functions with Artist Color (watch the video)
- Create 5.1 and 7.1 surround mixes directly within Media Composer, or import from Pro Tools
- Work more creatively with audio with new mixer features and support for additional Pro Tools hardware
- Work more easily and efficiently—but not differently—with the sleek and sexy new user interface (watch the video)
- Get full native ProRes support on Mac (encode and decode) and Windows (decode only) for easy integration into any ProRes workflow
- Instantly access, screen, and edit AVCHD clips and RED EPIC footage through AMA
- Accelerate your RGB 4:4:4 workflow with Avid DNxHD 444, which delivers exceptional image quality in a low bandwidth format
- Conveniently purchase stock footage, plug-ins, and more through the Avid Marketplace
- Get direct access to user guides and documentation from within the interface
- Access additional ancillary data when working with XDCAM HD material
- Work more easily with animated effects with many keyframe editor improvements
- Get Avid FX (Boris RED), Avid DVD, and Sorenson Squeeze in all versions of the software
- Manage multiple licenses more easily with unified licensing
Do I qualify for a free upgrade?
You’re eligible to receive a free upgrade to Media Composer 6 if you meet one of the following requirements:
- You purchased and registered a full, upgrade, or crossgrade (from FCP) version of Media Composer 5.5 on or after October 15, 2011 (register your full version/crossgrade or upgrade)—if you qualify, you’ll get an email with instructions to get your free upgrade
- You have a valid Avid Support contract/plan (just log in to the Download Center to get your free upgrade when available)
New Features and workflows
Fast gets even faster with native 64-bit operation, so even when you layer together the most complex effects, things will still feel snappy. Experience smoother playback, faster rendering performance, and better handling with large bins—and say goodbye to the old memory limitations of the 32-bit operating systems. (Still need 32-bit? Learn more about Media Composer 5.5)
For the fastest capture/edit/monitor/output workflows, pair Media Composer with a Nitris DX or Mojo DX video interface and experience hardware-accelerated power that’s second to none. You can now even customize Nitris DX with up to two Avid DNxHD or AVC-Intra chips to fully support stereoscopic 3D and HD RGB 4:4:4 workflows.
Media Composer is now fully open thanks to Avid Open I/O, so you can work with your choice of Avid audio and video interfaces or third-party video interfaces, including those from AJA, Blackmagic Design, Bluefish444, Matrox, and MOTU. Manufacturers can simply create plug-ins using Avid Open I/O to have their hardware work with Media Composer, meaning you’ll have even more choices to come. See all supported hardware.
Modern, smart, and sexy. Media Composer has a whole new look, but its familiar editing workflow stays the same (watch the video). Work faster through the tabbed interface (no more window clutter!). Customize window configurations with Workspaces. Browse the Avid Marketplace for stock footage, video and audio plug-ins, software and hardware options, training materials, and more—right from within the app. You can even access user guides and other documentation without having to scour our website.
Edit stereoscopic 3D material as quickly and easily as you do with standard 2D footage, with a full set of new features and workflows. Capture, edit, and manage the complete 3D end-to-end workflow. Mix and match 2D and stereoscopic 3D clips on the same track. Plus, work with full frame and frame-compatible sources, full-fledged editing tools, video effects, and more.
Accelerate your color correcting and grading with Artist Color (watch the video). With its highly responsive feel, you can keep your eyes on the picture instead of the interface while you make adjustments. And since you can tweak multiple parameters at once, you dramatically gain more speed and efficiency to complete time-consuming tasks quickly.
You want your audio to sound as spectacular as your video looks. Now you can record, edit, and mix studio-quality audio in up to 7.1 surround—right in Media Composer. Not only that, you can share mixes with Pro Tools editors (using AAF), and even record and monitor audio using a host of Avid audio interfaces.
Edit faster and easier than ever
You never know what kinds of media, projects, and people will arrive at your desk or doorstep. That’s why Media Composer offers an open workflow, so you can take on whatever challenge awaits. Work with practically any media format, including tape and film. Capture and monitor with your choice of Avid and third-party interfaces. Accelerate editing with Artist Series control surfaces. Integrate into any professional production pipeline. Sync projects with Pro Tools editors using Video Satellite. And take your offline online to Symphony or Avid DS—without redoing work.
