Avid Media Composer Comparison Chart
Avid Media Composer Comparison Chart
Compare the features of the 3 versions of Media Composer! Use the table below to see which product best suits your needs and to learn more about the capabilities offered.
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
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| Ideal for... | Aspiring video professionals and beginners | Professional editors and movie makers who work independently | Professional editors, movie makers, and journalists who work in a collaborative environment |
| Included software options |
| Media Composer | PhraseFind Option | |
| Projects | Unlimited | Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects | |
| Bins | 5 bins per project | Unlimited bins Volume bins Favorite bins | Unlimited bins Volume bins Favorite bins Shared bins and projects |
| Video and audio plug-in support | AVX and AAX plug-ins from the Avid Marketplace only | All AVX and AAX plug-ins | |
| Transcode | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Consolidate | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| Video tracks | 4 | 24 | 24 |
| Audio tracks | 8 | 64 | 64 |
| Data tracks | Not supported | Fully supported | Fully supported |
| Linked file support | Full decode SD, HD, >HD File, Volume, and third-party export not supported | Full encode and decode | Full encode and decode SD, HD, >HD |
| Project formats | SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080 | SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, Custom | SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, Custom |
| Frame rates | 23.978p, 24p, 25i, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p No progressive support for SD rasters | 23.978p, 24p, 25i/p, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p | 23.978p, 24p, 25i/p, 30i/p, 50i/p, 59.94i/p, 60p |
| Native compression | JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K | JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K | JFIF, DV, ProRes (encode on Mac only), XDCAM, AVC-I, IMX, DNxHD, DNxHR, XAVC-L, AVC-LongG, J2K |
| Color spaces | 601/709 | 601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy | 601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy |
| Desktop display LUTs | Rec. 709 | Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy | Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy |
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| Audio resolutions | 32, 44.1, on-the-fly conversion to 48 kHz; 24-bit | 32, 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz; 16- and 24-bit | 32, 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz; 16- and 24-bit |
| Audio channels | Mono, dual mono, stereo | Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround | Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround |
| Video editing | Best-in-class Trim tools Smart Tools Create sequence based on selection | Best-in-class Trim tools | Best-in-class Trim tools |
| Multicam editing | Group Clips 4-Way Split Display Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms | Group Clips MultiGroup 4-Way Split Display 9-Way Split Display MultiCam Editing mode MultiCam Accelerator keys Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms | Group Clips MultiGroup 4-Way Split Display 9-Way Split Display MultiCam Editing mode MultiCam Accelerator keys Swap Banks Previous/Next in Group Group by Audio Waveforms |
| Video effects | Limited core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp Stabilize | Full core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp TimeWarp Fluid Motion Stabilize | Full core set Source Side Motion Effects TimeWarp TimeWarp Fluid Motion Stabilize |
| FrameFlex | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Timecode tool | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Print Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| List tool | Yes | Yes | |
| Film workflows | Yes | Yes | |
| Stereoscopic 3D | Yes | Yes | |
| Color Correction | CC Effect Predefined CC Effects HSL Controls Hue Offsets Luma Range | CC Effect Predefined CC Effects HSL Controls Hue Offsets Luma Range Curves Color Info Channels (Secondary and Relationships available through the Symphony Option) | |
| Audio editing | Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in | Audio Tool Audio Ducking Audio Punch-in Audio Subframe Slip Audio Grouping Read Audio Timecode Audio MultiMix Change Sample Rate | |
| Audio effects | Limited core set | Full core set | Full core set |
| Workspaces | Custom Single View Source/Record Editing Full Screen Playback Effects Editing Color Correction Audio Editing | Custom Single View Source/Record Editing Full Screen Playback Effects Editing Color Correction Audio Editing Capture | |
| Titles | Classic Title tool | Classic Title tool Marquee tool | Classic Title tool Marquee tool |
| Background render, transcode, and consolidate | Yes | Yes | |
| Settings | Limited User settings Limited Project settings | Full User settings Multiple Users settings Site settings Project settings | Full User settings Multiple Users settings Site settings Project settings |
| Keyboard Mapping | Limited (based on available functions) | Full | Full |
| Source/Record color differentiation | On by default | Off by default | Off by default |
| Snap to Edit | On by default | Off by default | Off by default |
| Auto-launch Effects Editor | On by default | Off by default | Off by default |
| Video and audio plug-in support | AVX and AAX plug-ins from the Avid Marketplace only | All AVX and AAX plug-ins | All AVX and AAX plug-ins |
| Avid Marketplace | In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade | ||
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| Source Browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag-and-Drop Import | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag-and-Drop Link | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Photoshop w/Layers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capture | Yes | Yes | |
| Dynamic Media Folders | Yes | Yes | |
| AAF Import | Yes | Yes | |
| EDL Import | Yes | Yes | |
| ALE Import | Yes | Yes | |
| Shot Log Import | Yes | Yes | |
| SCC Import | Yes | Yes | |
| Edit While Capture | Yes | Yes |
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| QuickTime (.mov) formats | Limited: H.264, DNxHD, PCM, WAV | Yes | Yes |
| Publish to YouTube | Yes |
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| Publish to Vimeo | Yes | ||
| Graphic Export | Limited: TIFF, JPEG | Yes | Yes |
| AAF Export | Yes | Yes | |
| ALE Export | Yes | Yes | |
| AFE Export | Yes | Yes | |
| Shot Log Export | Yes | Yes | |
| SCC Export | Yes | Yes | |
| TTML Export | Yes | Yes | |
| AMA File Export | Yes | Yes | |
| DPX Export | Yes | Yes | |
| AS-11 MXF OP1a Export | Yes | Yes | |
| DNxHD MXF OP1a Export | Yes | Yes | |
| DNxHR MXF OP1a Export | Yes | Yes | |
| J2K MXF OP1a Export | Yes | Yes | |
| Export to Device | Yes | Yes | |
| Send to... | Yes | Yes |
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| Avid Artist | DNxIQ | Yes | Yes | |
| Avid Artist | DNxIV | Yes | Yes | |
| Avid Artist | DNxIP | Yes | Yes | |
| Avid Artist | DNxID | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Avid and third-party audio interfaces | Limited to 2-channel I/O | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party video interface | Yes | Yes | |
| Pro Tools | Control | Yes | Yes | |
| Pro Tools | Dock | Yes | Yes | |
| Artist Control | Yes | Yes | |
| Artist Mix | Yes | Yes | |
| Artist Color | Yes | Yes | |
| Artist Transport | Yes | Yes | |
| Media Composer | Symphony Option | Yes | Yes (Included) | |
| Media Composer | NewsCutter Option | Yes | Yes (Included) | |
| Media Composer | ScriptSync Option | Yes | Yes (Included) | |
| Media Composer | PhraseFind Option | Yes | Yes (Included) | |
| Media Composer | Production Pack | Yes | Yes | |
| Interplay | Production | Yes | ||
| Interplay | MAM | Yes | ||
| MediaCentral | Yes | ||
| MediaCentral | Cloud UX | Yes | ||
| Avid NEXIS shared bins and projects | Yes | ||
| iNEWS | Yes |
Media Composer | First | Media Composer | Media Composer | Ultimate | |
| How to Buy: | Visit Avid\'s website to |
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