AVID AT IBC 2001; A host of products and services further enhance total solutions.

Business/Technology Editors

IBC 2001

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2001

IBC Stand #7:621--At the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2001, Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today introduced key products to its range of Make, Manage and Move Media(TM) solutions, led by the launch of Avid(R) Unity(TM) LANshare version 1.0 - a low-cost addition to the Avid Unity family of shared storage and associated service products. As part of its total broadcast solution, the company also highlighted the latest releases of Avid(R) NewsCutter(R) XP version 2.1 and Avid NewsCutter XP Mobile, iNEWS(TM), AirSPACE(TM) and Media Browse(TM) products. In addition, Avid said it will present the first European showing of several recently announced products, including: Avid|DS and Avid|DS HD version 5.0 systems, SOFTIMAGE(R)|XSI(TM) version 2.0 software, SOFTIMAGE|3D version 4.0 software and Avid NetReview(TM) system. Avid will also spotlight the latest versions of Symphony(TM), Media Composer(R), Avid Xpress(R), Avid Xpress DV and Avid Unity MediaNet systems. Avid also confirmed the immediate availability of Avid Media Station XL version 1.0, unveiled earlier this year.

"These various announcements comprise the next chapter of Avid's Make, Manage and Move Media strategy, which further strengthens interoperability between Avid's next-generation broadcast, post-production, workgroups and storage solutions," said Graham Sharp, vice president, European Sales and Operations. "With this new phase, Avid will continue to offer powerful integrated solutions with the features, functionality and collaborative ability to provide high returns on investment."

Avid introduces Avid Unity LANshare version 1.0

Created in response to customer demand for an entry-level shared storage system, Avid Unity LANshare combines the powerful file sharing functionality of the Avid Unity network with a high-performance server to deliver an Ethernet-based solution at a breakthrough price. The core of Avid Unity LANshare is an all-in-one storage and server unit that supports up to six simultaneous real-time clients. By using an Ethernet backbone to create a specialised, private local area network, Avid Unity LANshare ensures simple set up, maintenance and administration of the system. The product is scheduled to ship in Q4 2001.

New releases of Avid NewsCutter XP version 2.1 and NewsCutter XP Mobile, iNEWS version 1.5, AirSPACE version 2.6 and Media Browse

Avid announced today the availability of Avid NewsCutter XP version 2.1 and NewsCutter XP Mobile, which include support for the 4:1:1 PAL format. Following on the heels of the recent release of NewsCutter version 2.5 with support of the Sony MPEG IMX format, version 2.1's enhancements deliver an affordable and versatile professional-quality nonlinear editor to European and other PAL markets. One of the highlights to version 2.1 is PortServer Pro support - a new feature that interfaces the NLE with the Avid Unity for News media network. PortServer Pro breaks new ground with flexible, collaborative news workgroups, thereby dramatically improving the accessibility of the system.

iNEWS version 1.5, Media Browse and AirSPACE version 2.6 products collectively advance interoperability between Avid broadcast solutions and third party applications. iNEWS version 1.5 - building on recent Active X hosting and MOS integration - can now run the Media Browse application in the same iNEWS environment, so journalists do not need to switch applications, and text moves easily from iNEWS to the Media Browse system. Additional iNEWS version 1.5 features include integration with EditStar(TM), Media Browse and AirSPACE systems. EditStar allows NewStar(TM) customers to take advantage of the simple migration to iNEWS while preserving their investment in EditStar. The new release of the AirSPACE videoserver includes two critical features: the first, SimulEdit(TM), allows material being recorded to be simultaneously transferred directly to the Avid Unity for News workgroup where up to 50 or more editors can concurrently access the material; the second, SimulPlay(TM), allows stories to play to air from the AirSPACE system directly as the video material is transferred from an Avid Unity for News workgroup, while creating a local server-based backup copy at the same time.

New releases of Symphony, Media Composer and Avid Xpress

Avid is also showing Avid Symphony version 3.5, Media Composer version 10.5 and Avid Xpress version 4.5 systems, all of which shipped in July 2001. Now compatible with the Windows 2000 platform, these new releases are designed to help expand customers' businesses through enhanced online/finishing offerings, new titling and editing features, efficient collaborative workflow capabilities, and multi-format mastering and delivery of 601, Web and DTV formats.

