Media Composer Latest Version

[Bob Zelin]

you cannot purchase or upgrade Media Composer without registering with AVID, and upgrading via the website. Now, you say “this is rediculous – I can buy someone’s used copy of Final Cut Pro Studio, which is running version 6.0, and don’t have to register anything, and just go to the Apple website and upgrade to 6.0.2 for free”.

Well, THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS WITH AVID. To give you a specific example of a client of mine, that just purchased an AVID Adrenaline with old Media Composer version V1.0.3 on it – how do they upgrade to the current V2.8.2 software version – THEY PAY AVID TO DO IT SO THEY CAN UPDATE THEIR DONGLE. If you find an way to upgrade your AVID dongle to the lastest version without paying AVID, THIS IS ILLEGAL – that’s correct – this is criminal activity. Updates of dongles, even for AVID Authorized dealers, happen via the AVID website, and the downloaded versioner, and registering your software (and paying for this).

Let me be even more specific. If you say “screw this, I found a guy that got me V2.8.2 software for free, and I didn’t have to register anything with AVID, or download anything from their site, and now my AVID dongle is working just fine, and I get no error messages” – if I were you, I would not post anything like this on ANY internet forum. Not unless you would like a visit from your local FBI office.

Bob Zelin

[Michael Hancock]

Bob is mostly right.

If you can find a second hand copy of Avid Media Composer you can buy it and run it as is without worrying about anything. If there’s a point release that’s not paid or reserved for Assurance (support) Contract customers, you can upgrade that for free by downloading it from the CPR site at http://www.avid.com and without registering.

However, if you need to update your dongle and then buy an update to the software (most recent version is 2.8. 2.7 is a paid update from any earlier version, then you download the 2.8 version at http://www.avid.com), you have to transfer the license information with Avid. That’s what Bob is talking about. For Media Composer, the license transfer fee is $500, I think. For Xpress Pro, it’s $100 plus any applicable taxes.

Why Avid has such a premium on a license transfer, I don’t know. $500 for a $5,000 piece of software is 10%! I can understand $20 or even $50 bucks to cover the cost of changing registration in their systems, etc…but $500? Sucks, I know.

If you find a used copy, negotiate the transfer license fee in the purchase price–ask for $500 off the asking price, because I believe Avid only accepts payment from the person who the license is being transferred to. There’s a form on their website you’ll need to fill out, and the original owner (or currently registered owner) will need to fill out. We bought a second hand copy of Xpress Pro and the entire license transfer took about a week, but until it was complete I was still able to use the software.

Michael.

[Nathan Byrne]

Bob and Michael,

Thanks so much for your insight. Grrr, this is one of the reasons we are phasing out Avids. I’m building a new studio and want to put a couple of Avids through the new studio to work on legacy projects and when I need to access our massive ripomatic library. I’m assuming that shrink wrapped new versions sold on e-bay are fine. Would there be any licensing issues in that case?

Thanks again,

Nathan

[Oliver Peters]

Nathan,

You can purchase new versions of Media Composer “soft” or Xpress Pro without having to get Assurance. Why not get one of those new at retail? Xpress Pro will probably open any of your old legacy projects anyway. Anything from x.7 can be upgraded to x.8 at no extra cost. Lower than x.7 requires a paid upgrade to get to x.8. Or wait until closer to NAB and see if Avid makes any announcements about changes in product or pricing policies.

Sincerely,
Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Michael Hancock]

You’ll want to check that the software was never registered, and if you’re buying off ebay–make sure you’re not buying the Academic version.

Avid has recently been offering Media Composer Academic to students and faculty at schools that are Avid Mentor Schools (certain requirements must be met by the schools to qualify). Like everything else on ebay, there are legit copies and Academic copies. The easiest way to tell if it’s a Commercial copy or Academic (besides Academic being printed on the box, I believe) is that the Commercial software comes with third party programs–BorisCC effects, Avid DVD, and Sorenson. If it doesn’t, it’s likely Academic and can’t legally be used for commercial work.

Otherwise, if it’s never been registered, buy it and register it in your name. It’s a good way to avoid the license transfer fee, and as far as I know it’s perfectly legal. Bob probably knows more about this than me–I’m just an editor, he sets these systems up all the time.

Good luck with your new studio.

Michael.

[Terence Curren]

I would wait a few more weeks for the next Avid products announcements. History tells me you will see price drops.

Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca