Avid Technology Inc. has announced plans to release Avid Free DV, a free, DV-only version of its video editing software. The company will release the software for Mac OS X and Windows in the second quarter of 2003. In related news, Avid has announced new training initiatives as well.
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Avid Free DV uses the same interface as its bigger, more expensive siblings like Avid Xpress DV and Media Composer, and sports a similar toolset as those commercial products. The software will enable users to edit two video tracks, four audio tracks, and perform basic trimming and editing function, along with up to two streams of real time effects.
Avid vice president of worldwide sales Chas Smith attributes Avid’s decision to release Free DV to its success in other business divisions — specifically, Digidesign, which offers a free version of Pro Tools which Smith said had been downloaded more than 1.4 million times. Digidesign appeared on the keynote stage to show off the Mac OS X native version of Digidesign.
” … we hope to put Avid Free DV in the hands of even more video enthusiasts,” said Smith.
Avid’s new training initiatives focus on its Xpress DV product — a software-only digital video editing solution seen by some as a competitor for Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Avid announced that 17 Avid Authorized Education Centers (AAECs) have been opened nationwide. That brings the total up to 46. New centers include locations in California, Washington, Florida, Mass, Texas and more. For details, visit Avid’s Web site.
Four new training books have been released as well, through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble’s Web site and the Avid Web site. New books include Avid Xpress DV Editing; Introduction to Avid Xpress DV Effects; Creating Graphics for Avid Xpress DV with Adobe Photoshop; Color Correction for Avid Xpress DV v.3.5.