With AMA (Avid Media Access), you can instantly access and edit file-based media—including new RED/RED EPIC, new AVCHD, ProRes, QuickTime (including footage from HDSLR cameras), XDCAM, P2, Canon XF, and other formats—without transcoding, importing, or rewrapping files (watch the video). Get a jumpstart on reviewing footage without the wait, and avoid bringing in unwanted material. And as new cameras and formats emerge, manufacturers can create and release their own AMA plug-ins independently from a Media Composer release.
File-based media, analog and digital tape, stereoscopic 3D material, film — bring it on. Media Composer offers a wide range of features, workflows, and options that enable you to work with everything, from old-school media to the latest camera technologies. Experience the fastest tapeless workflows in the industry. Capture footage directly from digital cameras. Or add an Avid or third-party video interface to capture from other analog or digital sources. Plus, with support for 4:4:4 HD-RGB color and DNxHD 444, you can work efficiently while preserving the full-quality color detail from beginning to end.
It doesn’t matter how you learned to edit—Media Composer goes where others leave off, enabling you to work faster and in ways you’re most comfortable. In fact, its tools are ACE-certified. Trim clips and manipulate transitions on the fly using the Smart Tool (see the Smart Tool in action), or perform ultra-precise edits using traditional tools. Mix and match media formats, frame rates, resolutions, and more in the same timeline—in real time—without rendering (see Mix and Match in action). And edit HD material in real time—in mastering picture quality—using Avid DNxHD or DNxHD 444.
Share media, projects, and bins—locally and across the world—to complete projects on time and on budget. With Avid ISIS, you and your team can access the same assets and capture media to the same volume simultaneously. Access files—even when in use by others—without copying media. Collaborate across mixed editing platforms, including Final Cut Pro through AMA, which supports ProRes encoding (Mac only) and decoding. Share audio mixes with Pro Tools editors—and vice-versa—using AAF. And bring collaboration to the highest level with Avid Interplay.
Working on a scripted or dialog-heavy project such as a reality TV show, documentary, or interview? Save hours of wasted search time using two dialog search options for Media Composer. For script-based projects, the ScriptSync powered by Nexidia option phonetically indexes all clip dialog in your project and then syncs all relevant clips to your script—automatically—so you can find the best takes fast. The PhraseFind powered by Nexidia option offers the same phonetic audio indexing, but enables you to quickly pull up all relevant clips by searching on a key word or phrase.
Whether you work alone or as part of a team, you won’t have to worry about losing your assets. Media Composer provides you with 20+ years of industry-proven media management innovation, which keeps track of all your projects, assets, source material, rendered files, metadata, and more, so you don’t have to. Not only that, you can customize it to track your assets the way you want.
Conveniently browse for stock footage, video and audio plug-ins, hardware, and more, right from within Media Composer—no shoes, shirt, or pants required. Search for and preview stock footage from Thought Equity Motion, download comps for editing, and make purchases once editorial is complete. Shop for video and audio plug-ins to get the look and sound you’re after. Discover software options that’ll greatly speed up your workflow. Shop for audio interfaces and other hardware. You’ll even find training and other media that’ll help perfect your skills.
Get the look, sound, and quality you want
Give your projects that professional polish using the bundled and built-in design and effects tools. Create eye-catching 2D and 3D composites, titles, animation, and effects with Avid FX (aka Boris RED), a powerful collection of creative tools designed by Boris FX. Add visual impact, drama, and depth with a host of built-in 2D and 3D effects, title tools, transitions, key and motion effects, and more. Add focus and fix issues with motion tracking and stabilization tools. And expand your visual palette with our third-party partners' effects, many of which can be purchased within Media Composer from the Avid Marketplace.
Make your projects sound as good as they look using the built-in audio recording, editing, and mixing tools (see the audio tools in action). Record and monitor voiceovers, overdubs, and more using select Avid audio interfaces. Edit and mix multitrack audio in up to 7.1 surround. Share mixes with Pro Tools editors. Polish sounds with 20 included AIR effects—the same ones that come with Pro Tools. And expand your sound with the industry’s best compressors, reverbs, and other sound processing plug-ins, many of which can be purchased within Media Composer from the Avid Marketplace.
Save time and maintain the highest quality production with the fully integrated 10-bit color correction toolset. Quickly and accurately match colors from shot to shot using NaturalMatch. Gain better color precision with support for full-quality 4:4:4 HD-RGB color space processing. Get fine control over shots with animatable color correction. Speed up your color work with Artist Color (watch the video). And dive into the large palette of easy-to-use tools to refine settings or get creative.
