*New* Media Composer Pricing

fevercity

fevercity

Well-known member
Avid Media Composer Software - now more affordable than ever

Effective March 17th 2008, the price of Avid Media Composer software has been cut in half and is now available for US$2,495 USMSRP - making the full Avid editing toolset available to a wider range of professionals. Please read the press release for full details.
Avid Media Composer Credit Program

If you recently purchased your copy of Media Composer software for the previous $4,995 price between January 1st 2008 and March 17th 2008, you may be eligible for a credit. This credit also applies to upgrades from Avid Xpress Pro to Avid Media Composer Software that were purchased at $2995.

Customers who fall into either of these two categories should call Avid Inside Sales at 1-800-949-2843 (option #1) in North America to apply for the credit which can be used towards future purchases of Avid product. This credit must be used before June 30th 2008. For customers outside of North America, they should contact their local reseller where they purchased their software. Contact details for Avid international offices can be found here.
Avid Media Composer Academic

Avid Media Composer Software is currently available to qualified academic institutions for $295. Effective March 17th 2008, Avid Media Composer Software will also be made available to students at fully accredited academic institutions for the same $295 price. Avid software for education is available through Avid’s network of education resellers. For more information on how to purchase Avid Media Composer Academic, click here.
Avid Xpress Pro

In parallel with the price reduction on Avid Media Composer, we will be focusing future feature development on Avid Media Composer. There will be no further major releases of the Avid Xpress Pro software and there will be no further sales of Avid Xpress Pro after June 30th 2008.

Existing Avid Xpress Pro customers can upgrade to the full Media Composer toolset for just $495USMSRP. For details on what this upgrade offers, click on the Media Composer upgrade page.

(from: http://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/mcsavings.asp)
 
That's a step in the right direction. I hope this is just the tip of the iceburg for Avid.
 
Wow. What a bold move. This is probably exactly what they needed to do. Now Media Composer is their entry-level software. And what an affordable upgrade price, $495 to go from XPress Pro to Media Composer...
 
You can still take advantage if you purchased between January 1st, 2008 and March 17th, 2008.

http://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/mcSavings.asp?cmpid=newthinkingpr_mc_save

"If you recently purchased your copy of Media Composer software for the previous $4,995 price between January 1st 2008 and March 17th 2008, you may be eligible for a credit. This credit also applies to upgrades from Avid Xpress Pro to Avid Media Composer Software that were purchased at $2995."

"Customers who fall into either of these two categories should call Avid Inside Sales at 1-800-949-2843 (option #1) in North America to apply for the credit which can be used towards future purchases of Avid product. This credit must be used before June 30th 2008."
 
mcgeedigital said:
Yeah but I'm all FCPro now. The Avid gets no more love. I'm selling it.
Click to expand...

LOL! I still think it's extremely overpriced, thus making it less competitive. There are too many options out there now, Avid needs to get it out of their head this isn't 1999, and they're aren't the only game in town.
 
unfiltered said:
LOL! I still think it's extremely overpriced, thus making it less competitive. There are too many options out there now, Avid needs to get it out of their head this isn't 1999, and they're aren't the only game in town.
Click to expand...

Well... Final Cut is just as bad price-wise. Apple jacks up the price of the hardware (that is identical to PCs I have to add) to sell their software cheaper. In the end, price of a full editing system with software and computer, they're just about identical. Not to mention if you use Final Cut, you're locked into the crappiest operating system on the planet; and stuck with Apple monopolistic business practices. Suprised somebody hasn't sued for the fact you can't use the MAC OS on any other computer than an Apple.
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
Well... Final Cut is just as bad price-wise. Apple jacks up the price of the hardware (that is identical to PCs I have to add) to sell their software cheaper. In the end, price of a full editing system with software and computer, they're just about identical. Not to mention if you use Final Cut, you're locked into the crappiest operating system on the planet; and stuck with Apple monopolistic business practices. Suprised somebody hasn't sued for the fact you can't use the MAC OS on any other computer than an Apple.
Click to expand...

