Avid Ships Symphony Version 2.

TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 1999--

-- New Finishing Tools, New Universal Model for Multi-Format,

Multi-Version Delivery Highlight Latest Release of Avid Editorial

Finishing System for High-End Television Programming --

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID) today announced that it is now shipping the Version 2 of the Avid(R) Symphony(tm) product, its nonlinear editorial finishing system designed to meet the needs of high-end editorial television programming. This release further extends the Symphony system's finishing feature set and introduces a revolutionary new capability - 24P Universal Editing and Mastering, which allows content producers to work with 24 frame progressive content in its native format and deliver it in a multitude of formats at the push of a button. The Symphony system also expands into two models with the Version 2 release, Symphony and Symphony Universal.

Roger Hinze, Digital Effects Editor, a Symphony Universal beta tester from Sony Pictures ImageWorks, said, "Symphony is the first real opportunity that we have seen to-date that offers 24 frame progressive format. It has the impressive advantage of going to NTSC and PAL outputs. This is going to lead a major transition to working in 24 frame in all areas of the industry -- which benefits not only the feature film market but music videos, commercials, and anything that is sourced on film."

New Symphony Features Extend Television Finishing Tools; Provide 24P Universal Mastering

In addition to providing multiple streams of uncompressed video, Symphony now provides even more finishing capabilities. A new dual-stream, 10-bit scene-to-scene color correction engine (which will ship in October, in the follow-up 2.1 release) is the highlight of the Version 2 toolset. The advanced color correction engine provides the ability to color correct globally, scene-to-scene or Intraframe(tm) editing; work with eyedroppers, sliders and curves; and control RGB, HSL or Luma. The Symphony system's color correction also provides the NaturalMatch(tm) feature, an intelligent color matching tool which enables natural-looking color matching with the ease of an eyedropper. A Safe Color tool ensures that projects will meet network requirements, by allowing users to create templates for different broadcasters and automatically highlighting areas where colors are out of specification -- even fixing the footage for compliance.

Rounding out the Symphony Version 2 feature set are a new 10-bit DVE, an improved keyer with realtime spill suppression, and CG additions including scratch removal and a built-in Softimage Marquee(R) software plug-in application (available with Symphony 2.1) for designing sophisticated titles.

The new Symphony Universal model includes all of the Version 2 features and addresses the challenges of producing multi-format, multi-version content. Features include the ability to pan and scan projects when delivering 4:3 versions of 16:9 project; the ability to edit 24P material in its native format; and the ability to output 16:9, 4:3, NTSC, PAL and letterbox versions of television projects, or even a film cutlist or 24fps EDL for conforming on an HD system from a single master. Symphony Universal is ideal for projects originated on film or 24P HD tape, those with international distribution requirements or those which need to deliver in multiple aspect ratios.

"Version 2 takes aim at two scenarios in television post-production," noted Avid's Tom Corn, Director of Product Marketing. "The finishing feature set in Symphony Version 2 is designed to provide the level of capabilities found in tape-based online suites and to exceed tape by conforming projects more quickly and completely, and giving users the ability to create multiple versions of content easily. The Universal model goes beyond what tape suites (or any other nonlinear system) can provide, by enabling users to pan and scan projects, output multiple formats from a single master, and edit 24P material in its native format. Both of these scenarios rely on the overall benefits of nonlinear technology, resulting in greater creative control and greater opportunities for television professionals to thrive in the multi-format digital television world."

Symphony Pricing

USMSRP pricing for Symphony Version 2 is $135,000. USMSRP pricing for the Symphony Universal model is $160,000. Symphony Version 1 and Version 1.1 owners can upgrade to Symphony Version 2 for USMSRP $10,000, or to the Symphony Universal model for USMSRP $25,000 through December 31, 1999. Customers who purchase Symphony Version 2 will get Symphony Version 2.1, which includes the advanced color correction engine and the Softimage Marquee software plug-in at no extra charge. For prices outside the U.S. and Canada, contact your local Avid office.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc., of which Softimage Co. is a subsidiary, is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications. Avid'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 or the Softimage site at www.softimage.com.

(c)1999 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Avid and Marquee are registered trademarks and Intraframe and Symphony are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc., or its subsidiaries or divisions. All other trademarks are contained herein are the property of their respective owners.