New releases of Avid Unity MediaNet version 2.1

The release of Avid Unity MediaNet version 2.1 expands the Avid Unity workgroup to Ethernet-connected editing systems, broadening the reach of Avid Unity and increasing the total supported client count to 50 simultaneous real-time systems. In addition, Avid Unity MediaNet will include feature parity for Macintosh clients with the ability to share dual stream uncompressed media between systems, furthering the technological proficiency of Avid Unity MediaNet to encompass all Avid users.

First European showing of Avid|DS and Avid|DS HD version 5.0, SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 2.0 software, SOFTIMAGE|3D version 4.0 software and Avid NetReview

Avid|DS and Avid|DS HD version 5.0 software represent two of the industry's most comprehensive and versatile production systems. The new version will offer numerous new features and enhancements across all toolsets, including the ability to view the source side timeline and create a real-time picture-in-picture effect, as well as the capability to import Photoshop files while preserving individual layers. Version 5 will also offer the option to complete HD resolution offline work at 1/4 resolution with real-time effects for customers using the Avid|DS HD offline mode and Equinox(TM) video subsystem.

In its first European showing, the SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 2.0 system, which is already receiving praise from Beta sites worldwide for its new fully integrated compositor, real-time shaders and integrated hair and fur simulators, as well as increased performance, expanded interoperability and improved stability, builds upon the product's trademark features of non-destructive animation mixing, interactive rendering and an Internet enabled workflow. Softimage has also announced that it expects to offer SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 2.0 software on the Linux platform, providing professional graphic artists with maximum flexibility to choose their preferred platform. All core Softimage products, including SOFTIMAGE|3D version 4.0 and Toonz version 4.5, are scheduled to be available on the Linux platform when each product begins shipping this Autumn.

With new features and enhancements, including additions and improvements such as multiple UV texturing vertex colour shading, interactive editing of shading normals, and additions to the Sapphire SDK, SOFTIMAGE|3D version 4 builds upon Softimage's renowned 3-D character animation and special effects software. SOFTIMAGE|3D version 4.0 software is scheduled for release in Autumn 2001.

Released at the end of August, the Avid NetReview system enhances post-production workflow by streamlining the review process through Internet-based collaboration. The next-generation of the AvidProNet(TM) Review & Approval(TM) Internet service, the Avid NetReview system allows reviewers to view and comment on media from virtually any location, whether within the corporate facility or over an Internet connection. The Avid NetReview system maximises editing time and eliminates administrative tasks, allowing facilities to offer alternative review services for customers who want the convenience of working with digital media.

Worldwide availability of Avid Media Station XL version 1.0

Avid Media Station XL version 1.0, a Windows 2000 and Meridien(TM) hardware-based digitising and output station, is also shipping. Media Station XL version 1.0 is designed to improve post-production workflow by offloading basic tasks, such as digitising and outputting footage, from more sophisticated content creation tools such as the Avid Symphony and Media Composer systems, freeing them to fulfill their primary tasks - editing and finishing. Editing and ingesting of media can occur simultaneously in a networked environment via Avid Unity MediaNet, providing shared access to the same media and greatly reducing cycle times.

Avid and Softimage solutions are scheduled to be demonstrated on various other manufacturers' and service providers' stands across the Convention.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. delivers the solutions that Make, Manage and Move Media(TM). As a recognised digital standard for professionals who Make the world's media--from video, audio and film to animation, special effects and streaming media--Avid's products are used to make more television and news shows, commercials, music videos and CDs, corporate/industrial productions and major motion pictures combined than any other nonlinear editing manufacturer in the world. Now, building on its Oscar(R), Grammy(R) and Emmy(R) award-winning heritage in creating content, Avid is extending its reach by redefining how digital media is shared, stored and distributed. To Manage today's increasingly rich collection of dynamic media, Avid provides powerful servers, networks and media tools to help customers search files, share media and collaborate on new productions, both locally and globally. Avid's solutions also empower users to easily Move media, whether on air, over cable or satellite or through the Internet. Like no other media company today, Avid's end-to-end solutions span the continuum of media creation, management and distribution. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Tewksbury, MA. More information about the company is available at www.avid.com.

(c) 2001 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. Avid, Avid Xpress, Media Composer, NewsCutter, Softimage are registered trademarks and AirSPACE, AvidProNet, Avid Unity, Equinox, Review & Approval, SimulEdit, SimulPlay, Meridien, NetReview, Symphony and Make, Manage and Move Media are trademark of Avid Technology, Inc. iNEWS and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC. QuickTime is a trademark used under license from Apple Computer, Inc. Toonz is developed in Italy by SBP S.p.a., Itaca S.r.l. and Digital Video S.r.L., and is distributed by Softimage Co. Oscar is a registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.