Download Tips for Avid Media Composer v4.0 Software - September 24, 2009 (Updated)

Avid has developed this document to assist customers with upgrading from any version of Avid Media Composer Software to Avid Media Composer Software v4.0 on the Avid Online Store.

This document contains specific information on:

·                New – Media Composer 30 Day Trail

·                Software Licensing process

·                Download recommendations

·                System requirements

·                ReadMe files

·                How to access an order confirmation

·                Upgrade Your Existing Avid Media Composer System        

Avid has created a comprehensive FAQ that addresses many of the questions surrounding software licensing, features and functionality of MC 4.0, Symp 4.0 and NCutter 8.0

www.avid.com/go

Background

Most Media Composer Software customers have upgraded their software over the past year through either an online download process on the Avid Download Center or through an upgrade purchased on the Avid online store. 

New - 30 day Media Composer v4.0 Trial

With the release of Avid Media Composer v3.5, we introduced a 14 trial version of the editor that activates for 14 days at no charge.  Due to customer feedback we have now increased the Trial to 30 days to allow custoemrs a longer period of time to evaluate the editor.  Customers can obtain the Media Composer 4.0 software from the avid.com download center Trial Software page or from the avid.com home page.  Once downloaded, the user will be asked several questions and one of these is whether they would like to use the editor as a trial version.  If they select this option, they must register the product to activate the 30 day period.  After the 30 day period has expired, customers may purchase the complete Avid Media Composer product from the Avid.com webstore as a software download only or as a physical shipping kit with manuals and third-party applications, or they can uninstall the software.

Media Composer Software (Software Licensing) customers are required to upgrade their existing product registration on www.avid.com/register and utilize their System ID and Dongle ID to receive their software licensing activation for Media Composer v4.0. If purchasing this fee-based upgrade on the Avid Online Store, you will receive a product key on the online store confirmation order form. The process for the Avid Media Composer to Avid Media Composer Software v4.0 (download only) remains the same and the product key that is required to access the dongle update file is located on your order confirmation.   

Media Composer Software (dongle based) customers are required to upgrade their existing product registration on www.avid.com/register and utilize their System ID and Dongle ID to receive a dongle updater ( avd file) for Media Composer v4.0.  If purchasing this fee-based upgrade on the Avid Online Store, you would receive a product key on the online store confirmation order form. The process for the Avid Media Composer to Avid Media Composer Software v4.0 (download only) remains the same and the product key that is required to access the dongle update file that is located on your order confirmation.    www.avid.com/dongle contains all the ifnormation required to assist you in upgrading the dongle.

Software Activation

A long-standing customer request has been to abolish the need for a physical dongle and move to software activation.  Dongles are subject to breakage and theft, among other drawbacks.  Starting with V3.5/7.5 the Avid editors delivered this functionality which continues with v4.0/v8.0.  Customers can now activate the Avid editing application using one of several methods:

·         Use an Internet connection to activate the software automatically

o        Avid’s Activation tool allows the software to be activated online using the system identification     number and serial number that came with the software.

·         Use an Internet connection to activate the application manually.

o        If the system running the Avid editing application is not connected to the Internet, the software can be activated by using a different computer with an Internet connection.

·         The software can be activated when upgrading from a dongle-based version to a software license.

·         The software can be activated over the telephone by calling Avid customer service.  This option allows activation when the system configuration does not allow for access to the Internet.

·         The software may be updated with an existing dongle.

Important Software Activation Notes:

·    All new system sales will be delivered with a system software activation key and will NOT have a dongle.  Customers with existing systems using dongle based security will have the option of running with a system software activation key, or a dongle.  Systems migrating to software activation keys are required to have the dongle connected at the time of the upgrade, during which the dongle will be automatically and permanently deactivated.  These dongles will no longer be active and cannot be used on another system. The user can keep the dongle attached to the system or place it aside (there is no dongle return program).

· The software can only be activated on single systems and not on multiple systems that use a   license server.

·   Floating license seats are not available with this release.  This type of seat should still use a dongle.

