Avid Demonstrates Integrated Solutions that 'Make, Manage and Move Media' at NAB 2001; New Avid Products and Systems Improve Workflow and Provide Customers with Integrated Tools.

Business/Technology Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2001

At the 2001 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced a host of new products and strategic alliances that are setting new standards for the creation, management and distribution of digital media. The phrase "Make, Manage and Move Media(TM)" serves not only as Avid's theme for the NAB show, but also aptly describes the integrated, end-to-end solutions offered by Avid for the broadcast, post-production and new media markets.

"Avid is developing and marketing complete `solutions' that help our customers Make, Manage and Move Media, and we're delivering this vision at NAB 2001," said David Krall, president and CEO of Avid. "Our customers need more than just the best-of-breed content creation tools. They want to integrate content created from a variety of sources. They want to collaborate across networks - in the same building, or on opposite sides of the globe. They want enhanced storage capabilities and file sharing. And they want to deliver media directly to their customers via broadcast, cable, satellite or streaming over the Internet."

At NAB, Avid unveiled new offerings for the broadcast market, including Avid(R) NewsCutter(R) XP Mobile, a new software-only version news editing system for notebook computers; Avid NewsCutter XP version 2.0, the newest version of its non-linear editing system for news; Avid AirSPACE(TM) version 2.0, the latest version of its video server system which includes numerous video serving capabilities and significant technology upgrades; Avid Media Browse(TM), a product designed to support parallel production processes for television and Web broadcasts; Avid Unity(TM) MediaNet version 2.0, the newest version of Avid's media network for professional content creation and distribution; DV Option for the Media Composer(R) 1000 XL system to produce media content in the industry-standard format widely used by broadcasters; and Avid Unity ProEncode(TM), a product that fully automates the conversion of video and audio into Web streaming, broadband and other formats.

For the post-production user, Avid introduced the new Media Station XL version 10.5, a cost-effective digitizing and output station; Avid Symphony(TM) version 3.5 and Media Composer version 10.5 systems, offering editors and artists a more customizable interface and added nonlinear editing and finishing capabilities on the Windows 2000 platform; Avid Xpress(R) version 4.5 system, providing new video editing features, including customization capabilities and additional interoperability; and Avid Xpress DV version 2.0, a software-only version of the Avid Xpress DV system for professional remote editing on notebook computers. Avid also announced that for a limited time, Avid Xpress Deluxe and Avid Xpress Elite systems will include the TurboPack at no additional charge. The TurboPack includes best-of-breed software valued at more than $10,000 (USMSRP) in addition to the value already included.

Avid also announced plans to incorporate interactive media management tools in its Symphony, Media Composer and Avid Xpress content creation solutions. These tools will enable interactive elements to be incorporated into and synchronized with media in the Avid timeline and then distributed to multiple channels, such as interactive TV, Broadband, wireless and DVD. Strategic relationships with leading interactive creators and infrastructure providers, including Microsoft, Sonic Solutions, WatchPoint Media, Envivio and Mixed Signals, are key to enabling the seamless distribution of interactive content to these revenue-generating channels. Avid's interactive tools are also being built to support the Microsoft TV platform, as well as ATVEF standards.

Building on its existing relationship with Compaq Computer Corporation, Avid announced a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate with Compaq to develop solutions for the management and use of rich media for broadband and video-on-demand markets. The two companies expect to develop and market rich media content delivery solutions based on common storage area networking (SAN) architectures.

"Avid's tools have been used for the past 13 years to create some of the most widely recognized video, film, audio, animation and special effects media in the world. But the rapid evolution of technology is once again changing the way media enterprises and independent artists approach their work," said Krall.

Avid Announces New Broadcast Products and Upgrades

Software-Only Version of Avid NewsCutter(R) XP Mobile

The first software-only professional news editing system available for use with notebook computers, NewsCutter XP Mobile offers the same fast, news-specific editing capabilities as the flagship NewsCutter Effects system, but adds features that allow the same capabilities from remote sites. NewsCutter XP Mobile also accepts and edits DV25 media, so remote editors can directly record video, edit, and relay completed stories to the newsroom over microwave links or send project metadata via Internet or remote network access where craft editors can easily re-link the footage.

