Since their introduction, Media Composer systems have set the standard for nonlinear film and video editing solutions. No other editing system can match the power, versatility, and refinement of the Media Composer toolset. Today, Avid offers Media Composer in a range of configurations designed to satisfy the creative and business needs of post professionals who strive to do more. Whether it�s standalone software or integrated with powerful Avid DNA� hardware, one thing remains unchanged: Media Composer is simply the best editor on the planet.

For optimal performance and reliability, be sure that your computer or laptop meets the following minimum system requirements.

Important: Avid dedicates a significant amount of engineering resources and time to test and qualify specific platform configurations. Please note that we cannot provide support should you choose to use a non-qualified system.

Windows

• Computer: Avid-qualified Windows-based computer or laptop (see details)
• OS: Windows 7 Professional (64-bit), Windows XP Professional SP3 (32-bit), Windows Vista Business SP2 (64-bit), Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster
• Memory: 2 GB of RAM (4 GB of RAM recommended; Windows Vista requires 4 GB of RAM)
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro FX family** (FX 560 or higher)
• Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
• Optical Drive: DVD drive for disc-based software installation

** Only NVIDIA cards are supported; full-screen playback requires a minimum of 128 MB of graphics memory.

Mac

• Computer: Avid-qualified Mac-based computer or laptop* (see details)
• OS: Mac OS X 10.6.3 (Snow Leopard)
• Processor: Intel Dual or Intel Dual Core 2.66 GHz Xeon processor or faster, or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor or faster (laptops)
• Memory: 2 GB of RAM (4 GB of RAM recommended)
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce family**
• Internal Hard Drive: Minimum 80 GB 7200 rpm hard disk
• Optical Drive: DVD drive for disc-based software installation

*NewsCutter is available for Windows only.
**Full-screen playback requires a minimum of 128 MB of graphics memory.

Nitris DX and Mojo DX Interfaces*
The following are additional requirements for using Nitris DX or Mojo DX editing systems:

Nitris DX: Avid-qualified Windows- or Mac-based computer with a PCIe x4 card slot
Mojo DX: Avid-qualified Windows- or Mac-based computer with a PCIe x4 card slot, or ExpressCard slot (laptops) with optional Avid ExpressCard Hardware Interface Board

Additional Information

• Laptop users:
  • Please note that support of uncompressed video on laptops is limited to one stream of uncompressed SD video
  • Capture of DNxHD is not possible when using laptops with Mojo DX as the laptop lacks the processing power to encode DNxHD in real-time
• QuickTime: Avid has tested and qualified Apple QuickTime X for Mac users and QuickTime 7.6.4 for Windows users
• Windows Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 is required to export certain formats and to work with VC-1 material

Avid DVD by Sonic
Author professional DVDs and Blu-ray Discs quickly and easily, with complete control over the entire process with Avid DVD 6.1 by Sonic, which works with Windows-based systems (including 64-bit Windows Vista). Easily export chapter points and thumbnails from the timeline using exclusive MetaSync technology, author and burn discs with advanced controls, produce multi-language titles, generate and import subtitle tracks, create interactive slideshows, and much more. Learn more about Sonic professional DVD products on the Sonic website.

Avid FX
Easily create dazzling 2D and 3D composites, titles, animation, and effects with Avid FX 5.8, a powerful collection of creative tools designed by Boris FX. This latest version sports a new interface and offers new 16-bit color, clone paint tool, image brushes, motion path and key tools, vector trace, optical stabilization, subtitle generator, and more. Get started fast with 1,500 customizable templates, or design your own titles and graphics using text, drawing, styles, and animation tools. And create stunning effects with over 115 filters, including Wire Removal, Grain Match, Light Zoom, and more. For more details, visit the Boris FX website.

Boris Continuum Complete
Create the look you want with nearly 200 filters at your fingertips - including 15 new filters - using the new Boris Continuum Complete 6. This latest version offers significant performance gains and enhancements, so you can create dramatic effects quickly and easily. Use the Extruded Text, Extruded Spline, Layer Deformer, Cartoon Look, Lightning, and other new filters to create compelling visuals. Get new custom animated presets in XML format and a single-click custom preset navigation tool. And discover new enhancements in the built-in Motion Tracker. For complete details, visit the Boris Continuum Complete website.

