Avid Ships Avid Xpress Version 3 for Windows NT; -- Price-Performance Leader Adds High-End Video Editing Capabilities; Maintains Recent Price Reductions --.TEWKSBURY, Mass--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 1999-- Avid Technology "Avid" redirects here. For the "Advancement Via Individual Determination" educational program, see AVID. Avid Technology, Inc NASDAQ: AVID is an American company specializing in video and audio production technology; specifically, digital non-linear media editing (NLE) , Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :AVID) announced today that it is shipping its Avid Xpress(TM) Version 3 system for the Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. platform, the latest version of Avid's award-winning, affordable broadcast-quality video editing See nonlinear video editing and video editor. system designed for video and multimedia professionals. Version 3 offers a host of new high-end professional features, including 8 video tracks with unlimited compositing, slip and slide editing, soft-edged drop shadows, and an animated titling option, while maintaining recent price reductions of up to 27%. Avid Xpress Version 3 is also planned for the Macintosh platform and is scheduled to ship in Q4 1999. "With Version 3, Avid significantly raises the benchmark for affordable, real-time professional video editing systems," said Charlie Russell, product marketing manager for Avid Xpress. "We're adding exciting new features while maintaining dramatically reduced costs, creating a more advanced professional product at a lower-end, `prosumer' price. Early feedback indicates that we've developed a successful formula for the Avid Xpress product, which is already the leading nonlinear video editing Editing video in the computer. Also called "nonlinear editing" (NLE), digital nonlinear systems provide high-quality post-production editing on a desktop computer. However, some detail may be lost if lossy compression is used to store the images (see lossy compression). system in its class." "Avid Xpress has revolutionized our ability to create corporate training videos, documentaries and television promos, as the new offerings on Version 3 are saving our business both time and money," commented Daniel Soukup, president of TOPDOG Productions, an Avid Xpress Version 3 beta site An organization or group that is beta testing hardware and/or software. See beta test. . "The zero compression capture ability allows us to produce high quality content, and the titling is incredibly easy to use. In particular, the real-time effects have probably had the greatest impact on our business; they enable us to free up our system and have more time to experiment creatively, take on additional clients and allow existing clients to contribute their own ideas to projects." Avid Xpress Version 3 Feature Highlights The Avid Xpress system includes a robust set of editing, effects, titling, compositing, audio, graphics, and interoperability The capability of two or more hardware devices or two or more software routines to work harmoniously together. For example, in an Ethernet network, display adapters, hubs, switches and routers from different vendors must conform to the Ethernet standard and interoperate with each other. tools. Version 3 adds powerful new capabilities in every category, offering more than 75 real-time features plus improved image and audio quality. Key new features include: --8 video tracks with unlimited non-destructive layering and nesting for building richly-textured compositions --Audio punch-in for instant voice-over synced to video --Slip and slide editing for faster and easier fine-tuning of edits --Soft-edge drop shadows on titles for more professional-looking titles --Broadcast-quality 2:1 compression standard on all configurations --QuickTime 4.0 support for better integration with new QuickTime applications --8-channel audio scrub for more accurate audio edits --Avid Unity(TM)MediaNet support for improved collaboration and efficiency in multiple-unit facilities --Support for flying faders with JLCooper external mixer mixer, either of two electronic devices in which two or more signals are combined. In the type of mixer used in radio receivers, radar receivers, and similar systems, a signal is translated upward or downward in frequency. --Drag & drop import/export for faster, easier workflow with other applications New options include: --A Single-stream Uncompressed Video option for the ultimate in picture quality --An 8-channel Audio Input/Output option for more advanced audio --Softimage(R) Marquee(R) Animated Titling plug-in option available October 1999 (Windows NT only) --A VTR (VideoTape Recorder) A videotape recording and playback machine. VTR may refer to consumer MiniDV and DV recorders or to professional machines such as Betacam, DVCPRO and DVCAM. Play Emulation (architecture) emulation - When one system performs in exactly the same way as another, though perhaps not at the same speed. A typical example would be emulation of one computer by (a program running on) another. option for DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. mastering Version 3 maintains the key attributes of the Avid Xpress family, including the world-standard Avid(R) interface, used by more than 50,000 trained editors. Another highlight of the Avid Xpress system is One-Step technology, enabling customers to accomplish the most common editing and creative tasks in the fewest possible steps - often through a single mouse click. Version 3 features the Avid Meridien(TM) video subsystem A unit or device that is part of a larger system. For example, a disk subsystem is a part of a computer system. A bus is a part of the computer. A subsystem usually refers to hardware, but it may be used to describe software. , which offers the highest broadcast-quality video and audio quality in its class. Avid Xpress Version 3 is available in three configurations: Plus, Deluxe de·luxe also de luxe adj. Particularly elegant and luxurious; sumptuous: deluxe accommodations; a de luxe automobile. adv. , and Elite. Avid Xpress Plus is a complete video editing system with a full set of built-in editing, effects, titling, graphics, audio, compositing and interoperability features. Avid Xpress Deluxe boosts performance with many more real-time effects, 8 video tracks and new features such as slip-and-slide editing. Avid Xpress Elite enhances productivity with real-time 3D effects and even more real-time 2D effects. Affordable Prices and the "Commotion Promotion" This powerful new version of Avid Xpress will maintain recent USMSRP price reductions of up to 27%, enabling corporate, government, education and independent digital producers to create high-quality video and multimedia content at an affordable price. In addition, every purchase through December 15, 1999 will include a free copy of Puffin Designs' Commotion software, valued at US $2,495. Puffin Commotion 2.1 is a comprehensive visual effects package that complements Avid Xpress with powerful capabilities, such as motion tracking, rotoscoping Creating animated characters by tracing an action movie with real actors frame by frame. Performed via the computer today, rotoscoping was originally accomplished in the early 1900s by projecting each movie frame onto a frosted glass easel, from which the illustrator traced and redrew the and paint. Availability, Pricing and Upgrades Avid Xpress Version 3 for Windows NT is currently available through Avid's worldwide reseller An organization that sells hardware and software to the general public. Resellers purchase products from software publishers and hardware manufacturers. network. USMSRP prices for boards/software kits are as follows: Plus $12,999; Deluxe $19,999; Elite $29,999. Customers who purchased Avid Xpress for Windows NT systems after April 18, 1999 will receive a free software upgrade to Version 3 with the same bundle level. Customers who purchased before April 18, 1999 can upgrade to Version 3 at the following USMSRP: Plus $1,250; Deluxe $2,500; and Elite $3,500. For the Macintosh platform, Avid plans to provide new versions of the Avid Xpress product in two phases: Version 2.5 on the next-generation Meridien video subsystem is scheduled to ship September 15, 1999; Version 3 will be available in Q4 1999 and will be provided as a free software upgrade to owners of Version 2.5. All prices are USMSRP and available in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada only. Contact you local Avid office or reseller for pricing information outside the United States and Canada. Avid Technology is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for creating content for information and entertainment applications. Avid's products are used by customers ranging from communications professionals to film, television and interactive content producers to broadcast news organizations. For more information, visit Avid's World Wide Web site at www.avid.com (c) 1999 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Avid, Marquee and Softimage are registered trademarks, and Avid Xpress, Avid Unity and Avid Meridien are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc., or its subsidiaries or divisions. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. |
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