Upgrade to NewsCutter XP with Version 2.0

The NewsCutter XP version 2.0 system is now fully supported as an Avid Unity for News client. Using NewsCutter XP systems, editors can collaborate with craft editors who are using NewsCutter Effects. Through the Avid Unity for News media network, all editors in the loop have unrestricted access to central media, full usage of MediaManager for searching and sorting media assets, and an ability to move media with TransferManager. Additional features of NewsCutter XP version 2.0 include an ability to browse wires, view scripts and time edits on the NRCS Window; send to playback to keep editing while moving a story; send to workgroup to share media between servers; and record to timeline.

Avid Media Browse Supports Web and Television Production

The new release of Avid Media Browse enables journalists to simultaneously re-purpose television-centric news stories for output to the Web. With a simple mouse click, the Avid Media Browse product targets the selected material and creates a "Web" copy in QuickTime(R), RealMedia(TM), Microsoft(R) Windows Media(TM) or MPEG-1 standard. Additionally, journalists can leverage the functionality of Media Browse to create an entirely new Web version of the material while the video is being prepared for an on-air broadcast. This feature enables broadcasters to create an Internet presence that is unique to their television programming. The resulting benefits of the Avid Media Browse product include time and labor efficiencies, and the ability to maximize a single-vendor solution for outputting video assets across multiple mediums.

Expanded Capabilities for Avid Unity Media Net 2.0

Avid Unity MediaNet version 2.0 features expanded integration capabilities through support for a broader variety of clients - such as Windows 2000 and Pro Tools(R) software-based Macintosh clients, Port Server capability that allows Ethernet-networked systems to connect to MediaNet, and increased storage capacity of up to 7.3 terabytes. Fault tolerance improvements are an important upgrade in this new release. With the new AutoFailover feature, customers can make absolutely sure their mission critical environment is up and running at all times. This is accomplished by using a backup file manager, which automatically takes over file management operations if the primary file manager fails.

AirSPACE(TM) Version 2.0

Version 2.0 of the AirSPACE video server system includes numerous new capabilities and significant technology upgrades that will help shape the future role of video servers in broadcast production and further positions the AirSPACE product as a key component within the complete end-to-end Avid Broadcast environment. Among the many enhancements to the AirSPACE version 2.0 video server system are support for DV50, a 10x improvement in network transfer speed (Gigabit Ethernet), Sony protocol support, an increase in the number of video channels to 8 DV25 or 6 DV50, support for bi-directional transfers and partial clip transfers, greater integration with the Avid NewsCutter 2.0 and Avid Unity for News products, and additions and enhancements to companion software applications.

Avid Unity ProEncode

The ProEncode product fully automates the conversion of video and audio - into Web streaming, broadband and other formats - so that Avid editors can work on more than one revenue-generating project simultaneously. More time to work with original media translates into more opportunities to capitalize on new distribution channels such as streaming media over the Web, interactive TV and beyond. ProEncode automates the computing-intensive task of encoding media into formats suitable for distribution via the Web, CD-ROM, or broadband. Once the editor selects a format from within the Avid editing application, the encoding is done automatically, including monitoring of progress, handling any errors and delivering to the correct location. The time-consuming trans-coding operation is moved to a lower cost, dedicated CPU. ProEncode also uses Cleaner 5 - a Media 100 offering which enables multi-format, multi-data rate streaming encoding from a single solution.

DV Option for Media Composer 1000 XL

With the DV Option, broadcasters will be able to create promotional pieces, bumpers and long-form programming in the same media formats now used for news acquisition, editing, and play out. Education and corporate communicators who use DV for acquisition and exchange will benefit from a simpler production workflow, by eliminating media conversion steps. The Media Composer 1000 XL system includes basic offline/online editing, online compressed resolutions, real-time 2D effects and offers optional features, such as uncompressed video, 3D effects, Universal Offline, and real-time Multicam options. With the DV Option, the Media Composer 1000 XL system retains its well-developed user interface and wealth of features that has made it the editing tool of choice in post production, television online and offline, broadcast promotion and long-form applications.