With Avid DVD and Sorenson Squeeze included, you can author DVDs and optimize media for the highest-quality playback—online or on disc. Author professional DVDs and Blu-ray Discs using Avid DVD, which works with Windows-based systems (including emulation software on Macs). With Sorenson Squeeze, you can optimize content in a variety of formats (including HD, DVD, MPEG-2, MPEG-4/H.264, Flash, and 3GPP), author DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (on Windows), and burn discs on a PC or Mac.
Get the support you need
To help you get up and running quickly, we offer a huge collection of video tutorials, workflow guides, webinars, and more on our website. We also have a Getting Started Fast forum dedicated to new Media Composer users, where you’ll find friendly Avid and community experts who provide helpful information and answers—you can even post your own questions for advice. Or advance your career with Avid Training, which offers a variety of courses taught by certified experts.
Need advice or answers from your peers and experts? Join the Avid community, made up of hundreds of professional editors and Avid representatives around the world. Search for answers, ask questions, or help others in our forums. Get some great tips and tutorials from other users in the community. And check out what other Media Composer users are doing or thinking about in our Blogs section.
If you need personal assistance, help is just a click, email, or phone call away. We offer a variety of support options, from the affordable Avid Vantage—which provides unlimited online support, five NewBlueFX plug-ins for a year, and a great return on your $149 (USD) investment (which can be applied towards a new purchase of Media Composer or an upgrade)—to Avid Priority and Avid Uptime Support plans for more critical needs.
Whether you want to capture, monitor, and output video; record voiceovers, overdubs, or other audio; or speed up your editing with hands-on precision, you have a wide range of Avid and third-party hardware to fit your needs and budget—on Mac and PC.
Video I/O and monitoring options | Control surface options | Audio I/O options
Video I/O and monitoring options
From Avid…
Capture, monitor, and accelerate your editing workflow with these Avid video interfaces.
Video I/O and monitoring options | Control surface options | Audio I/O options
Video I/O and monitoring options
From Avid…
Capture, monitor, and accelerate your editing workflow with these Avid video interfaces.
If you edit high-profile films, TV shows, or commercials for a living, you need a system that gives you the speed, flexibility, and confidence to take on anything. Customize and pair Nitris DX with Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter, and you get the best I/O interface for working with HD, Panasonic AVC-Intra, RGB 4:4:4, stereoscopic 3D, Avid DNxHD, SD 24p film projects, and other material—plus, ancillary data, thin raster support, high-quality scalers, and more—all in one box.
Nitris DX is fully customizable, enabling you to install either a single DNxHD or AVC-Intra encoding chip to capture and encode to these high-quality workflows, dual DNxHD or AVC-Intra chips to support full-frame stereoscopic 3D workflows, or one of each to get the best of both worlds. Plus, take advantage of a full RGB workflow with dual HD-SDI inputs.
Thanks to Avid Intelligent Architecture, your Avid video software tightly integrates the Avid hardware with your host computer's CPU and GPU. You get a single high-bandwidth effects engine that delivers without compromise—no matter what formats and codecs you use—making it the ideal choice for deadline-driven projects that require versatility.
You're always balancing quality, cost, and the next deadline. Pair Mojo DX with the power of Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter, and you gain a high-performance digital video solution that gives you a head start on all three.
Thanks to Avid Intelligent Architecture, your Avid video software tightly integrates the Avid hardware with your host computer's CPU and GPU, delivering a single high-bandwidth effects engine that delivers without compromise—no matter what formats and codecs you use. Whether you’re capturing tape or going tapeless, experience a faster workflow with Mojo DX.
- See the specs
- Compare all video I/O and monitoring options
From our third-party partners…
Don’t need the extra power of an Avid video interface? Or maybe you want to use Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter with your current card? With Avid Open I/O, third-party manufacturers can now bring Avid video editing compatibility to their hardware I/O cards and devices. We’re working closely with each to get their hardware certified. Here’s what’s supported so far (see certified hardware, FAQs, and more):
Don’t need the extra power of an Avid video interface? Or maybe you want to use Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter with your current card? With Avid Open I/O, third-party manufacturers can now bring Avid video editing compatibility to their hardware I/O cards and devices. We’re working closely with each to get their hardware certified. Here’s what’s supported so far (see certified hardware, FAQs, and more):
Control surface options
Take complete hands-on control over Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter functions using Artist Series control surfaces. What’s more, you can use these controllers with many other video and audio apps, and connect any combination of these surfaces together to form a seamless, slim-line surface for your workflow needs. Watch the video.