I dont´t think so: if you want to use Avid, you should go with a certified machine otherwise you can run into really trouble (I made this experience by myself). If you look at the price of such a certified machine it becomes clear that this is more expensive than buying a mac (HP XW8* is more costly than a Mac Pro). If someone wants to use MC "a built on my own PC" is not the way to go. So the Mac is a good alternative.
MAC OS is basically the better OS and more userfriendly. What it makes so difficult is the radical way Apple goes regarding changes (they don´t care about 3d party Software) and that´s why I don´t make any update on the OS side until Digi or Avid give their ok - with this strategy the Mac side is very handy.

BTW: I don´t like FCP even I cut on a Mac Pro. I like Avid under Mac OS and will stay with it, as long as I can. But to lower the price is just one (right) step: they should implement the important HD formats asap - especially the european ones (there is still no 720 25p in either Xpress or MC).
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
Suprised somebody hasn't sued for the fact you can't use the MAC OS on any other computer than an Apple.
Click to expand...
Probably for the same reason no one has sued Avid for not opening up their hardware and software to be used w/other NLE hardware and software. Or the same reason that no one has sued Sony for making video games that only play in their PlayStation video game consoles. Or possibly even the same reason that no one has sued Red for not licensing out their camera technology.


-A
 
Just in case you guys aren't following the discussion on Avid's Forums, they're reporting that the upgrade price from Xpress Pro to Media Composer is permanent, meaning that at any time in the future you can upgrade your software for the $500 price.

I found this particularly important because for me there's no benefit in upgrading until I can remove Advanced Pulldown with file-based workflows.
 
I disagree. That's an astounding price point for Media Composer and it feels well-adjusted to me.

My only gripe is that there are a few very specific things that are crucial to me running my business and Media Composer (and Xpress Pro) can't do them. So, for the past year or so I've been using other solutions. I'm chomping at the bit to get back to Avid, and if the next release of Media Composer closes those gaps then they'll have my $500 in a heartbeat.

On the bigger picture, if Avid could do those few things I've eluded to, then a full Media Composer seat for $2,500 would still compete in my eyes to the "all-encompassing" Adobe solutions or Apple solutions that hover around the $1,500 range. And it ships with Continuum Complete. That's a mighty powerful plug-in package. This is a none-to-shabby offering from Avid. Perhaps a bit overdue, but better late than never. :)
 
If i understand this correctly - you can buy xpress pro and then upgrade to composer for less then purchasing composer - why would anyone just purchase composer alone?
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
Well... Final Cut is just as bad price-wise. Apple jacks up the price of the hardware (that is identical to PCs I have to add) to sell their software cheaper. In the end, price of a full editing system with software and computer, they're just about identical. Not to mention if you use Final Cut, you're locked into the crappiest operating system on the planet; and stuck with Apple monopolistic business practices. Suprised somebody hasn't sued for the fact you can't use the MAC OS on any other computer than an Apple.
Click to expand...

And be sure to add what you get when you buy Final Cut Studio 2: DVD Studio Pro, Motion, Color. etc, for half the CURRENT price of MC.

Like it's already been pointed out, getting a comparable HP system will cost you more than a MacPro.

BUT, to get Xpress Pro used or a great deal new, and to upgrade for $495, THAT is worth one's money and time.
 
mcgeedigital said:
Wrong.

Hackintosh link.
Click to expand...


Right, I'm not saying you can't do it.... you can technically get it onto another system, but Apple doesn't want it to happen. So in their terms and conditions of the warranty it says you can't install on anything other than an Apple computer. Meaning if you install on a PC, you void the warranty and support from Apple. So when it comes down to it, you legally can't install it on another system.

By the way a decent MAC is going to cost 15k.
A decent HP XW8600 is 14k....
 
Last edited:
Andrew McCarrick said:
By the way a decent MAC is going to cost 15k.
A decent HP XW8600 is 14k....
Click to expand...

"Decent?" Wow.

I priced both a MacPro and xw8600 with comparable specs, both of which will get you a few steps in the System Requirements door. The MacPro was $2999 and the HP was $3206.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top