Avid Ships Latest Version of Avid Studio Toolkit; Enhanced solution delivers Blu-ray authoring tools and enhanced 3D and FX capabilities

Business Wire, Oct 16, 2006

TEWKSBURY, Mass. -- Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced the availability of version 5.6 of Avid[R] Studio Toolkit, which delivers significant enhancements to a set of tightly integrated, industry-leading software applications, including Avid 3D, Avid FX, and Avid DVD by Sonic[TM]. Avid Studio Toolkit is the first multi-format solution for simultaneous DVD and Blu-ray Disc[TM] authoring, designed specifically for professional film and video editors looking to create and deliver projects in high-definition (HD).

"An end-to-end HD workflow for independent professionals is finally here," said Patrick McLean, senior product manager for Avid. "With increasing numbers of professional editors looking to create content and output finished projects in HD, this release of Avid Studio Toolkit comes at a perfect time. With Blu-ray[TM] support, Avid is offering the first editing solution to make it very easy for independent professionals to deliver their projects in a beautiful HD quality, on a low-cost distribution medium."

The Blu-ray Disc format, now supported in Avid Studio Toolkit 5.6, will enable recording and playback of HD video, and has more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs - holding up to 25GB on a single-layer disc. Plus, with more than 1,500 customizable title, effects and transition templates, Avid Studio Toolkit is ideal for content creators who want to infuse their work with powerful 3D effects and sophisticated visuals, using any system in the new Media Composer[R] family, as well as Avid Xpress[R] Pro or Avid NewsCutter [R] systems. With Avid Studio Toolkit, professionals will be able to expand the range of creative services they offer to their customers by delivering more compelling graphics, composites, titles, and effects, and distributing completed projects to tape, DVD, Blu-ray Disc or the Web.

New features in Avid Studio Toolkit v 5.6 include:

* Integrated Blu-ray support in Avid DVD by Sonic - allowing Avid Xpress Pro, Media Composer and NewsCutter users to output HD projects to Blu-ray Discs. Avid DVD by Sonic offers new HD and 16:9 menu support, enabling customers to make the most of the next generation of DVDs.

* Updated UI, new paint engine and more for Avid FX - offering professionals the ability to create visuals with integrated 2D and 3D compositing, titles and animation. With Avid FX version 5.6, editors can benefit from:

* AVX[TM] 2 plug-in support for 16-bit color rendering;

* A streamlined UI for improved integration and ease-of-use;

* A new paint engine for touch up and rotoscoping;

* A Raster-to-Vector conversion tool for easily bringing corporate logos and other graphics into a vector-animation environment, including 3D extrusion;

* A new motion key feature, to remove unwanted objects from the frame;

* Several new filters - in addition to the 110 existing filters - such as color match, half-tone, median, noise map, and turbulence; and

* A new subtitle workflow that converts EBU format subtitle files to a flat movie with alpha channel.

* Updated UI, new title features and more for Avid 3D - delivering more powerful "3D for the Video Guy," via an updated UI that allows any editor to import, animate, and light 3D models and create compelling text animations with greater ease. It includes directly accessible controls for camera and model animation, task-oriented workflow, and new title creation features. This makes it easier to create text animations, create unique 3D looks, and export back to the Avid editor.

* Expanded I/O with Avid Mojo[R] SDI - providing digital and analog SDI I/O to expand interoperability with mastering quality SD cameras and decks..

Pricing and Availability

Available now, version 5.6 of Avid Studio Toolkit is priced at $1,995 USMSRP. Through December 20th 2006, Avid Studio Toolkit is available at the promotional price of $1,295 USMSRP, and can also be purchased together with Avid Xpress Pro and Avid Mojo for $2,995 USMSRP. Avid Studio Toolkit, including upgrades for existing customers, is available now through Avid's worldwide reseller channel or online at www.avidstore.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear media creation, management, and distribution solutions, enabling film, video, audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals to work more efficiently, productively, and creatively. For more information about the company's Oscar[R], Grammy[R], and Emmy[R] award-winning products and services, please visit: www.avid.com.

[c] 2006 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. For prices outside of the U.S. and Canada, contact your local Avid office or reseller for details. Avid, Film Composer, Digidesign, Pro Tools, Avid Xpress, Avid Mojo, Avid Newscutter and Media Composer are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Sonic is a trademark of Sonic Solutions. Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Avid received an Oscar statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid Film Composer[R] system for motion picture editing. Digidesign, Avid's audio division, received an Oscar statuette representing the 2003 Scientific and Technical Award for the design, development, and implementation of its Pro Tools[R] digital audio workstation. Academy Award and Oscar are trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.