·   Customers using Avid DVD who wish to use the software licensing activation method, must continue to use their dongle.   

Download Recommendations

- Avid recommends that software downloads occur on a wired network or direct connect through a cable modem (LAN or DSL connection).   

- Also, the use of a download accelerator is not advised. If Avid detects that a download accelerator has been implemented, your account will be locked out for at least one hour with possible repercustions relating to your Download Center account itself.

- Avid does NOT recommend that customers attempt to download software via a wireless (WiFi) network. Should there be a glitch in the network traffic or an interruption of service, the integrity of the download may be suspect. 

- Avid does NOT recommend that customers attempt to download software over a dial-up service as the speed of the connection might affect the integrity of the download.  

Once the software has been downloaded to your computer, it is important to follow the steps below for unzipping the file, as they are specific depending upon the unzip utility you have on your system. 

Zipped Download Files

Downloads on avid.com and the Avid Online Store are compressed, which means they are in a format that makes their file size smaller. Before you can use these files, you must decompress them.

How to Decompress or Unzip a File

Usually, you can simply double-click the compressed file you downloaded. On most Windows and Macintosh systems, a decompression utility will automatically unpack the file to a location you choose. If the utility doesn't launch automatically when you double-click the compressed file, you may need to install a decompression utility on your system. Common decompression utilities are:

·          WinZip (Windows)

·          WinRaR (Windows)

·          StuffIt Expander (Windows, Mac, Linux/Unix)

Following the installation of the utility, consult the documentation that comes with the decompression software for instructions.  

System Requirements

Prior to ordering and installing any software, you should check the system requirements for your system to make sure you have the necessary hardware and software to run the latest Avid editing software

Apple Macintosh Specifications for Avid Media Composer v4.0.pdf

Windows Specifications for Avid Media Composer v4.0 and Avid NewsCutter v8.0.pdf

ReadMe Documents

Prior to installing any new software, you should always read the ReadMe document that pertains to your editor.  The latest ReadMe documents can be found on the Knowledge Base.

Avid also provides a "Whats New" guide for each editor as well as a comprehensive SW Licensing Installation Guide.  These can also be found on the Knowledge Base or on the Download Center ( login and password required) for support customers.

Order Confirmation

Once you have placed your order on the Online Store and it has been processed you now own the upgrade or the new unit purchase. You will receive an order confirmation email from orders@digidesign.com that confirms your order.

The order confirmation email will contain the following information about your order: product or upgrade ordered, quantity, price, software activation instructions (Activation Code can be found on your receipt and is also sent via email), product key (to upgrade via a dongle updater). You are instructed to save this email for reference as this information may be required in the future.

Activation Code

The activation code is required to use the software activation process.  Visit the My Avid Activation site at http://my.avid.com/activation. You will need the Activation Code found on your receipt and sent via email

Product Key

The product key is required for customers that wish to use the dongle updater process. Using the product key at www.avid.com/register helps ensure you will be able to download all updates you are entitled to in the future.

Important Note: After your order confirmation is complete on a software download order if you download the software and determine the integrity of the download is suspect, you may need your order confirmation with product key or activation code to obtain the software download again from the Avid Online Store or to retrieve the software from avid.com.

Your Account

To view items such as your order confirmation, you will need to access your Avid Online Store account. To access the Your Account page, please enter the email address and password you provided when you first placed your order.

Software Download Orders

Once your order is processed, you should see several line items listed on your order for download even though you purchased only one product.

Both Mac and PC versions are always included with your purchase, whether it be a shipping kit or a download version. Note for downloads: you can download the Mac or PC version separately. 

For example, your order might appear as:

Upgrade Instructions for Mac

Upgrade Instructions for PC

Avid Media Composer 4.0 StartUp Project for PC

Avid Media Composer 4.0 for MAC

Avid Media Composer 4.0 for PC

Avid Media Composer 4.0 StartUp Project for Mac

PDF_Upgrade_Instructions.pdf

Customers that want to download the Media Composer v4.0 for Macintosh should select the download link next to Avid Media Composer v4.0 for Mac OS and then the link next to the appropriate documentation and project. Customers that want to download the v4.0 PC version should select the download link next to upgrade for Avid Media Composer v4.0 for PC and then the link next to the PC documentation and project file.

