Avid ships Version 6 for its Media Composer and Film Composer system family; Release 6 Incorporates a Host of New Features and Increased Functionality for Broadcast Applications.

TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 1995--Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID) announced today it has begun shipping Version 6 for the Company's industry-leading Media Composer family of digital nonlinear editing and finishing systems.

Based on the Avid Broadcast Video Board, Version 6 incorporates significant new functionality including new online image resolutions with compression levels as low as 3:1; support for mixable resolutions; support for 720 pixel media (720 x 486 NTSC; 720 x 576 PAL) as specified in the CCIR-601 specification; and component video I/O (Betacam SP: R-Y, B-Y, Y). "With Version 6 for Media Composer, we are further illustrating our commitment to providing the industry with the most robust, feature-rich systems available today," commented Dave Cobosco, director of product management for Avid's Post Production Division. "Media Composer's advancements in image quality and sound processing provide editors with an even more effective and efficient tool with which to complete finished projects directly from disk," continued Cobosco.

Don Wells, principal at Highland Productions and a beta test site for Version 6, concurs. "Avid has brought the digital nonlinear online post-production process to a new echelon with the introduction of Version 6 for its Media Composer systems. The new online resolutions and increased audio functionality provides users with a truly integrated, all-digital suite for finishing projects in-house. This technology is exactly what the industry has been waiting for."

Introducing the Avid Broadcast Video Board

Media Composer Version 6 is based on the Avid Broadcast Video Board and provides support for 720 x 486 images (NTSC) or 720 x 576 images (PAL) and component video I/O (Betacam SP: R-Y, B-Y, Y). It also incorporates support for a dedicated full-screen video monitor, allowing users to view edits instantly in full-screen. Additionally, Version 6 adds true 16x9 support, which permits film or video editing in widescreen aspect ratio for future media formats such as HDTV.

Avid Raises the Benchmark for Online Image Quality with New Avid Video Resolutions (AVRs)

Version 6 for Media Composer introduces new single-field and two-field online image resolutions with enhanced picture quality for the 900, 1000, 4000 and 8000 models. New image resolutions include:

o AVR 75, a new two-field image resolution which yields approximately

3:1 compression and features image quality with frame sizes of

roughly 210KB/frame, making it exceptionally useful on complex

footage and titles.

o AVR 70 and 71 are two-field, online resolutions which are comparable

to Avid's AVR 26 and 27 image resolutions, respectively.

o AVR 12, a new two-field draft resolution which is mixable with

Avid's two-field AVR 70, 71 and 75 online resolutions.

o AVR 8s, a new high-end, single-field image resolution which is

visually comparable to AVR 75 and is ideal for CD-ROM development and

video game production.

Additionally, Media Composer Version 6 adds support for mixable resolutions within the same image family (i.e. users can mix single-field resolutions with other single-field resolutions or two-field resolutions with other two-field resolutions).

Support for Avid Multicamera

Version 6 also provides users with support for Avid Multicamera, the leading digital editing technology being employed by sitcom editors for Hollywood's Fall '95 television season. Avid Multicamera enables playback of four simultaneous streams of video in the source monitor and a fifth stream in the record monitor, all moving at sound speed. This technology adds unparalleled speed and flexibility to the multicamera editing process, which involves shooting with multiple cameras to cover different angles. Avid's ability to display four cameras running together lets multicamera professionals make editorial decisions by seeing these areas of coverage played back in sync.

New Audio Enhancements in Version 6

Version 6 for Media Composer adds significant new audio features including real-time EQ, which is standard in all Media Composer models. This new feature provides high-quality, three-band, semi-parametric EQ, leveraging technology from Avid's Audio Division. Also, it affords for control of low-shelf and high-shelf audio EQ filters with three selectable Frequency Turnover Points, as well as a sweepable parametric midrange.

EQ Settings can be saved on a per-clip basis, providing users with the benefit of simultaneous movement of both the adjusted clip and its corresponding EQ settings. Additionally, settings can be saved and applied to a different clip, precisely as with video effects.

Media Composer Pricing and Availability

Media Composer Version 6 for NuBus Power Macintosh systems is shipping now. Upgrades will be available to current Avid customers. AVR 70 is standard for online Media Composer models 900, 1000, 4000 and 8000. AVR 71 is standard with the 4000 and 8000 models and AVR 75 is standard with the 8000. AVR 71 (priced at $4,500) and AVR 75 (priced at $4,500) are options for all online Media Composer systems. Avid Multicamera, priced at $10,000, is an option for Film Composer and Media Composer 4000 and 8000 models.

About Avid's Media Composer Family

Since 1989, Avid has led the widespread acceptance of digital nonlinear post-production with its Emmy Award-winning Media Composer family. Today, with more than 7,000 systems in use worldwide, Avid Media Composer offline, online and film editing systems are the professional's choice for creating finished video programs for broadcast, review copies, EDLs or negative cut lists. The Media Composer family ranges from the entry-level Media Composer 400S to Avid's top-of-the line Media Composer 8000, featuring real-time, integrated 2D and 3D digital video effects; two-field, finishing-quality images; and all of Avid's offline and 24 fps film editing capabilities. -0-

Avid Technology, Inc., headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., is an international developer and supplier of comprehensive, all-digital solutions for capturing, creating, editing and distributing media. Now joined through mergers with Digidesign, Elastic Reality and Parallax Software, Avid's product line encompasses industry-leading nonlinear film, video and audio editing, special effects and image processing software, as well as networking, server and storage technologies, for applications including television and film post production, broadcast news, desktop video, multimedia and music production.

Avid, Film Composer and Media Composer are registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Avid Technology, Inc.

Stacey Hurwitz, 508/640-3622

or

Schwartz Communications, Inc.

Deirdre O'Connell, 617/431-0770, x 217