Media Composer | FIRST
Media Composer | First has been officially released today by Avid. They updated their YouTube with an introduction video as well as seven tutorials on how to use this version of the software. This is an exciting step for Avid. Their software has always been very expensive and locked off from those who want to learn. Now we have an option for everyone, but is it any good?
I've been playing with all day I think it is pretty good. It is missing a lot of features that I care about but if I was just starting out in high school or college this would have been amazing. That said it still has Avid's learning curve and the lack of UHD is disappointing. I might suggest Davinci Resolve over Media Composer | First because Resolve is easier to use and has way more flexible exporting options. That said if you're looking for a way to learn Avid without dishing out the cash this is the perfect option for you!
You can give it a try yourself here!
A List of all the Differences Between the Two Versions
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MEDIA COMPOSER | FIRST* |
MEDIA COMPOSER |
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AUDIENCE AND AVAILABILITY |
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Ideal for… |
Aspiring video professionals and beginners |
Professional editors, movie makers, and journalists |
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Availability |
Available for free for anyone to download and use |
Subscribe monthly or annually, purchase a perpetual license (you own the software), or get it bundled with Avid Artist™ | DNxIQ |
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SUPPORTED TRACKS |
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Video tracks |
4 |
24 |
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Audio tracks |
8 |
64 |
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Data tracks |
Not supported |
Fully supported |
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VIDEO AND COLOR SUPPORT |
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Linked file support |
Full decode SD, HD, >HD File, Volume, and third-party export not supported |
Full encode and decode SD, HD, >HD |
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Video file formats |
Seeavid.com/mediacomposer_formats |
See avid.com/mediacomposer_formats |
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Project formats |
SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080 |
SD PAL, SD NTSC, 720, 1080, 2K, UHD, 4K, Custom |
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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 |
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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 |
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Color spaces |
601/709 |
601/709, RGB 709, S-Log3, SMPTE-2084, DCI-P3, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy |
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Desktop display LUTs |
Rec. 709 |
Rec. 709, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 2020, ACES Proxy |
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AUDIO SUPPORT |
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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 |
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Audio channels |
Mono, dual mono, stereo |
Mono, dual mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround |
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GENERAL |
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Projects |
Unlimited |
Unlimited, with support for Custom Projects |
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Bins |
5 bins per project |
Unlimited bins, Shared bins and projects, Volume bins, Favorite bins |
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Video and audio plug-in support |
AVX and AAX plug-ins purchased through the Avid Marketplace only |
All AVX and AAX plug-ins |
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Transcode |
Limited |
✓ |
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Consolidate |
Limited |
✓ |
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FEATURES |
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Video editing |
Best-in-class Trim tools, Smart Tools, Create sequence based on selection |
Best-in-class Trim tools, Smart Tools, Create sequence based on selection, Script-based editing, Auto-Sequence |
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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 |
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Video effects |
Limited core set, Source Side Motion Effects, TimeWarp, Stabilize (see avid.com/mediacomposerfirstfor details) |
Full core set, Source Side Motion Effects, TimeWarp, TimeWarp Fluid Motion, Stabilize (see avid.com/mediacomposerfor details) |
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FrameFlex |
✓ |
✓ |
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Timecode tool |
✓ |
✓ |
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Print Timeline |
✓ |
✓ |
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List tool |
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✓ |
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Film workflows |
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✓ |
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Stereoscopic 3D |
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✓ |
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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) |
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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 |
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Audio effects |
Limited core set (see avid.com/mediacomposerfirstfor details) |
Full core (see avid.com/mediacomposerfor details) |
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Workspaces |
Custom, Single View, Source/Record Editing,Full-Screenn Playback, Effects Editing, Color Correction, Audio Editing |
Custom, Single View, Source/Record Editing, Full-Screen Playback, Effects Editing, Color Correction, Audio Editing, Capture |
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Titles |
Classic Title tool |
Classic Title tool, Marquee tool, NewBlueFX Titler Pro |
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Video and audio plug-in support |
AVX™ and AAX plug-ins purchased through the Avid Marketplace only |
All AVX and AAX plug-ins |
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Background render, transcode, and consolidate |
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✓ |
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Keyboard Mapping |
Limited |
Full |
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Source/Record colour differentiation |
On by default |
Off by default |
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Avid Marketplace |
In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade |
In-app AAX and AVX Marketplace and software upgrade |
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INGEST |
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Source Browser |
✓ |
✓ |
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Drag-and-Drop Import |
✓ |
✓ |
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Drag-and-Drop Link |
✓ |
✓ |
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Photoshop w/Layers |
✓ |
✓ |
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Capture |
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✓ |
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Dynamic Media Folders |
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✓ |
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AAF Import |