New in Post Production

Media Station XL Version 10.5 Improves Workflow

Avid Media Station XL version 10.5 is a cost-effective digitizing and output station designed to improve workflow in post-production environments. The Media Station XL system, which runs on the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform, connects into the Avid Unity media network, freeing Avid Symphony and Media Composer systems to fulfill their primary task - editing. Editing and ingest of media can occur in parallel in a networked environment via Avid Unity MediaNet, giving everyone access to the same media and greatly reducing cycle times.

New Releases of Avid Symphony Version 3.5 and Media Composer Version 10.5

The new releases of Avid Symphony version 3.5 and Media Composer version 10.5 systems are feature-enhanced and Windows 2000-compliant. The products will offer editors and artists a more customizable interface and added editing capabilities for increased efficiency and productivity, while fostering the optimal collaborative workflow environment. Both Symphony version 3.5 and Media Composer version 10.5 will include the following features: crawling titles, enhancements to real-time moving mattes, Intraframe(TM) editing enhancements, user interface enhancements and "Avid workflow" capabilities.

Avid Xpress 4.5 - New Features

Avid Xpress Plus 4.5, Avid Xpress Deluxe 4.5 and Avid Xpress Elite 4.5 versions will all be Windows 2000-compliant. Key new features include crawling titles, new editing and media management, effects and compositing, customization capabilities, new audio features, additional interoperability, DVD and Web delivery.

Interactive Capabilities for the Avid Timeline

Avid is providing its partners, Microsoft, Sonic Solutions, WatchPont Media, Envivio and Mixed Signals, with the technology, tools and "smart media" that will enable them to write Java-based plug-ins that will work with the Symphony, Media Composer and Avid Xpress systems. These plug-ins will be designed to allow partners to pull interactive metadata, in addition to picture and sound media, to re-purpose as needed. For example, the interactive option being developed by Avid will allow HTML and JavaScript triggers to be imported and then dropped directly into the Avid timeline, synchronizing these elements with picture and sound. The metadata is then output so that users can re-purpose their media into multiple distribution channels, such as interactive TV, broadband, wireless and DVD.

Breakthrough Pricing and a Portable Alternative with Avid Xpress DV version 2.0

Avid Xpress DV version 2.0 software delivers professional video editing, audio, effects, titling, media management, and Total Conform to other Avid products that customers have come to expect from Avid. The software-only version allows professional field editing on laptop computers with features including breakthrough price, notebook portability, lightning speed, and ease of use. Requiring only a qualified notebook or workstation and an inexpensive DV In/Out card, it's a powerful and complete professional studio. Version 2.0 allows content creators to seamlessly deliver media to the Web, to DVD, to tape, and to the world.

TurboPack: Avid Offers $9,000 Value

For a limited time, both Avid Xpress Deluxe and Avid Xpress Elite systems will include a new TurboPack at no additional cost. Available for either new systems, the TurboPack comes loaded with best-of-breed software valued at over $9,000 (USMSRP). The TurboPack is in addition to the value already included in Avid Xpress Deluxe and Avid Xpress Elite systems. Elements of the TurboPack are Uncompressed Video, Filmmaker's Toolkit, Pinnacle Commotion Pro, Boris FX Pro, and Knoll LightFactory AVX(TM) software.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. delivers the solutions that Make, Manage and Move Media(TM). As a recognized 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. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, NewsCutter, Media Composer, Pro Tools, and Avid Xpress are registered trademarks and Avid Unity, AirSPACE, AVX, Intraframe, ProEncode, Symphony and Make, Manage and Move Media are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. iNEWS and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC. QuickTime is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. RealMedia is a trademark of Real Networks, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows Media is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Oscar is a 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.