This is going to sound like a question from the Flintstone, but can I upgrade AVID Xpress Pro 2003v.4.0?

[Glenn Sakatch]

you can always upgrade your dongle…avid is pretty good about that.

Whether your system can handle it depends on your system…you gave no specs. More than likely you would need some new hardware.

Glenn

[Dean Fragola]

Hi Glenn,
I appreciate the help … as well as the possible good news that I can indeed update my AVID even though it’s like 7 years old.
Like I mentioned, I’m a writer/director, so computer specs are not my forte, but I just looked up the stats on the system here and it’s AVID Xpress Pro 2003.v.4.0
4G ram
Intel Pentium4 – 3.4Ghz Ext. Ed (800MHz) 2MB L2 Cache
Based on that, do you think my system could handle Avid Media Composer?
Will I need to get a new video card (conducive to HD content)?
And again, I know I sound rather ignorant in regards to computer jargon, but how do I actually “upgrade”? … just buy Media Composer and then install in right over Xpress Pro? … and if so, what then happens to all the pics, files, media, effects, segments, sounds, etc that are currently in the bins of my Xpress Pro software? … I have to try and find a way to save all that media somewhere, and then re-load everything into the newly installed Media Composer?
Thanks so much for your help.

[Pat Horridge]

You can upgrade the software ok but you’ll need a new computer. That I’d one won’t run windows 7 64bit.
Time for a new computer.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Dean Fragola]

Hey Pat,
Thanks for the advice.
Is there anyway I can just “gut” this computer and put in a new processor, Windows 7, and new video & sounds cards? As my concern is how to do get hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours of video as well as thousands of pics onto a new computer at this point?
And my other question is, once I upgrade AVID from Xpress Pro to Media Composer, it is such a jump in technology that Media Composer then won’t even find all my files, media and projects that I currently have on my hard drives in Xpress Pro?
Thanks.

[Michael Hancock]

[Dean Fragola] “Is there anyway I can just “gut” this computer and put in a new processor, Windows 7, and new video & sounds cards? “

No. You’re going to need a new system.

[Dean Fragola] “And my other question is, once I upgrade AVID from Xpress Pro to Media Composer, it is such a jump in technology that Media Composer then won’t even find all my files, media and projects that I currently have on my hard drives in Xpress Pro?”

You’re best bet is to make a new project in Media Composer with the same name as your Xpress Pro project, then copy the bins over at the desktop level. Everything else will be good to go. Media Composer might update your sequences if necessary, but I’d be surprised if you lose any work. Avid is pretty well known for forward/backward compatibility.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor

[Pat Horridge]

Just not worth bothering with the old kit. The cost will be in the new MB CPU and RAM. Much better to buy a new complete system. Ideally a system certified for Avid use.
As others have said. Media should move across fine. The best avice is to make new projects with the same name and copy the bins you need over. Also re-create new user settings don;t bring your old ones across.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Dean Fragola]

I really appreciate the advice … as I now realize that I do indeed need to go with a new system. Any idea what a decent system would run me? As I looked up some custom AVID system and I almost fell off my chair as they were starting in the $8,000 range.

“DreamStation-MC32 for AVID Media Composer

…starting at $7995…

Take a look at this system if your want the fastest rendering available, and and large amounts of RAM. You can add up to 128GB of RAM with this system for incredible performance with large files.”

[Job Ter burg]

Find a refurbished HP Z800 or Z400 and you’ll be good for some years. Or get a full-blown Z820 which will set you back more but will last longer.

[Pat Horridge]

[Job ter Burg] “Find a refurbished HP Z800 or Z400 and you’ll be good for some years. Or get a full-blown Z820 which will set you back more but will last longer.”

Brillinat machines the HP Z range. We have 400’s and an 800 and they are really well built and fast. I hope to grab an 820 as soon as I can. The PCIe 3 internal bus will allow my SSD RAID to run at close to 1TBps without the two controller cards I currently need.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Job Ter burg]

Love my Z800 as well.