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✓ |
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EDL Import |
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✓ |
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ALE Import |
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✓ |
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Shot Log Import |
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✓ |
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SCC Import |
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✓ |
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Edit While Capture |
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✓ |
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EXPORT |
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QuickTime (.mov) formats |
Limited: H.264, DNxHD, PCM, WAV |
✓ |
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Publish to YouTube |
✓ |
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Publish to Vimeo |
✓ |
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Publish to Facebook |
✓ |
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Graphic Export |
Limited: TIFF, JPEG |
✓ |
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AAF Export |
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✓ |
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ALE Export |
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✓ |
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AFE Export |
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✓ |
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Shot Log Export |
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✓ |
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SCC Export |
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✓ |
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TTML Export |
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✓ |
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AMA File Export |
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✓ |
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DPX Export |
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✓ |
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AS-11 MXF Op1a Export |
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✓ |
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DNxHD MXF OP1a Export |
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✓ |
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DNxHR MXF OP1a Export |
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✓ |
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J2K MXF OP1a Export |
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✓ |
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Export to Device |
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✓ |
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Send to… |
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✓ |
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HARDWARE INTERFACE SUPPORT |
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Avid Artist | DNxIQ / DNxIO |
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✓ |
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Avid and third-party audio interfaces |
Limited to 2-channel I/O |
✓ |
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Third-party video interface |
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✓ |
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SOFTWARE OPTIONS |
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Media Composer | Symphony Option |
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✓ |
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Media Composer | NewsCutter® Option |
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✓ |
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Media Composer | ScriptSync® Option |
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✓ |
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Media Composer | PhraseFind™ Option |
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✓ |
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Media Composer | Production Pack |
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✓ |
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AVID SOLUTIONS SUPPORT |
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Interplay® | Production |
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✓ |
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Interplay | MAM |
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✓ |
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MediaCentral® Platform |
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✓ |
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MediaCentral | UX |
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✓ |
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Avid NEXIS® shared bins and projects |
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✓ |
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iNEWS® |
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✓ |
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CONTROL SURFACE SUPPORT |
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Pro Tools® | Control |
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✓ |
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Pro Tools | Dock |
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✓ |
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Artist® Control |
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✓ |
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Artist Mix |
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✓ |
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Artist Color |
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✓ |
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Artist Transport |
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✓ |
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MAC |
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System |
Avid-qualified Apple computer (visit avid.com/mediacomposerfirst for the latest details) |
Avid-qualified Apple computer (visit avid.com/mediacomposerfor the latest details) |
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OS |
OS X 10.11, 10.12 |
OS X 10.10, 10.11, 10.12 |
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RAM |
6 GB minimum, 8 GB or more recommended; 16 GB or more when working with UHD or high frame rate media |
8 GB minimum, 16 GB or more recommended; 24 GB or more recommended when working with UHD, large projects, or in an Interplay environment |
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WINDOWS |
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System |
Avid-qualified Windows-based computer (visit avid.com/mediacomposerfirstfor the latest details) |
Avid-qualified Windows-based computer (visit avid.com/mediacomposer for the latest details) |
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OS |
64-bit OS: Windows 10 (Professional and Enterprise), Windows 8.1 (Professional and Enterprise), or Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1) |
64-bit OS: Windows 10 (Professional and Enterprise), Windows 8.1 (Professional and Enterprise), or Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1) |
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RAM |
6 GB minimum, 8 GB or more recommended; 16 GB or more when working with UHD or high frame rate media |
8 GB minimum, 16 GB+ recommended; 24 GB or more recommended when working with UHD, large projects, or in an Interplay environment |
* Please note that the information provided above is subject to change without notice.