Avid Integrates Ultimatte's Real-Time Keying Technology For Symphony Finishing System.

Business/Technology Editors

TEWKSBURY, Mass--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2000

-- Agreement Brings Ultimatte's Real-Time Power and Creative Controls

To Symphony Version 3.0, Through The Familiar Avid Interface --

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Ultimatte Corporation to license the newest technology in Ultimatte's real-time keyer, which features the award-winning technology that has gained Ultimatte a reputation for the best blue and green screen compositing in the world. This technology will be integrated as a standard feature into the Symphony(TM) Version 3.0 editorial finishing system. This will provide Symphony users with Ultimatte's deep creative controls within the Avid Symphony user interface.

&uot;The joining of two industry leaders, Avid and Ultimatte, is unprecedented and incredibly exciting for us,&uot; Billy Baldwin, Co-owner of New York Post Works. &uot;Integrating the Ultimatte keyer into the Symphony system will have a huge impact on the way we manage our workflow, enabling Post Works to turn projects around more efficiently and with greater quality.&uot;

The core technology of Ultimatte's newest linear matting system, the Ultimatte 9, has been integrated into Avid's Meridien(TM) video subsystem with the Symphony Version 3.0 system to provide users with fine, real-time control over blue-screen/green-screen compositing.

&uot;Our alliance with Avid Technology provides an excellent opportunity for Ultimatte to gain market share in the real-time nonlinear space,&uot; said Joe Parker, Director of Business Development, Ultimatte Corporation. &uot;Through the experience that we have gained from pioneering Virtual studio we have created Ultimatte 9 which is the most dynamic technology on the market today. We feel that Avid is in a prime position to leverage critical elements of our technology and incorporate it into the Symphony product.&uot;

Avid's implementation of Ultimatte's technology for Symphony will provide a number of key features, including AdvantEdge edge control and matte sizing/positioning, and post-key color adjustments for matching foreground colors to background colors after a key has been composited. Symphony will also provide 'Ultimatte intelligence' -- smart technology which enables users to get a high-quality key instantly using an eyedropper, bypassing the need to manipulate individual sophisticated controls, which are still available for expert users and complex keying situations.

&uot;Our alliance with Ultimatte will enable us to deliver the industry's leading real-time keyer inside of a nonlinear finishing system for the first time -- and within the familiar Avid user interface,&uot; said Tom Corn, director of product marketing, Avid Technology. &uot;Avid Symphony Version 3.0, with Ultimatte's unrivaled technology, continues to deliver on Avid's strategy to provide high-quality, real-time performance and creative control for high-end editorial finishing. Additionally, Avid has recently announced a feature protection program that allows customers to buy any Symphony system now and get standard features announced for Symphony 3.0 at NAB 2000 for free.&uot;

Pricing and Availability

The Avid Symphony Version 3.0 editorial finishing system, which includes the Ultimatte keyer as a standard feature, is currently planned for shipment in Q3 2000, through Avid's worldwide reseller network. Pricing for the Symphony Version 3.0 is scheduled to be announced at NAB 2000. The cost for upgrading from Symphony Version 1.0 and Version 2.0 to Symphony Version 3.0 will also be announced at NAB 2000.

Ultimatte Corporation

For over 20 years, Ultimatte Corporation has set the standard for hardware and software used in bluescreen compositing. For revolutionizing the quality of motion picture and television effects, the patented Ultimatte process has been honored with the Oscar, the Emmy, and numerous other awards. Ultimatte products are in use everywhere today, from the smallest graphic design studio to the largest movie effects house. Ultimatte Corp. now brings its renowned expertise in the field of matte creation from the graphic arts industry to the television and motion pictures industries with Ultimatte KnockOut for Moving Pictures. For more information, visit Ultimatte's website at www.ultimatte.com.

Avid Technology

Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications. The company's products are used by a variety of customers worldwide including film, television and interactive content producers, TV news broadcasters, corporate communicators and consumers. For more information, visit Avid's Web site at www.avid.com.

(c) 2000 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. . Avid is a registered trademarks, and Symphony and Meridien are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.