I don't know if this was covered somewhere else, but is there a different plan to upgrade from AXP Studio Essentials/Complete to Media Composer?  Will the dongle change-over work?  Will I still be able to use AvidFX, 3D, etc.?

Thanks

Good question! I do know that Media Composer works perfectly with Xpress Studio. Hope they will clear this up soon.

Ditto. The Studio components are the same as Studio Toolkit which is and always has been compatible with Media Composer.

 I am indeed wondering the same question. From what I've hear after speaking with Avid is that if you upgrade to Composer...you seems to have to "forfeith" all of the all of the 3rd apps and Digi002 that came with Studio Complete. This to me this is not so great considering the price I paid for the AXP Studio Essentials/Complete. I sure hope I am wrong on this one!!!

I'm glad to hear that the apps work with MC, but I assume the MC upgrade will require a dongle upgrade... so if that happens, will my Studio apps fail to run because the dongle is for MC only and not studio?

Lucas

Stand By Guys ...we'll find out for you.

Your dongle contains licenses for the programs you have purchased. It does not contain anything that links programs together. For example, if you have a separate Media Composer dongle/installation on the same computer as your studio dongle/installation, you can use any program that is contained in your dongle, simultaneously or otherwise.

If you were to upgrade your Xpress Pro to Media Composer, your dongle would be upgraded... but it would not affect your licenses on the same dongle for the Studio components.

As far as Pro Tools... it is not linked to your Studio dongle or Media Composer dongle. The interface (002 or Mbox) acts as a dongle for Pro Tools. It also has the iLOK dongle for the plugins.

You will be able to continue use of Pro Tools and all of the Studio components after upgrading to Media Composer.

 When there is a future upgrade to Studio Tool Kit, I suspect we as Studio Essential/Complete owners would be allowed to purchase the upgrade as appose to down right out buying the entire Studio Tool Kit package?

Am I wrong Robert or wasn't the Studio package discontinued? Avid will continue to support the different software but the the package itself will no longer be offered...right?

Right... although the components are still very much alive in the form of Toolkit and ProTools, etc.

I hope they will bring it back in some form though... it was a great deal in spite of whether or not the 003 is compatible or not. The 003 compatibility issue was the culprit.

I personally wish they would just offer it even without the 003 compatibility... it was a great deal to get Digitranslator and the other components/hardware at that price point.

I believe Studio owners will be treated as Toolkit owners at the bare minimum. If not, I will personally shoot out the windows of Avid Technology. ;)

So my last question before I whip out the credit card is... if I were to upgrade my AXP Studio Essentials to MC today, when the next round of Media Composer upgrades come along, will I be able to take the Toolkit path?

Toolkit is a current and viable offering and there has been no plan to discontinue it whatsoever. It is and always has been, afain, fully compatible with Media Composer as well as Xpress Pro.

Oh, OK, I see where I wasn't understanding the conversation.

The "studio toolkit" technically does not come with either AXP or MC.  My brain was still on the Studio Essentials/complete setup where all the programs (axp, fx, 3d, dvd, protools) all came together.

So as it stands today, even though I purchased Studio Essentials way back when, I own 3 seperate products:

1) Avid Xpress Pro
2) Studio Toolkit (which is my AvidFX, 3d, DVD)
3) ProTools LE

So if I upgrade to MC, I'm only upgrading AXP, and the toolkit just stays where it is.

When an upgrade to the Toolkit comes out in the future, that will be a seperate cost.

And also when ProTools gets upgraded, that too is a seperate cost/upgrade.

Sorry to say this if its common knowledge, I'm just making sure I have it straight.

There you go. Your explanation 'splains your questions... Yes, Studio Toolkit is and has been available for purchase all by itself... not a part of Media Composer, etc. Now I understand your confusion much better so thanks for clarifying.