Avid Media Composer v3.0 and Avid Newscutter v7.0 are now available!

> For customers with valid Assurance contracts, you can download the software for free from the Avid Download Center.  If you have access to the Download Center, but do not have a valid Assurance contract, you will be able to see these downloads but will not be able to run the dongle versioner required for the upgrade.

> Customers who purchased  after March 17 2008 - Customers who purchased a new Avid Media Composer, Avid Symphony Nitris or Avid NewsCutter system or an Avid Xpress Pro to Avid Media Composer upgrade after March 17, 2008 can download the new editors from the avid.com version protection page atwww.avid.com/protect.

> Customers that do not have a valid Avid Assurance Contract or purchased prior to March 17, 2008 should go to the avid.com web store or purchase or to Avid sales at 800-949-2843 (option #1) or their local reseller.

Note:  If you enter your information required into the avid.com version protect page yet are denied access to the software and you feel you are entitled as you purchased after March 17 2008, you will receive an additional contact page that instructs you who to contact at Avid.

A Public FAQ on 3.0/7.0 relating to upgrades, processes, features and functionality will be posted to avid.com later today. Avid will also be updating the forums with a new edition of the “Download Tips Document” that will be posted as “announcements” on the forums. 

Please note that we have released an upgrade for Avid Xpress DV to Media Composer Software.  The upgrade is a physical shipping kit (download is not an option) as a dongle is required.

 **It is required that users upgrading from Tiger to Leopard perform a clean install of Leopard PRIOR to installing Media Composer v3. It is also recommended that you create a new Avid User profile.

This release includes support for Quicktime 7.4.5.

The supported NVIDIA graphics driver is version 169.47 for qualified graphics cards.

You must be running the following software in shared environments: Interplay v1.2.4 and 1.4; Unity MediaNetwork v4.1.6, v4.2.4, v5.0.1,v5.1; Avid Unity ISIS v1.4, v1.5.  See the README for the specifics of your shared environment/Win OS combination.

New features in v3 include:

> Real-Time Timecode effect: RT effect that allows you to add timecode displays that update in real time to the video in the sequences.

> Frame Rate Mix and Match: Allows you to mix clips that have the identical frame rates but different interlaced and progressive field properties.

> CPU/GPU Acceleration of Visual Effects: With this release, effects leverage maximum possible performance, including real-time effects, by using available CPU and GPU resources in the host workstation.

> Subcap Effect: This release includes the SubCap™ captioning and subtitling effect, which allows you 
to add subtitle or caption text to the video in your sequences.

> Surround Sound: Changes have been made to allow support for Surround Sound.This feature is supported with applications using the Avid Nitris DX hardware.

One note of caution.....

Users of Avid's DNA line should NOT upgrade to v3.0 at this time. Currently there is a bug introduced by Apple in Leopard that causes issues with FW devices attached to the CP (that includes Mojo and Adrenaline). 

Avid is working very hard to get around this bug and estimates that they will have it nailed down very soon. However, lack of cooperation from apple is making things move more slowly than anyone would like. Please be patient and a patch will be released ASAP.

This problem does not affect MC Software Only nor does it affect the DX boxes.

You can find a list of supported devices for M.C. 3.0 here.

Good reference to keep handy.....

BLKDOG:

However, lack of cooperation from apple is making things move more slowly than anyone would like. 

Sounds like déjà-vu unfortunately... Does it mean there will be a 3.0.1 very soon?

That is the Hope Pierre..yes.  As soon as they can get around Apple's FW bug.

And the student version of this - any word on when that will be available?

Should be right now.....

huh - weird - I don't know if you can buy the academic version directly from Avid - their rep had told me to use journeyed.com - but they're still selling 2.8.1 - guess some of us have a few more days (or weeks) to wait :(  -- oh well, at least the new iPhone is coming today (hopefully!)

BLKDG, Probably stupid question: I recently bought AvidXpress pro and after that MC 2.8 (upgrade). In what order should I install on Leopard (Xpress pro and then 2.8 and then the upgrade 3.0 from the dc?).

Thanks for the help!

 Now I'm torn between upgrading my iPhone or my Avid.

sjon....

If you have ANY Avid software on the CPU, do an Archive and install of the Leopard OS and THEN install just MC 3.0. No need to go through 2.8 first.

BLKD, I didn't install anything yet, because I wanted to wait for the upgrade.

So I need to install xpress pro first and then MC 3.0? (how does the mac 'know' then I paid for the MC 2.8)....

Nope. Just install 3.0. The Mac doesn't care. What matters is the dongle. When you get the dongle updater, you will use the dongle manager to upgrade it and you'll be good to go.

Ok, I'm gonna try. Exciting...will let you know!

I installed 3.0 and after starting MC I get: your system is not licensed to run this veriosn of the software.

I had MC installed on Windows (bootcamp) and that works fine. But that was in this order:

Xpress pro (dvd)

MC 2.8 (dvd)

What am I missing?