Take complete hands-on control over Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter functions using Artist Series control surfaces. What’s more, you can use these controllers with many other video and audio apps, and connect any combination of these surfaces together to form a seamless, slim-line surface for your workflow needs. Watch the video.
Speed up and enhance your entire editing experience with hands-on control from Artist Control. With its touchscreen interface and preprogrammed Soft Keys, which you can also customize to perform one-touch complex functions, you can edit video faster—with more precision and fewer keyboard keystrokes. Mix audio tracks with the touch-sensitive faders and encoders. And navigate through projects with ease using the jog/shuttle/zoom wheel and dedicated transport controls.
If you’re working with multiple audio tracks in your projects, editing and mixing with just a keyboard and mouse can be frustrating. With Artist Mix, you can greatly speed up your recording, editing, and mixing tasks, with full hands-on control and precision. Adjust volumes across multiple tracks with the touch-sensitive faders. Pan sounds with the touch-sensitive rotary encoders. And solo, mute, and record tracks right from the surface.
When it comes to color grading, using a mouse can leave you seeing red — literally. With the compact, ergonomic Artist Color, you gain deep hands-on control to get the look you're after — with great precision and speed. Plus, you get the superior feel and control of high-end grading hardware at a fraction of the cost, plus unparalleled access to all software color functions. And with programmable Soft Keys, you can customize the surface to speed your workflow (watch the video).
Get where you need to go-fast — with complete one-handed control over your projects. Gain one-touch access to software functions and change the functionality of the jog wheel and shuttle ring with the Soft Keys. Use the jog wheel and shuttle ring to move through projects, trim/move clips, adjust volumes or pans, and more. And with programmable transport keys and a numeric keypad to enter time code or move clips, you can significantly speed up your editing.
Audio I/O options
Record voiceovers, overdubs, and other audio—in pristine audio clarity—using these Avid audio interfaces—Pro Tools software not required. (Please note that video hardware must be disabled/disconnected when using an audio interface.)
Record voiceovers, overdubs, and other audio—in pristine audio clarity—using these Avid audio interfaces—Pro Tools software not required. (Please note that video hardware must be disabled/disconnected when using an audio interface.)
If your facility already has a Pro Tools|HD system, you can record and monitor audio right in Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter using the card with any Pro Tools|HD-compatible audio interface. For the most pristine audio clarity, use a Pro Tools HD Series interface with your Pro Tools|HD cards.
Get the impeccable sound quality of the Pro Tools|HD family in a more affordable package. With a Pro Tools|HD Native card and any Pro Tools HD Series audio interface (or Pro Tools|HD-compatible one), you can record and monitor studio-quality audio right in Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter, with pristine clarity.
For indie filmmakers and editors who want to record and monitor up to four simultaneous audio channels at a time, Mbox is ideal whether you’re in the studio or on location. Paired with Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter, you can conveniently capture pristine-quality audio to create soundtracks. And you can purchase it through the Avid Marketplace or webstore.
A highly portable and affordable interface, Mbox Mini enables you to capture high-quality audio from up to two simultaneous sources at a time using Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter. Record and monitor pristine-quality voiceover performances with any type of mic in the field, studio, or classroom. Plus, you can purchase it through the Avid Marketplace or webstore.
Portable enough to take on location and powerful enough to integrate into complex studio production workflows, Mbox Pro enables you to record and monitor up to eight sources at a time using Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter. And because it offers best-in-class conversion, you get the sonic clarity and fidelity of higher cost systems for less. Plus, you can purchase it through the Avid Marketplace or webstore.
