I recently found myself needing to edit some video at home. At work, I use a Media Composer, and really like it. However, at home, I wanted something less expensive - so I decided to dust off AVID FreeDV - and realized that I couldn't get it to work anymore. Since AVID discontinued it, and doesn't support it. I would gladly pay a reasonable amount for a stripped down version of AVID - like AVID FreeDV. After all, why switch? I KNOW AVID already. However, AVID doesn't care. So, I tried several demos, and found a GREAT piece of software for around $70 that is very, very impressive.I won't mention which one it is - since what happens in my editing room stays in my editing room (if you catch my meaning).

As a result, I will likely become quite fluent with this new software. If the stripped down version of this software is THIS good, I imagine the Pro version is great too. As a result, when my company is in the market for a new NLE, I can no longer guarantee I will not recommend switching ALL work machines to the other brand.

Just thought you'd like to know how killing FreeDV may cause a big loss in sales.

Install Media Composer on your system at home and take the dongle from work, or look at Ebay for a used copy of Avid DV or Xpress Pro.  You should be able to find them cheap enough.

Michael.

Avid provided FreeDV for years...and it was free. Isn't it their prerogative to discontinue it? After all, it was F R E E .

Hi Atomike,

Thanks for the post.  I have sent this to our product team for consideration.  I understand your point on wanting to use a striped down version of avid at home to compliment your work systems.  Not sure what this will net but I want you to know I passed it along.

Why were you unable to get the FreeDv to work again?  Did you upgrade your CPU?

Free free to email me offline.

Marianna

Appreciate where you're coming from atomike, cos I've had a very similar experience. Free dv is still the best free editor out there, by a mile. But I got another one for home dead cheap, and it cuts anything, and since it chews through jvc's 720 hdv it was not a hard decision to use it at work too- and now to upgrade to the pro version with hardware.

I still prefer cutting on avid, and will continue to cut most SD stuff on MC. Have ordered MC3 soft and am hopeful (but not too hopeful!) it might deal with the jvc hdv (2.7 certainly didn't).

But it's a work-flow issue (I don't want to have to trancode everything to dnxHD just to cut it). And as I'm getting used to this other editor, I'm finding a new workflow easier and easier.

Hm.