Upgrade Your Existing Avid Media Composer System

Important – Any customer that currently owns a Media Composer system, MUST have registered the product with Avid in order to upgrade the system.  If you have NOT registered your product with Avid, go to: www.avid.com/register before you begin any of the upgrade processes.

Once you have verified registration and you have downloaded the new Avid Media Composer v4.0 Software or received the physical shipping kit and installed it, you must go to: www.avid.com/register/upgrade.asp  and upgrade your existing Avid Media Composer registration to the new Avid Media Composer v4.0 version. 

From the pull down menu, you should select Avid Media Composer v4.0.  Remember, customers must do this when upgrading to a major point release or a new editor like Media Composer Software v4.0. 

Media Composer customers

Software Licensing - Your activation code is required for software downloads both on the Avid Online Store and on avid.com as it is used in the upgrade process to obtain your System ID and a Serial Number, both of which are required to activate your software (In the case of a product upgrade, you already have a System ID, and so only a Serial Number will be provided). 

Dongle - Your product Key is required if you chose to use the dongle and need to obtain a dongle updater ( avd) file from Avid.com or verify that you are entitled to download the software. You will be asked to enter specific product information including: System ID and Dongle ID (you can find the System ID and Serial Number/Dongle Number on the tag attached to your purple USB dongle) as well as product key, which is listed on your Avid Online Store order confirmation sheet.

To activate using software licensing follow the steps below:

1.  Visit the My Avid site at http://my.avid.com/activation and log in with the same account information (email address and password) used to make your purchase. You will need the Activation Code found on your order confirmation receipt and also sent via email.

2.  You will be provided with a System ID and a Serial Number, both of which are required to activate your software. In the case of a product upgrade, you already have a System ID, and so only a Serial Number will be provided

3.   Follow the link to download the software.

4.   Install the software according to the instructions provided.

5.   Follow the licensing instructions provided with your software.

If you are upgrading from an older version of Avid Media Composer or Avid Xpress Pro or Avid Xpress DV:

1.  Visit the My Avid site at my.avid.com/activation. You will need the activation code found on your order confirmation receipt and also sent via email.

2.  You will be provided with an Upgrade Key, a Serial Number, and instructions on how to perform the upgrade.

3.  Follow the link to download the software.

4.  Visit www.avid.com/upgrade and use the Upgrade Key to get a Dongle Updater

5.  Upgrade the hardware activation key (dongle) using the Dongle Manager

6.  Install the software according to the instructions provided

7.  Launch Media Composer and enter the Serial Number; the System ID field will be pre-populated with information from the hardware activation key (dongle).

To obtain your dongle updater file if you are an existing customer and chose to use the dongle, follow the steps below:

1. Install but do not start your new Avid Media Composer Software.

2. Make sure the application key (dongle) is connected to the USB port on your computer system.

3. Use one of the following methods to determine your system ID and serial number:

1. The system ID and serial number are on the tag attached to your dongle. If you have a dongle labeled with both Windows® and Macintosh® System IDs, use the Windows system ID and serial number, even if you are using a Macintosh computer.
2. If the tag is no longer attached to your dongle, run the DongleManager application to obtain the system ID and serial number. The DongleManager application is located in one of the following locations on your system:

Windows:

ProgramFiles\Avid\Utilities\DongleManager\DongleManager.exe

Macintosh:

Applications/Utilities/DongleManager/DongleManager.app

3. Double-click the DongleManager application file and then click the Scan tab. Click Re-scan and write down the following information:

Avid System ID _______________________________

Dongle Serial Number __________________________

Further support information and assistance with licensing visit http://www.avid.com/support/contact.html

Please note that once you’ve used your activation code or upgraded the dongle with the product key, you may not return the product.  License download sales are final and not refundable.