What’s included
Media Composer (software only)
Everything in Media Composer software
Media specifications
See a table of all Media Composer family supported formats
Supported project formats
See all supported project formats
Native codec support
See all supported native codecs
File-based support
See all supported file formats
Uncompressed SD and HD video
See all uncompressed SD and HD video specifications
Supported audio and video plug-in formats
See all supported file formats
Media Composer (software only)
- Media Composer—Edit SD, HD, and stereoscopic 3D material
- Avid DVD—Author DVD and Blu-ray discs (Windows only)
- Avid FX—Create and animate titles, effects, transitions, and more
- Sorenson Squeeze—Optimize and deliver content for web or disc play
- EDL Manager—Export timecode metadata
- FilmScribe—Export film metadata
- Log Exchange—Convert shot logs into ALE files
- MediaLog—Manage logging and metadata
Everything in Media Composer software
- Nitris DX*—High-performance analog and digital I/O video interface
- One or two (optional) DNxHD and/or AVC-Intra chips (two chips maximum)
- PCIe Host Interface Board—Connects Nitris DX to your computer
- Everything in Media Composer software
- Mojo DX*—High-performance digital I/O video interface
- PCIe Host Interface Board—Connects Mojo DX to your computer
Media specifications
See a table of all Media Composer family supported formats
Supported project formats
See all supported project formats
Native codec support
See all supported native codecs
File-based support
See all supported file formats
Uncompressed SD and HD video
See all uncompressed SD and HD video specifications
Supported audio and video plug-in formats
See all supported file formats
System Requirements and Supported Devices
For optimal performance and reliability, be sure that your computer or laptop meets the following minimum system requirements for Media Composer 6, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter1 10 software.
Important: Avid dedicates a significant amount of engineering resources and time to test and qualify specific platform configurations. Please note that we cannot provide support should you choose to use a non-Avid-qualified system.
Minimum requirements for Avid video editing software
For optimal performance and reliability, be sure that your computer or laptop meets the following minimum system requirements for Media Composer 6, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter1 10 software.
Important: Avid dedicates a significant amount of engineering resources and time to test and qualify specific platform configurations. Please note that we cannot provide support should you choose to use a non-Avid-qualified system.
Minimum requirements for Avid video editing software
Windows
- Computer: Avid-qualified Windows-based computer or laptop2 (see details)
- OS: Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) (Still need 32-bit? Learn more about Media Composer 5.5)
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM (6+ GB of RAM recommended for Windows 7 and Windows Vista)
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro FX family3 (FX 560 or higher)
- Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
Mac
- Computer: Avid-qualified Mac-based computer or laptop2 (see details)
- OS: Mac OS X Lion (64-bit)(Still need 32-bit? Learn more about Media Composer 5.5)
- Processor: Intel Dual or Intel Dual Core 2.66 GHz Xeon processor or faster, or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster (laptops)
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM (6+ GB of RAM recommended)
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce family3 or ATI Radeon family (as supported by Apple)
- Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
Supported devices and additional requirements
Learn more about these hardware options for Media Composer.
Learn more about these hardware options for Media Composer.
Avid video interfaces
- Nitris DX—Avid-qualified Windows- or Mac-based computer with a PCIe x4 card slot
- Mojo DX—Avid-qualified Windows- or Mac-based computer with a PCIe x4 card slot, or Avid-qualified laptop4 with an ExpressCard slot and the optional Avid ExpressCard Hardware Interface Board
- Pro Tools|HD—Avid-qualified computerwith Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Pro Tools|HD Native—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Mbox/Mbox Mini/Mbox Pro—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Artist Control—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 5.5, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Artist Mix—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 5.5, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Artist Color—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 6, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 10 software
- Artist Transport—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 5.5, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- AJA Io Express—Avid-qualified computer running Mac OS X 10.6.7 or Windows 7 (64-bit) with Media Composer 5.5, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 9.5 or higher software
- Matrox MXO2 Mini—Avid-qualified computer running Mac OS X 10.6.5 or Windows 7 (64-bit) with Media Composer 5, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 9 or higher software
- All other third-party interfaces—Avid-qualified computer with Media Composer 6, Symphony 6, or NewsCutter 10 or higher software (see Hardware Options)
- QuickTime: Avid has tested and qualified Apple QuickTime X for Mac users and QuickTime 7.6.9 for Windows users
- Windows Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 is required to export certain formats and to work with VC-1 material
- Please note that NewsCutter is available for Windows only.
- Uncompressed video on laptops is limited to one stream of uncompressed SD video, except for Windows-based Intel Core i7 laptops (Quad Core with Hyper-Threading) with eSata external storage, which can play multiple streams of 1:1 uncompressed SD.
- NVIDIA cards are recommended; full-screen playback requires a minimum of 128 MB of graphics memory.
- DNxHD capture with Mojo DX is only supported with Windows-based Intel Core i7 laptops (Quad Core with Hyper-Threading).
For more information on these and other nonlinear editing solutions, contact our Sales Department at 563.322.1525 or Contact Us via the web.