SmartSound Sonicfire Pro
Create music soundtracks for your films, TV shows, commercials, and other video effortlessly with SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5.5. Choose from a variety of loops and pre-recorded soundtracks and then customize the music to fit your scene. With the latest version, you can match beats to video, insert a stinger, alter the tempo and pitch, fine-tune searches with Sensory Searching, search for music by simply tapping a tempo, and get new spotting tools. For complete details, visit the SmartSound Sonicfire Pro website.

Sorenson Squeeze
Optimize and deliver content in a create-once-publish-anywhere world. With Sorenson Squeeze 6, you can optimize content in a variety of formats (including HD, DVD, MPEG-2, MPEG-4/H.264, Flash, and 3GPP) for web or DVD delivery, author DVDs and Blu-ray Discs on Windows, and burn discs on a PC and now Macs too. This latest version features a redesigned interface and can speed up your workflow and review cycle by sending email and text message (SMS) notifications that let you (or your clients) know when your file encoding is done. You can also send clients secure, password-protected video for immediate review and approval. Plus, you can set up the app to automatically publish to Sorenson 360, YouTube, Twitter, Akamai, Limelight, and other servers. For complete details, visit the Sorenson Squeeze website.

Additional Items and Documentation

• Basics Guide
• Advanced Effects Guide
• Avid Resource Guide
• Quick Start Guide

Matrox MXO mini:

• Small, lightweight, external box that's easily connected to your cameras and monitors
• Works with Intel-based MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and Apple Xserve systems
• Broadcast-quality HD/SD video and audio input/output
  – Playback high definition video via HDMI and analog component
  - Playback NTSC and PAL via HDMI and analog component or HDMI, S-Video, and composite
  - Output HD and SD video simultaneously
  - Stereo RCA and up to 8 channels of HDMI audio input and output
  – 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound monitoring on the HDMI output
• Flexible support for leading codecs, file formats, cameras, and workflows
• Extensive application support including Final Cut Pro, Apple Color, Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, and many more
• Cost-effective HD monitoring for Avid Media Composer 5 and Avid NewsCutter 9 with Matrox MXO2 Mini
• 10-bit HDMI input, output, and monitoring with calibration controls including blue-only
  – Turns your HDMI screen into a professional-grade video monitor
• 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion on capture and output
• Hardware acceleration of Final Cut Pro Dynamic RT segments, HDV, and DVCPRO
• Matrox Vetura stand-alone application for convenient playback of your H.264 and .mov files
• Also available with Matrox MAX for faster than realtime H.264 encoding
• Three-year hardware warranty and complimentary telephone support

Mojo DX

• Avid Mojo DX — High-performance digital I/O interface
• PCIe Host Interface Board — Connects Mojo DX to your computer
• Computer: PCIe
• Serial Machine Control: RS-422
• Digital Video: SDI I/O (SD and HD, combined connector)
• Digital Audio: 8 channels of embedded SD-SDI audio I/O, 16 channels of embedded HD-SDI audio I/O, 8 channels of optical ADAT I/O, 2 channels of optical S/PDIF I/O
• Analog Audio: 2 channels of 1/4" TRS I/O, stereo headphone output (3.5mm TRS)
• Monitoring: HDMI output (all rates supported, including full 1920 x 1080 HD)
• Timecode and Sync: Reference Sync (Black and Burst or HD TriLevel input, combined connector), Word Clock (output only)

Nitris DX

• Computer: PCIe
• Serial Machine Control: RS-422
• Digital Video: SDI I/O (SD, HD)
• Analog Video: Component I/O (YCbCr: SD, HD), S-Video I/O (SD), Composite I/O (SD)
• Digital Audio: 8 channels of AES/EBU I/O (on DB25 connector), 8 channels of embedded SD-SDI audio I/O, 16 channels of embedded HD-SDI audio I/O, 8 channels of optical ADAT I/O, 2 channels of optical S/PDIF I/O
• Analog Audio: 4 channels of balanced XLR I/O, 2 channels of RCA audio input, 2 channels of 1/4" TRS output, stereo headphone output (1/4” TRS)
• Monitoring: HDMI output (all rates supported, including full 1920 x 1080 HD)
• Timecode and Sync: LTC (XLR I/O), Reference Sync (Black and Burst or HD TriLevel input, combined connector), Reference Sync loop-through, Word Clock (output only)